Awesome. Anything less would be an understatement.

Tenchi Sozou (Terranigma) may look and play like your typical action/roleplaying game, like The Legend of Zelda, or Secret of Mana, but is light-years beyond anything found in any of the great SNES-era classics where it matters: storytelling.

You play the role of Ark, a daring young man living in a mysterious subterranean world, built from lifeless crystal and bathed in an endless sea of fusing magma. After breaking the seal on a mysterious box hidden away in his village, Ark is suddenly entrusted with the impossible tax of bringing life back to the dry, withered lands of his planet's surface.

Eventually aided by the few struggling souls that survived a past cataclysm, Ark bravely begins this journey of resurrection so man could once again inhabit the world. But nothing is as it seems in this twisted reality... The fate of Earth comes to rest on his shoulders, and it's up to him to discover what really destroyed the world, and what exactly is the force working against his quest for life.

Anything else would be spoiling the story, but rest assured that it is but a fraction of the plot. You will be shaken to the core, that I can guarantee. The writers at Quintet have done their homework, and I can safely say that no video game plot has made me think and ponder more than Tenchi Sozou's, ever. This is definitely a well-deserved five star.

The game itself is a solid bird's-eye-view action/RPG, in the tradition of Zelda and its two prequels, SoulBlazer and Illusion of Gaia. Perhaps it won't blow your socks off, but it's challenging, well-balanced, and generally a blast to play.

The graphics and sound are on par with the plot. That means they're excellent. The soundtrack is memorable and fits the mood perfectly, and the visuals are near unmatched on the system. You want eye candy? It's there.

The bottom line is: if you can get your hands on Tenchi Sozou, by all means do. You won't regret it.

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The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

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The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

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Ark, a boy from the underworld, is drawn by two opposing forces to resurrect all of the Planet's living things, and to lead their growth into civilization.

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Terranigma

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