Enemies encountered in the field also change during certain time periods, and some may be sleeping if characters approach them at night. Reportedly, the use of the opposite elements according to day and time and the game's elementology are not weakened for example, using water spells on a Salamander Day does not make them weaker than using them on a Gnome Day.Ĭertain events only happen during certain times of day, such as a nighttime-only black market selling, particularly rare items. Mana Day - All elemental magic is balanced.Ī Day is also divided into day and night, represented by Lumina and Shade respectively.Salamando Day - Fire magic is stronger.On that spirit's day, magic of that element will be slightly stronger: The seven-day week cycles much more quickly than an actual one - a day passes in a number of minutes - but it still affects gameplay in certain ways.Įach day of the week is represented by a different elemental spirit. Trials also employs a calendar function in its gameplay. Counting all possibilities, there is a total of seven possible classes for every character, including the initial class. Although the first-class change of "Light" and/or "Dark" is in the player's power of choosing, the second class change will advance the character depending on which of the two rare items for that character's class you use for the class change at the Mana Stone. However, there is a key difference between the second class change and the first-class change. The second change requires the use of rare items to be performed, and once again an option between a "Light" and a "Dark" class is presented. A second class change may be performed at level 38. Once a character reaches level 18, he or she is able to go to a Mana Stone and choose a class to progress to - either a class aligned to "Light" or a class aligned to "Dark" - which provides a different set of skills and different improvements to character statistics. Level progression is coordinated by the player, as a choice is given regarding where to invest a character statistics point at every level up. The player can also determine whether or not the AI characters will make use of their power gauge and what earned abilities they may use, though magic spells must be cast manually by the human player. Unlike the prequel, however, instead of setting the characters' range to the enemy and their level of aggression, the player sets directives on the character's behavior during combat, such as taking an individual target or supporting another character. Sometimes, a "prize" wheel of traps is given when opening the chest this can be eluded by timing the cursor to fall over an "OK" disc. Once all enemies on-screen are defeated, the player has the chance to receive a reward item in a treasure chest.
TRIALS OF MANA HAWKEYE FULL
When the gauge is full enough, special moves can be unleashed - moves vary according to the character and their class. When in battle mode, the character adds one point to his or her "power gauge" by making an attack that hits a monster (in place of Secret of Mana's vulnerable charge-up). Players can exit the battle mode by moving off-screen or far enough away from the monsters for it to be disengaged (unlike Legend of Mana's "no-escape" mode). The player can switch items between storage and their ten-slot item ring menu, or else "top-up" items currently in it to a maximum of nine each.Ī battle mode was introduced as part of the gameplay, which freezes some aspects of normal gameplay (such as item storage) to allow the player to focus on defeating monsters.
A storage system was introduced for any excess items, replacing Secret of Mana's "four-of-a-kind maximum rule". A single variety of weapon is available for each character, and the "progression by means of use" present on the series' previous game was removed from the weapons and magic systems now the only factor which influences a spell's damage is how high the character's "magic" attribute is. One of its main differences, though, is that the range of characters is doubled to six, with the player choosing the three members of his or her party when commencing a new game.
Trials of Mana acts very much like its predecessor Secret of Mana, as it employs a real-time combat system, making use of a ring menu which provides the player with quick access to magic, items, and character information, amongst other options.