Illusion of Gaia

Illusion of Gaia is a 1993 Super Nintendo action RPG developed by Quintet and published by Enix, the second entry in the thematic Soul Trilogy. Young Will sets out to unravel the mystery of an approaching comet, journeying through real-world ancient landmarks — the Inca ruins, the Tower of Babel, the Great Wall of China, Angkor Wat, and the Egyptian pyramids. Players switch freely among three combat forms: the mortal boy Will, the armored knight Freedan, and the shadowy entity Shadow. Clearing each dungeon permanently boosts stats. The story confronts themes of hunger, slavery, and loss, while the music and visuals stand as masterworks of the 16-bit era.