Human Sacrifice is Good Actually :: Visions of Mana General Discussions

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Ansgar Odinson Aug 30, 2024 @ 9:08pm

Human Sacrifice is Good Actually

Im REALLY hoping the narrative throws some kind of a curve ball. Because a bunch of young people positively elated about marching to their sacrifice and death, and it being presented as the good thing, is a bit off in tone from what I was expecting.

Im really early in, so there is a lot of time to be surprised. But I have to say that this opening certainly has me a bit worried for where the game is going.

Last edited by Ansgar Odinson; Aug 30, 2024 @ 9:10pm

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Originally posted by MaChao:

What killed it for me when the game slowly introduced villains into the story.
Naturally, villains usually oppose the heroes ideals...which creates this bizarre situation where the game expects you to suspend your disbelieve so much as to buy that "You should not kill yourself, you should have hopes, dreams and grow old with your loved ones" is a morally evil position to hold.

It's far from the only game with this premise.
Final Fantasy X, Tales of Symphonia, I am Setsuna...but it's by far one of the clumsiest in terms of execution.
The world building is completely psychotic, with almost everyone in it sticking to inhumane traditions like a brainwashed cult. It's morals are quite literally flipped upside down and your troupe of characters rarely if ever have a free thought between them.

Having a tragic, adult story is nothing new for the Mana series.
But this story here is just completely unhinged.
There is a difference between Setsuna's world mourning the necessary evil of the ritual and Visions world where parents and spouses are happy that their close ones were chosen to kill themselves.

Interestingly enough "The last of Us" raised a very similar moral dilemma, where taking Ellie's life would mean saving the rest of the world.
And it came to the moral conclusion that human sacrifices aren't right, no matter the circumstances.
Vision of Mana however completely gave up on it.

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ItsRay Aug 30, 2024 @ 9:19pm

then uninstall the game and hide under a blanket ? If you cant handle the excitement of a plot having you "worried where its going" then storytelling clearly isnt something for you.

Would you say the same for Final Fantasy X? One of the most acclaimed in the series? Its literally the same where the grand summoner sacrifices themselves for the public. It makes for a much more interesting story and allows for much more intense emotions.

How that could ever be viewed as a bad thing is baffling.

Jean

Aug 30, 2024 @ 9:21pm

Why have literally so many people made this thread instead of playing the game more to find out lol

ItsRay Aug 30, 2024 @ 9:25pm

with your mental state

Deathszechuan has Visions of Mana

Aug 30, 2024 @ 10:18pm

HAHA. Ngl. I did laugh a bit when Hinna was like. OH BOY, THANKS FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KILL MYSELF <3. It came off a very culty. Tbf the tone probably doesn't translate well from Japanese. However, I totally understand it now. You'll be fine friend. It's a child like story.

Last edited by Deathszechuan; Aug 30, 2024 @ 10:19pm

Ansgar Odinson Aug 30, 2024 @ 10:36pm

Originally posted by Deathszechuan:
HAHA. Ngl. I did laugh a bit when Hinna was like. OH BOY, THANKS FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KILL MYSELF <3. It came off a very culty. Tbf the tone probably doesn't translate well from Japanese. However, I totally understand it now. You'll be fine friend. It's a child like story.

Definitely had a culty vibe for sure. Either way Ill be fine. Just speculating about the story and such. The art and gameplay are enough tbh. Even if I end up not liking the story, I am still loving the game.

Ansgar Odinson Aug 30, 2024 @ 10:38pm

Originally posted by ItsRay:
with your mental state

The mental state of having an oppinion about stories? The mental state of having personal preferences?

Are you... are you ok?

Choko Aug 30, 2024 @ 10:50pm

You find this kind of classic bible only at Japan exclusive games. Any English variant will have cutscene butchered or complete different translation that make no sense.

Aumires

Aug 30, 2024 @ 11:10pm

It is giving me all kinds of FFX alarms all over the place, didn't help that we got some dictionary of unknown language either.

Also "Oh my, sure looks dangerous living next to a volcano, but why question it ahaha"

Last edited by Aumires; Aug 30, 2024 @ 11:10pm

Casual Amateur has Visions of Mana

Aug 30, 2024 @ 11:16pm

This user probably play to much "Cult of the Lamb"

Doresh

Aug 31, 2024 @ 12:29am

It's for the Greater Good (the Greater Good...)

Originally posted by Aumires:
Also "Oh my, sure looks dangerous living next to a volcano, but why question it ahaha"

Don't you trust our Lord and Savior Salamander?

Last edited by Doresh; Aug 31, 2024 @ 12:30am

#10

gr33dl0ck Aug 31, 2024 @ 1:42am

Originally posted by Ansgar Odinson:
Im REALLY hoping the narrative throws some kind of a curve ball. Because a bunch of young people positively elated about marching to their sacrifice and death, and it being presented as the good thing, is a bit off in tone from what I was expecting.

Im really early in, so there is a lot of time to be surprised. But I have to say that this opening certainly has me a bit worried for where the game is going.

gonna write a twitlonger?

#11

REBirthTheEdge Aug 31, 2024 @ 1:45am

Oh no, an adult theme done in a childish-looking japanese game.

I want this actually.

#12

Ansgar Odinson Aug 31, 2024 @ 1:55am

Originally posted by REBirthTheEdge:
Oh no, an adult theme done in a childish-looking japanese game.

I want this actually.

Thats not the issue. The issue is that the world is a dystopian nightmare ruled by a soul devouring tree but the narrative, tone, and characters all seem to play off as cheerful and fun. And not in an ironic or comedic way. Like, its almost trying to gasslight the audience.

Im not quite sure how to describe it. It feels strange and culty. Nothing about the dialog, characters, or tone seems to match the awful thing this world actually is.

#13

REBirthTheEdge Aug 31, 2024 @ 2:01am

Originally posted by Ansgar Odinson:
Originally posted by REBirthTheEdge:
Oh no, an adult theme done in a childish-looking japanese game.

I want this actually.
Thats not the issue. The issue is that the world is a dystopian nightmare ruled by a soul devouring tree but the narrative, tone, and characters all seem to play off as cheerful and fun. And not in an ironic or comedic way. Like, its almost trying to gasslight the audience.

Im not quite sure how to describe it. It feels strange and culty. Nothing about the dialog, characters, or tone seems to match the awful thing this world actually is.

That's about normal for japanese games actually.

Hell, maybe it's considered normal for these people because sacrificing to a magic tree works.

#14

Ansgar Odinson Aug 31, 2024 @ 2:18am

Originally posted by REBirthTheEdge:
Originally posted by Ansgar Odinson:
Thats not the issue. The issue is that the world is a dystopian nightmare ruled by a soul devouring tree but the narrative, tone, and characters all seem to play off as cheerful and fun. And not in an ironic or comedic way. Like, its almost trying to gasslight the audience.

Im not quite sure how to describe it. It feels strange and culty. Nothing about the dialog, characters, or tone seems to match the awful thing this world actually is.
That's about normal for japanese games actually.

Hell, maybe it's considered normal for these people because sacrificing to a magic tree works.

"Works"

As in, the elements don't punish you and everyone from your home. I mean, I guess. That makes it worse though.

Personally, in the world as presented in this game, I would rather play as the dude from the prologue, with the story being about destroying the soul devouring tree and the brutal elementals.

But I kinda miss the tone and setting of secret of mana. It had dark moments and surprises, but it was optimistic. It certainly felt like I was fighting to save people, not fighting to feed them to a nightmare tree.

#15

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Visions of Mana > General Discussions > Topic Details

Date Posted: Aug 30, 2024 @ 9:08pm

Posts: 212