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'''''Secret of Mana''''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|'''Seiken Densetsu 2'''|聖剣伝説2|Seiken Densetsu Tsū|lit. "The Legend of the Holy Sword 2"}}, is an [[action role-playing game]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] developed and published by [[Square Co.|Square]]. In 2008, the game was re-released for the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]]. ''Secret of Mana'' is the sequel to ''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]'' for the [[Game Boy]] and the second installment in the ''[[Mana (series)|Mana]]'' video game series. |
'''''Secret of Mana''''', known in Japan as {{nihongo|'''''Seiken Densetsu 2'''''|聖剣伝説2|Seiken Densetsu Tsū|lit. "The Legend of the Holy Sword 2"}}, is an [[action role-playing game]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] developed and published by [[Square Co.|Square]] in 1993. In 2008, the game was re-released for the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]]. ''Secret of Mana'' is the sequel to ''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]'' for the [[Game Boy]] and the second installment in the ''[[Mana (series)|Mana]]'' video game series. |
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Rather than using the traditional turn-based [[Role-playing battle systems|battle system]] of games like ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and ''[[Dragon Quest]]'', ''Secret of Mana'' utilizes real-time battles akin to the ''[[The Legend of Zelda series|Legend of Zelda]]'' series, also employing typical |
Rather than using the traditional turn-based [[Role-playing battle systems|battle system]] of games like ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' and ''[[Dragon Quest]]'', ''Secret of Mana'' utilizes real-time battles akin to the ''[[The Legend of Zelda series|Legend of Zelda]]'' series, also employing typical [[Console role-playing game|RPG]] elements and a unique "Ring Command" menu system. With its brightly-colored graphics, expansive plot, innovative [[Cooperative gameplay|cooperative multiplayer]] gameplay, and acclaimed soundtrack by [[Hiroki Kikuta]], ''Secret of Mana'' was an influential game in its time.<ref name="IGN100">IGN, [http://top100.ign.com/2005/041-050.html IGN's Top 100 Games]</ref> |
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==Gameplay== |
==Gameplay== |
Revision as of 15:01, 29 August 2009
Secret of Mana | |
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Developer(s) | Square |
Publisher(s) | Square (Super NES) Square Enix (Virtual Console) |
Designer(s) | Koichi Ishii (director, chief game design) Hiromichi Tanaka (producer, concept/system design) Nasir Gebelli (lead programming) |
Artist(s) | Yutaka Izubuchi (character design) Akira Ueda (background and map design) |
Composer(s) | Hiroki Kikuta |
Series | Mana |
Platform(s) | Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Virtual Console |
Release | SNES Virtual Console |
Genre(s) | Action role-playing game |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer, cooperative |
Secret of Mana, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu 2 (聖剣伝説2, Seiken Densetsu Tsū, lit. "The Legend of the Holy Sword 2"), is an action role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed and published by Square in 1993. In 2008, the game was re-released for the Wii's Virtual Console. Secret of Mana is the sequel to Final Fantasy Adventure for the Game Boy and the second installment in the Mana video game series.
Rather than using the traditional turn-based battle system of games like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, Secret of Mana utilizes real-time battles akin to the Legend of Zelda series, also employing typical RPG elements and a unique "Ring Command" menu system. With its brightly-colored graphics, expansive plot, innovative cooperative multiplayer gameplay, and acclaimed soundtrack by Hiroki Kikuta, Secret of Mana was an influential game in its time.[3]
Gameplay
As common with role-playing games of the 16-bit era, Secret of Mana is comprised entirely of a top-down perspective, in which three player characters — the hero, the girl, and the sprite — navigate the terrain and fight off hostile creatures. Control may be passed between each of the characters at any time; if the hero is currently selected, his two companions are controlled via artificial intelligence, and vice-versa. The game may be played simultaneously by two or three players.[4][5] In order to support three players, a Super Multitap accessory must be plugged into the second controller port of the Super Nintendo console.[6] The Virtual Console version of the game supports 3-player gameplay with the use of additional GameCube controllers or Classic Controllers.[7]
Each character possesses individual strengths and weaknesses: The hero, while unable to use magic, excels at fighting and masters weapons at a quicker rate; the girl functions as healer, able to cast restorative and support spells; lastly, the sprite's magic is almost entirely offensive, but he is ill-suited for melee combat.[7] Upon collecting enough experience points in battle, each character can increase in level to gain improved stats such as strength and evasion. The trio can find refuge in a town, where they can regain hit points or purchase restorative items and equipment. Options such as changing equipment, casting spells, or checking status are performed by cycling through the game's Ring Commands, a circular menu which hovers over the currently-controlled party member.[6][5][7] The game is momentarily paused whenever the Ring Commands appear.
Combat takes place in real-time.[5] Located below each character's hit points is a percentage gauge that determines the amount of damage done to an enemy. Swinging a weapon causes the gauge to fall to 0% and then quickly recharge, allowing that character to attack at full strength. The party wields eight different styles of weapons throughout the game: sword, spear, bow, axe, boomerang, glove, whip, and javelin. With the exception of the sword, all weapons can be upgraded eight times, and repeated use increases their Skill Levels to a maximum of 8, unlocking a new charged attack with each level. Weapons are upgraded through the use of Weapon Orbs, generally obtained after defeating a boss or found as a treasure in dungeons.[5] Once an Orb is collected, the weapon can be brought to a blacksmith (located in most towns) to be reforged.[8][4]
Magic in Secret of Mana operates in much the same way as weapon skill progression, with the exception that magic points are consumed each time a spell in cast. In order to learn magic, the party must rescue spirits known as Elementals. The eight Elementals represent different elements (Fire, Water, Earth, etc.), and each provides the player with specific spells. Magic skill can only be as high as the party's current Mana Power, which increases automatically over the course of the game.[4]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5c/Flammie_Flying.gif/220px-Flammie_Flying.gif)
At the start of the game, players must traverse an enemy-infested countryside in order to reach their next destination. Travel may be expedited through use of Cannon Travel Centers, where non-player characters offer to launch the party to far-away destinations via a giant cannon. Cannon Travel usually requires a fee, but is mandatory to visit other continents early on.[6] Later, the party is given access to Flammie, a miniature dragon which is controlled by the player and able to fly freely across the world, represented by an overworld map.[9] These sequences make use of the Super Nintendo's Mode 7 capability to create a rotatable background, giving the illusion that the ground beneath Flammie is rendered in three dimensions. While riding Flammie, the player may access either the "rotated map", which presents the world as a globe, or the "world map," a two-dimensional view of the overworld.
Plot
Setting
The story takes place in a fictional world, during an unspecified period following a war between a civilization and "gods" concerning the use of mana to fuel the "Mana Fortress", a flying warship. Using the power of the Mana Sword, a hero destroyed the fortress and returned peace to the world.
Story
Disobeying their Elder's instructions, three boys from the small Potos village trespass into a local waterfall where a treasure is said to be kept. One of the boys, the game's protagonist, stumbles and falls into the lake, where he finds a rusty sword embedded in a stone. Guided by a disembodied voice, he pulls the sword free, inadvertently unleashing monsters in the surrounding countryside of the village. The villagers interpret the sword's removal as a bad omen and banish the boy from Potos forever. An elderly knight named Jema recognizes the blade as the legendary Mana Sword, and encourages the hero to re-energize it by visiting the eight Mana Temples.
During his journey, the hero is joined by an amnesiac sprite child and the daughter of a nobleman from Pandora. The orphaned sprite initially tries to con the hero out of his money, but later accompanies him in hope of recovering his lost memory. The girl joins the party in search of her lost love, Dyluck, an officer in Pandora's army who has gone missing. Throughout their travels, the trio is pursued by the Empire, which seeks to unseal the eight Mana Seeds and revive the Mana Fortress. Unbeknownst to the Emperor or his subordinates, they are being manipulated by Thanatos, an ancient sorcerer who has designs on creating a "new, peaceful world".[10] Due to his own body's deterioration, Thanatos is in need of a suitable body to possess. After placing the entire kingdom of Pandora under a trance, he abducts two candidates: Dyluck, now enslaved, and a young Pandoran girl named Phanna. Over time, however, Thanatos narrows his selection to Dyluck.[11]
The Empire succeeds in unsealing all eight Mana Seeds. However, Thanatos betrays the Emperor and his henchmen, killing them and seizing control of the Mana Fortress for himself. The hero and his party journey to the Pure Land to locate the Mana Tree, the focal point of the world's life energy. Anticipating their arrival, Thanatos positions the Mana Fortress over the Tree and destroys it. The charred remains of the Tree speak to the heroes, explaining that a giant creature called the Mana Beast will soon be summoned to combat the Fortress. However, the Beast has little control over its rage and will likely destroy the world as well.[12] The Mana Tree also reveals that it was once the human wife of Serin, the original Mana Knight and the hero's father.[13] The voice heard at Potos' waterfall was that of Serin's ghost.
The trio flies to the Mana Fortress and confronts Thanatos, who is preparing to transfer his mind into Dyluck. With the last of his strength, Dyluck warns that Thanatos has sold his soul to the underworld and must not be allowed to have the Fortress.[14] Dyluck kills himself, forcing Thanatos to revert to a skeletal lich form which is defeated in battle. The Mana Beast finally reveals itself and attacks the Fortress. The hero expresses reluctance to kill the Beast, fearing that with the dispersal of Mana from the world, the sprite child will vanish.[15] With the sprite's encouragement, the hero uses the fully-energized Mana Sword to slay the Beast, causing it to explode and transform into snow. At the conclusion of the game, the hero is seen returning the Mana Sword to its place beneath the Potos waterfall.
Characters
Heroes
The hero (ランディ, Randi),[16] a young boy, is adopted by the Elder of Potos after his mother disappears. After pulling the Mana Sword from a stone, monsters invade Potos and the villagers persuade the Elder to banish him. Seeking to restore the sword, the hero then embarks on a quest to re-energize the sword.
The girl (プリム, Purimu)[16] meets the hero briefly when he's ambushed by Goblins. After helping him escape, she leaves, only to appear again outside Elinee's Castle. The girl is in love with a warrior named Dyluck, who was ordered by the King to attack Elinee's Castle, which is considered a virtual suicide mission. Angry with the king for this, as well as with her father for setting her up for an arranged marriage, she rebels and leaves the castle to join the hero in his quest, hoping to save Dyluck as well. She is capable of casting support and healing spells.
The heroes meet the sprite child (ポポイ, Popoi)[16] at the Dwarf Village. The sprite makes a living by scamming people at the dwarves' freak show. He doesn't remember anything about his past, so he joins the team to try to recover his memories. The sprite comes from a village in the Upper Land. He was washed away by a flood to Gaia's Navel, where the Dwarf Elder found him. The flood caused the sprite to suffer from amnesia, making it unable to remember anything of his past. While the sprite may seem childish at times, he has courage equal to that of the other two heroes. As an orphan, he understands how the hero feels not growing up with his parents. The sprite's gender has never officially been stated; however, in the Japanese version's script, he uses the first-person pronoun "oira" (おいら) that is mostly used by male speakers. He is capable of casting attack spells.
Development
Secret of Mana was directed and designed by Koichi Ishii. The game was programmed primarily by Nasir Gebelli and produced by veteran Square designer Hiromichi Tanaka. After the release of Final Fantasy III, Tanaka wanted to help design a seamless game without a separate battle system. Because this would not work with Final Fantasy IV, he turned to Secret of Mana.[17] Secret of Mana was originally going to be a launch title for the SNES CD add-on.[18] After the project was dropped, the game had to be altered to fit onto a standard game cartridge.
The English translation for Secret of Mana was completed in only 30 days, mere weeks after the Japanese release.[19] This was presumably so that the game could be released in North America for the 1993 holiday season.[18] According to translator Ted Woolsey, a large portion of the game's script was cut out in the English localization due to space limitations and a lack of sequential text.[20] The English translation of Secret of Mana uses a fixed-width font to display text on the main gameplay screen. However, the choice of this font limits the amount of space available to display text, and as a result conversations are trimmed to their bare essentials, leaving a good portion of the game lost in translation.
In 1999 as part of their planned nine game lineup, Square announced they would be porting Seiken Densetsu 2 to Bandai's new handheld system WonderSwan Color.[21] No news of the port ever surfaced outside the announcement.
Audio
Seiken Densetsu 2 Original Sound Version (聖剣伝説2 オリジナル・サウンド・ヴァージョン) is the soundtrack to Secret of Mana, originally released in 1993 in Japan by NTT Publishing and Squaresoft. Its US debut under the name Secret of Mana Original Soundtrack followed the next year due to the game's massive success. The US release is identical to the Japanese version, aside from the packaging and localized English song titles.[22] It was re-released in Japan in both 1995 and 2004.
The game's soundtrack was composed by Hiroki Kikuta. It is known for its variety of tunes which tend to focus on the use of percussion and woodwind instruments, ranging from a lighthearted dwarves' polka to a somber, wistful snow melody to a tribal-like dance. Kikuta states that he had a particularly difficult time composing the score, which required him to combine his own style of popular music with the "game music" that is accompanied by the hardware and software limitation of the Super Famicom.[23]
Secret of Mana's title theme, "Angel's Fear" is well known by video game music aficionados for its haunting, echoing piano melody, and was featured in the third Orchestral Game Music Concert[24], the fifth Symphonic Game Music Concert[25], as well as serving as the base for many remixes. In 2008, ScrewAttack.com's users ranked the song number 7 on the website's Top 10 Video Game Themes Ever.[26] Music from Secret of Mana will be an important part of the Symphonic Fantasies concerts in September 2009 which are being produced by the creators of the Symphonic Game Music Concert series, conducted by Arnie Roth. In Secret of Mana section, the featured titles are Fear of the Heavens, Into the Thick of it and The Oracle.[27]
Parts of the game's soundtrack, as well as some music from Seiken Densetsu 3, were incorporated into the Secret of Mana+ compilation arrangement CD, an image album containing one 50-minute track.[28]
Secret of Mana Original Soundtrack Tracklist |
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Disc 1 (54:42)
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Reception and sequels
Aggregator | Score |
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GameRankings | 86.8% (based on 8 reviews)[31] |
Publication | Score |
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Edge | 9 of 10[33] |
Electronic Gaming Monthly | A[29] |
Game Informer | 9.5 of 10[32] |
IGN | 9.0[30] |
M! Games | 90 of 100[36] |
Nintendo Power | 4.1 of 5[31] |
Mean Machines | 93%[34] |
Cubed3 | 9 out of 10[35] |
Publication | Award |
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GameSpy: Hall of Fame[37] |
As of February 2004, Secret of Mana shipped 1.83 million copies worldwide, with 1.5 million of those copies being shipped in Japan and 330,000 abroad.[38]
Secret of Mana has been on numerous "best games" lists. It was listed at number 42 on Nintendo Power magazine's Top 200 Nintendo Games Of All Time[39], as well as the 86th best game made on a Nintendo System.[40] It was also rated number 48 on the "IGN's Top 100 Games" in 2005[3], number 49 in 2006[41], and number 79 in 2007.[42] Also in 2006, Secret of Mana was voted the 97th best game of all time by the readers of the well-known Japanese magazine Famitsu.[43] ScrewAttack.com ranked the game number 6 in its Top 20 SNES Games list in 2008.[44] Secret of Mana was awarded Best Role-Playing Game of 1993 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.[45]
References
- ^ Manalang, John (October 13, 2008). "'Secret Of Mana', 'World Of Goo' Hits The Wii". G4TV.com. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
{{cite web}}
: Text "G4TV.com" ignored (help) - ^ East, Tom (December 26, 2008). "Virtual Console News: Secret Of Mana Hits The VC - Official Nintendo Magazine". OfficialNintendoMagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ a b IGN, IGN's Top 100 Games Cite error: The named reference "IGN100" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b c Dancin' Homer. "RPGFan Reviews - Secret of Mana". RPGFan.com. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ a b c d Campbell, Greg. "Secret of Mana - Retroview". RPGamer.com. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ a b c Nintendo Power Vol 54, 1994-05
- ^ a b c Thomas, Lucas M. "RPGFan Secret of Mana (Virtual Console) - A 16-bit Squaresoft classic comes to the Virtual Console, where its three-man multiplayer mode is easier to experience than ever before". IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
- ^ Nintendo Power Vol 62, 1994-07
- ^ Nintendo Power Vol 64, 1994-08
- ^ Square Co (1993-10-03). Secret of Mana (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Square.
Thanatos: I need life energy to create a new, peaceful world, understand? Soon, the Mana Fortress will bring the people of the world together!
- ^ Square Co (1993-10-03). Secret of Mana (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Square.
Thanatos: For ages I have been searching...for a human with the power to conquer this world... ...one born in the shadow of darkness, and raised in the light of Mana. Dyluck is the one. I cannot wait any longer. My body has grown weak! It is time! Using his body I will take the Mana Fortress, and rule the world!
- ^ Square Co (1993-10-03). Secret of Mana (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Square.
Mana Tree: The Mana Fortress is using up most of the world's Mana. Soon all the beasts of will be transformed into one giant creature. Only the great Mana Beast can bring back Mana. But the Beast has little control over its rage. If it were to attack the fortress, the world would be finished.
- ^ Square Co (1993-10-03). Secret of Mana (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Square.
Mana Tree: That was your father, Serin. I was his wife...and am your mother. We are of the Mana Tribe. The women of our kind become the Tree, and the protectors of the world. The men wield the Sword, and protect against evil!
- ^ Square Co (1993-10-03). Secret of Mana (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Square.
Dyluck: Princess...can you hear me? It's me, Dyluck... He's too strong...I'm finished, but I can help you... Thanatos is an ancient sorcerer who sold his heart to the underworld. Though his life force is eternal, he hasn't his own body. His life force is growing darker. He feeds on hatred and destruction!
- ^ Square Co (1993-10-03). Secret of Mana (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Square.
Protagonist: ...I can't... I won't hurt a Mana Beast! I can't! They are only trying to restore Mana! And......sprite! If you use up all your Mana power, you'll disappear!
- ^ a b c Nintendo, VC The Legend of the Holy Sword 2: Character introduction
- ^ Nickel, Thomas (2006). "Hiromichi Tanaka - Final Fantasy III". G-Wie-Gorilla.de. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
- ^ a b Jeremy Parish (2003). "Classics Column #1: Desperately Seeking Seiken". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
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ignored (help) - ^ West, Neil (September 1994). "Interview with Ted Woolsey (full text)". Super Play Magazine.
{{cite news}}
: External link in
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- ^ McGrath, Brendan (April 29, 1999). "Interview with Ted Woolsey". Square-Haven.com. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ Yukiyoshi Ike Sato (1999). "Square Wonderswan games update". GameSpot.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "RPG Fan summary of Square OST releases". Retrieved 29 June.
{{cite web}}
: Check date values in:|accessdate=
(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=
ignored (|access-date=
suggested) (help) - ^ Kikuta, Horoki and Capowski, Rebecca. "Seiken Densetsu 2 Original Sound Version: Liner Notes". Chudahs-Corner.com. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Jon Turner (September 2, 2000). "Game Music Concert 3 by Symphony Orchestra". SoundtrackCentral.com. Retrieved 3 September.
{{cite web}}
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|accessyear=
ignored (|access-date=
suggested) (help) - ^ "The Concert Programs". VGMConcerts.com. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ "ScrewAttack: Top 10 Video Game Themes Ever". GameTrailers.com. October 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ Third video greeting online, Symphonic Fantasies, 2009-01-22, retrieved 2009-06-01
- ^ "Secret of Mana Plus; Soundtrack Central". SoundtrackCental.com. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ "Secret of Mana SNES Review Index, Secret of Mana Reviews". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ Thomas, Lucas M. (October 13, 2008). "Secret of Mana Review". IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ a b "Secret of Mana Reviews". Game Rankings. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ "Secret of Mana for SNES - MobyGames". MobyGames. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Squaresoft". Edge Reviews Database. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
- ^ "Secret of Mana - Super Nintendo - Mean Machines review". Mean Machines. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ Riley, Adam (February 2, 2003). "Secret of Mana". Cubed3.com. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ "Secret of Mana for SNES - MobyGames". MobyGames. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
- ^ Lee, Justin (2004-02-15). "GameSpy.com - Hall of Fame". GameSpy. pp. pp. 1-2. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ "February 2, 2004 - February 4, 2004" (PDF). Square Enix. 2004-02-09. p. 27. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- ^ "NP Top 200". Nintendo Power (199). 2006.
{{cite journal}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "NP Top 200", Nintendo Power, vol. 200, pp. 58–66, February 2006
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: year (link). - ^ IGN staff. "IGN's Top 100 Games". IGN.com. Retrieved 2007-09-12.
- ^ IGN staff. "IGN's Top 100 Games". IGN.com. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ Campbell, Colin (2006). "Japan Votes on All Time Top 100". EDGE Magazine. Retrieved 2009-07-26.
- ^ "ScrewAttack: Top 20 SNES Games (10-1)". GameTrailers.com. April 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". 1994.
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External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- Template:StrategyWiki
- Secret of Mana at MobyGames
- Secret of Mana at the Seikens.com
- GameFAQS - Secret of Mana Info