Damian McFerran recalls that while waiting for the PlayStation's release in the UK in early 1995, Secret of Mana 2 became the game he played repeatedly. As a teenager at the time, he couldn't afford the Japanese version of the PlayStation and had to continue using his existing Mega Drive and SNES.
This period of waiting began with two encounters on the same day: he first bought a second-hand copy of Secret of Mana 2 at a market in Northampton, UK, and then saw an imported PlayStation running Ridge Racer for the first time in a nearby shop window. The latter's smooth 3D graphics made him eagerly anticipate the next generation of consoles.
Looking back on Secret of Mana 2, McFerran still appreciates its colors, character expressions, and detailed animations. He believes that the combat, which combines real-time action with turn-based elements, also sets it apart from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which it was often compared to at the time. Hiroki Kikuta's soundtrack is equally memorable to him, especially the scenes where the protagonist is banished from the village and spends the night at an inn.
McFerran had already taken notice of the game due to positive reviews in Super Play and Edge magazines. At the time, it was difficult for UK players to get their hands on Japanese-style RPGs; Secret of Mana 2 was released in Japan and North America in 1993, but didn't arrive in Europe until November 1994.