Video game:Super Nintendo Secret of Mana

SquareSoft Inc. released the action role-playing game (RPG) Secret of Mana in 1993. Secret of Mana received critical acclaim at the time of release for its beautifully rendered graphics, enchanting soundtrack, and the depth of its storyline. Gameplay features a unique mix of action with traditional RPG elements such as item and equipment management and magic use. Secret of Mana was one of the first RPGs to feature a cooperative multiplayer mode. The game allows up to three players to join the quest, controlling one of three party members. The second and third players may drop in and out of the game at any time. In single player mode the player is able to switch between the three characters with the computer controlling the two that are not in use. The game features customizable artificial intelligence, allowing players to make computer-controlled characters more or less aggressive, a unique concept at the time of release. Secret of Mana also received praise for its innovative combat system. Combat occurs in real time and features a combat percentage gauge. This meter displays the percentage of damage the player's weapon is capable of at any given time. Weapons must be recharged after each blow whether they make contact with the enemy or not. This discourages the "guns blazing" strategy and requires players to carefully plan each strike. Secret of Mana also introduced an innovative menu system called the Ring Command. This icon-based menu allows players to manage inventory without navigating through multiple menu screens. The Ring Command may be summoned quickly in the midst of battle, allowing players to access character status, weapon selection, or magic with a minimal break in action. These innovative features earned Secret of Mana a reputation as one of the greatest action RPGs in existence and a genre classic. Secret of Mana was released for the Nintendo Wii in 2008 and most recently for the iPad in 2011. Its influential innovations earn the classic RPG an important place in the history of electronic games.