Present time Earth? Not really, Gaia in FFVII was like a mix of future. I mean their technology really outranks ours, Cannons that fire lasers around the earth, floating cities, yeah we dun got that stuff

As for how "real" they acted. Thats all from perspective. Aeris's character bugged the crap outta me.
"Hey guys, I'm gonna ditch you to go to the temple of ancients, despite the fact there is a murder on the loose!

kthxbai!"

;p