![]() Finally, many of the game's battlegrounds contain multiple areas to fight in, many of which are secret. Secondly, characters can learn special attacks with their weapons, which can increase their critical-hit damage rating. The more often these advantages are used, the stronger the friendship, and the stat boost grows. Knights traditionally lend defense or attack power while a cleric might increase one's chance for critical hits. When placed next to a friend, characters' stats will temporarily rise based on the characters' respective classes. Should two characters fight against a common foe or provide support for one another in battle, a friendship can develop. ![]() The largest new feature is the friendship system. The third game in the series does add a few new features to the mix, but they primarily serve as bonus features for the hard-core gamers. While these extra factors are appropriate in the right doses, Shining Force III pleasantly distills the strategy down to the basic positioning and attacking, making for far-shorter and less-tedious battles. ![]() Gone are the Tactics games' defense positioning, elevation or zodiac-determined damage systems, endless stats, and battle factors. However, there is one major difference: Shining Force III is infinitely more playable. Like previous games in the series, you can promote your characters to better classes after they've reached level 20, not only giving the characters a new look in battle, but also faster stat growth rates and new abilities.Īt first glance, Shining Force III sounds all too similar to Tactics Ogre or Final Fantasy Tactics. Each character has its own set of stats, all upped occasionally through experience-gained level-ups. A handful of other unique character types exist but most are variations on the previously established themes. You command a legion of up to 12 warriors, fitting the usual RPG character descriptions - knights are strong attackers but have no magic, archers can attack from a distance but don't hold up in hand-to-hand combat, and mages deal out powerful magic but, up close, make the archers look like masters of hand-to-hand combat. Needless to say, that's easier said than done.įor those familiar with the series, Shining Force III sports virtually the same turn-based gameplay that popularized the series and provided the starting point for so many other games of its ilk. You control a stalwart band of explorers and seek to stop the Bulzome sect's evil plans and avoid war at all costs. During a peace summit in the floating city of Saraband, the monks impersonate the Aspinian king and kidnap the Destonian emperor, throwing the world into a bloody war. ![]() Unfortunately, the evil Bulzome monks and their four leaders have other plans. The Destonia Empire and the Aspinian Republic have always been at odds, but peace was finally within reach. The first of Shining Force III's three scenarios, however, is a surprising break from the developer's current rut, proving once again that a dying platform can still provide great games. In the four years since the release of Shining Force II and the demise of the Genesis, Sonic Software Planning has turned out more duds than any self-respecting developer could bear. Shining the Holy Ark was, in my opinion, OK, at best. Beyond the Beyond was completely pathetic. ![]()
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