Tenchi Souzou (or Terranigma outside Japan) is one of those SNES RPGs that never got the love it deserved. You start off as this kid Ark, accidentally unleashing chaos by messing with sealed doors in your village—classic RPG protagonist move. The first hour has you literally bringing the world back to life, piece by piece, watching continents form and plants sprout under your feet. It’s wild.

The combat feels like a smoother Secret of Mana, with stabs, dashes, and this satisfying spin attack that clears rooms. But what stuck with me was how the world evolves—towns grow from tiny settlements to proper cities as you progress, and NPCs actually remember your actions. One minute you’re fighting weird underground monsters, the next you’re helping a penguin start a business. Quintet nailed that mix of epic scope and weird little details.

Also, that soundtrack? Haunting in the best way. The Overworld theme still pops into my head randomly.