Kenji Ozawa, co-director of Visions of Mana, took to Reddit’s r/JRPG for a candid AMA that pulled back the curtain on the Mana series revival. Fresh off founding his own indie studio after a tough studio closure, Ozawa shared development insights, future plans, and lessons from bringing the elemental spirits world to life. Fans grilled him on everything from combat design to co-op dreams.
From Bandai to Mana and Beyond
Ozawa’s career path reads like a JRPG questline. He spent years at Bandai Namco producing Gundam and Dragon Ball mobile games in Shanghai, then joined NetEase to launch Ouka Studio in Japan, directing Visions of Mana there. When the studio shut down post-launch in 2025, he founded Studio Sasanqua to protect his team and keep creating.
The AMA highlighted his split duties with co-director Ryosuke Yoshida. Ozawa handled world design, story, event scenes, and systems – everything players see and interact with outside battles. Yoshida owned combat tuning, difficulty balance, and direct controller feel. This division let them craft a cohesive experience where environments breathe with spirit mythology.
World-Building Mana Style
Ozawa revealed his “explore the world twice” philosophy for Visions of Mana. He started with the world map, then built spirit-linked regions and dungeons around it. Each area pulses with unique mythology, encouraging revisits as players gain new elemental vessels and party strength. This echoes Secret of Mana’s charm but scales up for modern hardware.
No random encounters clutter exploration – instead, visible enemies roam vibrant fields. The design rewards curiosity with hidden details in spirit-touched landscapes. Ozawa emphasized making every zone feel alive, from hollow mountains to fairy-haunted forests, tying directly to the Mana tree’s waning power narrative.
No Couch Co-Op, But Dreams Remain
Fans hoped for classic Mana couch co-op in Ozawa’s next project, especially after introducing kids to gaming. As a small indie team, he’s skipping local multiplayer to streamline development. That said, the SNES veteran grew up loving shared screen sessions and eyes future titles tackling that challenge.
Studio Sasanqua’s debut game stays under wraps, but Ozawa teased excitement. His new setup merges management and creation to shield developers from corporate fallout. If it flops, he takes the hit – no more laying off talent while execs skate free.
Fan Questions and Dev Insights
- Combat Balance: Yoshida playtested endlessly, linking classes to vessels, weapons, and outfits for intuitive flow. Deadline crunches happened, but harmony won out.
- Studio Closure Pain: Ozawa called it disappointing, fueling his indie move to prioritize creators over suits.
- Stream Plans: Hosting his 100th Twitch stream December 10th (JST 21:30) to answer more live.
- Mana Legacy: Builds on Trials of Mana’s foundation, expanding environments and spirit lore for globetrotting adventures.
The AMA showed Ozawa’s passion for player connection, streaming regularly to chat directly. His journey from mobile producer to Mana steward proves talent finds paths forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Studio Sasanqua working on?
Ozawa teases an exciting new project but keeps details secret. Focus stays on streamlined development without couch co-op.
Why no local multiplayer next?
Small indie team prioritizes core release. Ozawa loves SNES co-op and plans it for future games.
How did Ozawa split duties on Visions?
He owned world/story/systems; Yoshida handled all combat and balance. Perfect for immersive Mana feel.
What inspired Visions’ world design?
“Explore twice” concept: map first, then spirit regions/dungeons. Each area unique mythology rewards revisits.
Why start Studio Sasanqua?
After Ouka closure, Ozawa built a creator-first space. Management protects devs, shares failure risk.
Any Visions DLC or patches coming?
Post-launch focus shifted to new projects. Ozawa appreciates support during rocky times.
Stream schedule?
100th stream Dec 10 JST 21:30. Ozawa engages fans regularly on Twitch.
Mana’s Next Chapter
Kenji Ozawa’s AMA proves Mana series heart beats strong, even after studio drama. His indie pivot safeguards talent while chasing classic multiplayer dreams. Visions of Mana captured spirit world’s wonder; Studio Sasanqua promises more elemental adventures ahead.
Fans won big with honest answers on development pains and future hopes. Ozawa bridges dev-community gap through streams and AMAs, keeping Mana relevant. Watch his 100th stream – the next Mana legend might spark there. Elemental spirits await.