《聖劍傳說3》（聖剣伝説3 / Trials of Mana）於1995年由Square（現為Square Enix）推出，是該系列的第三部作品，於超級任天堂發行。以其複雜的劇情分支、創新的角色成長系統和豐富的遊戲玩法，被廣泛認為是該系列的巔峰之作之一。

在上古的時期，黑暗壟罩著大地，傳說中的救世主「瑪娜之女神」使用瑪娜之劍，成功將八隻可怕的神獸封印在「瑪娜之石」內，光明再次降臨時「瑪娜之女神」變成神樹，默默守護著大地。然而許多人卻想要藉由「瑪娜之石」來獲得神的力量，企圖統治世界，於是封印的力量不斷減弱，最後連「瑪娜之樹」也開始慢慢的枯萎......。於是來自各地的六位勇者，為再次守護大地，一起踏上偉大的聖劍冒險...。

在遊戲開始時從六位角色中選擇三位作為主要冒險小隊。每位角色的故事背景、動機和目標均不相同，這使得劇情可以根據選擇而變化。三位角色分別包括：

 1. 杜蘭（Duran）：王國的騎士，他的故事關於保護家園和為父親復仇。

 2. 安潔拉（Angela）：魔法王國的公主，面臨母親的威脅，踏上尋找真相的旅程。

 3. 凱文（Kevin）：獸人王國的王子，因誤解而殺死摯友，展開救贖之旅。

 4. 夏洛特（Charlotte）：半精靈少女，為解救養父而踏上冒險。

 5. 霍克艾（Hawkeye）：沙漠王國的盜賊，試圖阻止自己的組織被邪惡利用。

 6. 莉絲（Riesz）：亞馬遜戰士公主，為尋找失蹤的弟弟並保護國家而奮戰。

隨著冒險進行，三位角色的命運將交織在一起，共同對抗三位主要反派和他們的勢力，包括黑暗巫師、邪惡帝國和野心勃勃的龍族。故事的高潮圍繞瑪娜之劍展開。角色們需要進入傳說中的聖地，解放瑪娜之劍的真正力量，對抗邪惡的陰謀，並重建逐漸消逝的瑪娜之力。

延續系列的即時戰鬥系統，同時引入更多創新要素，豐富整體的遊玩體驗。以即時戰鬥為核心，自由控制三位角色中的任意一人，而其他兩位由AI操作。每位角色擁有各自的普通攻擊、特殊技能和魔法，根據角色特性制定戰鬥策略。特別是終極技能（必殺技）的引入，使戰鬥更加具有戲劇性和爽快感。遊戲的角色成長系統非常靈活，通過收集經驗值來升級角色，並將角色進行「職業升級」。每位角色有四條職業路徑可選擇，分為「光明」與「黑暗」兩種方向，例如杜蘭可以成為防禦力強大的聖騎士或擁有高攻擊力的狂戰士。職業選擇不僅影響角色的能力，也對劇情分支和結局產生一定影響。據選擇的角色組合提供三條主要劇情路線和多個結局。這種設計鼓勵玩家多次遊玩，以體驗所有角色的故事背景及其對整體劇情的影響。

關卡設計極具多樣性，每個地區都有獨特的地形和敵人。從森林、沙漠到雪山和地下洞窟，場景設計既美觀又充滿挑戰，並且很多地區需要解決環境謎題才能通過。迷宮設計特別突出，每個迷宮都有自己的主題和獨特的挑戰。迷宮中的頭目戰是遊戲的亮點之一，頭目通常擁有複雜的攻擊模式，要靈活運用角色的技能和職業搭配才能獲勝。還有日夜循環系統，某些敵人和活動只會在特定時間出現，例如夜晚更強的敵人或白天開啟的通路，這增加探索的深度和策略性。

當年發售後獲得廣泛好評，被認為是當時最精緻的動作角色扮演遊戲之一。畫面的像素藝術風格、流暢的戰鬥系統和感人至深的劇情都受到玩家和評論家的高度讚揚。尤其是由菊田裕樹創作的音樂，以優美的旋律和情感深度為遊戲的氣氛增色不少。儘管在日本市場大獲成功，但因為開發時間的限制，國際市場上並未及時推出官方英語版，這使得部分海外玩家只能通過非官方途徑體驗遊戲內容。直到多年後，遊戲的高清重製版（Trials of Mana）在全球發售，才讓更多玩家得以完整感受這款經典之作的魅力。然而，遊戲也存在一些不足之處，例如部分關卡設計過於重複，AI隊友的行為偶爾令人感到困擾，但這些問題並未影響整體品質。總體而言，《聖劍傳說3》以其出色的故事、深刻的角色描寫和創新的遊戲系統，奠定該系列的經典地位，並且多年以來是玩家心目中的懷舊佳作之一。

Trials of Mana (聖剣伝説3 / Seiken Densetsu 3) was released in 1995 by Square (now Square Enix) as the third installment in the series, launched for the Super Famicom in Japan only. Known for its complex branching storyline, innovative character progression system, and rich gameplay, it is widely regarded as one of the pinnacle entries in the franchise.

The story unfolds in a fantasy world centered around the mysterious power of Mana and the ancient Mana Sword. It tells the tale of a world gradually descending into chaos due to the loss of Mana’s power, drawing six protagonists with different destinies into an adventure to save the world.

At the start of the game, players select three out of the six characters to form their main party. Each character has a unique backstory, motivation, and goal, allowing the narrative to shift based on the player's choices. The six characters include:

Duran – A kingdom’s knight whose story revolves around protecting his homeland and avenging his father.

Angela – A princess from the Magic Kingdom, facing threats from her mother, embarking on a journey to uncover the truth.

Kevin – A prince of the Beast Kingdom, driven by a misunderstanding that led to the death of his best friend, seeking redemption.

Charlotte – A half-elf girl who ventures out to rescue her adoptive father.

Hawkeye – A thief from the Desert Kingdom, striving to prevent his organization from falling into evil hands.

Riesz – An Amazon warrior princess searching for her missing brother while defending her nation.

As the adventure progresses, the fates of the three chosen characters intertwine as they confront three primary antagonists and their forces, including a dark wizard, an evil empire, and ambitious dragon clans. The climax of the story revolves around the Mana Sword. The characters must venture into the legendary Holy Land to unlock the true power of the Mana Sword, thwart sinister schemes, and restore the waning Mana power.

The game builds on the series’ signature real-time combat system while introducing innovative elements to enhance the overall experience. Players can freely control any of the three party members, while the other two are managed by AI. Each character possesses standard attacks, special skills, and magic, requiring players to develop strategies based on their strengths. The addition of powerful ultimate abilities (Class Strikes) makes battles more dramatic and satisfying.

The character progression system is highly flexible, allowing players to level up by gaining experience points and perform "Class Changes." Each character can follow four distinct class paths, split between "Light" and "Dark" alignments. For instance, Duran can become a Paladin with strong defensive capabilities or a Berserker with high attack power. Class choices not only affect abilities but also influence narrative branches and the game's ending. The selection of different character combinations leads to three main storylines and multiple endings, encouraging replayability to experience all characters’ backgrounds and their impact on the plot.

The level design is highly diverse, with each region featuring unique terrain and enemies. From forests and deserts to snowy mountains and underground caves, the beautifully crafted environments pose various challenges, often requiring players to solve environmental puzzles to progress. Dungeons stand out, each having its own theme and unique obstacles. Boss battles are a highlight, featuring complex attack patterns that demand skillful use of character abilities and class combinations to succeed.

The game also introduces a day-night cycle, with certain enemies and events appearing only at specific times. For example, some enemies grow stronger at night, while certain paths open during the day, adding depth and strategy to exploration.

Upon its release, the game received widespread acclaim and was considered one of the finest action RPGs of its time. Its pixel art visuals, fluid combat system, and emotionally driven narrative were highly praised by players and critics alike. Notably, Hiroki Kikuta’s music composition enriched the game’s atmosphere with beautiful melodies and emotional depth.

Despite its success in the Japanese market, development constraints led to the absence of an official English release at the time, limiting international exposure. As a result, overseas players could only experience the game through unofficial channels. Years later, the high-definition remake Trials of Mana was globally released, allowing more players to fully appreciate the classic.

However, the game was not without flaws. Some areas featured repetitive level design, and AI-controlled companions occasionally exhibited frustrating behavior. Nevertheless, these issues did little to diminish the overall quality.

Overall, Trials of Mana stands as a classic in the series, celebrated for its exceptional storytelling, deep character development, and innovative gameplay systems. It remains a nostalgic gem cherished by fans to this day.