Terranigma Summary
“Are you alright? You looked like you were having a nightmare…”
First released back in 1996 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (or SNES), Terranigma is an action RPG developed by Quintet and published by Enix (before it merged with Square to become Square Enix). It is considered to be loosely part of a trilogy, which includes Soul Blaze, and Illusion of Gaia. Being the “third” entry in the series. This game is a top-down RPG, with Legend of Zelda-style combat. It also features an expansive overworld map, where the player can traverse vast landscapes on their way to their goal.
Upon release, the game saw acclaim from various critics. Some call it; “among the [SNES’s] most memorable titles,” and is generally considered to be one of the best SNES games.
Terranigma Premise
So, what happens when light and darkness collide in a war that ravages the surface of the Earth? What happens when the war is over, with no real winner? And, more importantly, what happens to those who are left on that Earth?
Terranigma takes place on a post-apocalypticEarth, where the aforementioned sources of power fought against one another with no clear winner between them. You play as Ark, a free-spirited, carefree scamp who is bored of the quiet life his underground village offers. One day, he ventures into a place he really shouldn’t have, and finds a small box waiting for him. Being the curious sort, he opens it, and in doing so, a great evil is freed. Everyone in his village save the elder is turned into crystals, and now Ark has to save everyone by going up and onto the surface for a cure.
Terranigma Main Characters
- Ark. A carefree and irresponsible lad, he spends most of his time just sitting around in his quiet home village. That is, of course, he decides to open something that should have remained closed. Pandora’s box, with all the evil inside now released.
- Elle of Crysta. Ark’s childhood friend, and quite possibly the only one who can get him to stay on task.
- Yomi. A creature found inside Pandora’s Box, he seems helpful!
- The Elder. The leader of Crysta, Ark’s hometown. It’s a bit odd he doesn’t want anyone to open the box, or rather, how he knows about it in the first place.
- Princess Elle. A princess on the surface. She’s mute, as in, she cannot speak. But make no mistake, just because she’s quiet, doesn’t mean she can’t act. At least, most of the time.
Terranigma Titles of Video Games in the Series
So, this is a bit of a weird one, as Terranigma is considered, loosely, to be part of the “Soul Trilogy.” So, for safety’s sake, this list will include various other games from those series.
- Soul Blazer (1992)
- Illusion of Gaia (1993)
- Terranigma (1996)
Terranigma Cheat Codes
Alright, let’s cover some cheats!
Easy 500 gems
In Louran, go to Temjin’s house and talk to him. When he asks you what to do with his money, tell him to take it to his grave. A bit morbid, but this will pay off. Later on, when Louran transforms into a ghost town, go to the cemetary and check the most northwest grave. It’s Temjin’s. It appears the guy took your advice and you’ve just become 500 gems heavier. Yay?
Almost Free Saving and Inn in Litz
It normally costs you 10 Gems to get to the Diary in Litz, which is in the inn room with your bed. However, if you pay the man guarding the door for your room but never actually use the bed (use the food on the table outside instead) you can heal and save for free!
Get extra Water Pin and 6 Magirocks from mermaids
When leaving the Mermaid Tower, your way will be blocked by two mermaids on a staircase. Normally, talking to one of them will give you a Water Pin and increase your maximum Magirock count by 6, but if you stand between them so both are standing up and talk to them both, you will get two Water Pins and your maximum Magirock count will increase by 12. This makes it possible to collect 102 Magirocks in total, or 103 in the Japanese version, instead of the normal maximum of 96 or 97.
Terranigma Cheat Code FAQs
Alright, let’s cover some FAQs!
- Why was Terranigma not released in the US? Thankfully, it wasn’t due to controversy or anything like that. It was simply because Enix closed its U.S. branch, and therefore, it couldn’t be shipped overseas.
- How long is Terranigma? On average, it should take a player about 20 hours. This may sound like a lot, but it is the average length for a game these days.
- Is Terranigma a sequel? Loosely. It’s part of the same trilogy as Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia.
Alright, that’s enough for now. Stay safe!
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Quintet.