Terranigma
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| Terranigma | |
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| Developer(s) | Quintet |
| Publisher(s) | Enix Nintendo |
| Designer(s) | Kamui Fujiwara (character) |
| Release date(s) | JPN 20 October 1995 EU 19 December 1996 |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Platform(s) | Super Famicom / Super NES |
| Media | 32-megabit cartridge |
Terranigma or Tenchi Souzou (天地創造 Tenchi Sōzō?, Creation of Heaven and Earth) in Japan, is a 1995 action role-playing game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Quintet and published by Enix. It is the story of the resurrection of the world (as we know it), and its progress from prehistoric times to the near future. Terranigma was scored by Miyoko Kobayashi and Masanori Hikichi.
As Enix no longer had an American subsidiary, this game was not released in America, but was popular in Europe and Australia (published by Nintendo). However, Terranigma received a chance at American recognition through console emulation and game importation. There is also a patch to convert the European version from PAL to NTSC to suit the American television standard.
Fans consider Terranigma to be the third game in a loosely tied trilogy, beginning with Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia, although they are not officially acknowledged as such.
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[edit] Gameplay
Terranigma keeps a constant top-down view of the world. Instead of turn based battles, which were common in most RPGs at this time, Terranigma utilizes a combat system that allows the player to perform different attacks based on whether or not the player is running, in a jump, tapping the attack button, or a combination of the three. Each attack is meant to be suited for defeating or dealing more damage to certain kinds of enemies, but most enemies will take damage from any attack, regardless of the type of attack used.
There are five different attacks in the game:
- Standard - A normal stab attack performed by pressing the attack button once.
- Rushing - An attack where the player launches a quick flurry of attacks, but the damage inflicted per hit is dramatically decreased. Performed by rapidly tapping the attack button.
- Slicer - A very quick piercing attack useful for hitting enemies that move around quickly. This attack can also be used to dodge projectiles flung from enemies. Performed by first running, then hitting the attack button. While performing this move the player is immune to damage from the majority of enemy attacks. The one exception is an attack used by the final boss, which also has the ability to damage a player that is using X-Guard. By performing multiple Slicer attacks in quick succession the player is essentially invincible.
- Spinner - An attack where the player jumps into the air and attacks. This attack can hit flying or hovering enemies.
- Slider - A wider attack where the player jumps into the air and slants his pike towards the ground, causing him to hit and slide on the ground for a short distance. Performed by first jumping in a run, then hitting the attack button. This attack can hit flying or hovering enemies.
The only form of defense is the X-Guard, where the player forms a large, blinking shield in the form of an X in front of him. This can only block small projectiles, such as tiny fireballs; however, it remains ineffective against larger attacks.
The weapon which the hero uses through all game is the spear. As new spears are obtained, the attack power of the hero increases. Many spears in turn have unique properties which suit them to different situations during combat, the same applied to armour pieces.
In towns, no visible status bars can be seen, and the player cannot attack at all. In dungeons and areas where battle is required, the status bar appears, showing the character's level, HP count, Gem (Money) count, and items equipped. The status bar is rearrangeable by pausing the game and pressing the R button on the controller. On the overworld map, where the player travels between towns and dungeons, the view appears wrapped around to convey the spherical shape of Earth. Here the player appears significantly smaller, unlike some other RPGs where the same sprite is used for both towns, dungeons, and the overworld.
[edit] Plot summary
The game is divided into four distinct chapters, each with its own major premise, with one overriding plot ties it all together. In Terranigma, the earth is portrayed as a hollow sphere. The game begins on the inside/underside (similar to a mouse wheel or hamster ball from the rodent's perspective). The player controls the spear-wielding hero, Ark (whose name is an allusion to the Biblical Noah's Ark).
Ark is a troublemaker of a boy who lives in Crysta (Crystalholm [クリスタルホルム, Kurisutaruhorumu] in the Japanese version), the only town in this "underworld". After opening a door he was told not to open, everyone in the town is frozen. Therefore, he is guided by the elder of Crysta to resurrect the continents of the world in order to unfreeze the people. A way out of his hometown, previously unknown to him for no one ever before had left the paradise-like small Crysta, appears. He sets out on a journey through the underworld, which is portrayed as a frozen wasteland of imposing mountains of ice and crossed by rivers of magma, towards the five towers(Each representing one of the five major continents). Along this path, a large amount of trialling dangers have a door each that leads towards a form of control room on the planetary core on which the continents are "revived". Emerging on the surface of the outside world again after resurrecting the continents and restoring his hometown back to normal, Ark is told that he must now guide the newborn world as it grows. He then set out on a journey for the outside world, which he finds to be a barren wasteland with no life on it. He must resurrect the world, as well as all the lifeforms on it.
As the plot progresses, Ark finds out that this is not the first time the Earth has been resurrected. During a long past age the outside world had also flourished along with mankind's power and eventually met its own ruin. This led to the creation of the underworld. Ark then finds himself trapped in what he realizes is an everlasting cycle of creation and destruction as two ancient entities battle one another. One is Gaia, who represents life and order. The other is Dark Gaia, who represents chaos and destruction. Dark Gaia has been using Ark from the very beginning to bring humanity to the conditions that destroyed it and the world in the past so it can rule over all.
Ark, after a long chain of dramatic events, releases himself from the cycle he seems condemned to by merging with his other self from the outside world and making himself the weapons that had been used to restore the world and challenge Dark Gaia ages past. He sets out to correct the mistakes that would lead humanity back to ruin, returning to the underworld to challenge Dark Gaia in a last epic battle.
Sadly, defeating Dark Gaia also means the underworld's demise as this is bound to the dark entity, Ark included with it. In the end, however, a major purpose is served and Ark, although sealing what appears his own demise as well, realizes he and all of his loved ones are bound to meet again on future reincarnations. Thus he goes to sleep, after being told that he, as creator and defender, is what the outside world would call a "god". Ark's last dream pictures him as bird goes flying above the world as it advances through the eras of technology, in an astonishing sequence that plays along with the game's final credits and a surprise end.
[edit] Characters
- Ark (underworld)
- The protagonist of the game. Mischievous, his disregard of the Elder's authority in opening the sealed door and Pandora's Box causes the release of Yomi and the frozen state of Crysta, the catalyst for the events transpiring in the game. Under the Elder's command, he resurrects the surface world and its inhabitants.
- Elle (underworld)
- Ark's childhood friend, and a skilled weaver.
- Elder
- The elder of Crysta who has his own agenda behind the resurrection of the surface world.
- Yomi (underworld)
- A strange pink creature released from Pandora's Box who accompanies Ark on his journey, guiding his actions on behalf of the Elder.
- Kumari
- The elder of Lhasa who guides Ark on the behalf of Light Gaia.
- Meilin
- A girl of the surface world who has the ability to generate illusions. In a previous incarnation, she was a priestess of Astarica.
- Elle (surface)
- The only survivor of the destruction of Storkholm, she was adopted by King Henri in hopes that she might reveal the secret of Storkholm's treasure, thus becoming a princess. However, being traumatized by the massacre, she became mute. In a possible previous incarnation, she obtained power through the rituals at Astarica.
- Fyda
- The bodyguard of Princess Elle who is actually responsible of killing her parents under King Henri's orders. Always tormented by her guilt, she pledges loyalty to Elle. In a possible previous incarnation, she was an official of Astarica.
- Royd
- A soldier and mercenary, who appears first as an arrogant suitor for Elle as King Henri offers her hand in marriage to the one who can cure her muteness. After appearing like a minor secondary character at first, he begins playing a more important role towards the end in the game. In a possible previous incarnation, Royd was an official of Astarica and had a love relationship with Fyda.
- Columbus
- An explorer who first sailed to the Americas. There, he discovered the weapon and armor of the hero, which he entrusted to the people of Storkholm. He was imprisoned and tortured by the queen of Sylvain Castle.
- Perel
- A skateboarding boy from Freedom who, in a possible previous incarnation, was a priest of Astarica.
- Beruga
- A genius whose work on genetics lengthens human life, at a price. The creator of the vaccine to the Asmodeus virus, he lived through the previous apocalypse in his cryonic chamber. Works under the command of Dark Gaia to bring about the world which it desires.
- Ark (surface)
- The light half of the hero who merges with the dark half to become the true hero, reborn as an infant.
- Yomi (surface)
- Sealed in the box containing the arms of the hero, it accompanies Ark after his two halves merge.
[edit] Trivia
Terranigma was released with merchandise which now hold value to collectors, such as the game book featuring artwork by Kamui Fujiwara which reads in the vein of a "choose your own adventure" story. Also, a two volume manga by Mamiko Yasaka was released, retelling the story in a condensed fashion, as well as a novel by Saori Kumi and an atlas corresponding to the game. In Germany, Club Nintendo released a small comic book illustrating scenes from the game separate from any Japanese merchandise.
[edit] Points of commonality
Terranigma is often considered to be part of a trilogy with Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia due to common elements present in the three games. These include a dog named Turbo showing up, the presence of dark and light Gaia, and certain locations reappearing such as Mu and South Cape. The ending to Illusion of Gaia suggests a modern world similar to the one in Terranigma, although none of the characters make an appearance. Soul Blazer features similar gameplay elements to Terranigma in resurrecting aspects of different worlds, and Illusion of Gaia has a similar combat and message system in some ways, and shares similar themes about balancing light and darkness. Each of these games used the same font type and interface sound effects as well. Additionally, one of the Quintet staff members in the game's secret area refers to Terranigma as "Illusion of Gaia 2".
[edit] External links
- Character designer Kamui Fujiwara's page
- RPGClassics' Terranigma Shrine
- Cherubae's Terranigma Info Page
- TerraEarth.com, about the Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia, and Terranigma trilogy.
- GameFAQs information page
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Soul Blazer video games
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Soul Blazer • Illusion of Gaia • Terranigma |
