Absolutely the best multiplayer experience I had on the SNES
The gameplay is based on real-time combat via the use of 8 unique weapons ranging from a boomerang to a sword to a whip, and everything in between. Each weapon feels and plays differently and each gets stronger as the game progresses and you unlock more Orb levels for each of them. Weapons gain experience through use, and weapons that are level one or higher can be charged to unleash a devastating attack on all foes in range. All characters can use all weapons, but each gains weapon experience separately. Weapon combat is as simple as pressing the attack button while facing your foe. After swinging your weapon, there is a small delay while you 'recharge' for the next attack. This delay serves to prevent simply button mashing combat and allows teammates to time attacks with each other for maximum effects. Attacking before your recharge results in an extremely weak hit.
Magic is the other half of combat and as you progress through each palace, you unlock one of eight magic elementals. The sprite character has offensive spells, while the female character has support and healing magic. The main character does not have access to spells. Elementals level the same way weapons do, and the higher an elemental's level, the more powerful spells and effects are from that elemental. Magic is accessed via a menu that pauses combat while you select your spell.
The ringed menu system also is where weapons are selected, items are used, and the rest of your standard RPG menus are accessed (character status, equip armor, etc...) The menus are easy to navigate and are much quicker than your standard RPG menu. There's not a lot of clutter, there are only so many items, weapons, and spells, that it's easy to find what you need quickly, and then get back to the action.
The music and graphics in the game solidify the feel of the game. The soundtrack is lighthearted throughout the world environments. Palaces have a mysterious and deep feel to them. The world is vibrant and colorful. Monsters are unique and varied throughout. The world is fun, and the graphics and music really serve to emphasize that. The boss battle themes are exciting, and the end game music especially really pulls you into the moment.
The character AI is passable when you are playing solo or with only two players. Characters will sometimes get stuck going the wrong way forcing a backtrack, but this game really shines most when you get 3 people working together to fulfill their individual roles. Dungeon crawling is fun and challenging, and the game especially shines during boss battles. Bosses present a host of different challenges from timed battles where you're being pushed into a spike wall, to 3 dinosaurs with Yoshi-like tongues that can swallow one of your characters temporarily for big damage. You never know what to expect until you're in the thick of the fight. Some of the bosses present a formidable challenge as well, especially if your magic isn't leveled high enough to make a dent in them.
This brings me to my one complaint. The latter elementals you earn come very late in the game, and leveling magic elementals is a tedious process after the halfway mark when leveling slows significantly. Casting a spell 100 times to move from level 6 to level 7 isn't terribly exciting, but since magic is optional is most bosses, it's not something that has to be done. Completionists might feel otherwise, but overall it's a very small gripe compared to the rest of the game.
You owe it to yourself to play this game with 2 friends. It's an experience I will never forget, and one that I try to relive at least once every couple years. Even for a game that's well over a decade old, the fun and charm is still there. Secret of Mana is a classic and deserves it's place among the best RPGs of all time.