[TOP 10] RPG Saddest Themes #9 Illusion of Gaia

[Nach956]

really loved this game, as much as zelda,chrono trigger and harvest moon. thanks to this game i searched about nasca´s deserts, and remembered me about old civilization and how beautiful our living planet is

[Doitsu1988]

Soooo geil!!! Ich liebe das spiel!! I love this game!

[FoxeoGames]

A truly underestimated game that never got as much attention and praise as it deserved. It dealt with themes in a much more "raw" and mature way while being appropriate for young audiences. I'll never forget the scene with the pig. For anyone who hasn't played it, I don't want to spoil anything, so suffice it to say that it was pretty shocking the way things turned out.

[SamusMaXximus]

One of my favorite games of all time. Just after Chrono Trigger.

[heerogunkenobi]

we are the illusion of gaia we must treat this world and everybody with respect or else our world will be plauged into darkness forever

[heerogunkenobi]

to me i think the gaia trilogy has such a rich,deep and meaningful plots that no other rpg ever had not even today's rpgs you just dont dont get such beautiful,sad,dark and mature story like the gaia trilogy in today's rpgs anymore the way i see of the gaia trilogy is that it teaches the player how the our world elvolves is there still hope for our world to be coexist to peace or will it end in a clytimistic fate to me that's how unique the gaia trilogy storylines really are

[heerogunkenobi]

you know in my opinion the whole gaia trilogy has the best storylines ever right up there with the plots of final fantasy 6 and chrono trigger i mean how many jrpgs have such a touching,epic,heartfelt and meaningful plotlines that has to with the death and resurrection of our world earth and no other rpg has a setting that take place on earth most rpgs always take place in a fantasy world like zelda for example and how many rpgs has real life earth locations like ankar wat and the great lakes

[Gojira64]

I was emotionally connected to the characters and was saddened each time I lost a companion.

Especially Hamlet...

[KillingJoke696]

One of my favourite games likked it better than Earthbound

[madmanszalinski]

Illusion Of Gaia: The greatest game you've never played.

[tesimari]

One of my favourite games, I played it as a child. This song is beautiful.

[SodaLovingScaly]

This game was disturbing as all hell. Very adult for a game back then. A cannibalistic village, hopelessness being shipwrecked on a raft and starving to death, being set on a ship riddled with corpses, all this while trying to find your dead dad. Talk about a dark RPG.

[Melchior82]

@SodaLovingScaly Som parts of it maybe But that WORLD WAS an Illusion of the Soul of Gaia

ie The world we see today is the real Illusion and

The Mirrored Shallows of Time, wakened Hours from Sleep Eternal,

to NEW LIGHT and LIFE we Go ONCE the GATE OF TRUTH IS OPENED

AGAIN

[Chucknorrisaurrus]

@Melchior82 So we are the illusion of Gaia? I take some pride in thinking that I have something to do with the plot of this game :)

[Melchior82]

@Chucknorrisaurrus

That's What I feel is the case.... were supposed to be beings of the 4th Dimension, and of the 3rd level of consciousness

[limegreensquid]

This one isn't sad, it's more hopeful.  And a bit touching knowing the story. I haven't looked at the rest of your list yet - but i find the saddest RPG song to be the one when you get banished from your home town in Secret of Mana, and the elder begins talking about your mother. THAT's one sad theme...

[TheVecan]

this reminds me a lot of paper mario

but i feel so much more emotion behind it

[sanedem]

Quintet was a godsend to the video game industry!!!

[elliphor]

played this song the night my dog passed away. we watched the ending to the game together. in a way it made me feel like he wasnt really gone...

things are never easy. but things like this make them just that bit easier.

[NinjaAlby]

This game was on e of the few, that had not only an amazing story, but also an amazing background - History and geography. It also has a lot of philosophy, it made my think for years, even now, about the past, the present and also the future. As a child i never relized how deep the game went, but now I can see it clearly.

[UBeliveIt]

@NinjaAlby Yes, this game is very amazing, full of history, geography and philosophy concept. it's more than a game.

[alflord4000]

I think this theme sad, mainly when find Seth's spirit

[Flame2307]

That song remains one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard...

[diamondlancer]

Not really sad, just very relaxing. Will's Dream sounds much sadder to me.

[mkauf84]

Hamlet Noooo!!!!

[Zenuen]

Ok this song really doesn't sound all that sad now don't get me wrong it's a pretty good song but i just dont hear the sadness.

[samuraichickdude]

I wouldn't say this is a sad song, just really comforting.

[angelgirlshanna]

i never got to play this game but i love old games and after hearing this song and reading everyone's comments about loving it i really wish i could :(

[hirored151]

So many memories,thumbs up if you played it within 5years

[samlee405]

@hirored151 going through the game again right now. probably my 5th or so play through.

[Saviour86]

@hirored151 Id thumb you up, but I actually played it almost 10 years ago

[thebeginner15]

i wonder why Remembraces from DQ8 are not in this top 10

[kerplop]

One of the deepest SNES games I ever played, with a soundtrack to match. I hope this shows up on the Virtual Console soon, along with the other two "Soul Blazer" games.

[mkauf84]

Piggy! Nooo!!!!! I can't remeber the pigs name! Nooooooooo!!!!!!

[Xinuser]

@mkauf84 Hamlet ;)

[armst012]

When Will was visiting all the people that died throughout the game.. Seth, Hamlet etc.. Good music but it also doesn't have to be sad.

[argreetha]

Saddest theme...T-T

[CecilHarvey100]

the super nintendo is my favourite console for a reason

[OrinokawaMizuki]

It's a pretty love song of Tem/Will and Karen/Kara.

It considered by some as sad due that the two of them are about to part ways with each other and might not even remember each other in the new restored world.

Karen just like the wagamama/selfish girl she is, refused to let such thing happen. She etched memories of him into her soul, so that she will remember him and will search for him.

The main characters do meet again, though whether or not they remember each other, that's another thing.

[420HellYeah]

This song isn't sad. Don't believe it belongs on this list, personally.

[majaimay]

i know this list is saddest themes but honestly this song never made me sad it always made me hopeful and i don't know gave me a warm feeling, i'd be a lot more likely to cry from being touched by this then from sadness.

[PrinzNoctis1989]

is the illusion of gaia and the illusion of time the same game? oo

[OrinokawaMizuki]

@PrinzNoctis1989

Yes, Illusion of Gaia (U.S.A.) and Illusion of Time (U.K.) are versions of the same game.

So is Gaia Gensouki (Gaia Illusionary Period), the originial Japanese version of it.

[preiselbaer93]

that's the best game ever. it was one of my first rpg's too and the story is incredible epic.

[KonsolN]

I think "Will's Dream" was sadder, but this one is very emotional too

[wapaha]

@KonsolN Agreed. The dream where Will meets his mother had sadder music. Damn I feel old.

[fawful27]

i love this game with all my heart i have the orignal snes game with my snes an i got the rom an emulator on my computer my xbox my psp my ds .. i say it runs better on the psp i love this game for ever .. it was my first rpg game to now that square enix are together hope for remake too ... love it ... i can play theme on my guitar ... love the OST to this my fav is a tie bettween itory village an sky garden

[OrinokawaMizuki]

@fawful27

Well, Square did kinda remade it the next year and then released it a few years later, known as Final Fantasy VII. Storywise anyway...

Gameplay wise, it's most probably going to be remade into a Kingdom Hearts style game.

For now, a rereleased for the Virtual Console is its most likely outcome.

[wordzofwizdom]

16 years later and i still know how this song goes....ahhhh memories

[teritriano]

I love this track. I use it for meditation and relax. Sometimes i would like being one with the universe.

[deg2684]

this game was great i was a child when i played this hehe

[TheGuyBehindThePC]

wonderful, the most emotional part is the scene by the canibals where the pig killd herself to rescue the 2 kids

[fawful27]

@TheGuyBehindThePC it was a male pig an it sacraficed itself for the hungry people an kara will ...... i cried when i was little ... i remeber i was like 6 when i played it .. it was passed down to me by my older brother lol i will never sell this game ever i still play it on my psp

[TheGuyBehindThePC]

@fawful27 yes, thats why i sayd that was the most emotional part, cause i felt the same way as you, as i was on that position and soory the pig was male :)

[Conquest15cs]

this song makes me cry will and kara forever togheter in the new world..

and when they were in the raft adrift eating raw fish...

THAT recollections :(

[cravis123]

this was one of my favourite game ..I've finished this game 3 times or more;)):P

[PhantomBPR]

I think this game played a big part into my interest in history and my actually having an interest in something taught in school.

[thetrophyone]

Olman, Will's dad, says at the end of this game that men will someday build ships and sail across the galaxy. Someday, my existence on Earth will end and I'll be free to see, explore, and flourish in harmony with that galaxy Olman spoke of. I will take the beauty of this game, as well as "Soul Blazer and "Terranigma" with me wherever I go. Whether in life or "death." I have no fear.

[PhantomBPR]

That's beautiful, dude.

[thetrophyone]

Thanks, Man! I like your Uncle Jesse Icon. Is it just me or has John Stamos got better looking with age? Maybe it's because he is happier now that Full House is over. Anyway, I agree with you. This game made me want to learn about the ancient world cultures. I was a little bummed to find out that there was no Incan Golden ship in real life and that the Inca level, in the game, didn't really bare too much of a resemblance to it's real life counterpart. But it definitely laid a foundation.

[OrinokawaMizuki]

@thetrophyone

Have you also studied the Nazca lines and the ancient astronauts too?

Neverthless, the world in the game was described to be heavily altered using the comet's powers, when the comet's influences was taken out, it become the world we know today as seen in the ending.

So the Incan Golden ship's existence was most probably caused by the the comet's influences, according to the game's story.

[thetrophyone]

@OrinokawaMizuki That makes the most sense. If I remember correctly, the game says that the Incas fled to the ship to get away from conquerors...I assume they were trying to tie the story of the conquistadors, coming from Spain and landing in the New World, in with the game.

[thetrophyone]

This game also introduced me to a lot of spiritual concepts. I was 10 at the time, so I didn't start taking Yoga, go vegan, or read up on a lot of things, (Nothing dramatic) but it got the wheels in my head turning. That interest lasts until this day.

[thetrophyone]

I've worked to see people and events clearly. A lot of adults have the minds of kids and are unaware of their ignorance. I choose to have compassion and love people from a distance. The guilt I used to feel by taking such a stance has pretty much disappeared since it's no one's job except yours (unless you are a kid) to be strong, stand up for yourself, and love yourself.

"The love...you take it with you." ~ Patrick Swayze at the end of Ghost. All my labor in life will be worth it.

[Randyrhoads4lyfe]

man....this song is sad

[zenjiros]

What a wonderful comment. I too will carry the matchless, beautiful experiences I had playing Illusion of Gaia, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy VI, and Terranigma with me for all time, long after this physical body succumbs to the will of Father Time... I will carry these most precious memories with me to a new, far-off land, where Will waits to teach me how to play the flute....

[pibgeus]

@thetrophyone what a beautiful comment... I feel what you say so deeply

[thetrophyone]

@pibgeus Hey thank you very much. I just checked your profile and saw that you were from Spain. Illusion of Gaia has gotten even more awesome for me because of this comment I have on here about it. Because of this comment, I am interacting with people I never in a million of years would have met. I live in the US, but I've gotten replies from people in the middle east and many other places I've never been. Very cool. Later, man!

[Melchior82]

@thetrophyone I had a Dream\Vision during this past Month I saw most of the US at the very least was lost Life wise from the looks of it and I saw Star Ships and what I can only Describe as a MASS Exodius from Earth ;_;

[Melchior82]

@thetrophyone I hear ya

Soul Blazer

Illusion of Gaia

TerrraNigma

Three games part of a Larger Story but never Officially Connected

[thetrophyone]

I was once asleep on a cool summer night with a gentle breeze coming through my window. I actually felt my soul slip back into my body, and I was completely at ease and felt like my whole body was lit up. The beauty was I just layed there with my eyes closed the whole time completely conscious of the what was happening. I felt like my body was actually going to lift up at some point. The whole time I could only think of this song and played it in my head for those few precious seconds. No lie.

[WhodiKalecgos]

Nostalgia bomb indeed.

[SmaddyDiva]

This is definitely a game that doesn't always get its due. It's an all-around great game, really fun to play.

[elliphor]

Maybe you should rest.

[EcianZarian]

I recently got my hands on a used copy of this game. Having never played it before, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I certainly wasn't expecting the sheer overwhelming majesty this game conveyed. But it was there. It was amazing, and I don't think there was ever a point where I was attending to real-life obligations without thinking about going back and finding out what Will would experience next. This is one of the most well-written stories on the SNES, easily.

[OrinokawaMizuki]

@EcianZarian

The story is actually quite a bit 'chick flick' really. I mean a shoujo manga creator participated in it.

Tem/Will and Karen/Kara are also shared traits more toward characters one would expect to find in a 'girl' style story.

[LevantineR1]

This game got me into archaeology and history. I don't think I'd have went on to appreciate the marvels of the past as nearly as much if I hadn't played this game as a child.

One of my dreams in life is to go into the Great Pyramid, and that's completely because of this game.

[33L]

sadly there's no magic in this world... you gotta create it yourself

[LevantineR1]

Ain't that the truth.

[indigo1384]

...im...not sure what to say about that...

[fikchun]

Amazing. The game switched me on to ancient cultures and a wider awareness of the world, when I was 10! And my parents used to say video games were bad for me :(

[rettosu]

@LevantineR1 I'd never heard of Ankor Wat before playing this game. The mystery of why the former inhabitants disappeared, and the majesty of the ruins, made me want to go to Cambodia to see them in person. I still haven't gone, but I do want to! All because of Illusion of Gaia. Who says video games are a waste of time?

[DoctorJIS]

@LevantineR1 Totally had the same thing happen. This game introduced me to Mayan culture and I've been enamored ever since.

[Calistro]

ffffucking christ, this is a nostalgia bomb.

I loved this game, and I cherished every moment of playing it. I am so glad I played it when I was young. The impact it made is considerable.

[Str1k337]

I really like this song, nice pick!

[adude9000]

lol classic game i think (even tho i didnt kno at the time) my first rpg n i luv rpgs

[tatecheddar]

man i must have played this game a hundred times as a kid.... going to dig out the copy and play it again now.

[Pysis868]

That's a good picture, where is it from?

[CitanKainUzuki]

It's from the Japanese Cover.

[ChurchAngel2007]

ahh this makes me want to play it all over again. :)

[Rilian7]

To this day, this is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard.

[zenjiros]

@Rilian7

I feel the same way Rilian---- this undoubtedly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard in my life.

[VinceIP]

The most underrated SNES RPG of all time. It's so brilliant and never got the credit it deserves.

This is definitely a song I remember getting watery-eyed for. The ending to this game is just so touching.

[TraeThaTruth]

It didn't sell well? I always remember seeing ads for it at stores, and I'm from a small city where gaming isn't even that big. It was a pretty fun game, but I didn't like it nearly as much as Secret of Mana or its Japan-only sequel.

[Veszerin]

ah...SNES: The Golden Age of Console RPGs

[zenjiros]

@Veszerin

The Golden Age of console RPGs indeed!

[gasto5]

It was actually a hit.

[LadyAlan]

I think this is more like a fantasy than a sad theme :\

[operations1000]

Agreed but what happens in the story at this point makes it a sad moment to connect this as a sad song - I recall sheddin one!

[LadyAlan]

oh so it depends on the story ^^; I see..

Sadly I've never played this game T_T

But *Pokes*

since you agreed then come on push the "good comment" button :3 lol <<< off topic I know XD

[operations1000]

Sure lol, sorry I usually do that but on different types of vids I guess.

[LadyAlan]

lol it's ok ^^

i was just playing around :D

and I like to POKE ppl XD

*pokes pokes* >3

[RaiohTheHunter]

.....go play it, what are you waiting for?

[LadyAlan]

isn't it on the SNES?!

too bad I don't have that console anymore ^^;

[RaiohTheHunter]

Here, I take 5 minutes out of my day to get you a rom and the emulator, what's your email?

[slayerrptl]

yeah i agree with utter. this one isnt so much sad, more just calming

[xanshriekal]

This was one of my favorite games when I was younger. I loved the music, and this certainly brings back a lot of fond memories. Excellent choice, though I'm pleasantly surprised to see it on here. This game always seemed very overlooked and not well known.

[UtterAbsurdity]

Personally I thought the saddest song in Illusion of Gaia was the one that played when the pig sacrificed himself to save the people living in famine, and also when the Jackal died :/

[SupremeObserver]

I'm glad you posted this song. Brings back memories.

[alamantanus]

Oh, you took it way back...you get props from me for that. I love the other 8 by the way. Haha, I'm going in order.

[date2012]

this song is so sad but i never play this game but now i will play thx for this Vid:))

[Mallowigi]

this is not the saddest theme of the game, as i remember, there is one tune more sad than this.

[Veszerin]

great choice, i believe this was either the second or third rpg i played.

this song brings it all back.

[Dockywocky]

Fantastic choice

[Alastair]

I don't remember this being the saddest theme in this game. But this game has an overall slightly sad and hopeful feeling combined. Also: Needs moar "Forever Rachel."

[Armando0002]

EXCELENTE!!

[BygPhattyPlus]

Actually, I would have said the music from when you are on the Gold Ship near the beginning (and I like that music better) is sadder than this music, but this still is sad.

[miemiexpxp]

Awesome. 5/5

Hope 1 of the Suikoden series is in this. =)

[TheBerry15]

I better be seeing grandia II and FFX in this, cuz those are likee sooooo sadd D=

[SSjGenki]

I am loving that game and the pink pig!

[SSjGenki]

I loved that game a nd the pink pig!

[dracomaster01]

YEA! Illusion of Gaia, though I dont really consider this too sad, I loved it...

anyways, are you gonna do Celes Theme from FF6....you know you want to.

[Underworld23]

mmm..It seems that "watch in high quality" button doesn't work very well... I still must to add &fmt=18 to watch the real quality...

This game has a special value for me, one of my first rpgs

[atemtybias]

@Underworld23 This was my first RPG and ive gota say that it was the best. the music and time i spent playing it with my cousin was something ill remember forever..

[Maverickhunter253]

@Underworld23 same here, it's my number 1 game of all time I hope to play it again one day.

[CrelmToothpaste]

@Underworld23 Me too, I will always remember it fondly!