Secret of Mana’s Deleted Path
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Secret of Mana’s Deleted Path
February 28, 2021
One of the biggest discoveries is a vast area excised from the Gaia Lowlands. In the final game, traveling north of Neko’s takes you directly to the Water Palace, but it seems that originally there was a much longer journey. Furthermore, it seems that the path continued to the west and then south to Gaia’s Navel. The final game does not have a direct path between the Water Palace and Gaia’s Navel, though this makes for more compelling game design. Also, leaving such a long area would have given the early game even more weight than it already has. We’ll explore this deleted path below:
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPathRiver.png)
First, there’s the square river circled above. We saw an overhead view of this on the First Areas page. Screenshots exits of what appears to be two phases of development:
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UnknownArea1075-1.png)
(February 19, 1993)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UnknownArea1081.png)
(March 19, 1993)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UnknownArea1086.png)
(February 5, 1993)
From this point it’s less certain, but the best candidate for the next area is here. It appeared in both print and video promotions.
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPath.png)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPath105.png)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPath106.png)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPath107.png)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPath108.png)
(Family Computer Magazine: April 30, 1993)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPath109.png)
(Family Computer Magazine: April 30, 1993)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPath112.png)
(May 14, 1993)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GaiaLowlands7.png)
(May 1993)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/lostarea5-2.png)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/lostarea7-2.png)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/lostarea8-2.png)
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/test900.png)
(September 5, 1993)
The island at the top is this one:
The island to its right; note the different whip mechanic, similar to Final Fantasy Adventure:
This is the only shot I’ve seen area of this area. It could be on the way back to the square river:
Same thing here:
Next is an area west of here (we think) that also showed up in a many promotional shots:
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPathDock.png)
The game was like supposed to have a means of water travel, as evidenced by beaches throughout the world. If so, I imagine this was a place to launch:
Queue mentions this bird’s resemblance to the Garuda from Final Fantasy Adventure:
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/garuda.gif)
Sheexy from the Seikens followed up with this art from the Final Fantasy Adventure manual:
We’re least confident in this one, but we have to try…
![](https://manaredux.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/DeletedPathCoast.png)
I wonder when sea travel would have been introduced, Perhaps after upper land? Did they plan for flammie before of after scrapping the idea. Hmm.