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DragonArk
Posted on 09-25-13 02:38 AM (rev. 15 of 04-11-14 03:32 PM) Link | Quote | ID: 154832

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I know the SoM Editor still has a long way to go but I would like to start gathering information on Secret of Mana to create a more complete version of the game. If you have any information or any theories about what was left out, please let me know! I don't plan to do this by myself, I will need a dedicated team of people who want to see a complete Secret of Mana before it was culled. I don't plan to improve graphics or sounds or anything. I just want to add more areas to explore and if lot's of people are interested some extra stories too. If we all put our brains together, we might be able to make something awesome.

There are also some areas in the map that don't exist in the original game, and also some clues on the maps available using SoM editor. I would like to add those back into the game as best as possible. As information is scarce, I would like to integrate some theories into the game based on some sort of evidence, as long as they make the game seem legit.

Here are some references to some extra footage of the game that wasn't included in the final game (some of it just looks like beta versions of used maps):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ObmJ0x4_A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSWYkRJRSs4

Some pictures here too:
http://www.flyingomelette.com/oddities/oddities25.html
http://www.unseen64.net/2008/06/08/secret-of-mana-snes-beta/


Maps:

Here are some map theories that could be added to the game, feel free to comment about these. I'm just writing about everything I can think or see so some might sound silly. To see what maps I'm talking about you will need Secret of Mana Editor, connect it to the US rom, then go to composite maps and type the map number in there.


#23 - There seems to be a lot of room on the bottom left corner of the screen. Below the lake there are some rocks in a line that could have been moved to block an entrance to somewhere.

#25 - Underneath the bridge on the right side leads to nothing, I feel like that should have lead somewhere.
Bottom left side has trees missing to the side, perhaps the village next to there was supposed to be larger and had 2 entrances / exits.

#27 - Could have had a path to the left.

#61 - Would be cool if this connected pandora area to here, although would have to check the main map to see if that would make sense.

#63 - Door-less house. There are some collisions not present in some of the trees at the top which is a bit strange. Looks like this should have been bigger.

#65 - Has a lot of space, might have had been bigger / more levels and had more 'Easter egg' type quotes.

#89 - Many missing doors. Looks like it should have been bigger.

#109 - Might have been able to go right, or further south.

#110 - I swear that long walk shouldn't have had been for nothing.

#113 - Seems like the map is complete except for that random walk through building on the bottom left. I feel like they culled the story line here.

#114 - Maybe there was a right exit at the bottom right, 1 house and one shop seem too small for the amount of people walking around.

#115 - Seems mostly complete, something doesn't seem right with the bottom, the path leads to nowhere, and the bottom houses have no doors

#122 - Door that leads no where, planned lower floor?

#123 - I'll have a better look at these later.

#129 - Right exit at the top right? One of the rocks doesn't have a collision on it, not sure why.

#131 - Looks like there was a right exit here, perhaps planned to connect to the 129 map (with a map in-between)

#133 - Looks fine but how cool would it be to put a finished version of this village in the game?

#135 - I feel like this lower floor should have been bigger.

#147 - Why is this map so big? Perhaps the other deer were here.

#170 - You will see a path normally unseen that was probably planned to go somewhere.

#194 - Could be made bigger, lots of space.

#222 - Could have been bigger, lots of space.

#223 - Would be cool if there was a village where the villages actually sleep, I'm sure they don't all live in the castle. Path could lead south or right.

#224 - Same as previous, could also connect here to the right.

#228 - Seems like some thing is up with the top. On the right side the stair case leads to nothing, looks like there could have been an exit to the right. Could add an extra building or 2 up top. Using flammie, this happens:
http://www.flyingomelette.com/oddities/som/som-flammie6.gif

#230 - Does anyone know what this map is? Haven't seen it, how do I get to it?

#256 - How the hell did they even get to this bridge? Should be integrated into the game properly so you can revisit if you want.

#263 - This story part definitely needs cleaning up.

#277 - maybe those 2 doors could actually be edited to lead somewhere.

#286 - There's a lot of space here.

#316 - Would be good to expand these guys story.

#318 - I think parts of this ship could have been bigger.

#430 - I feel like this area was small, and not much detail was given to the characters. I would like to add more content about this.

#482/484/486/- There are a few random maps like this, any idea what they are?


Here's some extra theories I found online:


We can speculate on some of what was left out based on segments of the game that seem lacking in content as well as the way the orbs and bosses are crammed together. Here is what I've noticed:

-On the road to Kipo from Pandora there is a line of the octagonal stones that are only used to show a path to a new area off the left of the screen. A tree occupies that place and you can't enter it.

-There was probably more story line dealing with Dyluk, Phana, Jema and Thanatos at the beginning of the game in Pandora. You'll recall they say they defeated the empire or were fighting them there and won. I would bet you participate or at least witnessed some events from that battle.

-The Gold land probably had a bigger role.

-The lighthouse probably had more of purpose than to make you climb several stories to see a spinning bald man.

-The moon palace and that little guy that ferries you might have had more story line, depth and monsters than to just have you showing up.

-The town with the Sea Hares tail likely was more than a place to buy the sea hares tail.

-Those three guys that steal the water seed and say "Shaddap" might be more developed.

-Tasnica and Jema's involvement there likely was more developed. You show up and kill a ninja and that's it. It would make sense that the conflict between Tasnica, Pandora and The Empire was perhaps more explained.

-I also know for a fact that the dialogue in the game was clipped in favor of using a larger font. They had to really shorten what was said because of this. For example when the Sprite is first picked up, they don't really explain why he's all tiny and why after you pay he gets big in the show. The size change doesn't jive with what the characters are saying.

Regardless, what the original game looked like will remain a mystery until one of the programmers comes forward and talks about it. I think it's till possible to interview one of them and find out what was culled to make room. What baffles me is how short the game is. I personally feel they cut too much. When you look at home much was fit onto Chrono Trigger and the Final Fantasies, It seems that where they cut 40% of the content, they might have only needed to to cut 27% but rushed the game to make it out for Christmas. Oh well. It's still a classic for me and the terrific music and easy game-play will always make it nostalgic for me.

Otrebla2
Posted on 10-06-13 08:58 AM Link | Quote | ID: 154900


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I think its better to think about original content using some of the maps/parts you posted. The problem is that nobody knows story elements that were left out, we have very loose footage, some maps and a couple of unused sprites ingame (thanatos-like faceless guy and old witch.

Not to discourage you tho, I would love to have the full game. I think the best approach would be to interview one of the developers and ask about what was left out.

BTW, nice job listing those maps.

Davias
Posted on 10-10-13 10:32 PM Link | Quote | ID: 154914

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Nice ideas DragonArk,

I would love to interview one of the developers about the many things they cut out of the game, when they switched from the planned CD-Rom version to the much smaller SNES cartridge.
Everytime I read those little infos, scattered around the web, I dream about it

I absolutely loved Secret of Mana when I was fifteen years old, and I love it till today.
Someone said, the game had a much darker storyline in the beginning and I saw this, hidden in the background, when I played it back then.

Maybe, I can recreate my "vision" of the game, when Moppy's editor launch in all it's full glory


Otrebla2
Posted on 10-14-13 04:28 AM Link | Quote | ID: 154922


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Maybe with a lil help of the seikens... i think its the biggest Mana page out there.

DragonArk
Posted on 04-10-14 06:49 AM (rev. 4 of 04-10-14 07:16 AM) Link | Quote | ID: 156323

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I agree Otrebla2. I think most of the information was lost. But I think a lot of fans would be able to put a lot of the pieces together. For the parts left, we could all create it together as Secret of Mana fans, make the game we all agree it should have been, the community can vote if it comes to it.

Davias I know everyone wants to make their 'own versions' but it would be great if there was a group who came together and put the same amount of time and effort into a project that Moppy has done. There's a lot of work to do, and I think Secret of Mana deserves a project on a grand scale, everyone can contribute and work as a community and expand SoM keeping it on par with Squaresoft standards.

It makes me wonder though. How much SoM information is out there on the internet in Japanese that we don't know about. I'm sure there would be some Japanese fans there who are like us who would have asked square employees a load of questions regarding this.

So if anyone is interested, please let it known here.

Otrebla2
Posted on 04-16-14 02:20 AM Link | Quote | ID: 156376


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Well, I'm a video game programer, I also do some design and pixel art. Making a decent Mana game is my dream. My dream game would be to make Serin's and Jema story using some elements from SD3, like the fairy, ghost ship and even some different kingdoms like Navarre, Forcena, etc. To be honest, I allways thought that the SD3 world/story was more polished and better developed, but the content of Mana was better.

Pile me in if this becomes something.


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