World map and location names

[Anibaal_D_Jiraya]

Hi everybody,

I started the game a couple of days ago (as it was included in the PS plus Premium catalog). 

I am a big fan of JRPG, and I frequently look at the maps when I explore the areas.

However, in Secret of Mana, I feel disorientated. And the world map isn't of any help, as no name nor legend appear in it.

I looked in the trophy guide and I know I have to grind for some rare drops in certain dungeons. The first one should be the Underground City. Yet I reached a place named the Underground Palace, and I think there is some other place named the Underground Ruin too, it's really confusing !

I wonder when should I start grinding, so I won't miss any gear or any orb...

How do you stay oriented in this game? Have you any advice for me?

[Pumpkin Head Cthulhu]

I still have trouble with it in both the original and the remake.

[Geridian]

I can only advice to use this HTML style walkthrough as a reference for this game:

 

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588646-secret-of-mana/faqs/79331

 

- The guide also tells you if enemies appear in a dungeon, which you need to farm for missable equipment.

- "Underground City" is part of the late game dungeon "Mana Palace": https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/218497-secret-of-mana/faqs/79331/walkthrough-finale#mana-palace-underground-city-2-3

- This guide even features a world map (https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/218497-secret-of-mana/faqs/79331/gameplay-and-things-to-know#overworld-map), but maybe this world map is more helpful: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/218497-secret-of-mana/map/2389-world-map

[Anibaal_D_Jiraya]

On 1/24/2024 at 9:10 AM, Geridian said:

I can only advice to use this HTML style walkthrough as a reference for this game:

 

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/snes/588646-secret-of-mana/faqs/79331

 

- The guide also tells you if enemies appear in a dungeon, which you need to farm for missable equipment.

- "Underground City" is part of the late game dungeon "Mana Palace": https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/218497-secret-of-mana/faqs/79331/walkthrough-finale#mana-palace-underground-city-2-3

- This guide even features a world map (https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/218497-secret-of-mana/faqs/79331/gameplay-and-things-to-know#overworld-map), but maybe this world map is more helpful: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/218497-secret-of-mana/map/2389-world-map

Thanks for the guide.

Normally, I like to play the games without referring to a walkthrough, so I could enjoy the story without any spoilers. That's doable with shorter games (I usually do a second playthrough following a guide for the trophies). However, That's not easy with longer games such as JRPG.
Anyway, I'll try to note all the missable equipment location from the guide and I hope I could do it in a single playthrough ! 😅

[Geridian]

4 hours ago, Anibaal_D_Jiraya said:

Normally, I like to play the games without referring to a walkthrough, so I could enjoy the story without any spoilers. 

 

Hi. I know what you mean. My standard approach is:

1) Look up guides on forums for Sony, Xbox and Steam to find out if anything is bugged or missable. 

2) If anything is bugged or missable, I write some notes in a notebook app (Like OneNote, Evernote and such) to stay aware of this.

3) Also if a checklist for something is needed, I copy & paste it into the same app. Or if a checklist could be helpful and is nowhere to be found, I create one.

4) If for a game a "Spoiler free walkthrough" is provided, this is something I keep open on my laptop during play all the time. Game is running on a TV or something like this, no worries 😄

 

/edit I know you wrote that you take note of the missables.

If you had not written this, that would have been my advise:

You could either take note of everything which is marked as "missable" in the official PSNP trophy guide for this game or only keep note of the "rare drops" section of the gamefaqs guide (but keep in mind, that when the guide in the list down a weapon name in the table, a weapon orb for crafting is what you want to loot from the enemy) or maybe you find another helpful info source. Who knows.

 

Have fun with the game and good luck. 👍

 

Edited January 26 by Geridian
/edit