Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon

by Atlus

Product Features

• Control up to 12 characters in battle -- select them from a cast of 30 playable characters
• Improved graphics feature added visual effects and character patterns
• Unique card system allows you to collect special abilities and bonuses that could turn the tide of battle in your favor

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001XALPA
• Item Weight: 2.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: June 8, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,583 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Game Informer Review

When this game first released on the Genesis in 1993, it impressed gamers with its huge cast of characters, varied classes, and strategic combat. It also served as an inspiration for many turn-based titles that were to follow. Even though all of the elements that made this stand out in its time are still present, they are essentially in their original form. While the gameplay is still fun, Shining Force certainly feels like it has gathered some dust over the years.

To be fair, this isn't the exact same game that came out 11 years ago. The graphics are considerably improved, and there are also a handful of new characters and sidequests. But even with these alterations on the surface, the core hasn't changed. You wander around towns and you get into battles. As you progress, you add more party members to your pool of fighters and assemble a team based on each characters' abilities. Sound familiar? The biggest problem with this otherwise successful formula is that due to the basic battle system, it eventually feels like you're just repeating the same drill again and again.

While it does have a decent mix of strategy and RPG elements, you can't escape the fact that this is still just a Genesis game with a few minor improvements. With the other turn-based strategy titles available on GBA, like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, Shining Force is really more enjoyable as a piece of nostalgia than a fresh gaming experience.

Concept:
Jump on the "re-release previously successful titles" bandwagon

Graphics:
Though jazzed up from the Genesis version, the parts that look best go by too quickly to savor

Sound:
The battle sounds are generic, and the score does little to rouse your fighting spirit

Playability:
The combat system and menus are easy to learn and navigate. Simple but effective

Entertainment:
The battles are fun and challenging, yet lack the depth to make the game truly engaging

Replay:
Moderate

Rated: 7.5 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
Issue: June 2004

2nd Opinion:
Striking a nostalgic chord, this remake of the Genesis classic brings back a flood of fond memories, but also a slight pain with the realization that the games that we cherished back in the day don't necessarily stack up well against today's juggernauts. While boasting balance tweaks; enhanced menu management; and the inclusion of new characters, items, and side missions; the gameplay is just as shallow as before. It's an enjoyable play, but if you've already worked your way through Final Fantasy Tactics or any turn-based strategy game in the last five years, there's a good chance that you'll be disappointed by its simplicity.

Rated: 7.5 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner


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Product Description

Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon - A mysterious traveler named Darksol is attempting to resurrect an ancient monster called the Dark Dragon. He has convinced the king of Runefaust to invade neighboring Guardiana to accomplish this sinister plan. You are a promising young warrior who's lost his memory, washed ashore in Guardiana. When the land is attacked, you are thrust into the role of leader and must stop the revival of the Dark Dragon, at all costs.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Near Perfect Remake, August 27, 2004

By 

J. Boulette (Wilmington, DE) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (Video Game)

Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon is a nearly perfect remake of one of the original console Strategy RPG games. The original featured a colorful cast of characters, an enjoyable enough story -- bare bones, but functional -- and the essentials of SRPG gameplay: take your force of heroes (including Elven archers, magicians, Dwarven warriors, and Centaur knights) and maneuver them around on a grid, defeating enemies to collect experience points and level up.

The original never strived for a huge amount of depth in its gameplay; there was never much min-maxing to be found, never a need to worry about weather or birthdays, and only the most important character statistics (such as strength, defense, and so on). ROTDD maintains that simplistic charm. Its strength is not in pushing one's tactical brainpower to the very limits, or forcing one to micromanage a dozen different factors for every character. Rather, the game just wants you to enjoy the now tried-and-true gameplay it perfected over ten years ago.

Everything that made the original great is still here, only made better. ROTDD features graphics and music which are highly reminiscent of the original, yet push the limits of the GBA system to the maximum. The story has been enhanced with a significant amount of new dialogue and new characters. The game's returning characters come equipped with a good deal more depth -- talk to them in Headquarters, and you can slowly learn about their backstories.

If you've never tried a Strategy RPG before, this is the one to get. The magic, weapon, item, and level-up systems are nearly identical to those found in traditional roleplaying games. Shining Force doesn't have the aggressive difficulty level of a Fire Emblem, nor the heavy micromanaging element of Final Fantasy Tactics, making it ideal for someone new to the genre.

The original was a classic, and ROTDD proves that a classic can be redone successfully.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They didn't just remake the game, they IMPROVED the game, July 13, 2004

By 

Ryan Yamada "icono68" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (Video Game)

I started off discovering Shining Force II back on the old Genesis system, so of course when I fell in love with that game I turned quickly to the old Shining Force I. I really didn't like it as much, it just was more bland and annoying (particularly the promotion aspect). So I was a bit hesistant with this game (which is, if you haven't picked up on it by now, a remake of the Genesis Shining Force I). However, when I did finally get it and played it I was amazed with the improvements added to the remake.

First of all, this game has added in clear bonuses. Before each battle the game will lay out the victory conditions and also give you a clear bonus (usually to win the battle in a certain number of turns). Accomplishing that clear bonus nets you either cash or a weapon that cannot be bought for another town or two. These clear bonuses really spice up battles, as it's no longer a matter of whether you can win or not (you almost always can) but whether you can win FAST enough (which is not nearly as easy).

The second major improvement is cards. There are 55 player and boss cards strewn about the world for you to find. The player cards are obtained by searching through towns and talking to people while the boss cards are obtained by killing bosses with certain people landing the final blow. Hunting these cards obviously adds a lot, but it doesn't stop there. A new character, Mawlock, has been added to the game. Mawlock's big draw is that he EQUIPS these cards and they give him various attributes etc. So not only can you now hunt for cards, you can use them in a variety of different ways to customize a character's abilties.

And the final big improvement is the revamping of the promotion system. In the old Genesis version promoting your main charcter made him so weak he could only stand on the back lines and watch. This has thankfully been taken care of and promotions, while they do weaken your characters a bit at first, are made much, much more managable.

If you played either of the original Shining Force games for the Genesis this is a must-have game. For those new to the strategy RPG realm, this is a quality game to start in on as well. With the new remakes and improvements this is not only one of the best RPGs for the GBA, but one of the best RPGs out there right now period. This is a game every RPG fan should have.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Old-School game still delivers fun, July 9, 2005

By 

Chef Leo (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (Video Game)

I used to play Sega's Shining RPG games on the Genesis and, later, Saturn, and I loved the Shining Force games. Of course, RPGs have gotten a lot more complex and sophisticated since then, but every once in a while it's fun to go back to the old school. The first Shining Force game has made a great transition to the GBA, with the original music and game play intact, plus some new features. It's not a particularly challenging game compared to some of what's out there now, but i was surprised how much I still enjoyed playing this game again. How about it, Sega? Can we have Shining Force 2 and 3 too?