#8

Secret of Mana (Originally released in 1993 on the SNES)

What can I say, the SNES was the golden ages for great RPGs!

SoM, like most every other game I am writing about, holds a special place in my heart. RPGs are fun, but usually they are a one person ride. That isn't the case with SoM because this game allowed you to play with one or even two more friends in (what I imagine is) the first multiplayer RPG experience.

The story is pretty basic. Local boy stumbles down a waterfall and finds an ancient sword that has lied dormant in its resting place for centuries. He pulls out the slumbering sword only to find that it has been his town's guardian and when he released it, his town came under attack. He is thrown out of his village and is sent to find out the history of his new found weapon. He will come across a tomboyish girl, and a little kid and together the three embark on a journey through the world of mana.

This game was my first action rpg experience. ARPGs are different then almost any normal rpg in the fact that they don't break away from the normal screen when you go into a battle. Everything is done from the same overhead view and you can roam freely. There is no waiting for turns or anything of the sort. You just run up to an enemy and hack and slash your way to victory. It makes for a very enjoyable combat experience especially when every other RPG you play is so vastly different then this title.

In battle you are given eight different weapon to play with and each has their pros and cons. Swords act as the most reliable weapon, serving as a strong, yet close range method of attack. You also have spears, bows, javelins, boomerangs, whips, axes, and eve bare fists at your disposal. Each has a leveling system and with every level each weapon gets a unique attack move. There is no wrong or bad weapon to choose from, so you can basically pick whatever you are most comfortable with.

The areas in this game are very colorful as well. There is the mushroom kingdom (No, not that mushroom kingdom!), the moogle village in the season inspired forest, there is a desert town that is devoid of water which is express from the very moment you walk into town by the somber music that is playing, and there's even a snow filled wonderland that Santa calls his home. Well Santa has actually gone missing, and Rudolf asks you go to find him!

SoM is fun for everyone. I never did get to play the game with more then me and friend until the game was transferred over to the Wii because as a kid I never had a multiplayer adapter, but even with two people this game is tons of fun. The amount of zany fun you can concoct with your friends while playing this gem is only limited by the games constraints.