JRPG fans should be quaking in their little boots, as Square Enix has added very hard and "No Future" difficulties to Trials of Mana.
Nintendo Soup found some translated patch notes that include details on the new difficulty. For the "No Future" mode, the player has to tackle:
- Enemies that are tougher, including bosses.
- The "New Game+" mode returns the player to Level 1.
- A few abilities that would otherwise help you on your adventure can't be equipped.
- Only three items can be used with each battle.
- Boss battles will have a time limit. That's just mean.
- Enemy attack range is displayed on screen has been shortened for a few boss battles.
- Rainbow item seeds may create high-performance equipment.
Two new chain abilities are available in the game too. Guidance of the Sacred Sword will leave party members outside your curreant formation and currently down for the count with 1 HP remaining. Guidance of the Sacred Sword II gives all party members their full health back after winning a battle.
The patch also brings new goddess statues and the ability to switch costumes that have been class changed.
Trials of Mana has done very well for Square Enix financially. The JRPG powerhouse said that the sales were so strong that they have "significantly surpassed [the company]'s expectations." With the introduction of a new mode five months after its launch, it's a good sign for the series' future.
This 2020 release is a remake of a 1995 SNES entry in the series that never came out in Western territories until very recently with a retro collection. It seems like a pleasant RPG to play in between heavier titles with its bright art style and lighter in tone storyline.
TheGamer's Jamie LaTour gave Trials of Mana a 4 out of 5 in their review because of its simple but addictive JRPG combat and an incredibly catchy soundtrack, among other reasons. They also called the game pleasant to play, but perhaps the "No Future" and very hard modes would conflict with that!
Trials of Mana is currently on the PS4, Switch, and PC for $49.99, but Amazon has it for around $39.99 right now on both consoles.
Source: Nintendo Soup