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Tag: Square

  • Secret of Mana Review — Is Square’s 1993 SNES Co-op Classic Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Secret of Mana Review — Is Square’s 1993 SNES Co-op Classic Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Title Secret of Mana
    Developer Square
    Publisher Square / Nintendo
    Year 1993
    Platform focus SNES original release
    Genre Action RPG
    Score 8 / 10

    Secret of Mana still sits inside one very practical retro search in 2026: if you want a classic SNES action RPG that feels magical with a second player on the sofa, is Square’s 1993 favourite still worth the hassle? I think the answer is yes, though not quite as cleanly as nostalgia sometimes claims. This is still a beautiful, generous, often enchanting game, but it also shows more menu friction, clumsy AI, and uneven combat than the genre’s most bulletproof classics.

    Even so, there is a reason people keep coming back. Secret of Mana understands adventure as atmosphere. The world feels wide without becoming bloated, the soundtrack has that soft dreamlike pull only the 16-bit era seemed to manage, and the co-op hook still gives it a personality that sets it apart from heavier SNES RPGs. Where Chrono Trigger still feels like the briskest and sharpest all-round SNES RPG recommendation, Secret of Mana survives by offering something looser, warmer, and more playful.

    Why Secret of Mana Still Feels Special

    The obvious answer is the world itself. Square built a fantasy journey that still feels inviting rather than intimidating: colourful villages, strange forests, dramatic ruins, and just enough mythic grandeur to keep every new area feeling like a destination. The pixel art has aged wonderfully, especially in motion, and Hiroki Kikuta’s soundtrack still does a huge amount of emotional work. Few 1993 games can sound this airy one minute and this quietly haunting the next.

    The second big reason is co-op. Plenty of retro greats are fun to admire; Secret of Mana is one of the few that still feels naturally social. Once your party fills out, handing a controller to a friend changes the whole texture of the game. Battles become a little scrappier, travel becomes chattier, and even the occasional messiness starts to feel part of the charm. In that sense it scratches a different itch from Super Mario RPG’s brisk single-player rhythm or A Link to the Past’s cleaner action-adventure flow.

    There is also a lovely generosity to the way progression works. New weapons, spells, and traversal beats arrive often enough that the game keeps feeding curiosity. It wants you to feel like the party is growing into something grander, and when that rhythm is working, Secret of Mana still feels wonderfully transportive. It is not just historically important; it is still easy to get swept up in.

    Where the Age Shows More Than Fans Admit

    This is also where the caveats live. Combat can feel mushier than memory suggests. The stamina-style attack meter means you are often waiting for efficient hits instead of freely expressing yourself, and enemy hit reactions can make fights look less readable than they should. Boss encounters are exciting in concept, but they are not always elegant in play. Sometimes the game feels like it wants dramatic action while the systems are nudging you toward cautious menu pausing and spell cycling.

    The ring menus remain iconic, but they are also one of the clearest reminders that not every old interface deserves romance. Once you are juggling items, weapons, and magic for multiple characters, the stop-start rhythm can drag. Companion AI does not help either. If you are playing solo, your party members can feel less like dependable allies and more like talented children who briefly wandered off.

    That friction matters because other SNES legends have aged more gracefully at a mechanical level. Final Fantasy VI still feels more dramatically cohesive, while Super Metroid remains a stronger lesson in pure environmental design. Secret of Mana wins instead on mood, companionship, and a specific kind of wandering fantasy adventure that newer games do not always replicate well.

    Why It Still Matters in 2026

    Secret of Mana still matters because it captures a version of action RPG design that feels inviting rather than overengineered. It is happy to be a little odd, a little airy, and a little messy if that helps the journey feel enchanted. That looseness can frustrate players expecting modern precision, but it also gives the game a softness and personality that many cleaner descendants lack.

    It also remains one of the better retro answers for players specifically searching for a couch-co-op SNES RPG, or for anyone curious about the roots of console action RPGs beyond the Zelda line. You may need patience for the menus and tolerance for occasional awkwardness, but the world, music, and sense of shared adventure still earn that patience more often than not.

    Verdict

    Secret of Mana is still worth playing in 2026, especially if your retro taste leans toward atmosphere, co-op novelty, and 16-bit fantasy charm over mechanical perfection. It is not the cleanest SNES classic, and I would not pretend the interface or AI have aged beautifully, but the mood is real and the adventure still has heart.

    8 / 10. If you want a retro action RPG that feels dreamy, social, and unmistakably of its era in the best and worst ways, Secret of Mana is still easy to recommend with a few honest warnings attached.

    • Play tip: The game feels better when you treat the ring menus as part of the rhythm instead of fighting them. Pause with purpose and queue healing before panic sets in.
    • Play tip: If you can, play with a second person. Co-op smooths over some AI frustration and makes the rough edges feel far more charming.
    • Authority link: Square Enix Collection of Mana official page
    • Authority link: Wikipedia overview of Secret of Mana

    Where does Secret of Mana land for you now: still a 16-bit treasure, or a classic whose charm asks a bit too much patience from modern players?

  • Super Mario RPG Review — Is the 1996 SNES Original Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Super Mario RPG Review — Is the 1996 SNES Original Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Title Super Mario RPG
    Developer Square
    Publisher Nintendo
    Year 1996
    Platform focus SNES original release
    Genre Turn-based RPG
    Score 9 / 10

    Super Mario RPG still answers a very practical retro question in 2026: if you want an old-school Japanese RPG that does not feel like homework, is the 1996 SNES original still a smart place to start? I think yes. It is shorter, brighter, and far funnier than many of its era-defining peers, and that light touch is exactly why it has aged so well.

    What still makes it special is how confidently it trims the fat. Where Final Fantasy VI feels grand and operatic, and EarthBound feels eccentric and oddly intimate, Super Mario RPG goes for momentum. Battles move quickly, areas stay varied, and the whole adventure seems quietly aware that an RPG can be generous without overstaying its welcome.

    Why Super Mario RPG Still Feels So Fresh

    The biggest reason is pacing. Super Mario RPG wastes very little of your time. It teaches its systems fast, lets you experiment almost immediately, and keeps introducing new party members, towns, gimmicks, and set pieces before the previous idea has worn out. That rhythm matters more in 2026 than it did in 1996, because modern players have far less patience for 40-hour role-playing games that take ten hours to become interesting. This one gets to the point.

    I also still love the battle design. The timed hits and blocks add just enough player input to stop the turn-based combat becoming sleepy, without turning every encounter into a reflex test. It is a simple idea, but a powerful one. Landing that extra tap on an attack or softening an incoming hit makes even basic fights feel a little more active than most 16-bit RPGs. You can see the DNA that later fed into Mario & Luigi and, more broadly, Nintendo’s habit of making menu-driven systems feel playful rather than static.

    Then there is the tone. Super Mario RPG is silly in a way that still works. The jokes are brisk, the character animations do a huge amount of work, and the world feels cheerful without becoming weightless. Even now, that balance is harder to pull off than it looks. Plenty of RPGs can be funny for a scene or two. Fewer can stay charming for an entire campaign without seeming smug or exhausting.

    Where the SNES Original Shows Its Age

    It is not flawless. The platforming and isometric movement can still be a little awkward, especially when depth perception turns a simple jump into a small negotiation. Some menu interactions are also plain compared with later Nintendo RPGs, and if you come to it expecting the build freedom or strategic complexity of heavier genre landmarks, it can feel modest.

    That modesty is both a strength and a limitation. The story is endearing, but it does not dig as deeply as the best 1990s RPGs when it comes to character drama or emotional weight. If Phantasy Star IV feels like a sharp late-16-bit adventure and Final Fantasy VI feels like a sweeping event, Super Mario RPG is the compact, brilliantly edited version of the form. That means less filler, but it also means a little less resonance once the credits roll.

    Is Super Mario RPG Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Absolutely. More specifically, it is still one of the best answers to another evergreen search: what retro RPG should I play first? If you want something approachable, fast-moving, and consistently inventive, this is an excellent choice. The original SNES version remains a reminder that accessibility does not have to mean shallowness. It can mean clarity, warmth, and confidence.

    It also helps that the game still feels historically important without needing you to treat it like homework. You can see how it helped shape later Mario role-playing games, and why its mixture of light comedy and active battle timing left such a mark. If you want the easiest modern route, Nintendo’s official Super Mario RPG remake page is worth a look, but the 1996 original remains more than a museum piece.

    Verdict: A compact, brilliantly paced SNES RPG that still feels welcoming, funny, and mechanically lively in 2026 — especially if you want a retro role-playing game that respects your time.

    Do you prefer your retro RPGs short and sparkling like Super Mario RPG, or bigger and messier like the genre’s grandest 16-bit epics?

  • Final Fantasy VI Review — Is Square’s 1994 SNES RPG Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Final Fantasy VI Review — Is Square’s 1994 SNES RPG Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Title Final Fantasy VI
    Developer Square
    Publisher Square
    Year 1994
    Platform focus SNES original release
    Genre JRPG
    Score 10 / 10

    Final Fantasy VI still sits near the top of one extremely evergreen retro search in 2026: what is the best SNES RPG to actually play, not just politely respect from a distance? I think Square’s 1994 heavyweight still has a serious claim. Plenty of beloved old role-playing games survive because they were important. Final Fantasy VI survives because it is still emotionally sharp, mechanically readable, and far less bloated than its legend can make it sound.

    It also helps that the game meets modern players halfway faster than you might expect. The opening throws you into conflict immediately, the world feels specific without drowning you in lore dumps, and the cast arrives with clean, memorable hooks. In the same way Chrono Trigger still feels startlingly brisk for a revered SNES giant, Final Fantasy VI understands pacing better than plenty of newer RPGs that learned from it.

    Why Final Fantasy VI Still Works

    The obvious headline is the ensemble cast. Terra, Locke, Celes, Edgar, Sabin, Cyan, Shadow and the rest are not all equally deep, but the game gives them distinct silhouettes, rhythms, and emotional jobs. That matters because Final Fantasy VI is at its best when it feels like a road movie with too many broken people in the same carriage. Even now, the cast sells the sense that the world is bigger than one chosen hero and one neat destiny.

    Then there is the structure. The first half moves with remarkable confidence, hopping between towns, set-pieces, and personal detours without losing the thread. The second-half shift still lands because it is not just a plot twist; it changes the mood of the whole adventure. The world suddenly feels lonelier, stranger, and more player-driven. If A Link to the Past shows how elegant SNES adventure design could be, Final Fantasy VI is the more operatic side of the same era: bigger feelings, bigger spectacle, and just enough freedom to make exploration feel personal.

    The battle system has aged better than some turn-based peers too. The Active Time Battle flow keeps fights lively, Espers give character growth enough flexibility to invite experimentation, and the game is smart about delivering memorable abilities before the system gets stale. Nobuo Uematsu’s soundtrack does a huge amount of lifting here as well. It is not nostalgia talking: the music still carries scenes with a confidence many fully orchestrated modern RPGs would envy.

    Where the Age Shows

    It is not frictionless. Random encounters can still feel over-frequent in stretches where you are trying to navigate rather than grind, and the interface carries a few of those old JRPG habits that assume you will happily dig through menus forever. The localisation is also a reminder that 1990s script constraints were real. The personality survives, but some scenes hit harder in concept than in exact line-by-line delivery.

    Character balance is another small wrinkle. The huge roster is exciting, yet it does mean some party members feel essential while others feel more like luxury picks. Final Fantasy VI usually gets away with that because the world and pacing stay so strong, but it is one of the few places where the game’s scale occasionally works against its precision.

    Why It Still Matters in 2026

    Final Fantasy VI still matters because it captures something a lot of prestige RPGs lose: scale without sludge. It feels grand, but rarely padded. Emotional, but not self-important. Mechanical, but not exhausting. If you are searching for the best entry point to classic Final Fantasy, one of the best 16-bit RPGs ever made, or simply an old game that still earns its reputation when the nostalgia fog clears, this remains one of the easiest recommendations on the shelf.

    It also stands as a reminder that 16-bit storytelling did not need voice acting or enormous cinematics to feel theatrical. A few sprites, a gorgeous soundtrack, and some ruthlessly well-judged scene direction were enough. That craft still looks impressive in 2026.

    Verdict

    Final Fantasy VI is still an essential retro RPG in 2026: rich without being baggy, emotional without becoming embarrassing, and packed with moments that explain exactly why the SNES era still inspires so many modern developers. A little menu friction and some random-encounter fatigue stop it being completely painless, but not nearly enough to blunt the magic.

    10 / 10. If you want the SNES RPG that most convincingly balances big spectacle, strong pacing, and genuine heart, Final Fantasy VI is still one of the first cartridges I would point you toward.

    Where does Final Fantasy VI land for you now: still Square’s finest 16-bit RPG, or has another classic stolen that crown?

  • Chrono Trigger Review — Is Square’s 1995 SNES RPG Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Chrono Trigger Review — Is Square’s 1995 SNES RPG Still Worth Playing in 2026?

    Title Chrono Trigger
    Developer Square
    Publisher Square
    Year 1995
    Platform focus SNES original release
    Genre JRPG / turn-based role-playing game
    Score 10 / 10

    Chrono Trigger still answers one of the biggest evergreen retro questions in 2026 with almost annoying confidence: yes, this 1995 SNES RPG is absolutely still worth playing. More than that, it is still one of the cleanest starting points for anyone curious about classic Japanese role-playing games. Square’s time-travel adventure has the historical reputation, sure, but the more impressive part is how little “historical importance” work it asks the player to do. This is not homework. It still feels lively, readable, and surprisingly brisk.

    What grabs me first every time is the absence of drag. A lot of revered 16-bit RPGs need hours before they properly wake up. Chrono Trigger gets moving almost immediately, then keeps finding smart ways to stay in motion. Battles happen right on the field instead of through constant screen-swapping interruptions, party members arrive with distinct personalities instead of pure archetype fog, and the time-travel structure keeps the world feeling curious rather than bloated. Like Super Metroid at its most elegantly confident, it trusts the player to pay attention without drowning them in clutter. And unlike some louder 16-bit showpieces such as Gunstar Heroes, its energy comes from rhythm and craft rather than sheer sensory assault.

    Why Chrono Trigger Still Feels So Modern

    The obvious answer is pacing. Chrono Trigger respects your time in a way a lot of RPGs, old and new, frankly do not. Towns are compact, dungeons are memorable without becoming chores, and the story keeps nudging you forward with new eras, new stakes, and new combinations of characters. Even when you are technically grinding, it rarely feels like the game has turned into admin. That makes it incredibly easy to recommend to people searching for “best SNES RPG to play first” or “does Chrono Trigger still hold up?”

    The combat helps too. Square’s Active Time Battle system is not unique on its own, but the way Chrono Trigger uses positioning and combination Techs still feels clever. Enemies bunch together, spread out, or line up in ways that make your attacks feel spatial instead of automatic. Double and Triple Techs give the party genuine chemistry; they are not just stat sticks standing in formation. The result is a turn-based system with real momentum, one that keeps small fights fast and bigger encounters satisfying.

    I also love how warm the whole thing feels. The art has Akira Toriyama’s unmistakable elasticity, the soundtrack is full of melodies that stick without nagging, and the cast is charming enough that the optional character side quests land emotionally instead of mechanically. The game’s famous multiple endings and New Game Plus are not just historical trivia either. They genuinely reinforce the sense that this is a world designed for revisiting, not just finishing once and shelving forever.

    Where the Age Shows

    It is not flawless. Some of the dialogue is simpler than modern players may expect, especially if they are coming in from contemporary RPGs that lean harder on long-form character drama. A few late-game systems can also feel lightly explained by current standards, and the menu flow still carries a bit of 1990s stiffness. If you want dense tactical customisation or morally grey novel-length writing, Chrono Trigger is playing a different game.

    There is also an argument that its reputation can oversell its emotional heaviness. This is not the bleakest or most psychologically complex JRPG ever made. Its strength is elegance, not maximalism. For me, that is a huge part of why it lasts. But players expecting relentless depth in every scene may find it more graceful than devastating.

    Why It Still Matters in 2026

    Chrono Trigger still matters because it solves problems the genre keeps reintroducing. It proves an RPG can be broad without feeling padded, emotional without becoming self-important, and mechanically approachable without turning brainless. In 2026, when players are still asking which retro RPGs are genuinely worth the time investment, this remains one of the safest and strongest answers.

    It also feels like a reminder that polish is timeless. So many beloved older games survive because we admire them. Chrono Trigger survives because it is still easy to enjoy right now. That is a higher bar. Plenty of classics deserve respect; fewer still feel this welcoming, this tightly built, and this eager to delight.

    Verdict

    Chrono Trigger remains one of the finest RPGs on the SNES: fast, generous, imaginative, and still startlingly modern in how efficiently it delivers wonder. A little old-school menu stiffness is about the worst I can say about it.

    10 / 10. If you want a retro JRPG that still feels bright, sharp, and beautifully playable in 2026, Chrono Trigger is an essential recommendation.

    • Play tip: Rotate party members more than you think. The Double and Triple Tech combinations are a huge part of the game’s charm, and it is easy to miss the best ones if you stick to one comfort team.
    • Play tip: Do the late-game character side quests before rushing the finale. They add some of the game’s best emotional payoff and help the final stretch feel complete.
    • Authority link: Wikipedia overview for Chrono Trigger
    • Authority link: Steam page for Chrono Trigger

    Where does Chrono Trigger land for you: untouchable SNES top tier, or a classic you respect more than adore?