Shining Force II
From Sega Retro
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shining Force II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Sonic! Software Planning Winds (some graphics) M2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.
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
Taking place several decades after original Shining Force, story starts in the Kingdom of Granseal. Players will take control of Bowie, a student studying under legendary wizard and strategist Sir Astral. Bowie and his friends' idyllic life shatters when Tower of the Ancients in the Granseal is opened and an evil spirit attacks the population.
Even though Bowie and others manage to stop the spirit, Granseal comes under attack from neighboring kindgom of Galam. During the climactic battle, Princess Ellis of Granseal is kidnapped by King Galam and they both fall to the chasm appeared in the Tower of the Ancients. With the island is now being ravaged by earthquakes, entire population decide to evacuate the island and escape to the mainland, to rebuild their kingdom and hopefully, one day take the Granseal Island back and rescue the Princess Ellis.
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.
Over the course of the game, Bowie and the New Shining Force visit new places and make new allies, eventually challenging "Zeon", the God of Devils and put an end to his plans, once and for all.
Gameplay
Characters
Items
- Main article: Items (Shining Force)#Shining Force II.
Magic
- Main article: Magic (Shining Force)#Shining Force II.
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.
Comic adaptation
Sonic the Comic included "Shining Force" comics strips. The plot followed Shining Force 2 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
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
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
- ShiningForceII MD JP digital manual.pdf
Mega Drive Mini JP manual
Magazine articles
- Main article: Shining Force II/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)[17]
- Sega Visions (US) #22: "December/January 1994/1995" (1994-xx-xx)[18]
Artwork
Physical scans
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
84 | |
---|---|
Based on 33 reviews |
Technical information
ROM dump status
System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
? |
|
1994-06-30 | Page | |||||||||||
? |
|
1994-06-07 | Page | |||||||||||
? |
|
1994-04-04 | Page |
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 4.3 Sega Magazine, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-15), page 92
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1994" (UK; 1994-09-15), page 83
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Gamestar, "February 1995" (AU; 1995-xx-xx), page 70
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/_mPdbbrt5K7JaEuqbjVm-swKhUSs5Vfe (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-23 00:48)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 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)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 https://steamdb.info/app/71160/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-12 23:40)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 http://steamdb.info/app/71160/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:19)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 https://steamdb.info/app/71160/history/?changeid=5755275
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9 http://steamdb.info/app/71160/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-12 23:40)
- ↑ EGM², "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 121
- ↑ Sega Visions, "December/January 1994/1995" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 85
- ↑ Sega Force, "6/94" (SE; 1994-09-14), page 26/27 (26)
- ↑ 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 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| ||||
|
- Pages with broken file links
- 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
- 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
- All games
- Credits without reference
- Old-style rating (segamaguk)
- Rating without PDF source
- Old-style rating (sfsw)
- Update ratings template
- 2 old ratings
- Missing ROM hashes
- Games with known prototypes
- Missing ROM dumps
- Old technical information
- Shining Force II
- Shining
- Sega Channel games