(This review is of the European version of Illusion of Gaia)
Introduction:
Here it is - the sequel to Soul Blazer and the prequel to Terranigma. this game was the last of this series of RPGs to be released in the States. I think the reason why Terranigma wasn't released in the States is to show the Americans how we, the Europeans, felt on missing out on RPGs, giving them a taste of their own medicine. How do ya like that?
The game centres around a young lad called Will. He is a schoolboy who lives with his grandparents. His mother died when he was a baby, and his father went missing a year before we start the game. Will and his father went to the Tower of Babel in a party of a few people, when disaster struck. Will made it back to South Cape (his hometown), but his father didn't.
We start in the most boring place of all... school. Class is breaking up and Will and his mates deicde to go to their hideout cave. Will impresses his mates by moving a statue with his flute, and correctly picking the Ace of Diamonds from a pack of cards.
You return to your house and there is a little piggy going to market, trashing your front room as it goes. A pretty little girl in a silk dress comes down the stairs, but is taken away by the soldiers. It is revealed that the girl is Kara, the princess of Edward Castle.
The next day, you are to take a crystal ring to the king of Edward Castle. You don't have it, and are imprisoned. You are thrown into the underground prison - a sort of 'Maze Prison' (only it wasn't in Northern Ireland, it was open all the time, and it really was a 'maze'). Your grandfather built it, you know...
You manage to get out with the help of your flute and the 'goddess' Gaia, woh can change your appearance from dorky kid to mighty warrior. you go up to Kara's room, and you escape with her to South Cape, only to find your grandparents gone. And that's where your adventure really kicks off...
Graphics [8.9/10]:
You can say that they've improved from Soul Blazer. The scenery is breathtaking and the designs of the characters are just great. But there is the problem of bad translation in some areas, but this is v.rare.
Music and Sound [8.6/10]:
The music is just fantastic. There are no other words to describe it, but I think that the sound effects have been recycled from Soul Blazer and other games by Quintet.
Gameplay [9/10]:
The game is 16MBits big, so you wouldn't think that this is big, but it is a whopper of a game. Why do you think that the save points have been put in? Will's powers of using the magic flute are simple and responsive.
Challenge and Replay [8.7/10]:
If you've played Soul Blazer you'll learn that this sequel is a bigger game and much more fun to play. If you've played Terranigma then you'll know that this is the prequel to it, and twice as small. But this will provide several weeks of fun and enjoyment.
Overall/Conclusion [8.9/10]:
I quite enjoyed this game. It seems I'm reviewing this series of games backwards. I start with the third game, Terranigma, now the second - this! Now I'll have to write the review for the first game. Anyways, IOT is a stunning classic for anyone in Europe. One of my friends urged me to get this game and play it. I have, and I thank him for it.
