Shining Force cover

Shining Force

First release
Mar 20, 1992
Publisher
Sega

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.

Also known as Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
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.Read more

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.

Release dates
Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
Mar 20, 1992
Wii
Jul 10, 2007
Wii
Jul 23, 2007
All 8 release dates
Wii
Aug 03, 2007
iOS
Jul 29, 2010
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Jan 26, 2011
Mac
Jan 26, 2011
Linux
Jan 26, 2011
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main + Extras
26h
Age ratings
PEGI 7ESRB E
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
Bird view / Isometric
Keywords
wizards, magic, 16-bit, turn-based, death
… All 83, robots, elves, horse, chicken, steampunk, female protagonist, cyborg, steam, fairy, multiple protagonists, undead, pixel art, worm, grid-based movement, dog, teleportation, dwarves, resurrection, silent protagonist, good vs evil, bats, gladiators, warriors, boss fight, sheep, explosion, digital distribution, single-player only, tactical turn-based combat, clowns, leveling up, shopping, bow and arrow, goblins, skeletons, party system, werewolves, priest, non-humanoid protagonist, non-player character, descendants of other characters, centaurs, minotaurs, royalty, recruitable characters, potion, melee, infinite ammo, shielded enemies, shaky camera, subtitled silence, liberation, bread, villain, healer, sleeping, game with chapters, onlive, reptilian humanoid, plot twist, boss assistance, flashback, poisoning, scripted events, paladins, drawbridge, working for the enemy, on-site procurement, escaping imprisonment, infinite spawn, hidden character, ghoul, behind the waterfall, no wrong choice, class change, male protagonist, wii virtual console, nintendo switch online - expansion pack

At a Glance

Main + Extras (IGDB)
26h

How it plays

Languages

  • Englishinterface
IGDB · recorded 29 Oct 2026

Language data: IGDB · recorded 29 Oct 2026