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An obscure trilogy of spiritual successors developed by Quintet (more famous for making ActRaiser and its sequel) and published by Enix.

The games are action-RPGs with some recurring themes like the revival of a dead world and the balance of light and dark. Soul Blazer is the first game, Illusion of Gaia is the second and Terranigma is the third. Some people also include Granstream Saga, a game for PS1, in the "trilogy" (in which case it wouldn't even be a trilogy) but that's debatable.

Discuss.

I've played some Terranigma. Impressive game, even if obscure. The Evergreen theme is one of the best themes ever.

Edit

Added URL to Evergreen theme.

This post has been edited by Glenn Magus Harvey on 25th December 2010 03:01

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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 )

Yeah, I love Illusion of Gaia, used to play that like crazy. I would say that Actraiser deserves to be stuck in the running, it's a platformer, but it has all the same basic themes as the other three...it even uses a lot of the same sound effects as SoulBlazer.

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"If art doesn't risk upsetting expectations and challenging its audience, it can only stagnate."

Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 23rd December 2010 21:07)

I've played some Terranigma. Impressive game, even if obscure. The Evergreen theme is one of the best themes ever.

Oh yes, the game's soundtrack is fantastic. Evergreen is too soothing for words.

@ trismegistus: Really? I have ActRaiser but I never really got into it... Guess I should give it a second try then.

Terranigma is one of my favorite RPGs of all time, and I also really enjoyed Illusion of Gaia. Soulblazer on the other hand is kind of unplayable now but it doesn't really temper my perception of the trilogy as a whole. I think a strength of the games is that they lack the really long winded dialogue of Final Fantasy games and other RPGs.

And GMH is right, the music of Terranigma is really impressive. Underworld is one of my favorite video game themes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3mqIDAVObA


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"We're not tools of the government or anyone else. Fighting... fighting was the only thing I was ever good at, but at least I always fought for what I believed in." - Frank Yeager (a.k.a. Grey Fox)

Meh, Illusion of Time was alright, but not much more if you ask me... It's too short and the dialogue gave me a very foggy idea about what was going on. I also couldn't feel anything for the characters, while Terranigma had an interesting cast. The grinding system is brilliant though - you beat every monster in a room, you get a level. More RPGs should use that, am I right?

But, while we're on the subject of music, the ending theme will make you shed manly tears.

Possible spoilers: highlight to view

Why Ark, why? ;_;

Quote (Metal King Slime @ 23rd December 2010 15:44)

@ trismegistus: Really? I have ActRaiser but I never really got into it... Guess I should give it a second try then.

Well, I just meant that it was part in parcel with the same themes as the other games, namely that the world has fallen into disrepair and it's up to the protagonist to make it habitable by humans. I enjoy it, but I have a soft spot for early SNES platformers, so I can see why others wouldn't get into it.

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"If art doesn't risk upsetting expectations and challenging its audience, it can only stagnate."

Yeah, the plots ar similiar I guess. Perhaps it really isn't a trilogy, after all.

I like platformers as well. In fact, the reason I didn't like the game that much was because of the tedious town building segments.

Played Illusion of Gaia in my formative years and it always stuck with me. It is rather verbose for a video game, especially for its day, but I like that sort of thing. Played Soul Blazer and Terranigma much later. I think I might like Soul Blazer more than Terranigma, but that could just my inner contrarian revealing itself. Everyone sings the praises of Terranigma, after all...

I don't believe in the trilogy. I might believe in the tetralogy as long as it's with Actraiser and not Granstream Saga; it's just not a worthy game. There's a chance I'd buy into a pentalogy with Solo Crisis, but that game's all but unknown.

This post has been edited by Shiva Indis on 18th January 2011 00:57

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"Cavefish is delicious, but only if cooked."

I've heard good things about all these games in several different locations, but, as someone without an SNES, I am unable to play them. Perhaps someday once I've finished playing the PSX-era RPGs I'm interested in, I may look to pick up a SNES in order to give a few games that were never ported a shot.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

Quote (Death Penalty @ 17th January 2011 22:46)

I've heard good things about all these games in several different locations, but, as someone without an SNES, I am unable to play them. Perhaps someday once I've finished playing the PSX-era RPGs I'm interested in, I may look to pick up a SNES in order to give a few games that were never ported a shot.

Super Nintendo will be forever and always my favourite video game system. If you ever pick one up DP let me know and I can shower you with game suggestions.

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"If art doesn't risk upsetting expectations and challenging its audience, it can only stagnate."

Quote (trismegistus @ 17th January 2011 23:47)

Quote (Death Penalty @ 17th January 2011 22:46)

I've heard good things about all these games in several different locations, but, as someone without an SNES, I am unable to play them. Perhaps someday once I've finished playing the PSX-era RPGs I'm interested in, I may look to pick up a SNES in order to give a few games that were never ported a shot.

Super Nintendo will be forever and always my favourite video game system. If you ever pick one up DP let me know and I can shower you with game suggestions.

Heh much obliged, though it wouldn't be anytime in the near future. I don't really play at school and I've got a list of games for the summer already

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

Does anyone know if any of these games will get a Virtal Console or other digital re-release?

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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 always shed a tear to the ending of illusion of gaia.Its just one of those endings that is truly sad and seems bittersweet.The ending to terranigma is also a little sad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbA98pYh244&feature=related

The reason i find this so much sadder,is because the world almost destroyed itself and yet when the hero dies,humanity will continue to think the world revolves around them and will make yet the same mistake yet another time.It makes you think about human nature and how many times must they make the same mistake before they learn.


This post has been edited by Magitek_slayer on 31st January 2011 12:17

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We are stardust.Our bodies are made from the guts of exploding stars.

Neil Degrasse Tyson.

Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 27th January 2011 19:42)

Does anyone know if any of these games will get a Virtal Console or other digital re-release?

That's unlikely but not impossible since ActRaiser was remade for VC. Then again, I don't know much about copyright and stuff.