Seiken Densetsu 3 is the game that would've been Secret of Mana 2 in the USA, had it been translated and released here. Thankfully there are translation patches on the internet for the rom files. SD3 is a riveting game with a similar story to SoM1 but with better looking graphics. The only things that aren't up to par with its predecessor is the magic system, battle mode and weapon/spell leveling. There are less spells and sometimes a 'Class Change' is necessary to have magic.
Weapons and spells no longer level up from use like in SoM1.
The battle system is still overhead view and not the typical Final Fantasy battle screen, but you can't avoid battles by walking away from enemies anymore. But there are some aspects that make SD3 better than SoM; you get a very spacious inventory with which you can hold up to 99 of every item. Upon starting, you get to chose your party of 3 from 6 available characters and depending on which you chose as your main hero you fight a different boss at the end of the game.
Flammie is still there, so is Cannon Travel, but you also get ships you can ride to docks and a giant turtle you can summon to travel by water. The world is more expansive than in SoM, SD3 is also more difficult.
Square made a BAD choice by not releasing an official USA version, with the popularity of Secret of Mana, who WOULDN'T want to buy its sequel? Its not the first time Japanese game companies have left Americans behind. Namco's Tales of Phantasia was released for SNES, Playstation and GBA, but they never made an English port, the only way you can play it in English is thru the wonder of emulation. Sad because had the companies released them here we most certainly would've bought them.
