Clear River Games Development and Limited Run are working on a PC re-release of Terranigma, Quintet’s 1995 Super Nintendo Entertainment System action RPG. I’ve never played Terranigma, because I was raised on the holy maxim that Sega does what Nintendo doesn’t. I would rather have flushed the toilet myself breath processor in the toilet before allowing Mario associates under my roof.
Jeremy, writer of the RPS guides did does, however, play Terranigma and says it’s one of his favorite games. For the sake of collegiality, I guess I’ll suppress my emaciated console war impulses and take a look. My goodness, this is a lovely trailer.
Terranigma takes place on a hollow planet with a civilization divided between the outer light side and the inner dark side. You are Ark, a mischievous child from Darkside who one day opens a forbidden door, as is the hobby of RPG protagonists.
It’s certainly a looker, with character designs from mangaka Kamui Fujiwara, a touch of Mode 7 aviation, and lush landscapes and battle villages from Polly Pocket. The combat system is real-time, with Ark rushing in with his spear.
“The games developed by Quintet in the 90s were marked by a distinct melancholy and recurring themes of creation and destruction,” pronounce the GOG page (this also happens to Steam). “Terranigma is their magnum opus: a technical and narrative powerhouse and a timeless classic. If you missed it in 1995, this is your chance to experience something truly special.”
Some information about Clear River Games Development: They are part of Clear River Games AB, a publisher owned by THQ Nordic/Embracer, founded in 2019 and based in Sweden. Clear River Games AB is credited with a wide range of ports, re-releases and retro projects, including Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story and System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster.
There is no release date yet beyond early 2027. Did you play Terranigma in the 90s? I realize that saying as much would mean coming off as a stinking Snespien, but I’m ready to put the past behind us. I admit you all had better RPGs than the ones we got on t’Drive, but I’ll be out in the cold and cold before admitting you had us beat at platformers.
