Shining Force II

From Sega Retro

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Shining Force II
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: RPG (JP game box), Simulation (Sega of Japan master list)

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
CERO
Missing Parameter!

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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.

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.

History

Development

Despite being preceeded by hits such as Shining in the Darkness and the original 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 deliever as hoped. This put enormous pressure on Hiroyuki Takahashi and his team, many of whom dropped out before production of the game.

Shining Force II has been quoted as being "experimental", with a greater emphasis on RPG and story elements than its immediate predecessors.

Legacy

Shining Force II is amongst the most successful Mega Drive games in Japan, though also garnered some popularity in North America and Europe. It has since been released as part of the Wii's Virtual Console service and through numerous compilations.

Production Credits

(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 Katiyama, Satoshi Tezuka, Minoru Yasuda, Akira Takahashi, Satomi Yokose, Daichan Ikejiri
Directed By: Shugo Takahashi, Yasuhiro Taguchi
Produced By: Hiroyuki Takahashi

SOA Staff:

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 Hadden, 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

Promotional Material

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
97 №28, p134
92 №25, p40/41/42/43
87
91 №23, p72-75[1]
90 №48, p128/129
88 №37, p60/61
Sega Mega Drive
91
Based on
6 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
95
[2]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
80
[3]
Cool Gamer (RU)
80
[4]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
90
[5]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
58
[6]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[7]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
80
[8]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
95
[9]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
60
[10]
Gamer (GR)
96
[11]
Gamestar (AU)
80
[12]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
85
[13]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
69
[14]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
70
[15]
Joypad (FR) NTSC-J
97
[16]
Joypad (FR) PAL
91
[17]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[18]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
89
[19]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
87
[20]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
71
[21]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
91
[1]
Player One (FR)
90
[22]
Play Time (DE)
87
[23]
Power Unlimited (NL)
79
[24]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[25]
Sega Power (UK)
90
[26]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[27]
Sega Force (SE)
91
[28]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
84
[29]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
75
[30]
Todo Sega (ES)
91
[31]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
88
[32]
Video Games (DE) PAL
82
[33]
Sega Mega Drive
84
Based on
33 reviews

Shining Force II

Mega Drive, US
ShiningForceII MD US Box.JPG
Cover
Shiningforce2 md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
ShiningForceII MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
ShiningForceII MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
ShiningForceII MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
ShiningForceII MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Shiningforceii md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Shiningforceii md jp map.jpg
Map
Mega Drive, BR
ShiningForceII MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
Shiningforceii md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
ShiningForceII MD KR cover.jpg
Cover
ShiningForceII MD KR cart.jpg
Cart

External Links



Shining series of games
Sega Mega Drive
Shining in the Darkness (1991) | Shining Force (1992) | Shining Force II (1993)
Sega Game Gear
Shining Force Gaiden: Ensei Jashin no Kuni e (1992) | Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (1993) | Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict (1995)
Sega Mega-CD
Shining Force CD (1994)
Sega Saturn
Shining Wisdom (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark (1996) | Shining Force III (Scenario 2, 3, Premium Disc) (1997-1998)
Game Boy Advance
Shining Soul (2002) | Shining Soul II (2003) | Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (2004)
Sony PlayStation 2
Shining Tears (2004) | Shining Force Neo (2005) | Shining Force EXA (2007) | Shining Wind (2007)
Mobile phone
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)
Windows PC
Shining Tears Material Collection (2006) | Shining Wind Fan Fest (2009)
Nintendo DS
Shining Force Feather (2009)
Arcade
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)
Sony PlayStation Portable
Shining Hearts (2010) | Shining Blade (2012) | Shining Ark (2013)
Sony PlayStation 3
Shining Resonance (2014) | Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015)
Sony PlayStation 4
Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015) | Shining Resonance Refrain (2018)
iOS
Google Android OS
Shining Force Classics (2018) | Shining Force: Hero of Light and Darkness (2022)
World
Strategy games: Gameplay | Items | Accessories | Weapons | Magic
Shining related media
Albums
Sound Story of Shining and the Darkness (1991) | Shining Force Special Sound CD (1992) | Symphonic Suite Shining Force II (1993) | Symphonic Suite the Another Story of Shining Force (1994) | Shining Wisdom (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark Original Soundtrack (1996) | Shining Force III Original Soundtrack (1998) | Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon Original Sound Tracks (2004) | Shining Tears (2004) | Shining Force Neo Music Collection (2005) | Shining Theme Music Shiro SAGISU Collection (2005) | Shining Tears Music Collection (2005) | Shining Force EXA Music Collection (2007) | Shining Wind Music Collection (2007) | Shining Tears X Wind Original Soundtrack (2007) | Shining Force Feather Soundtrack (2009) | Shining Hearts Kaizoku Hihou Fan Disc (2010) | Shining Force Cross Raid Original Sound Track (2011) | Shining Hearts Original Soundtrack (2011) | Shining Blade Haru no Shin Seikatsu Ouen Fan Disc (2012) | Shining Blade Character Song Album (2012) | Shining Ark Tenshi no Fandisc (2013) | Shining Force Cross Original Sound Track (2014) | Shining Resonance Music Collection (2015)
Audiobooks
Shining Tears Drama CD Vol. 1 Dark Side: Memories and departure (2006) | Shining Tears Drama CD Vol. 2 Light Side: Yuushatei Hanjouki (2006) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 1 (2007) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 2 (2008) | Shining Force EXA Drama CD (2008) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 3 (2008) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 4 (2009) | Drama CD Shining Force Feather (2009) | Drama CD Shining Hearts (2011)
Books
Guide book: Shining and the Darkness Koushiki Guide Book (1991) | Shining Force Kanzen Kouryaku Guide (1992) | Shining Force Battle Guide (1993) | Shining Force II: Inishie no Fuuin Game Guide Book (1993) | Shining Force CD Koushiki Guide Book (1994) | Shining Wisdom Koushiki Guide Book (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark Koushiki Guide Book (1996) | Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin Official Guide (1997) | Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin Perfect Navi (1998) | Shining Force III Scenario 2: Nerawareta Miko Official Guide (1998) | Shining Force III Scenario 2: Nerawareta Miko Perfect Navi (1998) | Shining Force III Scenario 3: Hyouheki no Jashinguu Perfect Navi (1998) | Shining Force III Koushiki Settei Shiryoushuu (1999) | Shining Soul Kanzen Kouryaku Guide (2002) | Shining Force: Kuroki Ryuu no Fukkatsu Final Complete Guide (2004) | Shining Tears Final Complete Guide (2004) | Shining Tears Saikyou Kishidan Ikusei Guide (2004) | Shining Tears Official Strategy Guide (2005) | Shining Force Neo Force Master Ikusei Guide (2005) | Shining Force Neo Final Complete Guide (2005) | Shining Force Neo Official Strategy Guide (2005) | Shining Force EXA: The Master Guide‎ (2007) | Shining Force EXA Official Strategy Guide (2007) | Shining Force EXA Final Complete Guide (2007) | Shining Wind Saisoku Guide Book (2007) | Shining Wind Final Complete Guide (2007) | Shining Tears X Wind Original Soundtrack (2007) | Shining Force Feather: The Master Guide‎ (2009) | Shining Force Feather Complete Guide (2009) | Shining Hearts Saisoku Guide Book (2010) | Shining Hearts Complete Guide (2011) | Shining Force Cross Raid Guide Book 1st (2011) | Shining Force Cross Raid Guide Book 2nd (2011) | Shining Blade First Blader's Guide (2012) | Shining Blade Complete Guide (2012) | Shining Force Cross Settei Shiryoushuu (2012) | Shining Ark Complete Guide (2013) | Shining Blade & Ark Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2013)
Art book: Works for Shining the Holy Ark (1996) | Shining Force III Koushiki Settei Shiryoushuu (1999) | Shining Force EXA Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2007) | Shining Force Feather Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2009) | Shining Hearts Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2011)
Unsorted: Shining and the Darkness Kouryakuhon (xxxx) | Shining Force: Kamigami no Isan Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Shining Force Kouryaku no Tebiki (xxxx) | Shining Force II Inishie no Fuuin Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Shining Force II Inishie no Fuuin Kouryaku no Tebiki (xxxx) | Shining Force Gaiden Final Conflict Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Shining Force Gaiden & Gaiden II Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Tony's Artworks from Shining Worlds (xxxx)
Film
Shining Tears X Wind (2007) | Shining Hearts: Shiawase no Pan (2010)
Toys
Weiß Schwarz Shining Force EXA TCG (2009)
  1. 1.0 1.1 File:MeanMachinesSega23UK.pdf, page 72 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega23UK.pdf_p72" defined multiple times with different content
  2. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 205
  3. Beep! MegaDrive, "October 1993" (JP; 1993-09-08), page 24
  4. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 185
  5. Digitiser (UK) (1994-11-18)
  6. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 152
  7. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 36
  8. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 278
  9. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 8 August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 48
  10. GamePro, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 124
  11. Gamer, "Ianouários 1995" (GR; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  12. Gamestar, "February 1995" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 70
  13. Games World: The Magazine, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 14
  14. Game Informer, "September/October 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 8
  15. Hippon Super, "November 1993" (JP; 1993-10-02), page 41
  16. Joypad, "Février 1994" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 134
  17. Joypad, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 108
  18. Mega, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-29), page 40
  19. Mega Force, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-12-02), page 44
  20. Mega Fun, "10/94" (DE; 1994-09-21), page 55
  21. Mega Play, "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 62
  22. Player One, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 128
  23. Play Time, "11/94" (DE; 1994-10-05), page 96
  24. Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 3, Februari 1995" (NL; 1995-01-25), page 48
  25. Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 92
  26. Sega Power, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-01), page 64
  27. Sega Pro, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-08), page 60
  28. Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 26
  29. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  30. Sonic the Comic, "July 8th 1994" (UK; 1994-06-25), page 10
  31. Todo Sega, "Septiembre 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 54
  32. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 23
  33. Video Games, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 101