Topic: Square Unveils Seiken Densetsu for GBA

[Jonnyboy117]

The precursor to Secret of Mana is getting a major revival and overhaul on Game Boy Advance.

Although Seiken Densetsu for GBA was announced a while back, and there have been a few screens released, no one really knew much about the game until now.  Square has updated its Japanese website with plenty of new info on the game, plus some new media that we'll try to have uploaded soon.

According to our Japanese correspondent, Bakudan Yoshinoya, the game's full title is Shin Yaku Seiken Densetsu, or "New Testament: Legend of the Sacred Sword".  (The original was just "Legend of the Sacred Sword" and was released for Game Boy in North America as Final Fantasy Adventure.)

Here is Bakudan's translation of the website's new info:

Genre: Action RPG Game Boy Advance Supports Link Cable for 1-2 Players Release Date - Summer 2003 Price: N/A

In 1991, the Seiken Densetsu series, which started in the black and white era of Game Boy, held up as one of Square's three RPG pillars, but ever since "Seiken Densetu Legend of Mana" in 1999 (released on PlayStation), we have not seen the series.

However, responding to the voices of many fans that want a revival of the game, in summer 2003 the legend comes back on the Game Boy Advance.

The producer, current FFXI director and the father of the series, is Mr. Ishii Kouichi.  All the previous staff that are now independent have come together again for the "Seiken."  A very powerful Mana Project Collaboration is being realized as the development continues.

This game will be based on the Game Boy version where the legend started. Just like how the black and white screen of the Game Boy eolved into the high specs of the GBA,, after ten years, the latest game will also grow properly.  Please look forward to "Shin Yaku Seiken Densetu."

Fans of the series will be excited to learn that Brownie Brown, a Nintendo second-party, is developing the new Seiken Densetsu.  Brownie Brown was formed by many ex-Square employees who once worked on the Seiken Densetsu games.  Apparently there were no hard feelings between the two companies.

[demoncrono]

Woo! That's a great game!...well,for a gameboy game. I'm glad they're remakeing it. The GB didn't do it justice.

Maybe after this they'll release [our] Secret of Mana and [their] Seiken Densetsu 3....one can only hope.

[SPhil64]

After looking at those pics I started to think back to when I first played Secret of Mana.  I never played the GB version of this game so I hope that it's as good as I remember Mana to be.  

[Djunknown]

Hopefully this will kickstart one of  Square's (Is it still Square's franchise by the way?)  franchises that  seemed to go under the radar. For those who haven't played Seiken Densetsu 3, I urge you to in any way shape or form (hint hint hint). Why Square canned its U.S release for Super Mario RPG, God only knows(Its that Damn good.). And while Legend of Mana was a tight game, it just lacked the cohesiveness of  SD3.

Since they have staff from all previous projects, this seems to an ambitious title. Can't wait to hear further news!

[LOUiE]

Well, it does say 1-2 players so this is definitely more than just a graphical upgrade.  That's what makes the Mana games so enticing to me.  You can play them cooperatively with a friend.   Cant wait for this one and hoping for SD2 and SD3 to be remade as well.  That would rock.

[Grey Ninja]

Quote
Originally posted by: Djunknown
Hopefully this will kickstart one of  Square's (Is it still Square's franchise by the way?)  franchises that  seemed to go under the radar. For those who haven't played Seiken Densetsu 3, I urge you to in any way shape or form (hint hint hint). Why Square canned its U.S release for Super Mario RPG, God only knows(Its that Damn good.). And while Legend of Mana was a tight game, it just lacked the cohesiveness of  SD3.

Since they have staff from all previous projects, this seems to an ambitious title. Can't wait to hear further news!

I haven't played the first game yet... (But I will!)

I loved SD2 though.  It remains my favorite of the series, and one of the best on SNES IMO.  SD3 I played, and came very close to beating (lost interest close to the end) but the lack of a cohesive plot just kind of bored me.  Legend of Mana, well....  I shudder to think of that game.

[Sisko]

On your front page, it says that the game was released in America as Final Fantasy Adventure.  Is that right?

[Sisko]

Nevermind, disregard my last post...Uh...I was just testing my name out on the boards...

[-Ace-]

I LOVED Secret of Mana for the SNES and it is one of my favorite games of all time.  The whole leveling up weapons and magic in hand-to-hand combat was enticing.  I also played SD3, great game, but never got around to beating it.  If New Testament is anything like these two games, it will be great.

On a side note, it would like to see a Seiken Densetsu for the cube (think of it in an LoZoT-ish sort of way.  It could work!)