Hmmm... The thing that wories me most is the patern that seems to be apearing in the mana games of late. Look at first twoWorld of Mana entries:

A) Children of Mana: Graphically, it's really nice, and it's gameplay mechanics (save for magic) are very well done. However, it's story is rather lacking, and it is less of an action RPG (like tis predecessors) and more of a dungeon crawler.

B) Dawn of Mana: Graphically, it's a great transition from 2D to 3D. But there have been complaints about the gamplay, as well as the mechanics. The fact that it takes away the widespread world that other mana games have featured, and dumbs it down into levels and stages is atrocious. Most of what people liked in the older mana games has been striped away, leaving a 3D shell with the name "Mana" on it.

In short, Square Enix is destroying what mana was. It's using the name to sell the game, but not delivering the content players expect. What really anoys me is that they don't seem to realize that the story and gameplay was what made the early Mana games so likeable. They had vast worlds, shocking plot twists, imaginative levels, sturdy gameplay. Children and Dawn of Mana lack these (Dawn more so than Children).

I will admit that I plan to buy Dawn of Mana, and I will probably enjoy it, if only due to the presence of Rabites, Goblins, etc. But I'm worried about the future of Mana with the way the series is being handled right now.