Shining Force

PRESS START

An Introduction To Today’s Game

Before Final Fantasy Tactics, XCOM and Advance Wars, there was the Shining Force for the Sega Genesis. Fire Emblem was a moderate success in Japan at the time, but it would be almost a decade before the series came to the states.

For many of us, Shining Force would be the gateway into Tactical Role-Playing.

I had just discovered RPGs with Final Fantasy II on the SNES (technically IV…but that’s a story for another article). What grabbed me wasn’t just the gameplay, but the realization that games could tell stories.

Heroes and villains, a classic hero’s journey, a small band rising up against an evil empire. I was hooked instantly. Suddenly, platformers and sports games weren’t enough. I wanted adventures, I wanted an epic story, and I wanted to save the world!

Shining Force fulfilled that and much, much more.

It remains one of my most beloved games from the 16-bit era. Whenever I see a new Genesis retro collection announcement, it’s the first game I look for. “Does it have Shining Force 1 and 2? Yes, okay it’s legit.”

While the genre would evolve and get more complex, Shining Force remains a perfect gateway game if you’ve never played a tactics game before.

BEHIND THE PIXELS

Let’s Dive Into The Game

You play as Max, a young hero who gathers a growing army known as the Shining Force to stop the evil Darksol and an ancient Dark Dragon. The story itself is pretty straightforward and you’ll find more character and story development on a bottle of shampoo. But, it’s charming and it fits the time. 

Like most RPGs, the game splits its time between exploring towns and combat. In towns, you speak with villagers, search for treasure, and recruit new allies. When a battle begins, the view shifts to a tactical field where you move your units like pieces on a chessboard.

Combat is the center of the experience. You can bring up to twelve characters into a fight, choosing from knights, warriors, mages, archers, healers, and more unusual classes. Every unit has its own movement range, abilities, and strengths. Centaurs can travel far and hit hard, flying characters can cross any terrain, and mages strike with powerful area spells. Positioning matters, but the game stays friendly rather than punishing. If Max falls, the battle ends, but defeated allies can be revived in town.

If a 20 minute fight comes down to the enemy getting lucky with a critical hit on Max and you die, you keep your experience points and level ups for that battle. This is one of my favorite aspects about going back to this game. You never feel like you’re losing out on time, even if you lose.

Progression follows familiar RPG rules. Characters gain levels and better stats as they fight, and they can promote to stronger classes once they reach level ten. Promotion resets their level but opens new growth, such as mages becoming wizards with stronger spells. With around thirty playable characters, including some hidden ones, experimenting with different party setups adds plenty of replay value.

Visually, Shining Force uses bright sixteen bit sprites, beautiful attack cutscenes, and expressive monster designs. 

The game still plays smoothly today. The controls are clear, the battles are steady and satisfying, and the chapter structure keeps the pace moving. It may be gentler than modern strategy games, but its charm and sense of adventure give it a lasting appeal.

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WHERE TO PLAY

• Nintendo Switch Online - Genesis App

• Sega Genesis Mini

• Sega Genesis Classics (Delisted on Steam, but physical can still be bought in stores)

• Original Copies of the Game (All prices in USD)

  • Loose: $45

  • Complete: $100

  • New/Sealed: $500

GAME INFORMATION

Cover Art

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RETRO NEWS

Here’s a quick roundup of the latest retro gaming news we’ve dug up.

• Fallout Co-Creator Reflects on What Modern Devs Can Learn From the ’80s
  Insightful look at how early game design constraints shaped creativity and still matter today.
  Read more at Time Extension

  • Rebecca Heineman has Passed Away
  Industry legend opens up about early breakthroughs, challenges, and her lasting impact on gaming.
  Read more at Retro News

  • Analogue 3DS Prototype Shows Off Performance Mode
  Early demo highlights powerful overclocking features that could redefine FPGA handheld performance.
  Read more at Time Extension

PREVIOUS POLL RESULTS

Who is your favorite turtle from TMNT?

• Leonardo - 50%

• Donatello - 0%

• Raphael - 50%

• Michelangelo - 0%

Reader comments from the poll:

(Leonardo) “Team Leo! My fave color being blue, and let’s face it - those katana were bad ass! Staff? Just a stick! I also don’t care what anyone says - Leo was the leader, not Raph!” - Shen

(Raphael) “Raphael was mah boy! Always suffer then leather and always made it personal. For the game though his weapon was super close range and hard to manage.” - Daniel

GAME OVER

Why You Should Play This

Why try Shining Force today? Because it is one of the earliest console strategy RPGs that still feels genuinely fun. The gameplay loop remains engaging. Its simple, welcoming design makes it easy to enjoy even if you never touched a tactical rpg. 

The bright pixel art and lively battle animations hold up well. I love the combat screen so much, I’m attempting to paint it for my office. 

Forming a twelve person squad feels cozy and rewarding. The story gives your allies little personality, but you will still grow attached through how you train them. Since no one is lost forever, you can experiment and bring fallen units back.

The Shining series, which consists of over a couple dozen games, feels like a forgotten legacy for Sega. I would love to see this series return, especially in the Shining Force format of tactical rpg’s. This remains a special game to me and I hope more people go back and discover it.

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