Shining Force

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Shining Force is a tactical role-playing game where players lead a group of warriors in turn-based battles against evil forces. The game features strategic combat, character development, and exploration in a medieval fantasy world with anime-style graphics. Players must make decisions that affect the story's outcome, making each playthrough unique.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

story5 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of tactical combat and town exploration, providing a refreshing change of pace and seamless story delivery.
It includes a legally obtainable ROM, which is fantastic for fans of emulation, and supports Steam Workshop for retro mods, enhancing the overall experience.
The gameplay is engaging and addictive, with a simple yet effective mechanics system that appeals to both new players and veterans of the genre.

The emulation quality is inconsistent, with some technical issues such as crashes and poor sound quality that can detract from the experience.
Inventory management is cumbersome, with limited slots and a system that can make it difficult to manage items effectively.
The AI can be unpredictable and often acts in a way that undermines the challenge, leading to moments of frustration during battles.

story
10 mentions
50 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is praised for its engaging simplicity, blending classic elements like magic, ninjas, and cyborgs with a light vs. darkness theme that appeals to all ages. While some details and backstories have been cut, the seamless integration of story with gameplay keeps players interested and highlights the game's charm. Overall, it is regarded as a strong narrative experience within the RPG genre.
- “It's got magic, ninjas, cyborgs, werewolves, strategy, and a good story!”
- “Not only is this a great change of pace from the combat sections, but it also provides a seamless delivery of story elements.”
- “The story was just amazing.”
- “Yep, the plot is the usual light vs darkness for all ages.”
- “And they even completely removed Max's backstory.”
- “It's fun, but the old and simple old school beats all the complex settings and story lore of the later series. Too complex makes them a burden to learn.”
gameplay
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by challenging yet relaxing combat mechanics that are straightforward and accessible, avoiding complex systems. Players appreciate the engaging story and consider it one of the standout RPGs on the Genesis platform.
- “Combat can be challenging, but the mechanics are light enough that it still feels relaxing to play.”
- “One of the good RPGs on Genesis, with a good story and great gameplay.”
- “The gameplay lacks depth, with no complex mechanics or strategic elements.”
- “The combat feels repetitive and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “There are no meaningful choices or consequences in the gameplay, which makes it feel shallow.”
graphics
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised as some of the best from the Sega Genesis era, showcasing strong battle animations and a classic aesthetic that has aged well. However, some users note that the overhead parts of the game feature basic graphics that detract from the overall experience.
- “The music, graphics, and battle animations are great too - some of the best the Sega Genesis era had to offer, and I find they've aged rather well.”
- “There's a pretty decent story to it and the graphics are classic.”
- “I just wish the graphics in the overhead parts of the game weren't so shamefully basic.”
- “The graphics are classic.”
music
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with some praising it as one of the best from the Sega Genesis era, while others find it merely "alright." Nostalgic players appreciate the dramatic RPG soundtrack, which has aged well over time.
- “The music, graphics, and battle animations are great too - some of the best the Sega Genesis era had to offer, and I find they've aged rather well.”
- “This was one of my first dramatic RPGs on the Sega CD; I loved the music and couldn't beat it until I cheated with an emulator years later though.”
- “The music is alright.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users report that while the Bedroom hub functions well, the Simple Launcher is plagued by glitches and bugs, affecting overall stability.
- “However, the simple launcher has its fair share of glitches as well.”
- “The bedroom hub works fine, but the simple launcher is buggy.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through its classic SRPG elements, including class upgrades, hidden objects on the battlefield, and the exploration of towns to discover hidden characters. These features encourage players to revisit the game for new experiences and challenges.
- “A classic SRPG that's a lot of fun, sticking to all the old school patterns with class upgrades, hidden objects on the battlefield, RPG-style town exploration, and hidden characters to collect, all of which add to the replayability.”
- “The game offers a wealth of hidden content and multiple character paths, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With various strategies to explore and different character builds to try, the replayability factor is incredibly high.”
- “The game lacks significant changes in each playthrough, making it feel repetitive after the first run.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and replay it.”
- “The limited variety in missions and character interactions means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
grinding
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding is essential to achieve maximum stats and promotions by level 20, as without it, reaching optimal performance by the game's conclusion is unlikely.
- “To achieve maximum stats by the end of the game, grinding is essential if you want to promote at level 20.”
- “Grinding is crucial for reaching your full potential; without it, you won't be able to promote before the end of the game.”
- “If you're aiming for max stats, you need to invest time in grinding to ensure you can promote at level 20.”
- “To reach maximum stats by the end of the game, you need to grind extensively, especially if you want to promote at level 20.”
- “Grinding is essential if you want to achieve the best stats; without it, you won't be able to promote before the game ends.”
- “If you're not willing to grind, you won't be able to maximize your character's potential by the end of the game.”