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  • January 26, 2011

Shining Force

Shining Force Game Cover
69%Game Brain Score
story, music
stability, graphics
100% User Score Based on 20 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCMac OSPhoneWiiiPadGame Boy AdvanceSega Mega DriveMobile PlatformiPhoneWindows
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Shining Force Game Cover

About

Shining Force is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by SEGA and was released on January 26, 2011. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

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
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
Shining Force screenshot
+1
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100%
Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews
story4 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • Classic SRPG that offers fun gameplay with class upgrades, hidden objects, and town exploration, enhancing replayability.
  • The game features a simple yet addictive turn-based tactical system, making it accessible for both new players and veterans of the genre.
  • Strong nostalgic value and memorable experiences, with many players praising its engaging story and charming graphics.
  • The emulation and launcher have technical issues, including crashes and poor inventory management, which can detract from the experience.
  • Some characters join the party underleveled, and the inability to revisit previous chapters can make leveling them challenging.
  • The enemy AI can be inconsistent, often acting predictably or ineffectively, which can lead to unbalanced gameplay.
  • story
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is characterized by its simplicity and classic appeal, often revolving around the familiar theme of light versus darkness, which resonates with players of all ages. While some details and backstories have been cut, the overall narrative remains engaging and enjoyable, highlighting the charm of old-school storytelling over more complex modern lore.

    • “The story was just amazing.”
    • “There's a pretty decent story to it and the graphics are classic.”
    • “They have cut some details; for example, the dwarf in the bar isn't drunk, he just wants to tell you an amazing story.”
    • “Yep, the plot is the usual light vs darkness for all ages.”
    • “And they even completely removed Max's backstory.”
    • “The story feels overly simplistic and lacks depth compared to earlier titles.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report that while the Bedroom Hub functions smoothly, the Simple Launcher is plagued by various glitches, indicating a lack of stability in that particular aspect of the game.

    • “However, the simple launcher has its fair share of glitches as well.”
    • “The bedroom hub works fine, but the simple launcher is buggy.”
  • graphics
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics have been described as classic, but many users feel that the overhead sections of the game are disappointingly basic, detracting from the overall experience. Despite a decent story, the visual presentation leaves room for improvement.

    • “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.”
    • “There's a pretty decent story to it, but the graphics are classic.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with players expressing fondness for its dramatic qualities, particularly in the context of nostalgia for early RPG experiences on the Sega CD. However, some users find the music to be merely "alright," indicating a mixed reception overall.

    • “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.”
  • gameplay
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, lacking complex mechanics or intricate systems like rock-paper-scissors, making it accessible and straightforward for players.

    • “No complex mechanics or rock-paper-scissors.”
    • “No complex mechanics or rock-paper-scissors.”
    • “No complex mechanics or rock-paper-scissors.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability through its classic SRPG elements, including class upgrades, hidden objects on the battlefield, and the exploration of RPG-style towns, all of which encourage players to revisit and discover new characters and strategies.

    • “A classic SRPG that is 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 significantly enhance the replayability.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players emphasize that grinding is essential to achieve maximum stats and promotions at 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.”
    • “To achieve maximum stats by the end of the game, you need to grind extensively; otherwise, you won't be able to promote at level 20.”
    • “If you're not willing to grind, reaching the maximum stats necessary for promotion at level 20 is nearly impossible.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shining Force is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

Shining Force is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

Shining Force was released on January 26, 2011.

Shining Force was developed by SEGA.

Shining Force has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Shining Force is a single player game.

Similar games include Shining Force II, Landstalker: The Treasures of King Nole, Light Crusader, Langrisser I & II, Dungeon Siege and others.