In this video I really start to learn just how hard it is (actually impossible) to complete a full Legend of Mana Card Duel collection using just Starter Decks. Watch as I slowly drift into insanity while opening three decks and obtain a scant few new cards. This video is a continuation of the previous two, filmed in 2011, so make sure to watch them if you have not yet for an introduction to the game’s cards and to see me open a couple more decks.

Again, you can read details about the card game, including the translated rule book and fully translated cards, here.

A special thanks to Sevon (Twitter, pixiv) for the awesome “Card Master Sheexy” art included in the video!

Happy 32nd anniversary to the Seiken Densetsu series!

A set of Mana Series tracks will release as DLC for Theatrhythm Final Bar Line. Fun fact, this game was made by indies zero who just happen to be the same company behind Legend of Mana Card Duel.

The @ManaGame Pack Vol.1 launches for Theatrhythm Final Bar Line on June 28th with songs from Final Fantasy Adventure and Trials of Mana:

– Nuclear Fusion
– Battle 2
– In Search of the Sword of Mana
– Swivel
– Powell
– Meridian Child
– Sacrifice Part Three pic.twitter.com/QxyEBg5EoJ

— FINAL FANTASY (@FinalFantasy) June 26, 2023

In other news, there will also be a special exhibit of the late Hiroo Isono‘s artwork in Japan. Five of the original arts for the Mana Series will be shown off, awesome! That should be two artworks from Secret of Mana (characters before the tree and the night time image), two artworks from Trials of Mana (characters on the road to the tree and the world map), and one from Dawn of Mana (character before the tree). If you are wondering why the Children of Mana artwork is not included, that is because it was actually done by Nao Ikeda, who masterfully imitated the stipple style art.

#聖剣伝説2 や #聖剣伝説4 のパッケージビジュアルなどをご担当された磯野宏夫氏の企画展『磯野宏夫展　－生命(いのち)輝く森－』が7月1日(土)～8月20日(日)の期間、稲沢市荻須記念美術館にて開催されます。
シリーズの原画5点も展示されますので、この機会に是非お立ち寄りください！#聖剣伝説 pic.twitter.com/R7ouTIoMbG

— 聖剣伝説 -公式- (@Seiken_PR) June 28, 2023

There are a bunch of strange items available over at eeo store for The Teardrop Crystal. A lot of it is little knick-knacky nonsense, but there are some things I am looking forward to. The glasses case in particular is fun, and who wouldn’t want some random bag with Inspector Boyd on it?

When it comes to the gj Character G Jumi Pendants I posted about previously there was a small restock in Florina Pendants. I managed to get one this time, but it looks like they’re going fast again. Last time they sold out almost immediately. The other two pendants have been available this entire time, though. I took some photos of the two I had arrive. These things are really tiny! I should have paid attention to the description, but I would have gotten them regardless I guess.

Finally, the Super Groupies Secret of Mana collab that I posted about back in October seems to have had a substantial restock. These ended up great, I think. Check the photos I took out below.

First up, the Backpack. I thought it would be full leather, but that’s only the buckles and trim. The material is nice and light, though, and seems tough. The printing inside is beautiful, and my only real complaint is that the thing is a bit of a pain to open. Not due to the buckles, those are all just for show (magnets do all the work), but the Flammie strings that cinch it shut are a bit of a pain.

Next, the Wallet. This was much larger than I thought. It’s very hard to see the Mana Tree printing inside, and the embossing on the Ring Menu is a bit weak. This is the weakest of the three items, but it’s still nice.

Lastly, the best item, the Watch. It’s really beautiful, I’ve been wearing mine since I got it and it feels great. The elementals look really nice, I thought they would look cheap, but they’re actually printed with some texture. They cycle from Shade at midnight, through Luna, Undine, Dryad, Lumina at noon, Salamando, Gnome, and Jinn every 3 hours. The little gems are a bit hard to tell the differences in (especially the “dark” one), but in the right light they look incredible.

I am hoping these restocks mean I’ll be able to get my hands on the Super Groupies Teardrop Crystal collab stuff I missed out on last time.

Fun Fact: Kassidy sent me that Perler bead Sheexy around 15 years ago.

A mix of good and bad, goodnight to the most short-lived Mana game.
Looking forward to receiving the art book. The art was certainly the best thing to come from the game. I also enjoyed the characterizations and interactions, and the story wasn’t the worst. Shame it was so rushed at the end, though. The gacha and grinding I will definitely not miss.

Echoes of Mana app service ended on May 15, 2023.
We thank all our players who joined us on the #EchoesOfMana adventure. Our journey ends, but your echo lives on!

For more details, please see the official site.https://t.co/wt7zHj4fQA#ManaSeries @ManaGame pic.twitter.com/gGVD6aaJFx

— ECHOES of MANA (@EchoesOfManaEN) May 15, 2023

The world famous composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, has passed away from cancer at 71 years old on March 28th, 2023.

Ryuichi Sakamoto in 2017

You may know him from his work in the Yellow Magic Orchestra, or likely from the Dawn of Mana Opening Theme. We have a small page dedicated to Ryuichi Sakamoto in our Soundtracks section due to this Mana connection.

You can find an announcement on his personal website, and read the Japan Times article for more information about his illustrious career.

Below, you can take a listen to the Dawn of Mana Opening Theme he composed.

No, it’s not an April Fool’s, the Echoes of Mana Artbook is up for preorder at the Square Enix Japan Store. It also looks like they added a handful of other Echoes merch, including a t-shirt and some other random stuff (here).

It will likely come out in English as well, given that they mentioned it in the game notes when they talked about The End of Echoes of Mana. Just to be safe, though, maybe get the Japanese one first.

Another update so quick? If you like pendants and Jumi, gj Character G (whatever that is) has designed some pendants reminiscent of Elazul, Pearl, and Florina. Prices range from about $100 to $150 on these. Sales open up March 4th, and they also have some little acrylic charms which I’m sick of seeing. These pendants may go fast, they’re made with real stones and they only have a limited quantity.

Still available a month after release! Elazul’s pendant has designs of feathers, the Sword of Fate, and his clothing.

Still available a month after release! Pearl’s pendant has designs of shells, pearls, and seafoam.

SOLD OUT 11:00am day of release. Florina’s pendant is shaped like Pandora’s Box from the game, with a very delicate apearance.

First up, just to follow up on the Jan 2023 Merch Sightings, I got my hands on some of the Flammie and Rabite plushes mentioned there. I’ve got to say, they’re really good and I recommend them to any fans of the series. You can find countless of them on Japanese auction sites, and the prices aren’t bad at all.

The Flammmie plush is a lot higher quality than I expected, Taito did great on these. The Rabite plush is ridiculously soft, and looks a million times better than the one that Taito put out back in 2018.

Next up, the Shiloh and Serafina POP UP PARADE statues are up for pre-order now, between Feb. 28th and March 30th, 2023.

These are looking pretty great, I love how they went with the classic poses for the two.

Less than a year since its release, we are already hearing about the closing of Echoes of Mana (SquareEnix notice, Twitter posts: English, Japanese). What a strange time to announce this, on the day the director’s cut of the LoM anime’s final episode airs.

The game will stay up for another few months, but will finally shut down on May 15th this year. They will finish out the story and add some new characters before then. You can check out that timeline here.

This was not the Mana Series’ first foray into mobile games, but it was certainly the shortest. The first was Friends of Mana, which you can read about over at the Archive of Mana, which lasted from 2006 to 2011. That’s a lifetime compared to the rest of the games. Then there was Circle of Mana, which lasted from 2013 to 2015. Finally, Rise of Mana made it from 2014 to 2016.

While I didn’t particularly like the game, I can’t help but feel a little sad by this news. I actually haven’t played much since early December, just jumping in once to see the Legend of Mana Manga crossover story. The stories were great, it was great to see the same familiar faces, but the game itself was just not that fun in my opinion.

Hopefully we hear about the next Mana game soon.

It’s from Secret of Mana, but I had Jammin’ Sam Miller’s most recent remaster playing when I read this news, and it just seemed fitting to add here.

The official site for the anime has set the release of the director’s cut of episode 12 to be Monday, February 13th. This is through ABEMA, which likely doesn’t mean much to anyone reading this. It will release to other streaming services on February 17th.