Back in the 16-bit gaming days, many games didn’t bother with complex stories, let alone satisfying endings. However, one console stood out – it became known for its incredible library of classic Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs). This gave it a significant advantage over Sega, particularly when it came to games that truly delivered on compelling narratives and memorable conclusions.
Games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6 are known for their fantastic endings, and it’s worth noting that both offer multiple possibilities. Chrono Trigger has many different endings based on when and how players defeat Lavos. Final Fantasy 6 allows players to choose which characters join their party in the second half of the game, leading to a variety of different outcomes and endings.
Secret Of Mana Has A Bittersweet Ending That Perfectly Caps Off Its Story
Though many classic JRPG fans don’t rank it among the very best, Secret of Mana remains a fantastic action RPG – especially considering how uncommon those were back then. Its multiplayer feature was also a standout and is still remembered fondly by players.
Like many classic games, Secret of Mana featured a surprisingly dark storyline. As the game progressed, characters were magically enslaved and kingdoms were conquered. The fate of the world rested on the player, who needed to fully power up the Mana Sword and defeat Thanatos and the Mana Beast to prevent total destruction.
Defeating the Mana Beast will save the world, but at a great price: all magic will disappear. This means magical creatures, like sprites, will also vanish.
Popoi, a key character in Secret of Mana, is a spirit, meaning he’s destined to disappear once the game’s final challenge is overcome. The heroes understand this, but ultimately choose to save the world by defeating the Mana Beast. This act of heroism causes both the power of Mana and Popoi himself to vanish, and his friends don’t even have a chance to bid him farewell.
Secret Of Mana Didn’t Offer A Last Minute Reprieve
Popoi’s story in Secret of Mana is particularly impactful because the game doesn’t allow you to prevent his tragic end. Other classic RPGs, like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6, often let players avoid character deaths. For example, in Chrono Trigger, Crono can be revived with the Time Egg, and in Final Fantasy 6, both Shadow and Cid can be saved with specific actions – waiting for Shadow to recover, or giving Cid the right item.
In Secret of Mana, there’s no way to save Popoi. The endearing sprite bravely sacrifices their chance to be with friends for the sake of everyone, making the final scene – watching the stars – incredibly moving. While Secret of Mana isn’t necessarily the greatest game, it definitely boasts one of the best endings.
Found an error? Send it so it can be corrected.
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- How to Get the Bloodfeather Set in Enshrouded
- Survivor’s Colby Donaldson Admits He Almost Backed Out of Season 50
- Gold Rate Forecast
- How to Build a Waterfall in Enshrouded
- Meet the cast of Mighty Nein: Every Critical Role character explained
- 10 Best Character Duos in Stranger Things, Ranked
- 32 Kids Movies From The ’90s I Still Like Despite Being Kind Of Terrible
- These Are the 10 Best Stephen King Movies of All Time
- Yakuza Kiwami 3 And Dark Ties Guide – How To Farm Training Points
2026-03-02 21:41