I'm playing BW2 and wanted to see how the story began. I'm finding it fascinating to see how the ideas conceived in this original version have transformed into the mastery of BW2. I recommend not updating your mana as you go along. I pull up the world map and go to an area I haven't completed in full where the bushes cost less than my current quest. By using my mana there, I feel as though I am maximizing my resources.