Trials of Mana

Trials of Mana, also known by its Japanese title Seiken Densetsu 3 (聖剣伝説3), is a 1995 action role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Super Famicom. It is the sequel to the 1993 game Secret of Mana, and is the third installment in the Mana series. Set in a high fantasy world, the game follows three heroes as they attempt to claim the legendary Mana Sword and prevent the Benevodons from being unleashed and destroying the world. It features three lengthy main plotlines and six different possible main characters, each with their own storylines, and allows two players to play simultaneously.

In June 2017, the game was included in the Seiken Densetsu Collection release for the Nintendo Switch in Japan; the collection was released in June 2019 in North America as Collection of Mana with Seiken Densetsu 3 titled Trials of Mana. A 3D remake of the same name was announced alongside it, and released worldwide in April 2020 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4.

Opening (Kevin)

Goremand bewitches Kevin's only friend, the wolf pup Karl, turning him into a feral monster and forcing Kevin to kill him in self-defence, awakening his beast-man powers.

Opening (Hawkeye)

Posing as the human witch Isabella, Belladonna brainwashes Flamekhan, the lord of the local Thieves' Guild, and uses his military might for her own purpose. She makes him hoard the stolen goods to build a kingdom of his own, before using the Guild's forces to attack the Wind Kingdom of Laurent.

One night, Flamekhan's son Eagle and foster son Hawkeye eavesdrops on "Isabella" and Malocchio, learning their duplicity. They tries to arrest her, but she compels Eagle to kill his best friend. Hawkeye only knocks him out, but Belladonna finishes him off with a Fireball spell (a dark surge in the remake).

Opening (Riesz)

Nevahl ninjas disable the magic winds protecting the Wind Kingdom of Laurent, spreading sleeping spores over the castle to neutralize the Amazon Guard and invade it.

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Chapter II

The party stumbles into the somnosa meadow and succumbs to the sleep spores. Later, Sylphid, the Mana Spirit of Wind, assists the heroes and spreads the sleep spores from the somnosa meadow throughout Citadel Laurent to incapacitate the Nevarl agents.

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Chapter III

Ludgar attacks the party but is mortally wounded. When asked if she can help him, Luna, the Mana Spirit of Moon, revives him as an infant.

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Chapter VI (Duran)

Darkshine Knight, one of the Dragon Lord's recurring servant from Chapter II, is revealed to be Duran's father Loki the Golden Knight if Duran is in the party either as the main character or one of Angela's companions. After the Darkshine Knight dies, he is released from the control that the Dragon Lord had over him.

If Angela is the main character without Duran, the Knight attacks wordlessly.

If neither Duran nor Angela is the main character, then the Darkshine Knight will disappear as the Dragon Lord is killed in Chapter IV (trying to tell Duran his secret if he is in the party).

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Chapter IV (Kevin/Charlotte)

Heath, a kidnapped cleric of Wendel, reappears as the Tainted Soul and takes the Sword of Mana from the party in exchange of the Faerie's life. If Charlotte is the main character, the Faerie tells her that she sensed a great sadness in Heath, implying that the Cleric has been brainwashed.