Shining Force

[Anonymous No.8133931]

Can someone redpill me on the Shining Force series? I'm aware there are multiple 'Shining' games, but there also seem to be multiple Shining Force 3 games, going by the names Scenario 1, 2 , and 3. Are each scenario their own full game? Is Shining Force 3: Scenario 1 a good starting place for a new player? It looks cool and my Saturn could use dusting off.

[Anonymous No.8133942]

it's better than fire emblem is all you need to know

[Anonymous No.8134146]

>>8133942
This guy knows what's up.

[Anonymous No.8134238]

>>8133931
Shining the Holy Ark, Shining Force 3: Scn1, 2, and 3 all tell parts of one fuck huge story. If you want to get in on that shit, start with Ark. It's a great little dungeon crawler. The rest are tactical RPGs.

Shining Force 3/Ark is separate from the other games by a huge span of time and several spoiler-type events. You do not need to know anything about previous games to enjoy it.

That being said, the vast majority of old Shining is pretty great. I fucking love Shining Force 1, for the flavor and world if nothing else.

New Shining depends heavily on your personal taste. It ranges from hilariously bad to pretty good.

The SF1 Remake is actually decent, even if some of the design choices are a bit toony. Ironically despite much gnashing of teeth, all the "new stuff" that the old fans got mad about turned out to be stuff that was in the original JP game/supplementary material that made it over this time around. Barring the three OCs, one of whom I'm fairly sure is a FEDA design that got recycled.

Last but not least, there's a new fucking game coming out. I don't give a SHIT that it's on mobile, my boy Max is coming back! If it takes microtransactions to make that happen, fine, whatever, give me the two-hundred summoner orb pack or whatever the fuck. I've waited literal decades for another game based in Rune. I'll sign that devil bargain.

[Anonymous No.8134245]

>>8134238
Thanks for such a detailed response. I guess I'll start with Shining the Holy Ark then since I'm interested in Shining Force 3 and I want the full experience.

[Anonymous No.8134275]

>>8134245
You're welcome. Hope you enjoy it!

[Anonymous No.8134284]

>>8134238
Did people actually get mad about the story changes in "Resurrection of the Dark Dragon"? They actually felt natural and made sense compared to "Legacy of Great Intention" where the story just stops being comprehensible in any way halfway through.

The real problem with RotDD is that they didn't include a Hard Mode by default, you have to "work up to it" by replaying the game over and over and making the game a little harder every time. I don't know why they did that.

[Anonymous No.8134331]

>>8134284
I'm not sure how many did, but I know at least a vocal few. It's been a long time but I know a few were mad about the sudden increase of technological relevance. (Magic being supertech energy manipulation, the demihumans being genetically made, etc).

That never made sense to me, you can clearly see a heavy sci-fi influence in the first game and that's what made it rad.

[Anonymous No.8134357]

>>8134331
The straight up explanation for shit was great for me. You finally understood the 1,000 year old empire was heroes that abused their spirits and jumped to great great heights and advanced the world in technologies, then other fought against them with their own great magics only to dispand it all and seal everything away for the far future. It was a lot better than what we got the first time around.

STILL: What I hated in the GBA game was the dumb epilogues with EZ mode Narsha. I don't know why those fucks were added, aside from Narsha brought spells you seen in 3 and the cards are something wildly popular around turn of the century japan so they were shoehorned in.
>>8133942
Better than Fire Emblem, a tie with Langrisser. As Final Fantasy is one of the worst JRPGs, Fire Emblem aside from 4 and 776 are mostly bad too, and these two other franchises on Sega consoles far outmatch it.

[Anonymous No.8134423]

>>8134357
I didn't have too much of a problem with the OCs since you can, you know, just not use them.

Knowing what I do now, I have a far greater appreciation for the GBA remake.

I'm actually cautiously optimistic about the mobile game. It's 1000 years post SF1/2, you can clearly see the old characters talking, and one of the stages is a ruined Mitula Shrine with ivy creeping over the Storytellers.

I do want to know what's up with that cowboy in the trailer, because he looks a bit like the Endless Frontier dude. If the Bamco crew somehow got a cameo here as well, we're deep into six degrees of separation webs.

[Anonymous No.8134481]

>>8134423
The mobile Langrisser game was alright, I think that's what the SF game will be too. It'll be ALRIGHT and not mindless coomer gacha crap like kancolle. Also, what do you mean it's 1000 years post 1/2?

That's when Holy Ark and 3 take place. . . and those are when the MCs fight the "1,000 year old empire" which is the same from which Max and Kain are from. Max, Kain, Adam, Belsem, and The Spirit of the Lake are all the people fighting against the ancient heros turned DEMONS because they abused the spirits they merged with (as could happen with characters from Holy Ark or Gracia from 3). SOOO I don't know how the mobile game could be 1,000 years after 1/2 if the later games are only hundreds.

[Anonymous No.8134708]

>>8134481
Millions of years are between SF3 and the rest, it's explicitly said that the world has ended and been reborn numerous times.

[Anonymous No.8134734]

>>8133931
>he posts a pic from 3, the one no one played

[Anonymous No.8134936]

>>8134734
Hey, let the man choose his entry point.

[Anonymous No.8134967]

>>8134708
Where did it say that. Also Ark and 3 has to be the age of Garcia apart from each other. >>8134734
I played and beat 3. Suck a dick niggie nugger. I also bought it NEW from my import bros back then in NYC.

[Anonymous No.8135069]

>>8134967
There was an interview with the creators of SF3 where someone asked them point blank where the hell it fit into the timeline. They said it was millions of years after the other games because of the Creator's cycle blowing up the world and remaking it multiple times to the point where the geography changed. Arthur is there because he reincarnated, as heroes tend to do in the Shining World.

This is also why things change so dramatically between some of the games.

[Anonymous No.8135537]

>>8135069
I'm well-aware that when pressed, Takahashi put SFIII sometime long after the other games, but until I see a transcript of said interview, I remain sceptical. There certainly isn't anything in-game that supports any sort of "cycle of destruction and rebirth." And as for geography -- each game takes place in a relatively circumscribed area -- usually not more than one or two countries or islands, so I don't think there is any explicit contradiction between any of the games on that point.

[Anonymous No.8135585]

>>8135069
Where did you see this?
>>8135537
THIS. It's never talked about in the game that the world gets destroyed and reborn. Also you're right, it was very hard for the users at the fan-site to even make the world, and it wasn't pictured before. The only thing to really make the map was the GBA Remake of 1 and that's even missing the southern continent.

[Anonymous No.8137124]

>>8134238
holy ark and darkness are like proto golden sun, not really necessary to play if you don't like that style of game so I wouldn't start with that if he wants to play the force games

[Anonymous No.8137128]

Just got my Sega Saturn ODE, about to jump into Shining Force 3. Any tips?

[Anonymous No.8137136]

>>8133931
>Buy the Premium Disc!

[Anonymous No.8137150]

>>8137128
play the Mega Drive games first

[Anonymous No.8138178]

>>8137124
I guess it's not necessary, but it does a lot more to flesh out the whole Vandal/Galm thing going on in SF3. If you can't get into StHA, I guess you can skip to Force 3, but I still think it's better to start there.

[Anonymous No.8138283]

>>8134238
dunno how to feel about the mobile venture, but at the very least i like how they've kept the designs the same and didn't modernize them
that's a good step

[Anonymous No.8138301]

>>8138283
Did you play Langrisser M? It's free and you can get it in English on google. If you like that you'll like the mobile SF game.
>>8137136
No thanks I will just emu it even though I have the coupon to get it since I bought the games.
>>8137128
Play the Genesis games first so you understand ZA WARUDO

[Anonymous No.8138368]

>>8138301
i'll take a look.
i'm not into mobile games that much, but i'm not violently averse to the idea like some people are.

[Anonymous No.8138807]

Most people remember Shining Force I and II which are solid SRPGs with a distinct art style. The GBA remake of I is arguably better.

Shining Force III was released in three installments (Scenarios) but only the first was localized. The other two have been fan translated.

Shining in the Darkness and Shining the Holy Ark are dungeon-crawlers. Darkness is very traditional while Holy Ark is party-based and reminds me of Golden Sun.

Shining Force EXA is a pretty good Diablo clone with a nice artstyle.

Shining Soul 1 and 2 on GBA are very cool ARPGs that actually support link-up multi-player. Feels like playing Ragnarok Online but not as grindy.

Shining Resonance Refrain (not /vr/) is a decent Tales/Ys-esque JRPG with fully-active combat.

A bunch of PS2-era Shining games weren't localized, Shining Tears looks good.

Shining Force I and II tell their own continuous story. III and Holy Ark are set in their own distant-future continuity. The other games are unrelated besides minor cameos and references afaik.

It's a fairly underrated series largely because it was mishandled in the West and everyone just wants the SRPG-style gameplay back.

[Anonymous No.8138828]

>>8133931
This guy gave a great run-down >>8134238

I absolutely adore Shining Force III Scenario 1, 2 and 3. They're all somewhat self contained, but just play all of them and Ark if you can.
I haven't played Ark myself because I was never into dungeon crawlers as much as SRPGs, but I'm planning to go back and play it soon.
The Mega Drive games are also fun, although I like SF1 more than SF2. Shining in the Darkness is the first 'Shining' game, but I'm not sure how popular it is. I didn't enjoy it much myself.
Please do enjoy them and let us know what you think, SF3 trilogy is one of my favourite gaming experiences ever. Find the translations online and you're golden.
I had to wait a long, long time before I could play Scenario 2 and 3 translated, it was so amazing to finally do so.
Also worth noting they are some of the best graphics on the Sega Saturn, probably.

[Anonymous No.8138832]

As someone who enjoyed Shining Force 1, 2 and 3, what is the Sega CD game like? I understand it's a remake of the Game Gear titles which was a bit off putting for me at first, but they're apparently well loved?

[Anonymous No.8138881]

>>8137128
Don't grind, the game is pretty easy as it is.
Special moves are tied to weapon types, EG Sword, Blade, Knife and Rapier all have different special moves to learn. I personally like to pick a specialty and stick with it.
An exception to this is ranged weapons for the class, EG spears for cavaliers, hand axes/tomahawks for warriors and knives for heroes. Sometimes i like to have those as 'sub' weapons for ranged attacks, but that's more a fun thing and not really required.
My understanding is it's best to 'promote' your characters around level 15, but again the game isn't overly difficult so no need to power game it.
Don't murder the people of Quonos, try to save them all.
Have fun man, the games are excellent and you'll enjoy them!

[Anonymous No.8138976]

what about "beyond the beyond"?

[Anonymous No.8139065]

>>8134708
How the fuck is Arthur still alive

[Anonymous No.8139075]

>>8134481
This is wrong, a NPC in Holy Ark straight up brings up Hanzo from SF1 and Kojiro from the GG game wondering where they are now.

No way has it been 1000 years.

[Anonymous No.8139103]

>>8139065
The devs said he was reincarnated, but with stuff like >>8139075 in the games, it's possible he was talking out of his ass. The Shining series has had so many developers work on it that it plays fairly fast and loose with the canon at times, though apparently a huge part of that was simply Japan getting supplementary material that the West never saw.

[Anonymous No.8139150]

>>8139075
I already said it could be hundreds not thousands.
>>8139103
Show proof anyway. I thought Camelot was mainly two brothers, if it's one of them that said it then maybe. I am sure they had to OK any idea because it wasn't a massive corporation then maybe 20.

[Anonymous No.8139409]

>>8139075
What evidence is there that the Vandal/Hyudol "Thousand-Year Kingdom" is directly connected to anything mentioned in SF1? The Vandal's domain was centered on the Palmechian continent; my memories of SF1 and SF2 are vague at this point, and while they each have their own "ancient evils," these nevertheless have nothing to do with Bulzome, Elbesem, or the spirits. I would assume that throughout the Shining world's antiquity, there have been evil empires that have seen their ascent and decline hither thither.

In any case, SFIII acknowledges the existence of Guardiana -- it's listed as Arthur's place of origin, so the world of SF1 nominally coexists with that of 3. But the Shining games always presuppose a larger world than that ever visited by the player -- Irene/Airin and Unoma hailing from "distant Eastern lands," etc.

[Anonymous No.8139650]

>>8138976
Looks generic, people say it is a proto Golden Sun.

[Anonymous No.8140720]

Wish me luck bros.

[Anonymous No.8141434]

>>8140720
gl, hf

[Anonymous No.8142335]

>>8139150
It has been a long-ass time since I dug up my notes, but it seems my memory bamboozled me. The evidence implies but is not ironclad.

Spoilers follow, obviously.

In StHA the Tower of Illusion priest says the following.
>High Priest:
We are being tested by the Creator... The Spirit is the Creator's own instrument to measure if a society has the ability to correctly handle prosperity... If the society fails this test, the Creator destroys that culture. Thus, ours has been buried for a thousand years. This is why our kingdom collapsed. The Spirit can be a very destructive power!

Yasuhiro Taguchi also had the following to say in an interview he did with a fansite:

YT: This world has undergone tremendous events such as total destruction. In different eras, some countries are established while some are destroyed. Sometimes even the landform would change due to diastrophism. So it's hard to combine all stories on one map. Camelot didn't make a map for the whole world.

And

YT: The story from Holy Ark to SF3 belongs to a different era from previous Shining Series. If you see characters with the same name, please consider them as different people. But they do look very similar. Perhaps people in SF1 and SF2 came to the world of SF3 through metempsychosis?

I could've sworn there was an explicit point in SF3 where they say that periodically Shining Forces pop up to fight evil and if they fail the Creator does his fire from the sky thing. I'll have another look when I have more than twenty minutes to poke around.

[Anonymous No.8142403]

>>8133942
>first post is shitting on the only other major franchise in this incredibly niche genre
Wow this seems like a great fanbase

[Anonymous No.8142418]

>>8138976
I can't believe they also made a Golf Game for Sony. That's all they do, their JRPG franchise and Golf, it's funny to me. Kinda like Climax all they did was Micro Machine racing and Stalker over and over.

[Anonymous No.8144819]

>>8133931
Saturn one is besterest

[Anonymous No.8145148]

>>8144819
There's lots of Saturn Shining games, but I assume you mean Shining Force III parts 1-3?
(I agree, I love those games like mad)

[Anonymous No.8145448]

>>8144819
>>8145148
I disagree, but I am well aware it is because nostalgia has an iron grip on my opinion.

[Anonymous No.8145470]

I played Shining Force EXA 14 years ago I think and I still fap to Cyrille.

[Anonymous No.8145480]

>>8145448
Can someone translate this? Also who is the one with the staff? The Horsesse from SF1 and her daughter from 2 are so attractive (for horses). Who is the other one? I remember in 3 there wasn't a Horsesse just a Horseman and he was kinda stupid.