Press release: 2004-09-24: SEGA ANNOUNCES SHINING TEARS FOR PLAYSTATION 2

This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below. Language: English Original source: Sega.com (archived)

SEGA ANNOUNCES SHINING TEARS FOR PLAYSTATION 2	

TOKYO (September 24, 2004) SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced plans to publish Shining Tears™ on the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system. The game is a spiritual successor to Shining in the Darkness (Genesis) and the Shining Force trilogy (Genesis, Saturn). Whereas those classics offered first-person role-playing and strategy role-playing experiences (respectively), Shining Tears is an action role-playing game, featuring real-time battles and cooperative multiplayer game options.

Shining Tears tells the tale of a young man who has lost his memory and finds himself caught in a war he does not understand. The city he lives in is under siege, and the reason, he is told, revolves around two magical rings of power. In a journey of discovery, the boy and his friends soon realize the terrifying truth about the world they live in. Along the way, they fortify themselves with ever more powerful weaponry, spells, and a rotating cast of allies.

"SEGA development has created a game with a distinct hand-drawn look that will resonate with anime enthusiasts and fans of the Shining series," said Scott. A. Steinberg, Vice President of Entertainment Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "The game's 'Dual Battle System', which allows a player to control two party members simultaneously, adds a layer of strategy that Shining Force veterans in particular will appreciate."

Offering upwards of 50 hours of gameplay and a robust experience system that allows you to take your characters from level one to 100, the game is packed with replay value. Eight different endings await diligent gamers.

Shining Tears will be rated "T", and is expected to ship to stores in Spring 2005 for $39.99 MSRP.