

Shining Force 1992
Developed by Camelot Software Planning, Climax Entertainment
- Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Fantasy
Shining Force is a turn-based tactical RPG. Battles take place in square grids, and each unit occupies 1 square. Units can belong to one of two sides: allies (controlled by the player) or enemies (controlled by the computer AI). Each unit can move up to a fixed amount of squares along the battlefield, determined by its Move statistic. Depending on its location relative to enemies and to allies, a unit also has the option to attack, cast a spell, use an item, search (if adjacent to a treasure chest), or stay and do nothing, all of which end the unit's turn. Some commands, such as equipping or dropping items, don't count as actions, and the character's turn is able to continue. The order of the turns is determined by the unit's agility score and a random seed. Units can use offensive actions, such as physical attacks or offensive magic, only on units belonging to the other side and can use supportive actions, such as healing magic, stat-enhancing magic, and items, only on units belonging to the same side. The game opens in the Kingdom of Guardiana, in the land of Rune. The protagonist, Max, is sent on a mission to prevent Darksol, who commands the hordes of Runefaust, from opening the Shining Path and resurrecting Dark Dragon. Along the way, Max recruits a number of allies to join the Shining Force. Opposing the Shining Force are foes such as Kane and King Ramladu, who were both corrupted by Darksol. Eventually Max forges the legendary Chaos Breaker, and uses it to reach the Castle of the Ancients, where Darksol plans to resurrect Dark Dragon.
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Character
Classical in form, earnest, resolved and plot-driven.
- classical in formformally daring
- earnestironic
- resolvedopen-ended
- character-ledplot-driven
- gravecomic
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“Is this Camelot Software Planning's best work?”
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“Would a little humor have helped?”
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About the game
- Platforms
- Linux, Wii, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac
- Developer
- Camelot Software Planning, Climax Entertainment
- Publisher
- Sega
- Released
- March 20, 1992
- Modes
- Single player
- Perspective
- Bird view / Isometric
- Time to beat
- 26 h main story
IGDB rating 7.7/10 from 55 ratings.
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on TasteBuds Other media included when they land close.
Shining Force II 199387% alikeBoth classical in form, earnest, plot-driven.
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Both classical in form, earnest, plot-driven.
Both classical in form, earnest, resolved.
Both classical in form, earnest, plot-driven.
Both earnest, classical in form, plot-driven.
Both earnest, grave, plot-driven.
Both classical in form, earnest, grave.
The Return of the Condor Heroes 200672% alikeSeries · Both classical in form, earnest, resolved.
Series · Both classical in form, earnest, grave.
Often played with
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