Illusion of Gaia

🎮 Super Nintendo ⏳ 20 hours ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Mythic Action RPG #

This title is one of the most distinctive action RPGs of its time, blending historical settings, emotional storytelling, and inventive gameplay into a hauntingly beautiful adventure. It serves as the second entry in an informal trilogy alongside Soul Blazer and Terranigma, exploring themes of human evolution, civilization, and spiritual growth, so if you liked any of those titles, this is definitely a must-play alone by the fact that it happens in the same universe.

World-Spanning Hero Journey #

The MC is called Will, a young boy with psychic powers who sets out on a journey that takes him across the world, from the Nazca Plains and Angkor Wat to the Great Pyramid. The game reimagines real historical landmarks as mysterious dungeons filled with monsters and puzzles, blending myth and history into a surreal fantasy world. Will can transform into powerful warrior forms like Freedan and Shadow, each with unique abilities that keep combat and exploration fresh.

Balanced Gameplay Design #

The gameplay strikes a balance between action and puzzle-solving: clearing enemies rewards you with permanent stat boosts, and the lack of traditional experience points encourages exploration over grinding. This may sound limiting, but the other elements of the game are good enough to make up for it. Its tight level design, emotional dialogue, and understated storytelling create an atmosphere that feels more introspective than most RPGs of the era.

Emotional Visual Atmosphere #

Visually, it is rich in color and mood, with a soundtrack that heightens the game’s mysterious and sometimes melancholy tone. And while not having the same quality as most JRPGs at the time, this is still a good OST overall, just with a different tone in order to it fit with the main plot. Its story of loss, discovery, and sacrifice carries surprising emotional weight, especially as it builds toward a bittersweet ending. This is a game that captures both the wonder and tragedy of human history through the lens of an imaginative journey.