The Religious (and Social) Importance of Terranigma

by Danel

Terranigma was one of the very first RPGs I played- being British I never experienced Chrono Trigger,FF3 etc. Recently however, I played through the game again looking for those deeper points. Here is what I discovered.

The opening title sequence of Terranigma refers to two forces, good and evil, and the series of battles between them, stating that they were known as God and the Devil, which is pretty definite. The storyline then proceeds to have our hero resurrecting the world after some cataclysm brought about by 'Dark Gaia'. The game is divided into four chapters and only the third and fourth really have lots of plot development. But when they do, it's major.

Also stated in this sequence is that earth has an internal face and an external face. The game proceeds in a standard way with Ark awakening the world until he is charged with awakening genius scientist (and Russian!) Beruga. Beruga is revealed to be an insane worshipper of Dark Gaia, destroying Tokyo with a new weapon (which could be a reference to the end of WW2). Ark must then resurrect the legendary hero, who appears identical to himself. He blacks out.

Previously he has encountered people identical to those from his village, but then it is revealed, in a rapid series of events, that Ark is simply the creation and pawn of Dark Gaia, as is his entire village. Trapped in the form of a baby Ark is nearly killed at the hands of his own girlfriend, who is pushed on by Ark's former companion Yomi. Things look bleak as Yomi reveals that this how everything was planned.

But with the help of the Buddhist monk(another religious reference) Lord Kumari he overcomes destiny, and his girlfriend does the same, at the cost of her own death. Overcoming destiny, breaking the cycle, is the central theme of this game. Beruga's plan is in fact for immortality of all humans, "at which point all progress will cease,", freezing the cycle in place, if you will. As the plans of these powers come to full effect, Ark successfully obliterates Dark Gaia, and in doing so, he dies.(or does he?)

The most poignant line is as Ark contemplates the machination which brought him to this point, saying how all people want is to live peacefully with the ones they love. This is another theme - the game seems odd with its vision of progress for its own sake, yet those who complete the subquests get to see people realising what they have lost in the headlong rush to the future.

Finally then, the theme of breaking destiny is prevalent throughout, seeming to suggest that hope wins through in the end. Ark becomes more than he was ever planned to be-helped by little people as the kings and queens die from their own plots and plans. And the literally beautiful end sequence finishes these theme in a way I won't spoil by mentioning. PLay it, let the controversy begin.