Shining Force II
From Sega Retro
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shining Force II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam, Nintendo Switch Online | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Sonic! Software Planning Winds (some graphics) M2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT) Zegetron (GR) Sega-Ozisoft (AU) Tec Toy (BR) Samsung (KR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: RPG[1], Simulation[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shining Force II, known as Shining Force II: Inishie no Fuuin (シャイニング・フォースII 古えの封印) in Japan, a sequel to Shining Force. It was released in Japan for the Sega Mega Drive in 1993, before seeing overseas releases in the following year. The game has been critically praised, and it is often considered one of the best Sega Mega Drive games.
Despite a multilingual cover and manual in PAL regions, Shining Force II is only thought to have been translated from its original Japanese incarnation into English. The English script, like many RPGs of the era, has many inaccuracies and continuity issues with other Shining games, being said to drastically alter plots from Shining in the Darkness and Shining Force in the process.
Contents
Story
In a shrine south of Granseal Castle, a thief named Slade unwittingly breaks the power of a magic seal by stealing the jewels of Light and Darkness; this unseals the demon king Zeon trapped therein. The following day, King Granseal falls sick when he is attacked by an unknown creature. Sir Astral, the court's adviser, along with his apprentices, Bowie the squire, Sarah the healer and Chester the knight, investigate these events at the castle. They find that the door to the Tower of Ancients has been unlocked and stands open.
Greeting their arrival in the tower are devils named "Gizmos" springing forth to attack, though their ultimate intentions are unknown. Upon their defeat, the Gizmo that appears to be the leader flees. It is discovered thereafter to have possessed King Granseal. Sir Astral and the nascent Shining Force visit the king, finding him possessed. Sir Astral exorcises the demon, which promptly flees. The Minister, in place of King Granseal who is looking over a fainted Astral, then orders the slaying of the Gizmo by a platoon of Granseal's soldiers. The Gizmo subsequently possesses the king of the neighboring kingdom of Galam. Bowie and his friends are captured by the Galam military: while in their dungeon, they meet the thief, Slade. When the party breaks out, Slade helps Bowie retrieve the Jewel of Light and accompanies his party back to Granseal, which has been invaded by Galam forces. They find the possessed King Galam inside the Ancient Tower, who has taken Princess Elis as a hostage. In the ensuing battle, Bowie wrests the Jewel of Darkness from him, but he is unable to rescue Elis, and the ground around the Ancient Tower collapses.
With the island is now being ravaged by earthquakes, entire population decide to evacuate the island and escape to the continent of Parmecia, to rebuild their kingdom and hopefully, one day take the Granseal Island back and rescue the Princess. One year later, New Granseal is visited by Peter, a phoenix and a servant of the God Volcanon. Believing that Volcanon can help them take their island back, Sir Astral orders Bowie and others to visit Volcanon and seek his help. Bowie and friends must now travel across Parmecia to gather allies, solve the riddle of the Jewels, obtain the Force Sword, and seal away Zeon once more.
Gameplay
Shining Force II is a tactical role-playing game. The game is longer than its predecessor and more free-roaming, with no chapter system, so the player can return to previously visited parts of the world. The player assumes the role of the Shining Force leader, Bowie, and plays a series of turn-based tactical battles. Battles take place on a square grid, and each unit occupies a single square. Battles are turn-based. Each turn, a character can move a fixed amount of squares along the battlefield, determined by its Movement statistic, and perform one action: either attack, cast a spell, or use an item. Some commands, such as equipping or dropping an item during the turn, do not count as actions. The order of turns is determined by the unit's Agility score and a random seed. Characters gain experience points from attacking, using magical abilities, and defeating foes, which allow them to gain levels that increase their statistics and sometimes grant them new abilities. Defeated enemies also drop gold, which can be used to buy weapons and other items. Units are defeated when they lose all of their hit points. They receive a defensive benefit from the Land Effect of the tile on which they are standing.
When not in combat, the player can explore towns and other locales, talk with people, and set the members and equipment of the army. Each town has a priest that can promote characters once they reach a certain level, resurrect fallen characters, and save the game. Some towns have a headquarters where the player can inspect and talk with allies and decide who joins the battle party. Later, the player obtains a Caravan that acts as a roaming headquarters and can store surplus items. While traveling through town or moving throughout the world, one can find both visible and hidden treasures and interact with certain objects.
Each ally unit is represented by a character with a background and personality. Some of these characters are hidden, requiring specific events to occur before they join the force. Each ally unit also has a class, which defines the abilities for that unit. These abilities range from what type of weapons they can use to what kind of spells they can learn. Units can become stronger by fighting enemies and performing various actions which give them experience points, which allow them to gain levels and improve their statistics. Once a unit reaches level 20, that character has the ability to advance to a more powerful class through promotion. Some characters have two different classes they may be promoted to, one of which is only accessible using a special hidden item. Characters have the following statistics:
- HP: The number of hit points that the character has, which is the amount of damage the character can take from enemies before dying.
- MP: The number of magic points that the character has, which is used for casting spells.
- Attack: The amount of damage that the character deals to enemies.
- Defense: The amount of damage that a character can absorb without losing hit points.
- Agility: The priority in which a unit takes a turn in battle.
- Movement: The number of tiles that a character can move in battle, which is affected by the type of terrain (except for flying units).
Statistics can also be improved through the use of items. The player can assemble an army of at most 12 members; members can be substituted in between battles, with the exception of Bowie, who must be present in every battle.
The battle is won if all enemies are defeated, or if the enemy commander is defeated. If Bowie is defeated in combat or withdraws, the battle is lost and the player is returned to the nearest town, where the player can recover allies and fight the same battle again. The Force keeps any experience that is obtained, regardless of the battle's outcome, but players lose half of their gold if the team leader is defeated.
The player can find pieces of Mithril hidden throughout the game. Near the end of the game, the player can find a dwarven town with a blacksmith who can use the Mithril to forge special weapons. Mithril weapons are more powerful than regular weapons and often have special effects, such as improving secondary statistics or casting a spell when used as an item. The player can also find cursed items, which deal especially high damage but reduce a secondary statistic and have a chance of stunning the character for a turn or doing a small amount of damage to the wielder. Cursed items can only be unequipped by having a priest remove the curse.
Characters
The spell level requirements include the level of the character at promotion. For example, if Bowie is promoted at level 20, he learns Bolt at level 2 after being promoted.
Bowie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race: Human Initial class: Swordsman (SDMN) Promoted class: Hero (HERO) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Shining Force. Bowie is studying with Sarah, Chester, and Jaha under Sir Astal to become a swordsman. He is a well rounded fighter with the second highest movement range. He carries the Jewel of Light and the Jewel of Darkness with him on his neck. He is the only character that can equip the Achilles Sword (the only weapon that can harm Taros) as well as the Levanter and the Force Sword (the most powerful non-cursed swords in the game).
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sarah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Elf Initial class: Priest (PRST) Promoted class: Vicar (VICR) Optional promoted class: Master Monk (MMNK) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of Bowie's classmates. A young elf who is training to be a Priest. She learns higher levels of the Heal spell before other characters do. She also learns Detox, which allows her to cure allies of status ailments. She can be promoted to a Master Monk with a Vigor Ball, which greatly improves her as a front-line fighting unit.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chester | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Centaur Initial class: Knight (KNTE) Promoted class: Paladin (PLDN) Optional promoted class: Pegasus Knight (PGNT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of Bowie's classmates. He is a knight with high movement and fair fighting ability. He can be promoted to a Paladin, which improves his defense, or to a Pegasus Knight with the Pegasus Wing, which improves his mobility (but this cannot be done until fairly late in the game). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jaha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Dwarf Initial class: Warrior (WARR) Promoted class: Gladiator (GLDT) Optional promoted class: Baron (BRN) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of Bowie's classmates. He is a strong warrior with low movement (which can be mitigated with the Running Pimento or the Running Ring). He can be promoted to a Gladiator or, with a Warrior's Pride, a Baron. The latter increases his movement and allows him to equip swords in addition to axes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kazin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Elf Initial class: Mage (MAGE) Promoted class: Wizard (WIZ) Optional promoted class: Sorcerer (SORC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pupil of Hawel, a character who would later appear in Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict. He is fairly weak as a Mage or Wizard since he is lacking in offensive spells, but he can be promoted to a Sorcerer with the Secret Book and learns a new set of powerful offensive spells.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Slade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Wererat Initial class: Thief (THIF) Promoted class: Ninja (NINJ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Slade is a thief who stole the Jewels of Light and Evil and plunged the world into its current chaos. He wishes to make up for his mistake and joins in the dungeons of the Galam Castle. While he initially can only be equipped with knives, he becomes much more powerful when he is promoted to a Ninja and starts using swords. He has high movement speed and learns two unique magic spells. He is the only character who can equip the Gisarme, which has a chance of cutting an enemy into pieces and inflicting a one-hit kill.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kiwi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Tortoise Initial class: Tortoise (TORT) Promoted class: Monster (MNST) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A dragon-turtle hybrid who can be recruited from Granseal Island after the seal holding back Zeon is broken. The player can give him a name when he joins. He has low health but high defense, so he takes very little damage from physical attacks but is especially vulnerable to magic users. Once promoted to Monster, he gains the ability to float and ignore terrain effects. After promotion, he has a chance of performing a devastating fire breath attack, though his hit points remain low and he fares poorly against the stronger enemies of the later game. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Peter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Phoenix Initial class: Phoenik (PHNK) Promoted class: Phoenix (PHNX) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A legendary Phoenix. He initially follows the Force into battle as an uncontrollable character. After meeting Volcanon, he joins the party. He is one of the strongest characters in the game with both high attack and defense and excellent mobility since he can fly. He gains resistance to fire attacks after he is promoted. If he falls in battle, he revives himself for the next battle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
May | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Centaur Initial class: Ranger (RNGR) Promoted class: Bow Knight (BWNT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A centaur archer recruited in Ribble. Her attack power is average, but she has excellent mobility and range and better stat growth than the other archers in the game. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gerhalt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Beastman Initial class: Wolf Man (WFMN) Promoted class: Wolf Baron (WFBR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A wolfman from Polca who joins during the battle in the streets of his hometown. Though he uses no weapons, he hits quite hard. His weakness is his slow speed (which can be mitigated with a Running Pimento or Running Ring). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Luke | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Birdman Initial class: Birdman (BDMN) Promoted class: Bird Battler (BDBT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Prince of Bedoe, who joins the Force after Polca. He can fly and has a decent attack, but he has weak defense (which can be mitigated with the Protect Milk or Protect Ring). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rohde | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Human Promoted class: Brass Gunner (BRGN) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rohde initially follows the Force as the Caravan's driver. He later joins as a member of the Force after clearing the way to North Paramecia. As a Brass Gunner, he has a strong attack but poor movement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rick | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Centaur Initial class: Knight (KNTE) Promoted class: Paladin (PLDN) Optional promoted class: Pegasus Knight (PGNT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A knight who can be recruited after defeat of Talos. He has high speed but middling attack. Like Chester, he can be promoted to a Paladin or, using the Pegasus Wing, a Pegasus Knight. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elric | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Elf Initial class: Archer (ACHR) Promoted class: Sniper (SNPR) Optional promoted class: Brass Gunner (BRGN) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
An archer who is recruited after saving him from harpies. He has long range and fair attack but low defense. He can be promoted to a Sniper, which has high agility, or to a Brass Gunner with the Silver Tank, which has improved defense. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Centaur Initial class: Knight (KNTE) Promoted class: Paladin (PLDN) Optional promoted class: Pegasus Knight (PGNT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of the four characters who can be recruited before leaving Creed's mansion. He is a knight with high health. He can be promoted to a Paladin, but he becomes the strongest Pegasus Knight if promoted using the Pegasus Wing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Karna | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Elf Initial class: Priest (PRST) Promoted class: Vicar (VICR) Optional promoted class: Master Monk (MMNK) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of the four characters who can be recruited before leaving Creed's mansion. She is a healer who learns Aura and Boost (but does not learn Heal Level 4). She has the greatest magic point growth of all the healers in the game. She can be promoted to a Vicar or, with a Vigor Ball, a Master Monk.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Randolf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Dwarf Initial class: Warrior (WARR) Promoted class: Gladiator (GLDT) Optional promoted class: Baron (BRN) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of the four characters who can be recruited before leaving Creed's mansion. He is a strong warrior but has lower defense than Jaha. Like Jaha, he can be promoted to either a Gladiator or, with a Warrior's Pride, a Baron. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tyrin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Elf Initial class: Mage (MAGE) Promoted class: Wizard (WIZ) Optional promoted class: Sorcerer (SORC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
One of the four characters who can be recruited before leaving Creed's mansion. He is a Mage who learns more offensive spells than Kazin (including Freeze Level 4 and Blaze Level 4, which inflict high damage on a single target). He can be promoted to a Wizard or, with the Secret Book, a Sorcerer.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Janet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Elf Initial class: Archer (ACHR) Promoted class: Sniper (SNIP) Optional promoted class: Brass Gunner (BRGN) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elric's girlfriend, she joins the Force after acquiring the dynamite from Granseal. Her attack is lower than Elric, but her defence and agility is better. She can be promoted to a Sniper or to a Brass Gunner with the Silver Tank. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Higins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Centaur Promoted class: Paladin (PLDN) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Paladin who joins the Force after he is rescued from Geshp. He initially has an average attack and weak defense, though his stat growth increases at higher levels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Taya | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Elf Promoted class: Sorceress (SORC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Sorceress who was turned into stone by Zalbard. She can join the party if Bowie talks to her "statue" in the Shrine of Mitula. As a Sorceress, her spells do more single-target damage than Mages and Wizards.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Skreech | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Birdman Promoted class: Bird Battler (BDBT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A birdman who joins the party if Bowie saves him in Bedoe. He has a slightly stronger attack than Luke but lower health, and both birdmen have weaker defense than the other flyers in the game. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frayja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Human Promoted class: Vicar (VICR) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Vicar who joins the Force in Moun. He learns Heal, Detox, as well as Aura.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jaro | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Centaur Promoted class: Pegasus Knight (PGNT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jaro is a Pegasus Knight who initially appears as an enemy but defects to the Force during the battle in Northern Pacalon. As a Pegasus Knight, he can fly and is more resistant to arrows than birdmen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gyan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Dwarf Promoted class: Gladiator (GLDT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Gladiator who joins after the battle in Moun. He is a strong tank with high health and defense but low movement (but like other Gladiators, he can equip the Ground Axe, which increases his movement speed). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sheela | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Human Promoted class: Master Monk (MMNK) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A Master Monk who is seeking the Red Baron for the murder of her fiancé. She can be found in her dojo in the southwest of the Nazca ship crash site. She has lower attack growth than the other Master Monks.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zynk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Robot Promoted class: Robot (RBT) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A robot who does not use any weapons. He joins after the Force reaches Roft. He has a high attack but mediocre defense and poor movement. He usually attacks with his arm but sometimes uses a special laser attack. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Claude | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Golem Promoted class: Golem (GLM) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A golem who joins the Force if the player finds his missing arm in Moun and takes it to him in the ancient tunnel. He has a high attack and defense but low hit points and movement. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chaz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Human Promoted class: Wizard (WIZ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hawel's son, who joins when the Force returns to Yeel. He is a powerful Wizard but joins fairly late in the game.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lemon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Race: Human Promoted class: Red Baron (RDBN) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A general in the Galam army who becomes possessed by a Gizmo and transformed into an emotionless killer known as the Red Baron. After defeating him in battle, he is freed from his possession and tries to kill himself out of remorse, but he is unable to do so as he has become an immortal vampire and joins the party instead. He is a Baron with high defense and mobility. He possesses the cursed Dark Sword, which casts the Desoul spell when used as an item. Like Peter, he revives himself if he falls in battle. |
Items
Items are sold in shops, found in chests, or sometimes dropped by defeated foes.
There is only one of each promotion item hidden in the game, with the exception of the Vigor Ball, which appears twice in the overseas versions of the game.
There are 15 Mithril pieces hidden throughout the game, which can be used at the dwarven blacksmith near the end of the game to craft Mithril weapons.
Category | Item | Cost (in gold) | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Auxiliary | Angel Wing | 40 | Escapes the battle and returns to the last priest. |
Healing | Antidote | 20 | Cures poison. |
Fairy Powder | 100 | Cures poison and paralysis. | |
Medical Herb | 10 | Restores about 10 HP. | |
Healing Seed | 200 | Restores about 20 HP. | |
Healing Drop | 300 | Restores about 30 HP. | |
Healing Water | 400 | Restores all HP. | |
Healing Rain | 10,000 | Restores all HP for all allies. | |
Fairy Tear | 300 | Restores about 20 MP. | |
Right of Hope | 10,000 | Restores all MP for all allies. Only attainable in the Japanese release. | |
Boosting | Cheerful Bread | 500 | Increases 4-5 HP. |
Bright Honey | 500 | Increases 4-5 MP. | |
Powerful Water | 500 | Increases Attack by 2-4. | |
Protect Milk | 500 | Increases Defense by 2-4. | |
Quick Chicken | 500 | Increases Agility by 2-4. | |
Running Pimento | 1,500 | Increases Movement by 1-2. | |
Brave Apple | 2,000 | Raises the character's level by 1. | |
Attack | Shining Ball | 1,000 | Deals about 20 HP of damage. |
Blizzard | 1,200 | Deals about 30 HP of damage. | |
Holy Thunder | 1,500 | Deals about 50 HP of damage. | |
Promotion | Warrior Pride | 3,000 | Promotes Warrior (WARR) to Baron (BRN). |
Pegasus Wing | 3,000 | Promotes Knight (KNTE) to Pegasus Knight (PGNT). | |
Vigor Ball | 3,000 | Promotes Priest (PRST) to Master Monk (MMNK). | |
Secret Book | 3,000 | Promotes Mage (MAGE) to Sorcerer (SORC). | |
Silver Tank | 3,000 | Promotes Archer (ACHR) to Brass Gunner (BRGN). | |
Crafting | Mithril | 2,000 | Used to craft Mithril weapons at the dwarven blacksmith. |
Equipment
Weapons
Rings
Ring | Cost (in gold) | Description |
---|---|---|
Power Ring | 3,000 | Increases Attack by 5, casts Attack. |
Quick Ring | 3,000 | Increases Agility by 5, casts Egress. |
Protect Ring | 3,000 | Increases Defense by 5, casts Boost Level 1. |
Running Ring | 3,000 | Increases Movement by 2. |
White Ring | 5,000 | Increases Defense by 10, casts Aura Level 2. Can only be equipped by Heroes and Vicars. |
Life Ring | 5,000 | Restores 5 HP after each turn. Only attainable in the Japanese release. |
Black Ring | 5,000 | Cursed. Increases Attack by 10, casts Blaze Level 2. Can only be equipped by Wizards and Sorcerers. |
Evil Ring | 5,000 | Cursed. Increases Attack by 15, casts Bolt Level 2. Can only be equipped by Wizards, Sorcerers, and Vicars. |
Magic
Sorcerer spells are stronger when they hit fewer units.
History
Development
Despite being preceded by the successful Shining in the Darkness and Shining Force, Sega remained reluctant to back development on Shining Force II, giving it the same limited budget as previous entries in the series and indirectly threatening the break-up of Sonic! Software Planning should the game not deliver as hoped. This put enormous pressure on producer and programmer Hiroyuki Takahashi and his team, many of whom dropped out before production of the game.
“ | We were in a really precarious position at that point because we knew that if we couldn't produce another hit we would have no future. The number of staff we had working on the Shining Force series varied with each game until the Saturn era, during which time the team was pretty settled and didn't change much. We carefully chose our staff from among many candidates, and after Shining Force II the core staff remained and grew stronger together. Shining Force II was an experimental title where we improved the story and enhanced the game's 'RPG-ness'. | „ |
Localisation
The most notable translation error is that the three Devil Kings are named as "Dark Sol, Dark Dragon, and Zeon." Shining Force II co-director and programmer Yasuhiro Taguchi has confirmed that the Devil Kings are in fact Darksol, Lucifer, and Zeon.[24] The official translation's assigning Dark Sol and Dark Dragon the relatively detailed history of the Devil Kings not only alters Shining Force II but effectively rewrites the entire premises of Shining in the Darkness and Shining Force, the games in which they are the foremost villains. For similar reasons, the entire plot of Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict is rendered nonsensical, since it is based on Darksol's role as a Devil King and shows "Dark Sol" (actually "Mephisto" in the original script, and an entirely different character from Darksol) being born less than a century before Shining Force II. This mistranslation also creates at least two major contradictions between the English versions of Shining Force and Shining Force II: Shining Force strongly implies that Dark Dragon is a creation of the Ancients, not a devil at all. Darksol is trying to resurrect Dark Dragon in Shining Force, while Shining Force II tells that the three Devil Kings are fierce arch-rivals.
Legacy
Shining Force II is amongst the most successful Mega Drive games in Japan, and it also well received in North America and Europe.
It has since been released as part of the Wii's Virtual Console service and through numerous compilations, including the Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2008, the Sega Mega Drive Classic Collection Volume 4 for Windows PCs in 2010, and Sega Mega Drive Classics for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam in 2018. It was released for Android and iOS as part of Shining Force Classics in 2018.
It was included in the North American and European versions of the Mega Drive Mini 2 in 2022.
Comic adaptation
Sonic the Comic included "Shining Force" comics strips. The plot followed Shining Force II heroes trying to stop followers of Zeon from bringing demon into their world. The comics also brought Max in, the hero of the first Shining Force. The single story arc was called "The Curse of Zeon" (issue #73 to issue #78). It was the last big (6-7 issues) non-Sonic story arc featured in Sonic the Comic, not counting short Decap Attack stories.
Versions
The overseas localization of the game lacks the ability to search in battle. This makes several items unattainable in these versions, including the Right of Hope and Life Ring items. However, a second Vigor Ball was added to elven town in the overseas versions, which allows players to promote both Sarah and Karna to the Master Monk class (giving the party up to three Master Monks once Sheela is found).[25]
Localised names
Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
---|---|---|
English (US) | Shining Force II | Shining Force II |
Japanese | シャイニング・フォースII 古えの封印 | Shining Force II: Inishie no Fuuin |
Production credits
- Main article: Shining Force II/Production credits.
Japanese version
- Program: Yasuhiro Taguchi, Shugo Takahashi, Haruki Kodera, Kenji Numaya, Yutaka Yamamoto, Tsukasa Tanaka
- Subscript: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Ritsuko Hasasue, Shuji Shimizu
- Map Design: Ritsuko Hisasue, Shuji Shimizu, Tatsuya Niikura
- Character Design: Suezen
- Graphic: Fumihide Aoki, Masayuki Hashimoto
- Music Compose: Motoaki Takenouchi
- Sound Effects: Dogen Shibuya, Enzan Shibuya
- Manual: Naoko Okada, Riko Kushida, Masayo Umetsu, Junko Mikami
- Special Thanks to: Winds Co., Ltd., R.I.S. Co., Ltd., Rit's Co., Chaki, Hiroshi Kajiyama, Satoshi Tezuka, Minoru Yasuda, Akira Takahashi, Satomi Yokose, Daichan Ikejiri
- Directerd (sic) by: Shugo Takahashi, Yasuhiro Taguchi
- Produced by: Hiroyuki Takahashi
- Created by: Sonic Co., Ltd.
- © Sega 1993
English version
- Programmers: Yasuhiro Taguchi, Shugo Takahashi, Haruki Kodera, Kenji Numaya, Yutaka Yamamoto, Tsukasa Tanaka
- Subscript: Hiroyuki Takahashi, Ritsuko Hasasue, Shuji Shimizu
- Map Design: Ritsuko Hasasue, Shuji Shimizu, Tatsuya Niikura
- Character Design: Suezen
- Graphics: Fumihide Aoki, Masayuki Hashimoto
- Music Composer: Motoaki Takenouchi
- Sound Effects: Dogen Shibuya, Enzan Shibuya
- Manual: Naoko Okada, Riko Kushida, Masayo Umetsu, Junko Mikami
- Special Thanks to: Winds Co., Ltd., R.I.S. Co., Ltd., Rit's Co., Chaki, Hiroshi Kajiyama, Satoshi Tezuka, Minoru Yasuda, Akira Takahashi, Satomi Yokose, Daichan Ikejiri
- Directed by: Shugo Takahashi, Yasuhiro Taguchi
- Produced by: Hiroyuki Takahashi
- Producer: Jerry Markota
- Marketing: Jaime Wojick
- English Text: Shinobu Yokoyama, Jerry Markota, Conan Tigard, Blair Bullock
- Lead Tester: Conan Tigard
- Asst. Leads: Blair Bullock, Christine Watson
- Testers: Crisi Albertson, John Amirkhan, Greg Becksted, Janine Cook, David Forster, Lawrence Gibsen, Wesley Gittens, Tracy Johnson, Jason Kuo, Jeff Loney, Chris Lucich, Tony Lynch, Dermot Lyons, Mike Madden, Todd Morgan, Kim Rogers, Ben Szymkowiak, Kurt Tindle, Gregg Vogt, David Wood
- Special Thanks to: Shinobu Yokoyama, France Tantiado, Stephan Patterson
- Created by: Sonic Co., Ltd.
- © 1994 Sega
Digital manuals
- Error creating thumbnail: convert: no decode delegate for this image format `' @ error/constitute.c/ReadImage/580.
convert: no images defined `/home/sonicret/domains/segaretro.org/public_html/images/temp/transform_57c4f67328d2.jpg' @ error/convert.c/ConvertImageCommand/3229.
Mega Drive Mini 2 US manual
Magazine articles
- Main article: Shining Force II/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Game Champ (KR) #1993-12: "xxxx" (199x-xx-xx)[28]
also published in:
- EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)[29]
- Sega Visions (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)[30]
Artwork
Physical scans
84 | |
---|---|
Based on 33 reviews |
Technical information
- Main article: Shining Force II/Technical information.
External links
- Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
- Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU
- Shining Force II on Steam
References
- ↑ File:ShiningForceII MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
- ↑ Sonic Times, "Volume 2 Number 9: October 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 8
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 92
- ↑ File:DailyMirror UK 1994-10-28 Sup D.jpg
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 83
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gamestar, "February 1995" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 70
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/_mPdbbrt5K7JaEuqbjVm-swKhUSs5Vfe (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-23 00:48)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 http://www.nintendolife.com:80/games/megadrive/shining_force_ii_ancient_sealing (Wayback Machine: 2017-09-09 21:44)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Shining-Force-II-278898.html (archive.today)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/08.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-06 23:35)
- ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_shiningforce2/ (Wayback Machine: 2008-07-16 10:28)
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19765&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 02:30)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 https://steamdb.info/app/71160/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-12 23:40)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 http://steamdb.info/app/71160/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:19)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9 https://steamdb.info/app/71160/history/?changeid=5755275
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9 http://steamdb.info/app/71160/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-12 23:40)
- ↑ https://topics.nintendo.co.jp/article/024066ce-d840-4af5-a4c0-8e70d94a2667 (archive.today)
- ↑ @NintendoAmerica on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ @NintendoEurope on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ @NintendoUK on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ @NintendoAUNZ on Twitter (archive.today)
- ↑ File:Games The 25 Greatest SEGA Games.pdf, page 24
- ↑ https://www.shiningforcecentral.com/?p=studies&c=taguchi
- ↑ The Cutting Room Floor: Shining Force II
- ↑ File:Shining Force II MD JP credits.pdf
- ↑ File:Shining Force II MD US credits.pdf
- ↑ Game Champ, "xxxx" (KR; 199x-xx-xx), page 7
- ↑ EGM², "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 121
- ↑ Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 85
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 205
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-08), page 24
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 185
- ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1994-11-18)
- ↑ Electronic Games (1992-1995), "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 152
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 36
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 278
- ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 8 August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 48
- ↑ GamePro, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 124
- ↑ Gamer, "Ianouários 1995" (GR; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
- ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 14
- ↑ Game Informer, "September/October 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 8
- ↑ Hippon Super, "November 1993" (JP; 1993-10-02), page 41
- ↑ Joypad, "Février 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 134
- ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 108
- ↑ Mega, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 40
- ↑ Mega Force, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-12-02), page 44
- ↑ Mega Fun, "10/94" (DE; 1994-09-21), page 55
- ↑ Mega Play, "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 62
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-07-30), page 72
- ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 128
- ↑ Play Time, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-05), page 96
- ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 3, Februari 1995" (NL; 1995-01-25), page 48
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-01), page 64
- ↑ Sega Pro, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-08), page 60
- ↑ Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 26
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
- ↑ Sonic the Comic, "July 8th 1994" (UK; 1994-06-25), page 10
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 54
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 23
- ↑ Video Games, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 101
Shining Force II | |
---|---|
Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs
Music: Symphonic Suite Shining Force II (1993) |
Shining series of games | |
---|---|
Shining in the Darkness (1991) | Shining Force (1992) | Shining Force II (1993) | |
Shining Force Gaiden: Ensei Jashin no Kuni e (1992) | Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (1993) | Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict (1995) | |
Shining Force CD (1994) | |
Shining Wisdom (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark (1996) | Shining Force III (Scenario 2, 3, Premium Disc) (1997-1998) | |
Shining Soul (2002) | Shining Soul II (2003) | Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (2004) | |
Shining Tears (2004) | Shining Force Neo (2005) | Shining Force EXA (2007) | Shining Wind (2007) | |
Shining Road to the Force (2005) | Shining Force Chronicle I (2005) | Shining Force Chronicle II (2005) | Shining Force Chronicle III (2006) | Shining Road II (2006) | Shining Wind X (2008) | SFCE Tokei (2012) | |
Shining Tears Material Collection (2006) | Shining Wind Fan Fest (2009) | |
Shining Force Feather (2009) | |
Shining Force Cross (2009) | Shining Force Cross Raid (2010) | Shining Force Cross Elysion (2012) | Shining Force Cross Exlesia (2013) | Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith (2014) | Blade Arcus from Shining (2014) | |
Shining Hearts (2010) | Shining Blade (2012) | Shining Ark (2013) | |
Shining Resonance (2014) | Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015) | |
Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015) | Shining Resonance Refrain (2018) | |
Shining Force Classics (2018) | Shining Force: Hero of Light and Darkness (2022) | |
World | |
Strategy games: Gameplay | Items | Accessories | Weapons | Magic |
Shining related media | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|
- 1 player games
- JP Mega Drive games
- All JP games
- US Mega Drive games
- All US games
- EU Mega Drive games
- All EU games
- PT Mega Drive games
- All PT games
- UK Mega Drive games
- All UK games
- GR Mega Drive games
- All GR games
- AU Mega Drive games
- All AU games
- BR Mega Drive games
- All BR games
- KR Mega Drive games
- All KR games
- Mega Drive games
- 1993 Mega Drive games
- All 1993 games
- Mega Drive simulation games
- All simulation games
- JP Wii Virtual Console games
- US Wii Virtual Console games
- EU Wii Virtual Console games
- AU Wii Virtual Console games
- Wii games
- 2008 Wii games
- All 2008 games
- Wii Virtual Console games
- US Steam games
- EU Steam games
- DE Steam games
- All DE games
- UK Steam games
- AU Steam games
- US Steam Linux games
- EU Steam Linux games
- DE Steam Linux games
- UK Steam Linux games
- AU Steam Linux games
- US Steam OS X games
- EU Steam OS X games
- DE Steam OS X games
- UK Steam OS X games
- AU Steam OS X games
- Steam games
- Steam Linux games
- Steam OS X games
- JP Nintendo Switch Online games
- US Nintendo Switch Online games
- EU Nintendo Switch Online games
- UK Nintendo Switch Online games
- AU Nintendo Switch Online games
- Nintendo Switch games
- 2022 Nintendo Switch games
- All 2022 games
- Nintendo Switch Online games
- All games
- Old-style rating (segamaguk)
- Rating without PDF source
- Update ratings template
- 1 old ratings
- Shining Force II
- Shining
- Sega Channel games
- Mega Drive Mini games
- Mega Drive Mini 2 games