Terranigma (1995)

While it has many things going for it like an impressive scope and presentation, and pretty fun combat at its core, I don't entirely get the hype of this game. It has a promising start with more of a character focus, fun little mini-dungeons and a solid first boss fight, but it doesn't take long for the repetition in its simple action-RPG gameplay and the thin, rushed feeling of its sweeping main narrative to rear their heads.

I'm on Chapter 3 and while Ch.2-3 have had individual little thematic moments that I suppose are memorable, it's felt more like a long sequence of side quests than the strong narratives of other lauded 90's JRPGs. The last couple levels in particular I didn't enjoy playing that much, a bit drawn out and annoying. Boss fights, while sometimes fun, have generally been "meh" affairs with too much downtime. Enemy design in levels is where you get the good variety from, but that can only go so far.

It comes across like an extremely ambitious concept game that couldn't quite color it all in, at least with what I want out of this kind of game. I've heard the story picks back up and has a fantastic ending, but I've definitely lost a lot of my excitement to pick the game back up this weekend. There are games I enjoyed more that have similar problems (Final Fantasy I immediately comes to mind), and I can see how some people who like things like Secret of Mana might be all over this, but I've unfortunately been less engaged with each passing hour since the opening chapter.

I beat this a few years ago right after Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia. It is definitely the best game in the trilogy. I finished at level 31 and having completed most optional content. I missed several of the magic rings but never actually bothered to use magic. I relied on buying a full stock of healing items to make it through the bosses. The final boss particularly annoyed me because of how much he is out of melee range. I may have had to check a walkthrough to figure out how to get him close. Regardless it is a silly concept to give an enemy flight and ranged attacks because only its own stupidity allows the hero to win.

Amazing game with fun gameplay, excellent story and very little in the way of negatives. Will definitely have to play again using a walkthrough for the entire time. My notes say I gave it 8.5/10 but it might be deserving of 9.