Shining Force II

About

In Shining Force II, players lead a group of warriors in a tactical RPG setting, battling against the forces of evil to save the Kingdom of Granseal. The game features turn-based strategy combat, character development, and exploration of a rich, fantasy world. With a variety of characters, skills, and equipment, players must use strategy and tactics to outwit and defeat their foes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 13 reviews

story3 negative mentions

The game offers a rich lore and a clearer picture of the World of Runes, making it a great starting point for newcomers.
It combines classic JRPG elements with strategic gameplay, providing a satisfying experience with hidden characters, items, and weapon crafting.
The graphics and music have improved, enhancing the overall nostalgic feel while maintaining the charm of the original.

The emulation has technical issues, including crashes and poor sound quality, which can detract from the experience.
The random encounter rate is very low, making it harder to find battles outside of the main story, which may frustrate some players.
Some gameplay mechanics, like the forced princess love cliché and the lack of permadeath, may feel clichéd or too casual for hardcore strategy RPG fans.

story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's story is reminiscent of classic JRPGs, featuring traditional elements such as exploration via various modes of transport, hidden characters, and weapon crafting, while presenting a more engaging plot compared to its predecessor. Although it incorporates tactical elements through rare full-map encounters, the narrative stands out as interesting and well-crafted for a 16-bit title, avoiding the clichés prevalent in modern gaming.
- “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 story is actually more interesting to follow this time, which is pretty impressive 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 all the classic elements expected in a JRPG story, from boats to airships, hidden characters, hidden items, and final strongest weapon crafting.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The graphics have seen technical improvements, yet the overworld retains an 8-bit aesthetic. While the art style maintains its original western-Japanese fantasy charm, it now leans more towards anime influences. Overall, the visuals reflect a blend of nostalgia and modernity amidst a landscape often criticized for cliché storylines.
- “In today's world, it's all about the graphics and overly cliché storylines.”
- “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.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its variety and quality, with multiple tracks that change based on player actions, reducing repetitiveness. Reviewers appreciate the solid integration of music with the game's mechanics and art.
- “Also, multiple music tracks depending on who does the action, great!”
- “The music is really good this time, less repetitive.”
- “Solid mechanics, art, and music.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel monotonous after a while.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the background music is forgettable and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from immersion.”
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.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The gameplay features solid mechanics that remain consistent with previous iterations, complemented by appealing art and music.
- “The core gameplay is engaging and offers a fresh experience.”
- “The mechanics are solid, complemented by beautiful art and an immersive soundtrack.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive and keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
- “The core gameplay isn't too different.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks innovation.”
- “The controls are clunky and unresponsive at times.”