Shining Force III is a fantasy turn-based tactics role-playing video game designed for the Sega Saturn by Camelot Software Planning. It is a continuation of the Shining series. Comprising three separate but overlapping storylines, the Japanese version of Shining Force III was released in three volumes, known as: "Scenario 1 - God Warrior of the Kingdom", "Scenario 2 - Target: Child of God", and "Scenario 3 - "Bulzome Rising". In America and Europe, only Scenario 1 was released. The real ending to the game can only be viewed by completing all the games in the series.
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One of the last games released for the Sega Saturn in the West, Shining Force III was the last traditional strategy RPG Shining Force game released and featured a ground-breaking scenario system, where actions in one scenario can affect another through your save data, which could range from getting certain items in the other scenarios or even affect which party members you could get.
Alas, this only worked if you had access to Scenarios 2 and 3, which were never released in the West due to the ailing lifespan of the Saturn, meaning western players missed out on the coolest aspect of the trilogy, which could only be experienced if you imported scenarios 2 and 3.
Last year, I finally got to experience the grandeur of the trilogy in full thanks to fan-translations, and while the 3D graphics haven’t aged as well by modern standards, the accessible strategy RPG remains as timeless as it’s ever been, with some interesting gimmicks thrown in to keep things fresh - especially in Scenario 3, like the lighthouse battle.
The scenario system itself still remains innovative even to this day and hasn’t really been replicated since, which still warrants intrigue even by modern standards.
Alas, this only worked if you had access to Scenarios 2 and 3, which were never released in the West due to the ailing lifespan of the Saturn, meaning western players missed out on the coolest aspect of the trilogy, which could only be experienced if you imported scenarios 2 and 3.
Last year, I finally got to experience the grandeur of the trilogy in full thanks to fan-translations, and while the 3D graphics haven’t aged as well by modern standards, the accessible strategy RPG remains as timeless as it’s ever been, with some interesting gimmicks thrown in to keep things fresh - especially in Scenario 3, like the lighthouse battle.
The scenario system itself still remains innovative even to this day and hasn’t really been replicated since, which still warrants intrigue even by modern standards.
One of my favorites games ever. I can't even count how many times I have played it. Too bad it does not get the reputation it deserves, mainly because the other Scenarios (2 & 3) were never released outside of Japan.
I just wish SEGA would remember to get us a remaster/remake for this one.
I just wish SEGA would remember to get us a remaster/remake for this one.
I had waited essentially my entire life to play Shining Force 3. As a Sega child whose favorite game was Shining Force 2, I was able to play SF3...but I learned very quickly that it was only scenario 1! Thus began a lifelong journey to acquire, translate and play the other two on original hardware!
But I digress; we're talking about Scenario 1 here.
It's great! Of course it is! I earnestly love the atrocious voice acting, I adore the chunky graphics and the story that ramps-up over the course of the game. I like how the battles have different objectives and things that are thrown your way--it's just a lovely thing.
The Shining Force games are all like warm cups of coffee for my heart.
But I digress; we're talking about Scenario 1 here.
It's great! Of course it is! I earnestly love the atrocious voice acting, I adore the chunky graphics and the story that ramps-up over the course of the game. I like how the battles have different objectives and things that are thrown your way--it's just a lovely thing.
The Shining Force games are all like warm cups of coffee for my heart.