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{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{Featured article}}{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Secret of Mana
| image = Secret of Mana Box.jpg
| developer = [[Square (video game company)|Square]]
| publisher = {{ubli|Square|[[Square Enix]] (mobile)}}
| director = [[Koichi Ishii]]
| producer = [[Hiromichi Tanaka]]
| designer = {{Plainlist|
*Koichi Ishii
*Hiromichi Tanaka}}
| programmer = [[Nasir Gebelli]]
| artist = {{ubli|[[Shinichi Kameoka]]|Hiroo Isono}}
| writer = Hiromichi Tanaka
| composer = [[Hiroki Kikuta]]
| series = ''[[Mana (series)|Mana]]''
| platforms = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Nintendo Switch]] (original); [[Mobile phone]], [[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]] (enhanced); [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Vita]], [[Windows]] (remake)
| released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|August 6, 1993}}|
'''Super NES'''{{Video game release|JP|August 6, 1993|NA|October 1993|PAL|November 25, 1994}}
|'''Wii (Virtual Console)'''{{Video game release|JP|September 9, 2008|NA|October 13, 2008|PAL|December 26, 2008}}
|'''Mobile (Enhanced)'''{{Video game release|JP|October 26, 2009}}
|'''iOS (Enhanced)'''{{Video game release|WW|December 21, 2010}}
|'''Wii U (Virtual Console)'''{{Video game release|JP|June 26, 2013}}
|'''Android (Enhanced)'''{{Video game release|WW|October 30, 2014}}
|'''Switch (''Collection of Mana'')'''{{Video game release|JP|June 1, 2017|WW|June 11, 2019}}
|'''PS4, Vita, Windows (Remake)'''{{Video game release|WW|February 15, 2018}}
}}
| genre = [[Action role-playing]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| caption = North American SNES box art
}}

'''''Secret of Mana''''', originally released in Japan as {{nihongo foot|'''''Seiken Densetsu 2''''',|{{ruby|聖剣伝説|せいけんでんせつ}}2||{{lit}} ''The Legend of the Sacred Sword 2''|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1993 [[action role-playing game]] developed and published by [[Square (video game company)|Square]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. It is the sequel to the 1991 game ''Seiken Densetsu'' which was released in North America as ''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]'' and in Europe as ''Mystic Quest''. Secret of Mana was the first ''Seiken Densetsu'' title to be marketed as part of the [[Mana (series)|''Mana'' series]] rather than the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series. Set in a [[high fantasy]] universe, the game follows three heroes as they attempt to prevent an empire from conquering the world with the power of an ancient flying fortress.

Rather than using a [[turn-based]] battle system like contemporaneous role-playing games, ''Secret of Mana'' features [[Real-time game|real-time]] battles with a power bar mechanic. The game has a unique [[pie menu|Ring Command]] menu system, which [[Pausable real-time|pauses]] the action and allows the player to make decisions in the middle of battle. An innovative [[Cooperative video game|cooperative]] [[multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] system allows a second or third player to drop in and out of the game at any time. ''Secret of Mana'' was directed and designed by [[Koichi Ishii]], programmed primarily by [[Nasir Gebelli]], and produced by veteran Square designer [[Hiromichi Tanaka]].

The game received acclaim for its brightly colored graphics, expansive plot, Ring Command menu system, and innovative real-time battle system. Critics also praised [[Hiroki Kikuta]]'s soundtrack and the customizable [[Artificial intelligence (video games)|artificial intelligence]] (AI) settings for computer-controlled allies. Retrospectively, it has been considered one of the [[List of video games considered the best|greatest games of all time]] by critics. It was re-released on Virtual Console on the [[Wii]] in 2008 and [[Wii U]] in 2013, on multiple mobile platforms (as an enhanced version) between 2009 and 2019, on [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]] as part of ''[[Collection of Mana]]'' in 2017 and 2019, and was remade in 3D in 2018 for [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Vita|Vita]] and [[Windows]]. The remake saw mixed reviews, with many faulting its lack of game play improvements and reworked graphics.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Smana.PNG|thumb|The standard overhead view. The party's attack strength and remaining [[Health (gaming)|health]] is shown in the gauges at the bottom.]]
[[Image:Flammie Flying.gif|thumb|Flammie flying and demonstrating [[Mode 7]]]]
Like many other role-playing games of the [[History of video game consoles (fourth generation)|16-bit era]], ''Secret of Mana'' displays a [[top-down perspective]], in which the [[player characters]] navigate the terrain and fight off hostile creatures. The game features three such characters: the hero, the girl, and the [[Sprite (creature)|sprite]], named Randi, Primm, and Popoi outside the initial North American and European releases. The player can also choose their own names for them. The player can choose to control each of the characters at any time; whichever character is currently selected, the other two companions are controlled via [[Artificial intelligence (video games)|artificial intelligence]]. The game may be played simultaneously by up to three players,<ref name="RPGFan" /><ref name="RPGamer" /> made possible by the [[Super Multitap]] accessory for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] console.<ref name="NPower_1" /> The [[Virtual Console]] version of the game supports three-player gameplay via additional [[Nintendo GameCube controller|GameCube controllers]] or [[Classic Controller]]s.<ref name="vc_ign" />

Each character possesses individual strengths and weaknesses. The hero, while unable to use magic, masters weapons at a quicker rate; the girl is a [[healer (gaming)|healer]], able to cast restorative and support spells; and the sprite casts offensive magic to damage and impair enemies.<ref name="vc_ign" /> Upon collecting enough [[experience point]]s in battle, each character increases in level and improves in areas such as strength and evasion. The trio can rest in towns, where they can regain [[Health (gaming)|hit points]] or purchase restorative items and equipment. Options such as changing equipment, casting [[Magic (gaming)|spells]], or checking status are performed by cycling through the game's Ring Commands, a [[pie menu|circular menu]] which hovers over the currently controlled party member.<ref name="RPGamer" /><ref name="NPower_1" /><ref name="vc_ign" /> The game is momentarily paused whenever the Ring Commands appear.<ref name="RPGFan2" />

Combat takes place in real-time.<ref name="RPGamer" /> Located at the bottom of the screen is a power bar,<ref name="DDbook"/><ref name="RGseries"/> a gauge that determines the amount of damage done to an enemy when attacking. Swinging a weapon causes the gauge to empty and then quickly recharge, allowing that character to attack at full strength. The party wields eight different types of weaponry: sword, spear, bow, axe, boomerang, glove, whip, and javelin. All weapons can be upgraded eight times, and repeated use of a weapon increases its skill level to a maximum of eight, unlocking a new special attack with each level. Weapons are upgraded with Weapon Orbs, which are found in [[dungeon crawl|dungeons]] or earned by defeating certain [[boss (video gaming)|bosses]].<ref name="RPGamer" /> The player takes each Orb to a [[blacksmith]], located in most towns, who uses it to reforge one weapon.<ref name="RPGFan" /><ref name="NPower_2" />

In order to learn magic, the party must rescue spirits known as Elementals. The eight Elementals represent different elements—such as water, earth, and life—and each provides the player with specific spells. Magic has skill levels similar to weapons, but each magic spell costs [[magic point]]s to cast.<ref name="RPGFan" />

At the start of the game, to reach a destination, players must traverse an enemy-infested countryside. Travel may be expedited with Cannon Travel Centers, where the party may be [[human cannonball|launched]] to faraway destinations via a giant [[cannon]]. Cannon Travel usually requires a fee, but is mandatory to visit other continents later on.<ref name="NPower_1" /> 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.<ref name="NPower_3" /> These sequences make use of the SNES's [[Mode 7]] capability to create a rotatable background, giving the illusion that the ground beneath Flammie is rendered in [[3D computer graphics|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.<ref name="NWRflammie"/>

==Plot==
===Setting and characters===
The story takes place in a [[high fantasy]] world, which contains an ethereal energy source named "[[Mana (Oceanian mythology)|mana]]". An ancient, technologically advanced civilization exploited mana to construct the "Mana Fortress", a flying warship. This angered the world's gods, who sent giant beasts to war with the civilization. The conflict was globally destructive and nearly exhausted all signs of mana in the world, until a hero used the power of the Mana Sword to destroy the fortress and the civilization. The world began to recover in peace. As the game opens, an empire seeks eight Mana Seeds, which when "unsealed" will restore mana to the world and allow the empire to restore the Mana Fortress.<ref name="backstory"/>

The three main characters do not have names in the original SNES release, though their names appear in the manual of the Japanese release; their names were added into the game in the iOS port worldwide. In all versions, the player can choose to name the characters whatever they wish. The {{nihongo|hero|ランディ|Randi}},<ref name="chara"/> a young boy, is adopted by the Elder of Potos before the start of the game, after the boy's mother disappears. The {{nihongo|girl|プリム|Primm}}<ref name="chara"/> is in love with a warrior named Dyluck, who was ordered by the king to attack Elinee's Castle. Angered by the king's actions and by her father's attempt to [[arranged marriage|arrange]] her marriage to a local nobleman, she leaves the castle to save Dyluck and to accompany the hero as well.<ref name="quoteprimm"/> The hero meets a {{nihongo|sprite child|ポポイ|Popoi}}<ref name="chara"/> at the Dwarf Village. The sprite lives with a dwarf and goes with the characters to learn more about their family. It does not remember anything about its past, so it joins the team to try to recover its memories.<ref name="quotesprite"/>

=== Story ===
The game begins as three boys from the small Potos village disobey their Elder's instructions and trespass into a local waterfall, where a treasure is said to be kept. One of the boys 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.<ref name="quotepotos"/> A traveling 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.<ref name="quotesword"/>

During his journey, the hero is joined by the girl and the sprite. Throughout their travels, the trio is pursued by the Empire. The Emperor and his subordinates are being manipulated by Thanatos, an ancient sorcerer who hopes to create a "new, peaceful world".<ref name="quote1"/> Due to his own body's deterioration, Thanatos is in need of a suitable body to [[Spirit possession|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; he eventually chooses to possess Dyluck.<ref name="quote2"/>

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 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 dragon called the Mana Beast will soon be summoned to combat the Fortress. The Beast has little control over its rage and will likely destroy the world as well.<ref name="quote3"/> The Mana Tree also reveals that it was once the human wife of Serin, the original Mana Knight and the hero's father. The voice heard at Potos' waterfall was that of Serin's ghost.<ref name="quote4"/>

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.<ref name="quote5"/> Dyluck kills himself, forcing Thanatos to revert to a skeletal [[lich]] form, which the party defeats. 

The Mana Beast finally flies in and attacks the Fortress. The hero expresses reluctance to kill the Beast, fearing that with the dispersal of Mana from the world, the sprite will vanish.<ref name="quote6" /> With the sprite's encouragement, he uses the fully energized Mana Sword to slay the Beast, causing it to explode and transform into snow.<ref name="quoteend" /> At the conclusion of the game, the sprite child vanishes into an astral plane, the girl is returned home and the hero is seen welcomed back in Potos, returning the Mana Sword to its place beneath the waterfall.

==Development==
[[File:HiromichiTanaka20070131.jpg|thumb|upright|''Secret of Mana'' writer and producer Hiromichi Tanaka]]

''Secret of Mana'' was directed and designed by [[Koichi Ishii]], the creator of the game's [[Game Boy]] predecessor, ''[[Final Fantasy Adventure]]''. He has stated that he feels ''Secret of Mana'' is more "his game" than other projects he has worked on, such as the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series.<ref name="LEVELint"/> The game was programmed primarily by [[Nasir Gebelli]] and produced by veteran Square designer [[Hiromichi Tanaka]]. The team hoped to build on the foundation of ''Final Fantasy Adventure'', and they included several modified elements from that game and from other popular [[Square (video game company)|Square]] titles in ''Secret of Mana''. In addition to having better graphics and sound quality than its predecessor, the attack power gauge was changed to be more engaging, and the weapon leveling system replaced ''Final Fantasy Adventure''{{'}}s system of leveling up the speed of the attack gauge.<ref name="RGseries"/> The party system also received an upgrade from the first ''Mana'' game: instead of temporary companions who could not be upgraded, party members became permanent protagonists and could be controlled by other players.<ref name="RGseries"/> The multiplayer component was not a part of the original design, but was added when the developers realized that they could easily make all three characters human-controlled.<ref name="LEVELint"/>

The real-time battle system used in ''Secret of Mana'' has been described by its creators as an extension of the battle system used in the first three flagship ''Final Fantasy'' titles. The system for experience points and leveling up was taken from ''[[Final Fantasy III]]''.<ref name="tables"/> According to Tanaka, the game's battle system features mechanics that had first been considered for ''[[Final Fantasy IV]]''. Similarly, unused features in ''Secret of Mana'' were appropriated by the ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' team, which (like ''Final Fantasy IV'') was in production at the time.<ref name="LEVELint"/> According to Tanaka, the project was originally intended to be ''Final Fantasy IV'', with a "more action-based, dynamic overworld". It "wound up not being" ''Final Fantasy IV'' anymore, and instead became a separate project codenamed "''Chrono Trigger''" during development, before finally becoming ''Seiken Densetsu 2''. Tanaka said that it "always felt like a sequel" to ''Final Fantasy III'' for him.<ref name="FF3-2"/>

''Secret of Mana'' was originally planned to be a launch title for the [[SNES-CD]] add-on.<ref name="Release"/><ref name="SoM Escapist"/> After the contract between [[Nintendo]] and [[Sony]] to produce the add-on failed, and Sony repurposed its work on the SNES-CD into the competing [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] console, Square adapted the game for the SNES cartridge format. The game had to be altered to fit the storage space of a SNES [[ROM cartridge|game cartridge]], which is much smaller than that of a CD-ROM.<ref name="1up"/> The developers initially resisted continuing the project without the CD add-on, believing that too much of the game would have to be cut, but they were overruled by company management. As a result of the hardware change, several features had to be cut from the game, and some completed work needed to be redone.<ref name="LEVELint"/><ref name="SoM Escapist"/> One of the most significant changes was the removal of the option to take [[nonlinear gameplay|multiple routes]] through the game that led to several [[alternate ending|possible endings]], in contrast to the linear journey in the final product.<ref name="RGseries"/> The plot that remained was different from the original conception, and Tanaka has said that the original story had a much darker tone.<ref name="LEVELint"/> Ishii has estimated that up to forty percent of the planned game was dropped to meet the space limitations, and critics have suggested that the hardware change led to technical problems when too much happens at once in the game.<ref name="LEVELint"/><ref name="EDGEretro"/>

===Music===
{{Main|Music of the Mana series}}
[[File:Hiroki Kikuta.jpg|thumb|left|upright|''Secret of Mana'' composer Hiroki Kikuta]]

The original score for ''Secret of Mana'' was composed and produced by [[Hiroki Kikuta]]. [[Kenji Ito (composer)|Kenji Ito]], who had composed the soundtrack for ''Final Fantasy Adventure'', was originally slated for the project, but was replaced with Kikuta after he had started on other projects, such as ''[[Romancing SaGa]]''. ''Secret of Mana'' was Kikuta's first video game score, and he encountered difficulties in dealing with the hardware limitations of the Super NES. Kikuta tried to express in the music two "contrasting styles" to create an original score which would be neither [[pop music]] nor standard [[video game music|game music]].<ref name="SD2liner"/> Kikuta worked on the music mostly by himself, spending nearly 24&nbsp;hours a day in his office, alternating between composing and editing to create a soundtrack that would be, according to him, "immersive" and "three-dimensional".<ref name="kikutaint"/> Rather than having sound engineers create the samples of instruments like most game music composers of the time, Kikuta made his own samples that matched the hardware capabilities of the Super NES. These custom samples allowed him to know exactly how each piece would sound on the system's hardware, so he did not have to worry about differences between the original composition and the Super NES.<ref name="KikShimInt"/> Kikuta stated in 2001 that he considered the score for ''Secret of Mana'' his favorite creation.<ref name="KIKUTARBint"/>

The soundtrack's music includes both "ominous" and "light-hearted" tracks, and is noted for its use of bells and "dark, solemn pianos".<ref name="RPGFSM"/> Kikuta's compositions for the game were partly inspired by natural landscapes, as well as music from [[Bali]].<ref name="KIKUTASMint"/><ref name="1UPKikutaint"/> Hardware limitations made the title screen to the game slowly fade in, and Kikuta designed the title track to the game, "Fear of the Heavens", to sync up with the screen. At that time, composers rarely tried to match a game's music to its visuals. Kikuta also started the track off with a "whale noise", rather than a traditional "ping", in order to try to "more deeply connect" the player with the game from the moment it started up. Getting the sound to work with the memory limitations of the Super NES was a difficult technical challenge.<ref name="KikShimInt"/>

An official soundtrack album, ''Seiken Densetsu 2 Original Sound Version'', was released in Japan in August 1993, containing 44 musical tracks from the game. An English version, identical to the Japanese original aside from its localized packaging and track titles, was later released in North America in December 1994 as ''Secret of Mana Original Soundtrack'', making ''Secret of Mana'' one of the first Japanese games to inspire a localized soundtrack release outside of Japan.<ref name="RPGFSM"/> An album of arranged music from ''Secret of Mana'' and its sequel ''[[Seiken Densetsu 3]]'' was produced in 1993 as ''Secret of Mana+''. The music in the album was all composed and arranged by Kikuta. ''Secret of Mana+'' contains a single track, titled "Secret of Mana", that incorporates themes from the music of both ''Secret of Mana'' and ''Seiken Densetsu 3'', which was still under development at the time.<ref name="SEMOSMP"/> The style of the album has been described by critics as "experimental", using "strange sounds" such as waterfalls, bird calls, cell phone sounds, and "typing" sounds.<ref name="RPGFSMP"/> The music has also been described by critics as covering many different musical styles, such as "Debussian impressionist styles, his own heavy electronic and synth ideas, and even ideas of popular musicians".<ref name="SEMOSMP"/> The latest album of music from the game is a 2012 arranged album titled ''Secret of Mana Genesis / Seiken Densetsu 2 Arrange Album''. The 16 tracks are upgraded versions of the original Super NES tracks, and Kikuta said in the liner notes for the album that they are "how he wanted the music to sound when he wrote it", without the limitations of the Super NES hardware. Critics such as Patrick Gann of RPGFan, however, noted that the differences were minor.<ref name="RPGFgen"/> A rendition of the soundtrack was commissioned for the first ever [[BBC Proms]] gaming music concert in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/go-listen-to-the-first-ever-gaming-concert-at-the-bbc-proms-a-landmark-event/ | title=Go listen to the first-ever gaming concert at the BBC Proms, a landmark event | website=PC Gamer | date=7 August 2022 | last1=Bolding | first1=Jonathan | access-date=August 10, 2022 | archive-date=August 10, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810153921/https://www.pcgamer.com/go-listen-to-the-first-ever-gaming-concert-at-the-bbc-proms-a-landmark-event/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Release==
''Secret of Mana'' was announced as being released in July 1993 as recently as that April, marketed as a "Party Action RPG", before eventually being released in August instead for the Japanese market.<ref name="FAMparty"/> In South Korea, it was released the same month in August 1993.<ref name="GameWorld"/> The English translation for ''Secret of Mana'' was completed in only 30 days, mere weeks after the Japanese release,<ref name="Release"/> and the North American [[game localization|localization]] was initially advertised as ''Final Fantasy Adventure 2''.<ref name="FFA2"/> Critics have suggested that the translation was done hastily so that the game could be released in North America for the 1993 holiday season.<ref name="1up"/> According to translator [[Ted Woolsey]], a large portion of the game's script was cut out in the English localization due to space limitations.<ref name="Release"/><ref name="McGrath"/> To display text on the main gameplay screen, the English translation uses a [[monospaced font|fixed-width font]], which limits the amount of space available to display text. Woolsey was unhappy that he had to trim conversations to their bare essentials and that he had so little time for translation, commenting that it "nearly killed me".<ref name="HC101"/> The script was difficult to translate as it was presented to Woolsey in disordered groups of text, like "shuffling a novel".<ref name="McGrath"/> Other localizations were done in German and French. The Japanese release only named the three protagonists in the manual,<ref name="man28"/> while Western versions omitted the characters' names until the enhanced port on the iOS.<ref name="man35"/><ref name="charnames"/> The game released in Europe on November 25, 1994.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 14, 1994 |title=Nintendo pledges hot new titles on the way soon |pages=21 |work=[[Grimsby Telegraph|Grimsby Evening Telegraph]] |url=https://newspapers.com/image/822078208/?terms=%22Secret%20of%20Mana%22&match=1 |access-date=November 26, 2023 |quote=November 25 will be the launch day&nbsp;... The same day also sees ''Secret of Mana'' brought out for SNES. |archive-date=October 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009001307/https://www.newspapers.com/image/822078208/?terms=%22Secret%20of%20Mana%22&match=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1999, Square announced they would be porting ''Secret of Mana'' to [[Bandai]]'s handheld system [[WonderSwan|WonderSwan Color]] as one of nine planned games for the system.<ref name="Wonderswan"/> No such port was ever released. The game was released on Virtual Console on the [[Wii]] in 2008 and on [[Wii U]], only in Japan, in 2013. A mobile phone port of ''Secret of Mana'' was released on October 26, 2009.<ref name="mobile"/> A port of the game for [[iOS]] was revealed at [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] 2010, and released on Apple's App Store on December 21, 2010.<ref name="iphone"/> The port fixed several bugs, and the English script was both edited and retranslated from the original Japanese.<ref name="StP"/> The enhanced port from the iOS version was released on [[Android (OS)|Android]] devices in 2014.<ref name="Android"/> A port for the [[Nintendo Switch]] was released with ports of ''Final Fantasy Adventure'' and ''Trials of Mana'' as part of the ''[[Collection of Mana]]'' on June 1, 2017, in Japan, and June 11, 2019 in the rest of the world.<ref name="Switch"/><ref name="SwitchNA"/> The game was released as one of the games included on the [[Super NES Classic Edition]] on September 29, 2017.<ref name="SNESclassic"/> 

===3D remake===
In August 2017, a 3D remake of the game was announced for [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Vita]] and [[Windows]] and was released on February 15, 2018.<ref name="3DRemake"/> The remake was developed by Q Studios for Square Enix.<ref name="ManaQStudios"/> The project began in 2016 following positive feedback from ''[[Adventures of Mana]]'', a remake of the original ''Mana'' game. The remake's gameplay was described as "basically the same" as the original, although it was redone using 3D graphics and some features were added for convenience such as an area map, increased game save opportunities, improved companion AI, and voice acting. The offline multiplayer function was carried over into the different versions.<ref name="RemakeInterviewIGN"/> The character art was redesigned by Haccan, an artist who had worked on ''Adventures of Mana''.<ref name="StaffVisions"/> Kikuta returned to supervise new arrangements of his music, bringing in a number of other composers he knew who were fans of ''Secret of Mana''. He described his approach as composing an "adult" version of the original tracks. At the request of the series producer, the main theme "Angel's Fear" was recorded with a full orchestra.<ref name="RemakeInterviewKikuta"/> The arranges included as [[Yuzo Koshiro]] and [[Tsuyoshi Sekito]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gallagher|first1=Mathew|title=Team of arrangers announced for Secret of Mana remake|url=http://www.vgmonline.net/team-of-arrangers-announced-for-secret-of-mana-remake/|website=Video Game Music Online|date=19 November 2017|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123014349/http://www.vgmonline.net/team-of-arrangers-announced-for-secret-of-mana-remake/|archive-date=23 November 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The soundtrack was released as an album, also titled ''Secret of Mana Original Soundtrack'', shortly after the remake's release in February 2018.<ref name="SOMremake">{{cite web |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/secret-of-mana-remake-original-soundtrack-released-by-square-enix/ |title=Secret of Mana Remake Original Soundtrack Released by Square-Enix |last=Wilkes |first=Brenna |date=2018-02-22 |publisher=Original Sound Version |access-date=2018-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222170753/http://www.originalsoundversion.com/secret-of-mana-remake-original-soundtrack-released-by-square-enix/ |archive-date=2018-02-22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reception==
===Sales===
The initial shipment of games in Japan sold out within days of the release date.<ref name="EDGEpreview"/> ''[[Dengeki Oh]]'' magazine ranked it the second best-selling [[1993 in video games|video game of 1993]] in Japan, where {{nowrap|1.003 million}} units were sold that year, just below ''[[Street Fighter II Turbo]]''.<ref name="Dengeki">{{cite magazine |title=1993年のコンシューマーゲームソフトの売上Top30 |trans-title=1993 Consumer Game Software Sales: Top 30 |magazine=[[Dengeki Oh]] |publisher=[[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]] |lang=ja |url=http://www.rnac.ne.jp/~zangel/1993.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010919134833/http://www.rnac.ne.jp/~zangel/1993.htm |archive-date=19 September 2001 |access-date=16 September 2021 }}</ref> In South Korea, it was the top-selling game from November to December 1993.<ref name="GameWorld">{{cite magazine |title=Best Top 10 |magazine=Game World |date=January 1994 |page=58 |language=ko}}</ref>

''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' reported in November 1993 that the game was "the most widely covered game of the year in Japan" with a high number of sales, but was initially released in North America "completely un-hyped and mostly unheard of".<ref name="edge_mana"/> Despite this, ''Secret of Mana'' went on to become the second top-selling Super NES game on the monthly US [[GameStop|Babbage]]'s chart in October 1993, below only ''[[Mortal Kombat (1992 video game)|Mortal Kombat]]'',<ref name="chart"/> with ''Secret of Mana'' remaining in the US top ten SNES game charts for a year up until October 1994.<ref name="EGMDec1994"/> It was also a success in Europe, where the game introduced many players to console role-playing games.<ref name="RGseries"/> In the United Kingdom, it was the fourth top-selling game in November 1994, and the second top-selling SNES game that month (below ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]'').<ref name="CVG158">{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/84/CVG_UK_158.pdf#page=115 |title=Chart attack with HMV |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |issue=158 (January 1995) |date=15 December 1994 |page=115 |access-date=September 17, 2021 |archive-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401063350/http://retrocdn.net/images/8/84/CVG_UK_158.pdf#page=115 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' magazine, it was surprisingly popular for a role-playing game, contributing to the genre's growing popularity in the West. ''Next Generation'' reported in 1996 that the game had sold more than 500,000 copies in the United States alone.<ref name="nextgen"/> According to Square Enix, ''Secret of Mana'' had shipped {{nowrap|1.83 million}} copies worldwide as of 2003, with {{nowrap|1.5 million}} shipped in Japan and 330,000 abroad.<ref name="SEsales04"/>

===Contemporary reviews===
{{Video game reviews
| title = Contemporary reception
| Dragon = 5/5<ref name="Dragon208"/>
| Edge = 9/10<ref name="edge_mana"/>
| EGM = 8/10, 9/10, 9/10, 9/10<ref name="egm"/>
| Fam = 9/10, 9/10, 8/10, 7/10<ref name="Famitsu"/>
| GameFan = 363/400<ref name="DGFreview"/>
| ONM = 93%<ref name="NMS"/>
}}
''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' magazine's reviewers heavily praised the graphics, music, and multiplayer gameplay, saying that it had "some of the best music I've ever heard from a cartridge". They hoped that other companies would take the game's lead in adding multiplayer modes to role-playing games.<ref name="egm"/> ''[[GameFan|Diehard GameFan]]''{{'}}s review of the game named the multiplayer as the game's best component, with reviewer Kelly Rickards saying that while the graphics were nice, the multiplayer "made the game".<ref name="DGFreview"/> ''[[GamePro]]''{{'}}s review praised the graphics, plot, "first-rate gameplay" and "positively massive" world "dwarfing even ''Zelda''", while stating the gameplay and multiplayer were "rough around the edges", concluding it to be "one of the finest action/RPGs" on the SNES.<ref name="GPreview"/> ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' called it an "Beautiful graphics and great depth of play" but criticizing the "unnecessarily long" sword powering-up and "awkward" item selection method.<ref name="NP"/> ''[[SNES Force]]'' magazine praised the game's "superb" graphics, "fantastic" sounds and "revolutionary three-player mode".<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Secret of Mana |magazine=[[SNES Force]] |date=January 1994 |issue=8 |page=7 |url=https://archive.org/details/SNESForce04Oct93/SNESForce08-Jan94/page/n6/mode/1up}}</ref>

''Secret of Mana'' was awarded Game of the Month in December 1993 and Best Role-Playing Game of 1993 by ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''.<ref name="egm"/><ref name="egmbuyersguide1994"/> In its annual [[GameFan#Golden Megawards|Megawards]], ''GameFan'' awarded it Best Action/RPG (SNES).<ref name="GFaward"/> ''GamePro'' gave it the award for [[List of Game of the Year awards|Role-Playing Game of the Year]], ahead of ''[[Lufia & the Fortress of Doom|Lufia]]'' and ''[[Shadowrun (1993 video game)|Shadowrun]]'' as runners-up.<ref name="GPaward"/>

''Edge''{{'}}s review said that ''Secret of Mana'' was better than contemporary role-playing games ''[[Ys I & II]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]'', and ''[[Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole]]''. The review stated that ''Secret of Mana'' "includes some of the best game design and features ever seen: simultaneous three-player action, the best combat system ever designed, the best player interface ever designed, a superb control system, and yes, some of the most engrossing and rewarding gameplay yet". They concluded that the game was one of the best action RPGs or adventure games.<ref name="edge_mana"/> Game designer [[Sandy Petersen]] reviewed the game in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'', and described the game as much like ''[[The Legend of Zelda|Zelda]]'' but with conventional role-playing game features. He predicted that the game would be regarded as a classic. Peterson concluded that ''Secret of Mana'' was one of the best SNES role-playing games and that it was "a much larger game than ''Zelda'', with many more types of monsters, character options, and fortresses to explore".<ref name="Dragon208"/> ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine|Nintendo Magazine System]]'' also compared it favorably with ''A Link to the Past''; one reviewer stated that "even the magnificence of ''Zelda III'' seems stale in comparison to the incredible features found within this refreshing, exhilarating adventure" while the other stated that it "comes the closest yet" to surpassing ''Zelda'', concluding that ''Secret of Mana'' was "one of the greatest graphical RPGs in the history of the world".<ref name="NMS"/>

''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' said in 1994 that ''Mana'' was "doing for adventure games now what Zelda did several years ago" and that ''Mana'' is "one of the best games for the SNES this year and more playable than" ''[[Donkey Kong Country]]''.<ref name="CVG158"/> ''Next Generation'' said in 1996 that many players considered it "the RPG equivalent of ''[[Lord of the Rings]]''."<ref name="nextgen"/>

===Later reviews===
{{Video game reviews
| title = Retrospective reception
| GR = 87% (SNES)<ref name="GameRankings" />
| MC = 80/100 (iOS)<ref name="Metacritic" /><br/>63/100 (PS4)<ref name="MetaRemake"/>
| EuroG = 9/10 (Wii)<ref name="EUROG"/>
| GI = 9.25/10 (SNES)<ref>{{cite magazine|date=August 1997|title=Classic Game Informer|page=64|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|publisher=Funco|volume=7|issue=8|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/3a2758a2-942a-41b9-bb48-922e302f718b|via=[[Video Game History Foundation]]|issn=1067-6392|accessdate=August 21, 2025}}</ref>
| IGN = 9/10 (Wii)<ref name="IGN"/>
| ONM = 92% (Wii)<ref name="ONMWii"/>
| RPGFan = 90% (SNES)<ref name="RPGFan"/>
| rev1 = ''Slide to Play''
| rev1Score = 4/4 (iOS)<ref name="StP"/>
}}
In 2008, Lucas Thomas of ''[[IGN]]'' reviewed the [[Virtual Console]] release of ''Secret of Mana'' and stated that it was considered one of the best video games ever made.<ref name="IGN"/> ''[[Eurogamer]]''{{'}}s Dan Whitehead described it as "essential" and as the formative game of the ''Mana'' series.<ref name="EUROG"/> The [[iOS]] version of the game was praised by Nadia Oxford of Slide to Play for its improved graphics and computer-controlled characters. She also praised the quality of the touch controls relative to other role-playing game phone versions, though she disliked that the multiplayer mode had been removed.<ref name="StP"/> In 2014, ''Edge'' magazine described ''Secret of Mana'' as "one of the high points of the 16bit era". A writer for the magazine noted that, 20 years after ''Secret of Mana''{{'}}s release, its reputation as a SNES action RPG had been surpassed only by that of ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past''.<ref name="EDGEretro"/>

The 2018 remake saw "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregation website ''[[Metacritic]]'', with the PS4 version scoring 63 out of 100 based on 60 reviews, while the PC version was scored 57 out of 100 based on six reviews.<ref name="MetaRemake"/> ''RPG Site''{{'s}} Zack Reese positively noted the attempts to modernise the gameplay while remaining faithful to the original, but felt people were better off playing the original due to its 3D presentation and lack of additional gameplay improvements.<ref name="RPGreview2018"/> Meghan Sullvan of ''IGN'' described the game as "a charming but clumsy 20ish-hour adventure that both frustrates and delights", praising the artstyle but faulting a lack of improvements over the original.<ref name="IGNreview2018"/> ''Game Informer''{{'s}} Kimberley Wallace did enjoy her time with the game but felt some of the adjustments did not improve the gameplay, further faulting poor voice acting and uneven musical remixes.<ref name="GIreview2018"/> Jeremy Parish, writing for ''Polygon'', felt the remake compared poorly to the original's recent ports on Nintendo platforms, finding issues with its 3D redesign and repetitive character conversations.<ref name="PolyReview2018"/> Chris Schilling of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' was particularly critical, saying the original appeared much smoother by comparison, disliking the new 3D graphics and faulting lack of noticeable adjustments to the pacing and difficulty.<ref name="PCGreview2018"/>

===Impact===
''Secret of Mana'' has placed on numerous top game lists since its release, and is the 13th highest-rate SNES game on aggregator website [[GameRankings]].<ref name=GameRankings/> In 1995, ''[[Total!]]'' rated ''Secret of Mana'' 12th on their "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time,"<ref name="Total"/> with ''[[Super Play]]'' ranked it eighth on its list of the best 100 SNES games of all time the following year.<ref name="superplay"/> It has continued to be placed on "best of" lists of SNES games, games for Nintendo consoles, or role-playing ever since, including ones by ''[[Nintendo Power]]'',<ref name="NPbestof"/> ''IGN'',<ref name="IGNtoprpg17"/> ''[[Famitsu]]'',<ref name="Famitsupoll"/> ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]'',<ref name="ONMbestof"/> ''[[Game Informer]]'',<ref name="GIbestof"/> ''[[1Up Network|1Up.com]]'',<ref name="1UPbestof"/> ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'',<ref name="PGbestof"/> and ''Time Extension'',<ref name="TEbestof"/> as recently as 2023.

In 2006, ''Level'' magazine claimed that ''Secret of Mana''{{'}}s rocky development was Square's main inspiration to move their games, such as the ''Final Fantasy'' series, from Nintendo consoles to Sony consoles in 1996.<ref name="LEVELint"/>

''Secret of Mana'' was an influential game in its time, and its influence continued into the 2010s. Elements such as its radial ring menu system, described by ''Edge'' as "oft-mimicked", were borrowed by later games such as ''[[The Temple of Elemental Evil (video game)|The Temple of Elemental Evil]]''.<ref name="EDGEretro"/><ref name="DDbook"/> Its cooperative multiplayer gameplay has been mentioned as an influence on ''[[Dungeon Siege III]]''.<ref name="NowGamer"/>
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<!-- Gameplay -->

<ref name="RPGFan">{{cite web |author=Musashi |title=RPGFan Reviews - Secret of Mana |url=https://www.rpgfan.com/review/secret-of-mana/ |website=RPGFan |date=1999-02-22 |access-date=2021-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219072618/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/secretofmana/Secret_of_Mana.html |archive-date=2014-02-19 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="RPGFan2">{{cite web |last=Leyland |first=Robert |title=RPGFan Reviews - Secret of Mana |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/secretofmana/Secret_of_Mana-2.html |website=RPGFan |access-date=2014-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101174523/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/secretofmana/Secret_of_Mana-2.html |archive-date=2013-11-01 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="RPGamer">{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Greg |title=Secret of Mana - Retroview |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/sd/som/reviews/somrdrev2.html |publisher=RPGamer |access-date=2008-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118175015/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/sd/som/reviews/somrdrev2.html |archive-date=2014-01-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="vc_ign">{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |title=Secret of Mana Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/14/secret-of-mana-review |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=2008-10-14 |access-date=2008-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063230/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/14/secret-of-mana-review |archive-date=2014-02-23 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NPower_1">{{cite magazine |date=November 1993 |title=Secret of Mana |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |issn=1041-9551 |issue=54}}</ref>
<ref name="NPower_2">{{cite magazine |date=July 1994 |title=Secret of Mana |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |issn=1041-9551 |issue=62}}</ref>
<ref name="NPower_3">{{cite magazine |date=September 1994 |title=Secret of Mana |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |issn=1041-9551 |issue=64}}</ref>
<ref name="NWRflammie">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/27388 |title=The SNES 20 - Secret of Mana |publisher=Nintendo World Report |date=2011-08-13 |access-date=2014-02-04 |last=Red |first=Carmine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231084519/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/27388 |archive-date=2013-12-31 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- Plot -->

<ref name="backstory">{{cite web |script-title=ja:VC 聖剣伝説2 |trans-title=VC Seiken Densetsu 2 |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_sd2/vc_sd2_02.html |year=2008 |language=ja |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |access-date=2014-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712024038/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_sd2/vc_sd2_02.html |archive-date=2014-07-12 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="chara">{{cite web |title=Characters |url=http://dlgames.square-enix.com/som/images/en/char.jpg |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |access-date=2014-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030130146/http://dlgames.square-enix.com/som/images/en/char.jpg |archive-date=2013-10-30 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="quotepotos">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993|platform=SNES |quote='''Elder:''' Oh, hero! You've really done it to me this time! The reason why monsters have appeared is because you removed the sword. [...] I don't want to do this, but I have no choice. I'm going to have to ask you to leave the village.}}</ref>
<ref name="quotesword">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993|platform=SNES |quote='''Jema:''' That appears to be the real Mana Sword. [...] Sorry, but the sword is losing its power, and must be re-energized!}}</ref>
<ref name="quotesprite">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993|platform=SNES |quote='''Sprite:''' Well, how was that? What an actor I am! That guy was even crying! [...] '''Elder:''' Hey! Sorry about that. This child received such a shock from drifting here, it lost all its memories.}}</ref>
<ref name="quoteprimm">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993 |platform=SNES |quote='''Girl:''' This is GREAT! I need your help! I helped YOU didn't I? It's your turn. We're going to teach that witch a lesson. We're going to save Dyluck!}}</ref>
<ref name="quote1">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993 |platform=SNES |quote='''Thanatos:''' I need life energy to create a new, peaceful world, understand? Soon, the Mana Fortress will bring the people of the world together!}}</ref>
<ref name="quote2">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993 |platform=SNES |quote='''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!}}</ref>
<ref name="quote3">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993 |platform=SNES |quote='''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.}}</ref>
<ref name="quote4">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993|platform=SNES |quote='''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!}}</ref>
<ref name="quote5">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993 |platform=SNES |quote='''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!}}</ref>
<ref name="quote6">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993 |platform=SNES |quote='''Hero:''' ...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!}}</ref>
<ref name="quoteend">{{cite video game |title=Secret of Mana |developer=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |publisher=Square |date=October 1993 |platform=SNES |quote='''Sprite:''' OK, if we don't stop the Mana Beast, your world is finished, right? Everything will perish. Trees...animals...PEOPLE! That must not happen! YOU have the Mana Sword, YOU must save this world... YOU have no choice! You made a vow to your mother, the Mana Tree, right? I'll be okay. [...] '''Hero:''' Sprite! ...he's...gone! I didn't even say goodbye. [...] '''Girl:''' The Mana Beast is turning into...snow!}}</ref>

<!-- Development -->

<ref name="SoM Escapist">{{cite web |first=Lizzy |last=Finnegan |date=2015-04-07 |title=Secret of Mana: A Good Game With The Great Cut Out |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]] |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/pixels-and-bits/13744-Secret-of-Mana-Could-Have-Been-Great-With-Its-Missing-Content |access-date=2015-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004205410/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/pixels-and-bits/13744-Secret-of-Mana-Could-Have-Been-Great-With-Its-Missing-Content |archive-date=2015-10-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="LEVELint">{{cite magazine |magazine=Level |issue=6 |pages=114–121 |language=sv |last=Schaulfelberger |first=Frederik |date=September 2006 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |title=Sanningen om Mana |trans-title=The Truth about Mana}}</ref>
<ref name="FF3-2">{{cite web |script-title=ja:インタビュー『ファイナルファンタジーIII』 |trans-title=Interview "Final Fantasy III" |language=ja |url=https://dengekionline.com/soft/interview/ff3/ |website=[[Dengeki]] |year=2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304003831/http://dengekionline.com/soft/interview/ff3/ |archive-date=2019-03-04 |access-date=2019-06-18 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="RGseries">{{cite magazine |last=Day |first=Ashley |title=Featured: The Secrets of Mana |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |issue=85 |pages=24–31 |date=February 2011 |issn=1742-3155}}</ref>
<ref name="EDGEretro">{{cite magazine |title=Retrospective: Secret Of Mana |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=2014-06-01 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/retrospective-secret-of-mana/ |access-date=2014-08-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715210921/http://www.edge-online.com/features/retrospective-secret-of-mana/ |archive-date=2014-07-15 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="tables">{{cite magazine |date=2000-12-01 |title=Chrono Cross Development Team Interview and Contest |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/6764/chrono-cross-development-team-interview-and-contest/ |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |access-date=2010-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081016085727/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/6764/chrono-cross-development-team-interview-and-contest/|archive-date=2008-10-16 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="1up">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/classics-column-1-desperately-seeking |title=Classics Column #1: Desperately Seeking Seiken |access-date=2014-01-21 |first1=Jeremy |last1=Parish |last2=Cifaldi |first2=Frank |last3=Gifford |first3=Kevin |date=December 2003 |work=[[1UP.com]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602152927/http://www.1up.com/features/classics-column-1-desperately-seeking |archive-date=2013-06-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="FAMparty">{{cite magazine |script-title=ja:Party Action RPG: 聖剣伝説2 |trans-title=Party Action RPG: Seiken Densetsu 2 |magazine=[[Famicom Tsūshin]] |date=1993-04-16 |issue=226 |page=6 |language=ja |url=https://archive.org/details/famitsu-issue-226-apr-1993/page/6}}</ref>
<ref name="Release">{{cite news |last=West |first=Neil |date=September 1994 |title=Interview with Ted Woolsey |url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/wiki/index.php?title=Super_Play_Magazine_Woolsey_Interview |work=[[Super Play]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |issn=0966-6192 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184527/http://www.chronocompendium.com/wiki/index.php?title=Super_Play_Magazine_Woolsey_Interview |archive-date=2007-09-30 |access-date=2007-09-12 }}</ref>
<ref name="FFA2">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |issue=45 |page=90 |date=April 1993 |title=Final Fantasy Adventure 2}}</ref>
<ref name="McGrath">{{cite web |last=McGrath |first=Brendan |date=1999-04-29 |title=Interview with Ted Woolsey |url=http://squarehaven.com/people/Ted-Woolsey/?interview=44 |publisher=Square Haven |access-date=2007-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217205503/http://squarehaven.com/people/Ted-Woolsey/?interview=44 |archive-date=2012-02-17 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="HC101">{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/localization/localization2.htm |title=Localization: Confessions By Industry Legends |first=John |last=Szczepaniak |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |date=2009-08-31 |access-date=2014-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102093931/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/localization/localization2.htm |archive-date=2014-01-02 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="man28">{{cite book |script-title=ja:聖剣伝説2 取扱説明書 |trans-title=Seiken Densetsu 2 Instruction Manual |script-chapter=ja:キャラクター紹介 |trans-chapter=Character introduction |language=ja |publisher=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |date=1993-08-06 |pages=28–31}}</ref>
<ref name="man35">{{cite book |title=Secret of Mana Instruction Booklet |section=The Heroes |publisher=[[Square (video game company)|Square]] |date=October 1993 |page=35}}</ref>
<ref name="charnames">{{cite web |url=http://dlgames.square-enix.com/som/images/en/char.jpg |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030130146/http://dlgames.square-enix.com/som/images/en/char.jpg |archive-date=2013-10-30 |url-status=dead |title=Characters |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |access-date=2011-01-03 }}</ref>
<ref name="Android">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezone.com/news/secret-of-mana-hits-the-android-on-the-google-play-store |title=Secret of Mana hits the Android on the Google Play Store |last=Morris |first=Tatiana |publisher=GameZone |date=2014-10-30 |access-date=2014-12-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231030249/http://www.gamezone.com/news/secret-of-mana-hits-the-android-on-the-google-play-store |archive-date=2014-12-31 }}</ref>

<!-- Music -->

<ref name="SD2liner">{{cite book |last=Kikuta |first=Hiroki |author-link=Hiroki Kikuta |title=Seiken Densetsu 2 Original Sound Version (liner notes) |date=1995-08-25 |publisher=[[NTT Publishing]] |language=ja |id=PSCN-5030}}</ref>
<ref name="kikutaint">{{cite web |url=http://squarehaven.com/news/2007/06/09/Where-Angels-Fear-to-Tread-A-Conversation-with-Hiroki-Kikuta/ |title=Where Angels Fear to Tread: A Conversation with Hiroki Kikuta |access-date=2007-06-15 |author=Jeriaska |author2=Yamamoto, Taka |date=2007-06-09 |publisher=Square Haven |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117054852/http://squarehaven.com/news/2007/06/09/Where-Angels-Fear-to-Tread-A-Conversation-with-Hiroki-Kikuta/ |archive-date=2014-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="KikShimInt">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24920 |title=Interview: Magical Planet - The Music of Hiroki Kikuta & Yoko Shimomura |last=Jeriaska |date=2009-08-31 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |publisher=[[UBM plc]] |access-date=2009-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194606/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24920 |archive-date=2013-10-29 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="KIKUTARBint">{{cite web |url=http://www.rocketbaby.net/interviews_hiroki_kikuta_1.html |title=Interview with Hiroki Kikuta |access-date=2007-06-15 |author=RocketBaby staff| year=2001 |publisher=Hollow Light Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104205923/http://www.rocketbaby.net/interviews_hiroki_kikuta_1.html |archive-date=2013-11-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="KIKUTASMint">{{cite web |url=http://www.spelmusik.net/intervjuer/hiroki_kikuta_eng.html |title=Interview with Hiroki Kikuta |access-date=2007-06-15 |last=Kalabakov |first=Daniel |date=2003-01-06 |publisher=Spelmusik.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815231906/http://spelmusik.net/intervjuer/hiroki_kikuta_eng.html |archive-date=2007-08-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="1UPKikutaint">{{cite web |last=Parish |first=Jeremy |title=A Conversation With Secret of Mana's Composer |url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9067335 |work=[[1UP.com]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=2011-11-10 |date=2010-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708091715/http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9067335 |archive-date=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="RPGFSM">{{cite web |url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/som/index.html |title=Original music from the video game Secret of Mana |last=Thomas |first=Damian |date=2001-03-23 |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=2009-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117042423/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/som/index.html |archive-date=2014-01-17 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SEMOSMP">{{cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/seikendensetsu2arr.shtml |title=Secret of Mana + :: Review by Chris |last=Greening |first=Chris |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=2009-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117052558/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/chris/seikendensetsu2arr.shtml |archive-date=2014-01-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="RPGFSMP">{{cite web|url=http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/som+/index.html |title=Secret of Mana + |last=Kalabakov |first=Daniel |date=2002-05-19 |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=2009-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117042618/http://rpgfan.com/soundtracks/som%2B/index.html |archive-date=2014-01-17 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="RPGFgen">{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/som-genesis/index.html |title=Secret of Mana Genesis / Seiken Densetsu 2 Arrange Album |last=Gann |first=Patrick |date=2012-09-20 |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=2014-01-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201150413/http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/som-genesis/index.html |archive-date=2014-02-01 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- Re-Releases -->

<ref name="Wonderswan">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-wonderswan-games-update/1100-2447101/ |title=Square Wonderswan games update |first=Yukiyoshi Ike |last=Sato |date=December 1999 |work=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=2014-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304120623/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/square-wonderswan-games-update/1100-2447101/ |archive-date=2014-03-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="mobile">{{cite web |url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/seiken/sd2/ |script-title=ja:聖剣伝説2 |trans-title=Seiken Densetsu 2 |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |language=ja |access-date=2014-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004212515/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/mobile/seiken/sd2/ |archive-date=2013-10-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="iphone">{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/secret-of-mana-iphone-release-date/ |title=Secret of Mana Greenlit; should hit App Store Tonight |first=Griffin |last=McElroy |date=2010-12-20 |work=[[Joystiq]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |access-date=2010-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016061603/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/secret-of-mana-iphone-release-date/ |archive-date=2013-10-16 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Switch">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2017/06/01/the-switch-gets-a-new-secret-of-mana-game-collection-but-only-in-japan/ |title=The Switch Gets A New 'Secret Of Mana' Game Collection But Only In Japan |date=2017-06-01 |last=Barder |first=Ollie |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date=2017-07-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701181300/https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2017/06/01/the-switch-gets-a-new-secret-of-mana-game-collection-but-only-in-japan/ |archive-date=2017-07-01 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="SwitchNA">{{cite news |last=Schrier |first=Jason |url=https://kotaku.com/collection-of-mana-comes-to-switch-including-an-englis-1835414802 |title=Collection Of Mana Comes To Switch, Including An English Seiken Densetsu 3, And It's Out Today |date=2019-06-11 |work=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[Univision Communications]] |access-date=2019-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611182120/https://kotaku.com/collection-of-mana-comes-to-switch-including-an-englis-1835414802 |archive-date=2019-06-11 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="SNESclassic">{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic |title=Super NES Classic Edition |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |date=2017-09-29 |access-date=2017-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928025849/https://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic |archive-date=2017-09-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="3DRemake">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/25/16201488/secret-of-mana-remake-ps4-vita-windows-pc-release-date |title=Secret of Mana remake hits PS4, Vita and PC next year |date=2017-08-25 |last=Frank |first=Allegra |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |access-date=2017-08-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903032654/https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/25/16201488/secret-of-mana-remake-ps4-vita-windows-pc-release-date |archive-date=2018-09-03 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="ManaQStudios">{{cite web|url=http://qstudios.asia/en/products/|title=Q Studios - Products|website=Q Studios|access-date=2020-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321160945/http://qstudios.asia/en/products/|archive-date=2020-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="RemakeInterviewIGN">{{cite web|url=https://jp.ign.com/seiken2-secret-of-mana/17884/interview/2-secret-of-mana|script-title=ja:原作への果てしないリスペクトとユーザーの声の力「聖剣伝説2 SECRET of MANA」ステージリポート＆小山田プロデューサーインタビュー|language=ja|website=[[IGN|IGN Japan]]|date=2017-09-29|access-date=2024-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240527151254/https://jp.ign.com/seiken2-secret-of-mana/17884/interview/2-secret-of-mana|archive-date=2024-05-27|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="RemakeInterviewKikuta">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201712/11147536.html|script-title=ja:『聖剣伝説2』リメイク版の楽曲のポイントは“愛”!? 作曲家・菊田裕樹氏インタビュー|language=ja|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|date=2017-12-11|access-date=2024-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211001953/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201712/11147536.html|archive-date=2017-12-11|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="StaffVisions">{{cite web|url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/222943/|script-title=ja:『聖剣伝説 VISIONS of MANA』マナの樹を目指す物語を彩るヴァルやヒナ、精霊器とは？【ヴィジョンズ オブ マナ】|language=ja|website=[[ASCII Media Works|Dengeki Online]]|date=2024-03-07|access-date=2024-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806212645/https://dengekionline.com/articles/222943/|archive-date=2024-08-06|url-status=live}}</ref>

<!-- Reception -->

<ref name=GameRankings>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588646-secret-of-mana/index.html |title=Secret of Mana for Super Nintendo |website=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=2012-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202125004/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588646-secret-of-mana/index.html |archive-date=2014-02-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/secret-of-mana/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad |title=Secret of Mana for iPhone/iPad Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |access-date=2014-10-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115064554/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/secret-of-mana |archive-date=2015-01-15 }}</ref>

<ref name="Dragon208">{{cite magazine |title=Eye of the Monitor |last=Petersen |first=Sandy |magazine=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |publisher=[[TSR (company)|TSR]] |issue=208 |date=August 1994 |pages=61–66 |author-link=Sandy Petersen |issn=0279-6848}}</ref>
<ref name="edge_mana">{{cite magazine |title=Secret of Mana Review |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=January 1994 |issue=4 |pages=64–65 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/secret-mana-review/ |access-date=2012-08-10 |issn=1350-1593 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202230321/http://www.edge-online.com/review/secret-mana-review/ |archive-date=2014-02-02 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="EGMDec1994">{{cite magazine|date=December 1994|title=EGM's Hot Top Tens|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/2/2d/EGM_US_065.pdf|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|pages=52|access-date=March 12, 2021|archive-date=October 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007040340/https://retrocdn.net/images/2/2d/EGM_US_065.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="EUROG">{{cite web|first=Dan |last=Whitehead |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup-review_4 |title=Virtual Console Roundup Review |work=[[Eurogamer]] |publisher=Gamer Network |date=2009-01-18 |access-date=2011-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214450/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-roundup-review_4 |archive-date=2014-02-01 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="IGN">{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=2008-10-13 |title=Secret of Mana Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/14/secret-of-mana-review |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=2008-11-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223063230/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/14/secret-of-mana-review |archive-date=2014-02-23 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="StP">{{cite web |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |title=Secret of Mana Review |url=http://www.slidetoplay.com/review/secret-of-mana-review/ |publisher=Slide to Play |access-date=2012-02-08 |date=2010-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202161158/http://www.slidetoplay.com/review/secret-of-mana-review/ |archive-date=2014-02-02 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Famitsu">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Famitsu|Weekly Famicom Tsūshin]]|title=New Games Cross Review |last1=Tsūshin|first1=Hamamura|authorlink1=Hirokazu Hamamura|last2=Uchisawa|first2=Goro|last3=Watanabe|first3=Miki|last4=Chuji|first4=Giorgio|date=August 13, 1993|publisher=ASCII Corporation|language=Japanese|issue=243|p=37}}</ref>
<ref name="NP">{{cite magazine |date=November 1993 |title=Now Playing |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |issn=1041-9551 |volume=54 |page=105}}</ref>
<ref name="NMS">{{cite magazine|title=Secret of Mana |magazine=[[Official Nintendo Magazine|Nintendo Magazine System]] |publisher=[[Ascential|EMAP]] |year=1994 |pages=46–48 |issn=1750-9998 |url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/409/secret-of-mana.php |access-date=2017-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617054029/http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/409/secret-of-mana.php |archive-date=2017-06-17 }}</ref>
<ref name="ONMWii">{{cite web |title=Secret Of Mana Review |work=[[Official Nintendo Magazine]] |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |date=2008-12-26 |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/6759/reviews/secret-of-mana-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019132016/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/6759/reviews/secret-of-mana-review/ |archive-date=2012-10-19 |access-date=2014-12-13}}</ref>
<ref name="DGFreview">{{cite magazine |last1=Halverson |first1=Dave |author-link1=Dave Halverson |last2=Sgt. Gamer |last3=Rickards |first3=Kelly |last4=Cockburn |first4=Andrew |magazine=[[GameFan|Diehard GameFan]] |publisher=DieHard Gamers Club |title=Planet SNES - Secret of Mana |volume=1 |issue=12 |pages=22 & 78–80 |date=November 1993 |issn=1092-7212}}</ref>
<ref name="egm">{{cite magazine|date=December 1993|title=Review Crew|page=40|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|publisher=Sendai Publishing|volume=6|issue=12|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/349bb799-b368-431d-8d4b-b9a82fe63ae5|via=[[Video Game History Foundation]]|last1=Semrad
|first1=Ed
|last2=Carpenter
|first2=Danyon
|last3=Manuel
|first3=Al
|author4=Sushi-X}}</ref>
<ref name="GPreview">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |pages=256–260 |title=Role~Player's Realm |volume=5|issue=12| date=December 1993 |last=Haul |first=Monty |issn=1042-8658|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/8ca5bbca-f77d-4200-abba-c08d6a5f8d2a|accessdate=August 21, 2025|via=Video Game History Foundation}}</ref>

<ref name="MetaRemake">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/secret-of-mana-remaster/|title=Secret of Mana (remaster)|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=2024-11-09}}</ref>
<ref name="IGNreview2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/02/15/secret-of-mana-hd-review|title=Secret of Mana HD Remaster Review|author=Sullivan, Meghan|website=[[IGN]]|date=2018-02-15|access-date=2024-11-09}}</ref>
<ref name="GIreview2018">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/secret_of_mana_remake/b/playstation4/archive/2018/02/19/a-fall-from-grace.aspx|title=Secret Of Mana Remake: A Fall From Grace|author=Wallace, Kimberley|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=2018-02-09|access-date=2024-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223004108/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/secret_of_mana_remake/b/playstation4/archive/2018/02/19/a-fall-from-grace.aspx|archive-date=2018-02-23|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="PolyReview2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/15/17012102/secret-of-mana-review-remake-ps4-vita-playstation-sony-pc-release-square-enix|title=Secret of Mana review - It's no secret: This remake disappoints|author=Parish, Jeremy|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=2018-02-15|access-date=2024-11-09}}</ref>
<ref name="PCGreview2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/secret-of-mana-review/|title=Secret of Mana Review: A disappointing RPG remake for PC.|author=Schilling, Chris|website=[[PC Gamer]]|date=2018-02-20|access-date=2024-11-09}}</ref>
<ref name="RPGreview2018">{{cite web|url=https://www.rpgsite.net/review/6801-secret-of-mana-2018-review|title=Secret of Mana (2018) Review|author=Reese, Zack|website=RPG Site|date=2018-02-19|access-date=2024-11-09}}</ref>

<ref name="SEsales04">{{cite web |url=http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf#page=27 |title=February 2, 2004 - February 4, 2004 |date=2004-02-09 |access-date=2008-04-07 |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |page=27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109063558/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/ir/e/explanatory/download/0404-200402090000-01.pdf#page=27 |archive-date=2013-11-09 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="EDGEpreview">{{cite magazine |title=Prescreen: Secret of Mana |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future plc]] |date=December 1993 |issue=3 |pages=22–23 |last=Jarrat |first=Steve |author-link=Steve Jarratt |issn=1350-1593}}</ref>
<ref name="nextgen">{{cite magazine |title=Secret of Mana 2 |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=14 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=February 1996 |pages=120–1 |issn=1078-9693 |url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-014/page/n121/mode/2up}}</ref>
<ref name="chart">{{cite web|title=Top Video Games |magazine=[[Electronic Games]] |publisher=Reese Publishing Company |volume=2 |issue=4 |date=January 1994 |page=16 |issn=0730-6687 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1994-01/Electronic%20Games%201994-01#page/n15/mode/2up |access-date=2014-12-31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106102127/https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1994-01/Electronic%20Games%201994-01 |archive-date=2015-11-06 }}</ref>
<ref name="GFaward">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[GameFan|Diehard GameFan]] |publisher=DieHard Gamers Club |volume=2 |issue=2 |date=January 1994 |title=Megawards |pages=54–58 |issn=1092-7212}}</ref>
<ref name="GPaward">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[GamePro]] |title=Editors' Choice Awards|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |issue=55 |date=February 1994 |pages=22–27 |issn=1042-8658|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_055_February_1994#page/n27/mode/2up}}</ref>
<ref name="egmbuyersguide1994">{{cite magazine |date=January 1994 |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |issn=1058-918X }}</ref>
<ref name="NPbestof">{{cite magazine |title=Nintendo Power's Top 100 Best Games of All Time" |magazine=Nintendo Power |issue=100 |date=September 1997 |publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref>
<ref name="IGNtoprpg17">{{cite web |title=Top 100 RPGs of All Time |url=http://ign.com/lists/top-100-rpgs/7 |work=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |access-date=2017-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507184341/http://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-rpgs/7 |archive-date=2017-05-07 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Total">{{cite magazine |date=July 1995 |title=Top 100 SNES Games |url=https://archive.org/details/total-43/page/n39/mode/2up |magazine=[[Total!]] |publisher=[[Future plc]]  |issue=43 |page=41 |issn=0964-9352}}</ref>
<ref name="superplay">{{cite magazine |date=April 1996 |title=The Super Play All-time top 100 SNES games |magazine=[[Super Play]] |issue=42 |page=39 |publisher=[[Future plc]] |issn=0966-6192}}</ref>
<ref name="ONMbestof">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7188 |title=100-81 ONM |magazine=[[Official Nintendo Magazine|ONM]] |access-date=September 9, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223134327/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7188 |archive-date=February 23, 2009 }}</ref>
<ref name="GIbestof">{{cite magazine |magazine=Game Informer |date=April 2018 |issue=300 |publisher=GameStop Corporation |title=Game Informer's Top 300 Games}}</ref>
<ref name="1UPbestof">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614162959/http://www.1up.com/features/cover-essential-100-part-one.html |url=http://www.1up.com/features/cover-essential-100-part-one.html |date=August 23, 2012 |archive-date=June 14, 2017|access-date=December 23, 2018 |title=1UP's Essential 100, Part Two |author=Parish, Jeremy |website=[[1UP.com]]}}</ref>
<ref name="PGbestof">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/12/1/16707720/the-500-best-games-of-all-time-100-1 |title=The 500 best games of all time: 100-1 |website=Polygon |date=December 1, 2017 |accessdate=December 23, 2023 |archive-date=March 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303210843/https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/11/27/16158276/polygon-500-best-games-of-all-time-500-401 |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="TEbestof">{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Lowell |title=Best JRPGs Of All Time |url=https://www.timeextension.com/guides/best-jrpgs-of-all-time |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=25 February 2023 |date=25 February 2023 |archive-date=September 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921031638/https://www.timeextension.com/guides/best-jrpgs-of-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="DDbook">{{cite book |first=Matt |last=Barton |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMXu61GbTqMC |title=Dungeons & Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games |publisher=[[A K Peters]] |year=2008 |access-date=2010-09-08 |isbn=978-1-56881-411-7 |page=220 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130174034/https://books.google.com/books?id=IMXu61GbTqMC&printsec=frontcover |archive-date=2014-01-30 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="NowGamer">{{cite web |url=http://www.nowgamer.com/features/1127/dungeon-siege-iii-developer-interview |title=Dungeon Siege III Developer Interview |date=2012-12-14 |last=MacKenzie |first=Gavin |work=NowGamer |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |access-date=2014-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102110139/http://www.nowgamer.com/features/1127/dungeon-siege-iii-developer-interview |archive-date=2011-01-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="Famitsupoll">{{cite magazine |date=2006-03-03 |title=Japan Votes on All Time Top 100 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future plc|Future]] |access-date=2008-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723051728/http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 | archive-date=2008-07-23 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Secret of Mana}}
*{{Official website|http://www.secretofmanagame.com/}}
*[https://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/secret-of-mana Secret of Mana] at [[MobyGames]]

{{Mana series}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secret Of Mana}}
[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:Action role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) games]]
[[Category:Christmas video games]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:Hack and slash role-playing games]]
[[Category:iOS games]]
[[Category:Mana (series) video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Vita games]]
[[Category:Post-apocalyptic video games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Hiroki Kikuta]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games for Wii U]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]