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Pitiful shortcomings in what could have been groundbreaking

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 5
Date: November 25, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Illusion of Gaia made the list of top 100 games in Nintendo Power's Volume 100, and understandably so. Definitely a decent game, Illusion of Gaia has much to offer, including some very nice environments with crisp graphics, better than the likes of Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It can be very fun to play, and it is even somewhat educational since many of its dungeons are based on real places. To speak more about the graphics, the monster design is nearly flawless. Every dungeon has different monsters with different looks and attacks, and even the residents of each town look completely distinct from those of the previous town or the next town, something that not even the SNES Final Fantasy games managed to do. These details all add up to a visually pleasing game. The necessity to kill all the enemies in each area in order to upgrade is also a positive element of the game because it gives a sense of accomplishment in each room. Though in spite of these positive elements, Illusion of Gaia should not be called a Zelda killer. It is also very different from Zelda in certain ways and therefore can not be compared in all aspects to Zelda.

Although there is a myriad of items in Illusion of Gaia, their usage demonstrates one of the principle differences between Zelda and Illusion of Gaia. Most of the items in Illusion of Gaia are keys, puzzle pieces, or other objects that get used once in a specific location and then leave your inventory. It is not difficult to find where to use acquired items, but a few of them can be difficult to find since they are not all found in treasure chests. Players should not expect all the different weapons and devices such as those seen in Zelda a Link to the Past. Will, the game's protagonist, uses a flute for a weapon. Zelda purists may mock this, but Will's flute is by no means the only weapon in the game. Will learns interesting techniques and also has the ability to morph into different entities during the quest who also acquire their own techniques. Illusion of Gaia may not have quite as many puzzles as a Link to the Past, but it certainly has its decent fill, and the whole style of the puzzles is different. Perhaps the puzzles at the end of the Angel Village come to mind as the most different from anything seen in Zelda. Nonetheless, the mainstream of the game remains arguably more in fighting than thinking. Some of the dungeons could have used more puzzles and items, but most are not so lacking that they create any feelings that something is missing.

The main problem with Illusion of Gaia is that it rapidly starts to fall apart in the middle, both in terms of story and game progression. I pinpoint this turn of events around the Great Wall of China, but by no means say that the story is perfect up to then because it is not. The difference is that earlier in the game enough goes on to overshadow inconsistencies and holes. Later in the game, in addition to the story deteriorating, the blandness of the world layout becomes much more noticeable as well, making the travel less interesting. Aside from the Tower of Babel's circular island in the center of the world, Illusion of Gaia's world map consists mainly of three continents. Two of them basically fill the southeast and southwest corners of the world, and one long continent north of the Tower of Babel island stretches horizontally across the whole map. The game starts on one of the bottom continents and gradually progresses to the long northern continent, where the Great Wall of China comes early. Travel at this point just becomes a bland pattern of the group arriving at a town, Will leaving to go to a dungeon alone, Will returning to the town, and then the group going on to the next town. It is more varied earlier in the game during which there is usually another thing to do or a person to visit between a town and big dungeon, and these events add flow to the story. Later in the game some of the group's members start to leave and there is nothing to break up the dull pattern. Some of the reasons for going to the later dungeons are also extremely vague and not well supported in the overall story. Example, why exactly does Will go to Mt. Temple and Angkor Wat? There is no dialogue or story saying that anything specifically needs to be done in these places. In the other dungeons the story makes it clear if you have to go to a specific dungeon and why, but with later dungeons like Mt. Temple and Angkor Wat, all that happens is that someone will point out or draw a picture of something on Will's map. What is even more puzzling about these two dungeons is why the game makes you walk all the way back out of them after getting the item at the end. There was absolutely no reason for this to have happened. It did not happen with any of the other dungeons, and it should not have happened with these two. The least they could have done was at the end of Angkor Wat transport you back to the entrance after the white light faded. It would have made perfect sense, and I can even picture the text box "When the light was gone I found myself at the temple entrance ..." Whatever... but another thing to rip regarding these dungeons and this general point in the game is that given the time it supposedly takes for Will to travel to some of these later dungeons, none of the companions ever ask Will where he went or why he left them in the town without saying anything. Example, as soon as Will arrives at Angkor Wat, a text box says that it took him three days to get there from the Native's Village. After Will returns to the Native's Village neither Kara nor Erik asks him where he's been for the last week (which is how long we can assume it took for him to get to the temple, explore it, and return) or why he left them in the Native's Village. This is either a rushed part of the game or lack of thinking on the part of the writers. Yes the earlier stages of the story have similar issues that are not quite addressed, but again; earlier in the game enough happens to make the players forget or pardon these instances. Since not much interesting occurs later in the game, the holes in the plot really wear on.

The vagueness surrounding later dungeons is far from the only weakness in the story (specific story spoilers ahead until last paragraph, only warning). Many fundamental questions are never answered or explained. Will had lost his father a year prior to the current events and starts the game living with his grandparents. He, his father, and apparently many others had gone on an expedition to the Tower of Babel and somehow only Will made it back, of course not remembering what happened or how he made it back. At no point is it ever explained what exactly happened or how Will made it back to South Cape. Will's father at the end tells him about a "strange room in the tower where time passes so quickly that people evolve quickly." Is this supposed to mean that Will's father went into this room, aged so fast and died instantly? How exactly did Will get his telekinetic power?? Will's father tells him that he and Kara are evolved humans. What exactly is that supposed to mean? How and why are they evolved? Are they evolved and no one else? Is it because Will is a descendent of Dark Knights? How exactly are they different from other humans if they are evolved? Will's mother also appears in a dream and as a ghost, but it is never explained how she died!! Was she also on the expedition to the Tower of Babel?? It remains a mystery. If these fundamental questions had been satisfactorily explained, some of the other problems might have been more pardonable. If the writers had any idea how to make a decent story, they would have answered these questions and devoted more of the story to the ancients as well.

If I were to ever reward a game for worst ending ever Illusion of Gaia is undoubtedly the recipient. I absolutely hate the ending to this game. What started with seemingly endless potential finished going virtually nowhere. Basically you beat the comet and oh all of the sudden the world changes to present day Earth. What?? And it finishes in a SCHOOL?? With Will and friends wearing sweatshirts and school backpacks???!!! Are you kidding me??! This ending makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER, and is totally PATHETIC!! Here's a SMALL list of all the things the ending did not answer or settle:

1) Did time just fast forward or something? It takes a long time for continents to shift and for buildings to get built. They DON'T JUST APPEAR DURING AN ENDING OF A SUPER NINTENDO GAME!!
2) Do any of the characters remember the journey? Are they reincarnated? Are they the same people as they were before?
3) Did non-humans go extinct? What happened to the Angel Village people? I also didn't see Lilly in the school shot. Did Itory Village people just die out?
4) Kara never made up with her parents. For all we know the teapot on Mt. Temple might have shown them to be spirits too.
5) Did Lance's parents ever get reunited?
6) Did the labor trade ever get stopped? How did Neil do as company president?
7) Just what exact age was the time during the game supposed to be? The new world with gray buildings and presumably technology is deemed by Will to be strange in the premonition, but Neil can build an airplane during the game??
8) What ended up happening to Bill and Lola? Did they die? Did they just forget about Will?
9) Does Will keep his telekinetic powers?

I cringe when I think of what Illusion of Gaia could have been, and wish I could tell the writers what morons they were when they wrote the story to this game. It is still a solid game, but if the world design and story had been better, the game would have reached unimaginable heights. You don't just leave things unsettled, change the world, and think everyone's going to be happy. For a game of this genre that is not Zelda and is not plagued with Illusion of Gaia's problems, play Crystalis.

A great game with One, and only one, major flaw.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I'm not sure where to begin with this game... Well, first of all, the story is highly original and quite interesting. I like the fact that the game is based on a future Earth, with real places from history as its dungeons. Wonderful idea. The graphics are pretty standard SNES fare, with a slight combination of Zelda and Chrono Trigger. Some of the music is excellent and very moving too. I especially like the little world map tune, the mysterious flute tune that plays at the Inca ruins, and, most of all, that song that plays when you save the game and choose to quit for now (I wish I knew the names of these songs, they're great).

The gameplay is fun, and the places you visit are quite exotic, from the floating city, to the Nazca plain, to the Great Wall of China. This RPG spans the ancient world. Like Zelda, the bosses are huge and challenging, and they require strategy to defeat.

So, why not all 5 stars? Well, there's the story... while most of the story is wonderful, there is just one critical part of it that seems to have been completely uninspired... the Ending. I won't spoil it, but I will say that I found the ending very disappointing and even a little depressing. I found myself saying, "What? That's it?" It seems as if they were in a rush to just finish the game and as a result produced a very shabby end to an otherwise awesome game.

One of the best SNES games....

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 12, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Illusion of Gaia was released in 1994 by Enix (although Nintendo published it). It plays a lot like Zelda, only in a more linear fashion. Most of the time, you can't revisit places once you leave, but this is an excellent game that is worth your time and money.

The story will keep you going, and you get stronger through killing all the enemies in a room. Your strength, defense, or life will increase. The main character, Will, can also transform into two other characters, Freedan and Shadow, when needed. As you go along in IoG, you will learn new skills (such as Will's slide technique used for sliding under low places). If you liked the Zelda games, I suggest checking out this game.

16 bit GREATNESS!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: September 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Once you get past the beginning and figure out how to leave town "Illusion of Gala" from then on is a five star adventure that echos "Secret of Mana" and the Nintendo masterpeice "The Legend of Zelda: A link to the past". The soundtrack is intense when it needs to be, however it is wonderfully mellow and enjoyable most often. Truly one of the great video game soundtracks from the unforgettable ~SNES~ days. If you love RPG's and I know you do or you most likely wounldn't be on this page, you'll love this game. It has now become a classic treasure to many. Remember this if your just getting started with the game, the beginning is a long and drawn out intro. Don't get frustrated it's easy to figure out just more reading than sword swinging. The battles are just around the corner and the adventure is worth all the story that wraps around it.

A Classic RPG

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 26, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm a huge fan of RPGs, and paid attention to newer ones, until I saw the SNES laying in a cabinet. I decided to try it out; it looked like it hadn't been used for several years. Looking through the games, I noticed this one had a cool title, so I tried it. Soon, I was addicted to the game (in a good way).

This is a classic RPG, and one of the best to have been made. If you haven't played this game, you need to try it. Sure, the graphics might not be up-to-date with other games around its time, but ignoring that it's wonderful. The health system and fight system is similair to Zelda's, but has its own uniqueness.

If I could give it an award, it would HAVE to be the music. It has a beautiful soundtrack, and I'm hoping to find it available on CD. The music itself has its own world.

If you need a game to play, play this one. Illusion of Gaia is one of the quiet unknown games, it's a game essential for any RPG gamer.

good game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: December 13, 1999
Author: Amazon User

I like this game, I don't think it is as good as the Zelda games, but it was a good substitute after I beat Zelda, and needed more. I like games that make you think, instead of only fighting games. There are alot of puzzles to figure out on this game. I really wish they would make a Legend of Gaia for N64. I would buy it immediately.

This Game was so much fun!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: March 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game was so cool; it took alot of patience, but after you try it out, it pays off.Definetly a buyer.

A Must Have for any RPG Enthusiast

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: April 02, 2000
Author: Amazon User

A really great game. If you like Zelda and Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, get this game! It is like Zelda in how you battle monsters, you gain powers (HP, STR, DEF) as you kill monsters (one area, one ability), and you gain special powers as the story progresses. It has a story in a Chrono Trigger style that you have a bunch of people travelling around (except you only control one of them). Interesting original story. Also a nice message/insight. I recommend this game to any RPG Enthusiast.

Great Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 4
Date: March 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is a excelent game and so is the Final Fantasy Series. This is a must have game!

Downright awesome ass game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: July 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Gaie is one of the greatest RPG games i have ever played. You start as a young boy named Will and you set out on a journey to find your father. You soon aquire 2 more companions: a knight and a firey spirit dude. I would definently reccomend this game to any RPG and adventure game fan because this game has a deep storyline, cool bosses, challenging puzzles (especially the last one), fun side quests, and the gameplay is just fun. The only downside to this game is the last boss. She is a giant amazonian chick who is very, very, very hard. But after a couple hundred tries I eventually beat her

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