Last year, I spent considerable time beefing up my SNES collection and also finally finishing some of SNES RPGs sitting on my shelf begging to be played. I came across the game Illusion of Gaia for the SNES which I vividly remember playing as a kid. I remember it being a good game, however I never finished it. I picked up a copy of IoG for $8 at a used video game store around where I currently live. A little background, Illusion of Gaia is an action RPG SNES game developed by Quintet and published by Enix in Japan and Nintendo in the US. Its actually a very linear game and is not very difficult or very long. The gameplay elements have often been compared to the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which to some degree is true. Your main character Will literally wields a flute and uses it as his primary weapon. Will can transform into different forms Freedan and Shadow, however you only get Shadow at the end of the game. Freedan is a adult knight who wields a large sword. If you have played LoZ: LttP or other action RPGs like Secret of Mana or Secret of Evermore, you should feel comfortable with IoG.

Freedan battling the vampire duo!

As you progress through the game you gain attack, defense and hit points. The leveling system is rather unique, it is dependent on how many of the dungeon enemies you kill, if you kill them all in each room you get a stat boost. The games story revolves around a giant meteor coming to destroy the earth. Will stumbles into a portal where he happens to meet Gaia, who charges him with saving the world. The story is pretty typical for SNES RPGs. On your travels you come across cultures such as the Inca or landmarks such as the Great Pyramids, Great Wall and of course the Tower of Babel! It was a nice touch to bring in some real world elements such as this. I was able to finish the game and was very happy with the experience. Again the game is not by any means difficult or very long, but it is a very accessible action RPG experience.

After finishing this game, I did some research on it and I quickly discovered that this game was in fact the second installment of an unofficial trilogy developed by Quintet. The first in the series was titled "Soul Blazer" and was released on the SNES in the US in 1992. The last game in the trilogy, "Terranigma" unfortunately never saw a US release. Both Soul Blazer and Terranigma had recieved very positive reviews and I was intrigued to play and finish this trilogy from Quintet.

The complete Gaia Trilogy!

I next set out to play Soul Blazer, the first installment in the Gaia Trilogy. I quickly discovered that this game was actually pretty rare and was no where to be found at the local used video game stores I visit. My search then went online where unfortunately I had to finally purchase the game. As for Terranigma, there are fully translated ROMs available to play on the computer so I looked into that route.

Looking back it amazes me how easy it was to overlook some truly great games. If you wanted to buy a game, you had very little to go on unless you rented it before or you played it at your friend's house. In the early 90s there was no internet, there was very little coverage of video games in magazines (with the exception of Nintendo Power) so you could easily miss out.

For Part II, I will run through my experience with Soul Blazer.

When I think of retro gaming I immediately return to the glory days that were the NES and SNES. Growing up during the late 80s and early 90s was literal video game heaven for me. I remember how excited I was when I first got my copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 on christmas morning 1990 or when I got my SNES on christmas morning 1991. So much has changed since then in terms of gaming, yet I can't seem to escape my true love for the NES and SNES.

THE life changing game of my childhood....

I have many fond memories of a going down to a local video store and renting video games every Friday night. It sort of became a ritual between my brother, my Dad and I. I remember renting such games as Super Mario Bros. 2, Donkey Kong, Mega Man 2, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, Donkey Kong Country, Chrono Trigger and Shining Force II. When I think of retro gaming, I immediately go back to these days and the shear joy I experienced during this time.

Oh the hours that I spent beating this game....(I even liked Genesis games!)

My parents would purchase one new video game every year for us right around the time they used to get their tax return. Spring 1996, I remember going to my local Kmart and looking for a game to purchase for my SNES. My search was narrowed down to the Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Earthbound. Both would have been an outstanding choice, however I could only go home with one, and that one was Yoshi's Island. I remember thinking how amazing that game was when I first played it, the music, the graphics, the gameplay (minus crying baby mario).

vs...

The diffucult choices of my childhood...

That same year, I saved up all of my money from my birthday and I purchased a brand new copy of Super Mario RPG with the strategy guide for the low price of $100 plus tax.

And people think games today are expensive....

Right around the time the Nintendo 64 came out, my interest in video games was at full steam. I still remember the first time I played Super Mario 64 and thinking how awesome it was. Or my 2 year hype for the perfection that was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and that glorious gold cartridge I proudly own. Even though I loved the N64 days, there was a part of me that missed the NES and SNES days. Around this time I began searching flee markets and used game stores for old NES and SNES video games. Once Ebay really started to take off I went back and purchased a lot of the SNES games that I had missed owning the first time around. Chrono Trigger, Super MarioKart, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV, Sunset Riders, Kirby's Dream Course etc. This trend has continued to this day. I enjoy nothing more than hunting down old favorites on the NES and SNES while also playing some of unknown gems. I own and play most of the modern systems, but I will forever be drawn back to the NES and SNES. I guess its my inner child speaking to me, or maybe I just love 8 and 16 bit games!