Shining Force II

About

Shining Force II 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.

As a student of Astral the wizard, you and your friends study all the usual subjects: reading, writing, and sword fighting. As your time at school draws to an end, dark events are taking place on the island of Grans. The two Jewels which seal the Door to Darkness have been stolen, allowing a creature of awesome power to be unleashed. Finding where the Jewels were taken, and why, is a task only the…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 16 reviews

music3 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game includes a legally obtainable ROM, which is fantastic for fans of emulation.
Steam Workshop support allows for retro mods, enhancing the overall experience.
The mix of tactical RPG and traditional JRPG elements keeps the gameplay engaging and fresh.

The emulation quality is inconsistent, with some sound issues and glitches in the launcher.
The game lacks permadeath, which some players feel diminishes the challenge.
Certain gameplay mechanics, like the AI behavior and battle tactics, can feel repetitive over time.

story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story is rich and reminiscent of classic JRPGs, featuring traditional elements such as exploration, hidden characters, and weapon crafting, while maintaining a unique tactical approach to battles. Players appreciate the engaging plot, which is distinct from previous entries in the series, and find it refreshingly interesting despite the prevalence of clichés in modern gaming narratives. Overall, the blend of story, exploration, and combat keeps players invested throughout their journey.
- “Although it's a SRPG, this game unfolds more like a traditional JRPG, featuring everything we expect in a JRPG story, from boats to ships to airships, hidden characters, hidden items, and crafting the final strongest weapon. All the classic elements of a JRPG are here.”
- “The Shining Force games have such a perfect mix of battle, exploration, and story that my interest is constantly renewed.”
- “The story is actually more interesting to follow this time; it's pretty good for a 16-bit game.”
- “In today's world, it's all overly cliché storylines and all about the graphics.”
- “The plot of the game is a separate event from SF1, featuring different characters and regions.”
- “Although it's a SRPG, this game unfolds more like a normal JRPG, with everything we can expect in a JRPG story, from boats to airships, hidden characters, hidden items, and final strongest weapon crafting. All the classic elements of a JRPG are here.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The graphics are praised for their quality, showcasing some of the best from the Sega Genesis era, with a nostalgic 8-bit feel in the overworld. While there are technical improvements, the art style retains its original western-Japanese fantasy charm, now leaning more towards anime influences. Overall, the visuals have aged well and stand out amidst a landscape often dominated by cliché storylines and graphics.
- “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.”
- “They technically improved graphics, albeit the overworld graphics still have that 8-bit feel.”
- “They technically improved the graphics, albeit the overworld graphics still have that 8-bit feel.”
- “It still has the sweet Western-Japanese fantasy tale art style of the original; however, it now leans more toward anime.”
- “In today's world, it's all overly cliché storylines and all about the graphics.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay is characterized by a balance of challenging combat and relaxing mechanics, offering 15-30 hours of playtime similar to Shining Force 1. Players appreciate the solid mechanics, art, and music, contributing to an enjoyable experience.
- “Combat can be challenging, but the mechanics are light enough that it still feels relaxing to play.”
- “The core gameplay isn't too different.”
- “It has 15-30 hours of gameplay, just like Shining Force 1.”
- “Solid mechanics, art, and music.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, showcasing some of the best compositions from the Sega Genesis era, with multiple tracks that vary based on in-game actions. Reviewers note that the music has aged well and is less repetitive compared to previous titles, contributing to a solid overall experience alongside the graphics and mechanics.
- “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.”
- “Also, multiple music tracks depending on who does the action, great!”
- “The music is really good this time, less repetitive.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”