A revitalized classic with improved extras.
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a remake of Sega's strategy role playing game classic originally made on the genesis in 1993. Is it worth playing? despite it's age, this is still one of the most enjoyable games around to me as a huge series fan growing up with them.
Shining Force begins in the kingdom of Guardiana, a skilled young swordsman suffering from amnesia ready to save a kingdom against the forces of Runefaust. While the story isn't super deep it's compelling enough to push the party from location to location fighting a surprisingly great amount of battles some of which are really memorable in their settings or goals.
The battles take place much like a game of chess. Your characters are the pieces, and any number of battlegrounds are the board. The ground you fight on has different grids represented by squares on the map. Each character can move a certain amount of these squares, or even attack a certain amount of squares. turns are taken in order of your characters and enemies speed, the faster they are, the sooner they strike!
Each member of your party is a different class, and each with specials abilities/skills. For instance, Max the main character is the only member with the Egress skill, which allows the party to escape and fight another time. Ken, a knight, can equip both spears (which can be thrown up to two squares away), and lances (which can only hit one square away). Tao and Anri, can cast magic spells varying from fire, ice, lightning and status spells. Classes include archers, mages, priests, birdmen, knights, monks, and hamsters (that's not a typo).
Once your characters have gained enough experience through battle, they will level up. Every action taken gains exp, but the value of the action dictates how much. Casting a healing spell will gain 10-20. Striking the finishing blow to an enemy, 48. Missing an attack completely? a humiliating 1. After they arrive at level 10 they can be promoted to a new stronger class, though they start at level 1 again. This will give them access to stronger weapons and spells they otherwise could not use.
The graphics have had an overhaul from the genesis classic. Character animations and costume designs have been modernized. The towns and backgrounds are also more detailed, overall the game is vibrant and colorful. How much you like the new visuals will vary in comparison with the original. I think they both have their strengths but these worked well for the Game Boy Advance screen.
But to anyone who has played the game before, what's to bring them back? For starters the dialogue has been improved, and Max is no longer a silent hero. Character backgrounds and interaction have also been improved in the HQ (though only members who are active in your party will engage in conversation with you). There are 3 new characters, as well as several new battles revolving around them. One of the afore mentioned characters uses cards in battle, in which you can collect, including through a new game +.
All in all, Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a must play game to new and old fans alike, despite it's age the game shines. Proving once and for all that gameplay is what really makes a game.
+ Fantastic gameplay and unique battles.
+ Graphic enhancements.
+ Dialogue improvements and new characters.
+ Awesome OST.
- The new graphical style and characters may not appeal to fans of the original title?
Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a remake of Sega's strategy role playing game classic originally made on the genesis in 1993. Is it worth playing? despite it's age, this is still one of the most enjoyable games around to me as a huge series fan growing up with them.
Shining Force begins in the kingdom of Guardiana, a skilled young swordsman suffering from amnesia ready to save a kingdom against the forces of Runefaust. While the story isn't super deep it's compelling enough to push the party from location to location fighting a surprisingly great amount of battles some of which are really memorable in their settings or goals.
The battles take place much like a game of chess. Your characters are the pieces, and any number of battlegrounds are the board. The ground you fight on has different grids represented by squares on the map. Each character can move a certain amount of these squares, or even attack a certain amount of squares. turns are taken in order of your characters and enemies speed, the faster they are, the sooner they strike!
Each member of your party is a different class, and each with specials abilities/skills. For instance, Max the main character is the only member with the Egress skill, which allows the party to escape and fight another time. Ken, a knight, can equip both spears (which can be thrown up to two squares away), and lances (which can only hit one square away). Tao and Anri, can cast magic spells varying from fire, ice, lightning and status spells. Classes include archers, mages, priests, birdmen, knights, monks, and hamsters (that's not a typo).
Once your characters have gained enough experience through battle, they will level up. Every action taken gains exp, but the value of the action dictates how much. Casting a healing spell will gain 10-20. Striking the finishing blow to an enemy, 48. Missing an attack completely? a humiliating 1. After they arrive at level 10 they can be promoted to a new stronger class, though they start at level 1 again. This will give them access to stronger weapons and spells they otherwise could not use.
The graphics have had an overhaul from the genesis classic. Character animations and costume designs have been modernized. The towns and backgrounds are also more detailed, overall the game is vibrant and colorful. How much you like the new visuals will vary in comparison with the original. I think they both have their strengths but these worked well for the Game Boy Advance screen.
But to anyone who has played the game before, what's to bring them back? For starters the dialogue has been improved, and Max is no longer a silent hero. Character backgrounds and interaction have also been improved in the HQ (though only members who are active in your party will engage in conversation with you). There are 3 new characters, as well as several new battles revolving around them. One of the afore mentioned characters uses cards in battle, in which you can collect, including through a new game +.
All in all, Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a must play game to new and old fans alike, despite it's age the game shines. Proving once and for all that gameplay is what really makes a game.
+ Fantastic gameplay and unique battles.
+ Graphic enhancements.
+ Dialogue improvements and new characters.
+ Awesome OST.
- The new graphical style and characters may not appeal to fans of the original title?