Track this topic | Email this topic | Print this topic

Has anyone here ever had a chance to play a game by the name of Terranigma? It's relatively rare and from what I know unknown for the most part. Any players out there? I found the game to have been well written and the gameplay to be interesting enough to keep me riveted to my chair. I'd only been able to find it as a rom and would like to know if anyone else has had the chance to play this wonderful game? If so, let us discuss!

--------------------

I'm your Mama Terra, come hang out with me around the internet!

Retro gaming cosplayer with a focus on Terra Branford.

Well, I liked Terranigma for awhile, but near the end of Chapter 3 it got a little weird and I got stuck (shortly after Bloody Mary). It's unusual in that it received an English version in the UK but not the US, so most American SNES players haven't played it unless they've sought out ROMs. I looked it up several years ago when I heard through the grapevine that Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia had a "lost" third game in the series.

SO yeah. If the entire game was as good as Chapter 2 (especially the Amazon and Himalayas stages) then I'd be losing my damn mind. I lost interest didn't follow through, though.

--------------------

this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

I tried playing it once, but I was put off by how similar it was to Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia, which I'd already played and beaten. I probably should give it another shot, because it's supposed to be this great legendary thing.

--------------------

X is blue.

It's actually the only one of that trilogy that I've played. It was definitely in the category of "unusual RPGs" for me, and not in a bad way at all.

Squenix should really consider re-releasing/remaking this gem.

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 9th December 2013 10:35

--------------------

Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

I did not get very far into the trilogy at all; Terranigma being the only game I've beaten. I tried to play Illusion of Gaia, retried several times as well, but there was something that all ways threw me off about it and I could never pin it down. I've never had a chance to play Soul Blazer, though so I can't say very much on the trilogy itself.

I'd just settle for a US release, remake or otherwise. As I said, it had me glued to my computer as if it were life support until I had beaten it. I do agree that it got very odd towards the end, but said ending was definitely worth it. It had my attention enough, and still does, to have me been toying around with the idea of cosplaying as Ark (Cosplay? Really Khael? No, not you! -sarcasm-) for a year or two now.

I agree Laszlow, the Himalaya and Amazon stages had me losing my mind as well, the bird dungeon included on that note.
Seriously....


The entire idea of the game fascinates me to this day and still makes it into my favorite games list.

This post has been edited by St Khael on 11th December 2013 00:41

--------------------

I'm your Mama Terra, come hang out with me around the internet!

Retro gaming cosplayer with a focus on Terra Branford.

I gave it another shot, but the music is just a tad annoying...

--------------------

X is blue.

Ehh, I really enjoyed the music. The serenely calming Evergreen, the beautiful Sanctuar ~Place of Birds~, the atmospheric intro of the Mountains theme, and even the very iconic Birth of a Continent jingle. And of course, the Crysta theme at the beginning.

And I've only played half the game. In general, I found the soundtrack to be beautifully atmospheric.

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 12th December 2013 06:51

--------------------

Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

Something I found interesting about the game is the choice of weapon for the main character, a spear or staff given the situation. In most games, as I have seen, the main character is given a sword of many different forms (gun blade, keyblade, etc...) as a sign of heroism and nobility whereas the supporting cast is given various other weapons. To be honest I've been trained on spear and glaive and favor them as my weapon of choice. Both are meant for reach, providing both an attack and a form of defense. Keep them out of arms reach and they can't hurt you...unless they have a projectile or another spear.

This being the case, I always got the impression that Ark was more of a defensive character , generally choosing to keep his enemies at bay and a chance to back down before being forced to kill them. I know it sounds odd, but I like that in a main character. In a certain sense it gives him the feeling of a more gentle hero (despite the bad attitude) one that would rather not be in this situation, let alone being called a hero in the first place. Don't get me wrong, the spear is a might weapon; a life of wielders and bring down a rush of mounted warriors by bringing down their horses or unseating said warrior...before the spear holders get run over...It makes for a good vanguard weapon.

Overall, it makes him seem more kindly to me in a way. Yes, the sword is a mighty and awesome weapon and has an elegance unmatched, but the oft forgotten spear has an elegance all its own and seeing it here gave the game more heart in my eyes.

--------------------

I'm your Mama Terra, come hang out with me around the internet!

Retro gaming cosplayer with a focus on Terra Branford.

Quote (St Khael @ 13th December 2013 11:49)

Something I found interesting about the game is the choice of weapon for the main character, a spear or staff given the situation. In most games, as I have seen, the main character is given a sword of many different forms (gun blade, keyblade, etc...) as a sign of heroism and nobility whereas the supporting cast is given various other weapons. To be honest I've been trained on spear and glaive and favor them as my weapon of choice. Both are meant for reach, providing both an attack and a form of defense. Keep them out of arms reach and they can't hurt you...unless they have a projectile or another spear.

This is a little off-topic, but I like seeing unusual weapons in RPGs as well. I was pleasantly surprised the first time I played Trails in the Sky (one of the best RPGs of the past decade) and saw the main character was a girl wielding a bo staff. Interesting choice by the designers. Fantastic game.

And honestly? I always felt that the ultimate attack-and-defense weapon is a shield. Spartan Hoplites used their shields as much for offense and defense, and an effective use of a shield with a one-handed weapon is only effectively countered by another shield (barring projectiles). But then again I'm obsessed with ancient Greece so I'm biased.

This post has been edited by laszlow on 14th December 2013 16:46

--------------------

this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

I entirely agree on the notion of the shield as a weapon. I favor a kite shield over a round because I'm one of those fools who likes to rush my opponent and bowl them over. This is a very bad tactic and will obviously get you killed; but it's absolutely hilarious to do to your best friend. My husband favors a sword but keeps a buckler on hand as a secondary; a one-two punch if you will. If he's not doing that he favors twin rapier florentine style.

I really think seeing more of this type of divergence from the base idea of a hero in coming games, it would open a new world of main character personalities, archetypes and even open new story pathways not thought of before. It seems silly, but oftentimes it's little things like this that can change an entire paradigm for any form of media. Terranigma did feel like a total paradigm shift from just this single change in weaponry choice even before the story really began. I found the story amazing, so this shift was a big thing for me.

What are your thoughts on the story in general? Also, thoughts on the parallel Elle's?

--------------------

I'm your Mama Terra, come hang out with me around the internet!

Retro gaming cosplayer with a focus on Terra Branford.

It's one of my favorite games, and one that I'm very proud to own. I streamed it with a friend a few years ago, we had lots of fun even though almost nobody watched us.

Regarding the story, I admit it's been a while but I remember being fascinated by the philosophical ideas it presented - the growth of civilization and our impact on nature, for example - and the way they were incorporated into the gameplay. At one instance you set sail for America with Columbus (right after the infamous Bloody Mary boss, if memory serves) and at another point you must help the Wright brothers (I think?) invent the air plane to proceed with the story. Terranigma mixes reality and fantasy in a way that no other game that I know of has done before or after.

This post has been edited by Metal King Slime on 2nd January 2014 19:51