GamesRadar+ Verdict
Pros
- +
Beautiful character designs
- +
Top-notch soundtrack
- +
Cute and cuddly moments
Cons
- -
Repetitive as hell
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Maddening camera
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Wounded lock-on targeting
Why you can trust GamesRadar+
Dawn of Mana trades RPG tradition for action, eschewing classic elements in favor of tired double-jump platforming mechanics. Its initial moments are filled with hope, as the colorful characters of Keldy and Ritzia are introduced. The basics of play are explained: knock inanimate objects like barrels, lumber, and boulders into enemies, and those monsters will panic for a few moments while you whack them with impunity. Since only panicked baddies drop upgrade items, and fully-aware opponents can knock you ridiculous distances, your only choice is a constant cycle of stun-and-kill.
As interesting as this indirect twist on hacking and slashing might sound at first, it grows old almost immediately, thanks in part to a camera that blocks the view whenever possible, and takes forever to orbit your character, leaving Keldy forever vulnerable to assault from off-screen. Worse, the physics are unpredictable, monsters sometimes won't panic at all, and target-lock obstinately refuses to latch onto nearby enemies in favor of those hopelessly out of reach. Granting the player a vine with which to whip objects around is pointless when controlling basic brawling is next to impossible.
More info
Genre | Role Playing |
Description | Poorly conceived and badly executed, Dawn of Mana's bright cotton candy visuals and stirring soundtrack together serve only as sugary sweet counterpoint to the dismally sour experience of actually playing. |
Platform | "PS2" |
US censor rating | "Teen" |
UK censor rating | "" |
Release date | 1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK) |
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