Three players, one cartridge, one cable. A ring menu system copied everywhere. A soundtrack still performed in concerts.
Secret of Mana was released in August 1993 and introduced a three-player cooperative mode on Super Famicom using the Multitap accessory — a rarity for action RPGs of the era. The ring menu system, which paused the game and presented a circular interface for items, magic, and equipment, was widely imitated in subsequent games. Hiroki Kikuta's soundtrack is consistently cited as one of the finest in the genre; 'Fear of the Heavens,' 'Into the Thick of It,' and 'A Wish' are performed in game music concerts decades later. The game sold 1.5 million copies in North America alone. It began as a planned Game Boy title before being expanded into a full SNES game, and the compression of its scope left some plot threads unresolved — details that players have analyzed and discussed for thirty years.
Secret of Mana is, without question, a masterpiece. The music was wonderful, the battle system was a joy, and those dreamlike graphics swallowed me whole.
I was startled to learn, later, that the game was really built for a far larger vessel—a CD-ROM. When that plan vanished, to fit the world onto a small cartridge, director Koichi Ishii cut away forty percent of the whole. The branching paths, the many endings—all gone.
Had it stayed on CD-ROM, perhaps the music would have been even better. The thought is almost frightening. And yet I think this, too: because they cut so much, maybe only the very best was left, packed tightly together.
Constraints can sharpen creation. Even after letting go of forty percent, what remained was beautiful enough to swallow me whole.
We repair this one machine and send it on to someone new. May this tightly-packed world swallow the next person, too.
About this game
Released in 1993, Secret of Mana introduced seamless real-time combat with a 'Ring Menu' system, three-player co-op via multitap, and one of the most beloved JRPG soundtracks ever composed. Hiroki Kikuta's debut score — full of organic textures and emotional depth — became a landmark of the 16-bit era. The game's vivid world, lush visuals, and emphasis on friendship cemented it as a high-water mark of the Super Famicom.
Key Features
Real-time action combat with pause-to-select Ring Menu, simultaneous three-player co-op via Super Multitap, weapon proficiency system that grows with use, and a day/night cycle affecting enemy behavior.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Secret of Mana was originally conceived as a CD-ROM accessory title for the SNES. When the Nintendo-Sony CD deal fell through, the game was redesigned for cartridge, and its scope was heavily compressed. Despite these constraints, it became one of the defining action RPGs of its generation.
Tricks & Tales
Composer Hiroki Kikuta created the entire soundtrack essentially on his own, spending nearly 24 hours a day alternating between composing and editing. The Ring Menu system was designed to allow players to issue commands to AI partners without stopping the action — a radical design choice for 1993.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Super Famicom and SNES region differences operate on two separate levels. First, there is a physical incompatibility: a Japanese Super Famicom cartridge and a North American SNES cartridge have different shell shapes. NTSC-J (Super Famicom) carts are narrower and will not seat in a North American SNES slot without the slot's internal tabs removed or bypassed; conversely, the wider NTSC-U carts cannot even be inserted into a Super Famicom. Second, even where cartridges physically fit — PAL carts share a shell shape closer to Super Famicom and will insert — a lockout chip on the motherboard (F411 for NTSC, F413 for PAL) will prevent the game from booting on a mismatched console. Running a Super Famicom cartridge on a Super Famicom purchased in Japan is of course straightforward; playing it on a foreign console requires either a mod or an adapter that addresses both the physical and the chip-level lock.
Maintenance Tips
The 72-pin cartridge connector is the most common maintenance point. Clean the gold-plated pins on cartridges with a cotton swab and 90%+ isopropyl alcohol; never use abrasive erasers on cartridge contacts. The connector slot on the console itself can be cleaned by inserting and removing a cartridge several times, or with a dedicated pin cleaner. For video output, S-Video provides significantly cleaner image quality than composite and uses the same multi-out port -- a passive adapter cable is all that is required. On early SHVC board revisions, a capacitor near the power LED can leak; inspect the board if the console shows instability. Use the original AC adapter or a verified equivalent: the SFC runs on 10V DC and is not compatible with Famicom or NES power supplies.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Secret of Mana copies regularly.
Will this Japanese Super Famicom cartridge work on a North American Super Nintendo (SNES)?
No, not directly. The Super Famicom and SNES are incompatible in two ways: the cartridge shape differs (the SFC cartridge has a different width and notch layout), and both consoles include a regional lockout chip (the CIC chip) that rejects foreign cartridges. Third-party adapters exist that address both issues simultaneously by bridging the physical shape and bypassing the lockout chip. Some collectors modify their SNES console to disable the CIC chip entirely. A Japanese Super Famicom cartridge is always best paired with a Japanese Super Famicom.
How should I clean a Super Famicom cartridge?
Apply 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and gently wipe the gold-plated edge contacts visible inside the cartridge's connector slot. Never blow into the cartridge. If the shell needs to be opened for deeper cleaning, Super Famicom cartridges use 3.8mm security game bit screws — the same proprietary screw as the Famicom. Standard Phillips screwdrivers will not fit and will strip the screw heads. Clean gently and allow the contacts to dry fully before reinserting the cartridge.
How do I check whether a Super Famicom cartridge is authentic?
Several details distinguish authentic cartridges from reproductions. Authentic Super Famicom cartridges use proprietary security screws — visible Phillips head screws indicate the shell has been opened or replaced. The Nintendo logo on the back of an authentic cartridge is embossed (raised into the plastic), not printed or applied as a sticker. Natural UV yellowing of the gray plastic, consistent with the cartridge's age, is expected on genuine copies; uniformly pristine white plastic on a 30-year-old cartridge is a warning sign. The QA certification stamp on the back label of an authentic cartridge is a pressed indentation, typically absent on bootlegs. For high-value titles, cross-referencing PCB markings and chip date codes with verified collector databases is recommended.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Secret of Mana
A short checklist for buying a used Super Famicom cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese Super Famicom cartridge; its shell is shaped differently from the North American SNES and will not fit without modification.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Confirm it is genuine, not a reproduction
Sought-after titles are targets for reproduction boards with replacement labels.
Ask for a photo of the circuit board and look for factory markings. Favour a shop with a licensed second-hand dealer permit (古物商) — by law its stock has a traceable origin, your simplest guard against fakes.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
See what we have in stock →Unexpected Discoveries
Games you weren't looking for — but might be glad you found.
Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Secret of Mana sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
Share your memory ↑From the Museum's Screening Room
Fear Of The Heavens — The Sound of the Machines
Into The Thick Of It (Secret Of Mana) — The Sound of the Machines