GamesRadar+ Verdict
Pros
- +
Beautiful character designs
- +
Top-notch soundtrack
- +
Cute and cuddly moments
Cons
- -
Repetitive as hell
- -
Maddening camera
- -
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) |
6 days before launch, Xbox breaks Hellblade 2's long marketing silence with a 5-minute recap of the first game
Assassin's Creed Shadows has a grappling hook to let its shinobi character reach places its samurai can't
Peter Jackson says The Lord of the Rings Gollum movie explores territory "we didn't have time to cover" in the original trilogy