A demo disc included with Square's SaGa Frontier II contained a playable version of their upcoming Legend of Mana. The graphics are cartoonish and well-animated in a style similar to that of SaGa Frontier II - but with more detail, more vibrant colors, and sharper edges. The music is excellent, if more subdued and in an apparently different style from that of the first three games' composer. Battling occurs in a way similar to Chrono Trigger; when you pass a particular "checkpoint," a real-time battle with some enemies occurs right there on the terrain. After enemies are defeated, pick up large and small gems and coins to earn experience and money.

   Most interesting of all is the Landmake system. The world literally does not exist until the player creates it. Various "Artifacts" can be placed around the world to create and grow new locations. Each part of the world has various elemental alignments, and different Artifacts "grow" differently depending on the elements. The demo includes quests to create and conquer: a stone cave with a stolen princess, and a grassland fight against a giant praying mantis.

   Legend of Mana was notably absent from today's announcement from Square concerning their upcoming lineup. Hopefully, U.S. gamers will see this title somehow. Until then, check out these 70 great shots from the demo.