In , you'll go on a global quest toward the Mana Tree, an everꦏlasting symbol of hope within the Mana series. As the first new console entry in de🎃cades, expectations are high, and we're happy to say that in many ways, Visions delivers. You'll want to learn the ropes in order to tap into everything that Visions of Mana does well.

Armed with the following tips, we be൲lieve that your first handful of hours in this latest well-realized Mana world will be bolstered with enough know-how to coast through content and get the most out of the experience.

The Blue Circles Denote Items

Check your map as soon as you enter a new area. See all those blue circles? The blue circles denote the locations of valuable treasure chests and more, so make it a poitn to folꦇlow along with them whenever possible.

Indeed, Visions of Mana marks all chests on the map for easy reference. But these circles can also reference fast travel points you've not yet interacted with as well as elemental vessel interactions.

The latter is particularly important to keep tabs on because the game cleverly only ever adds blue circle markers to interaction points that involve elemental vessels you've already acquired. What this means is, it won't mark any for vessels you do not yet possess.

All of that is to say, check previous areas' maps once you've acquired a new vessel. You may indeed find more stuff to do!

Keep Tabs On The Encyclopedia And Bestiary

Visions of Mana includes numerous helpful manuals which will fill up over the course of your adventure. The bestiary includes valuable data on monsters which you've faced, and getting a bead on the elemental strengths and weaknesses can be helpful for future encounters.

The encyclopedia charts the characters, locations, and concepts which collectively enrich the game's world. Sometimes, contextual information can be found here that sheds further light on story beats. Those who wish to fully embrace the lore should🌄 never skip these entries!

Some Places Are Temporarily Out Of Reach

For all the blue circles and other quality-of-life mechanisms employed in Visions of Mana's many environmental maps, you will sometimes come across high ledges that are out of reach, as well as platforms and pillars that don't have a clear approach method.

Occasionally, the way forward is simply obscured. Further investigation will get you where you need to go. But keep a lookout for elemental vessel interaction spots involving vessels you don't yet have, as this can often indicate🔥 you won't be able to get up there until later.

We should add that there will be blue circles in regional areas known as Ancient Ruins, and for a long time, these are frankly there just to frustrate! You won't be able to get those treasures unti⛎l later, and not just because the enemies are so much higher in level.

Time Your Valorflies And Fortuneflies

Valorflies grant useful EXP buffs when you press the requisite button beside them, but the buffs only last for 60 seconds. The same holds true for the Fortuneflies, lucre (money) buffs. It's a short windo♊w of opportunity to increase the threshold of your rewards.

The thing is, enemy groups in Visions of Mana can be rather spread-apart, and it's easy to accidentally dispose of any groups relatively close to the valorflies before you engage with them.

Always keep an eye out for these helpful critters. There's nothing more frustrating than finding a v🗹alorfly but spending the vast majority of your minute-long timer attempting to find someth🌺ing to slay.

Play In Performance Mode On PS5

This one's obviously system-specific, but if you're playing on PS5, we highly recommend sticking with performance mode. Visions of Mana is still stunningly pretty on performance mode. You'll miss a few finer details, but it's nothing to worry over.

The game, at least at launch, can be somewhat unstable at times even on performance mode. Nothing untenable, but occasional hitches have occurred for us. That said, the frame rate is much stronger overall.

Enabling the graphics mode reduces frame rate in ways which can be detrimental to the game's action-centric battle system, causing frustrating issues with tougher encounters like elemental aerie trials. It's best to circumvent this꧙ headache altogether.

Side Quests Can Unlock Special Moves

Red exclamation marks in towns reference side quests, which can be initiated by conversing with ꦍthe quest-giver. The vast majority of Visions of Mana's side quests are straightforward and take mere moments to complete.

Not only will you get tons of money and other valuables, but some side quests reward you with new Ability Seeds. These Ability Seeds are, more often than not, tied to special battle techniques like Healing Light and Moon Rend.

Although there are eventually other ways to acquire many of these techniques, having access to them as early as possible by completing side quests as soon as they're available can power up your party to a substantial degree.