Sega's Shining series proved to be a big deal in the turn-based-rpg scene. With the release of Shining Force, high expectations rose amongst the growing number of turn-based-rpg fans. The storyline is deep but mainly focused on the struggle between the Shining Force and the forces of Runefaust led by Darksol. In the game you play eventually the leader of the Shining Force called Max (or any given name) who is a young swordsman of Guardiana. Max is your standard introvert, cool, lawful-good fantasy-hero. Soon into the game you will meet a lot of companions which you need to stand any chance against the forces of evil. Character advancement happens gradually whenever you gain enough experience to level up. When a character attacks, casts a spell or kills an enemy that character earns an amount of experience, as the character's exp reaches 100 it will gain a level. So when you don't use a character in battle it won't get any stronger, keep that in mind. The development of your characters' attributes and greater spells goes along with the normal leveling and is pre-calculated, although I think (hope) that is randomized. The part in character advancement what makes Shining Force unique is the possibility to 'promote' your heroes. When a character reaches level 10 you will be able to upgrade that character to another class, in which it will perform better. Along with the change also goes the outfit of your heroes. Leveling and promoting is essential given the fact that some weapons can only be used when you are another class. There are lots of items and weapons to be found in Shining Force, almost every city or village has a weapon shop which offers different kinds of weapons. Besides weapons your characters can be equipped with magical rings to buff abilities. The battle-system is easy yet intensive, the battles are mission-based so unfortunately you don't get random encounters (when I played it, I didn't miss that at all so it isn't a bad thing after all). When a battle starts your force with a maximum of 15 members will be placed on a map (usually) surrounded by lots of enemies. The whole game is viewed top-down, so in battles there is no exception, except….here it comes….whenever a character executes an action. Than the action-screen comes into place and shows a close-up of the units involved, spells cast, weapons used, clothing etcetera. The battles are fought turn-based, when it's one of your characters' turn the ground glows up, indicating the number of spaces it can move. Whenever you have placed your character you can take an action. This is about 1% coverage of the game, go and find out the rest yourself.
Now dust off your Genesis and grab your Shining Force cartridge and begin the epic fight against Runefaust. It is one of the best turn-based-rpg games ever made.
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