Secret of Mana is an utterly awesome game. It helps bridge the divide between action-RPGs such as Zelda with more stat-driven traditional RPGs such as Final Fantasy. By making the combat action-based, the pace and excitement of the game is greatly increased while the use of items, magic, and leveling-up is way more in depth than anything from Nintendo's beloved franchise. I'm certainly not under the impression that Secret of Mana is better than any Zelda title, but it certainly is a great way for those who are turned off by turn-based and action-less combat to take a step further into the realm of RPGs.
And what's the best part about this game? You must KILL SANTA CLAUS. Well, not quite "kill." While making your way to the Ice Palace, you approach a creepy-looking cabin with what appears to be Rudolph waiting outdoors. Once inside, you do battle with Santa-turned-Frost Gigas. Upon successfully defeating him, he turns back to his regular self, where he explains that it's our fault he transformed. How could this be? Because we stopped believing in Santa and Christmas! Shame on all of us.
