CK's Random Thoughts on Some Shining Games

Codiekitty · 01-15-2005, 02:32 PM

Shining Force: I've only completed two of the five Shining games I've played, and this is one of them. I didn't think it was all that good. The AI is horrible, the graphics are ugly, the sound is boring and repetetive, and the plot is so cliche it makes Final Fantasy IV's Cecil roll on the floor laughing.

Shining Force 2: I didn't play enough of this to develop a real opinion of it, but what I did play was a lot better than the first Shining Force. The graphics and sound took a flying leap, and the battle system seemed more interesting.

Shining in the Darkness: ...you're better off with Arcana for the SNES.

Shining the Holy Ark: Not just the best Shining game I've played yet, but also one of the best games I played last year. Although the humans are ugly, the sound effects are the same for almost all the enemies in the entire game, and the well thought-out plot got shot to development hell, the monsters look fairly good, the music is awesome, the puzzles are interesting, and the battle system is fast and exciting. If you have a Saturn but not this, get it now!

Beyond the Beyond: I'm fairly certain this is a Shining game, despite the name. The font, graphic style, and method of communication between characters all scream Shining Force with flashing neon lights, and the main character seems to be what the designers thought Max looked like when he was ten. This game is clearly the result of Shining Force and Albert Odyssey getting drunk and making out, with the child getting all the bad genes from its parents with some FAS on the side. It has Shining Force's slow as molasses gameplay and obnoxious sound, and Albert Odyssey's loading times and bare bones battle system. According to some sources, it was actually the first PSX RPG, and is often hailed as one of the worst for the system. And by what I played, the latter is right on.

Where did the lemmings go? I was forced to give them the day off. So you can either stare at Taro like an idiot, waiting for him to do something, or bug Shane to do something about the SMBHQ server. Your call.

[ January 15, 2005, 02:34 PM: Message edited by: CodieKitty ]

Sim Kid · 01-15-2005, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CodieKitty:
Where did the lemmings go? I was forced to give them the day off. So you can either stare at Taro like an idiot, waiting for him to do something, or bug Shane to do something about the SMBHQ server. Your call.

lmao

And from the looks of what you had to say about Beyond and Beyond, I'm glad I haven't found it.

Codiekitty · 01-15-2005, 06:27 PM

I saw it in the Gamestop used bin, and somehow found myself unable to resist adding it to my collection. I guess I couldn't fathom there could be anything wrong with a game blessed with a name as awesome as "Beyond the Beyond".

...that was sarcasm in case you couldn't tell.

I took it home, looked at the manual, and realized it was a Shining game. I thought "Well, it's a standard RPG, and Shining the Holy Ark was great." So after I got out of the shower, I popped it into my PS2. After a sluggish intro and two fights I was ready to rip it out and stomp it into shiny dust. But I forced myself to play it until that injured guy appeared and was saying "Oh, sis, remember the brother you once had". I actually found it hilarious instead of depressing, what his "deathbed" animation just being his "walking in place" animation turned on its side. As soon as I could, I saved and put it away, likely to never be touched again.

Where did the lemmings go? I was forced to give them the day off. So you can either stare at Taro like an idiot, waiting for him to do something, or bug Shane to do something about the SMBHQ server. Your call.

[ January 15, 2005, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: CodieKitty ]

Sim Kid · 01-16-2005, 07:24 PM

Oh joy. The return of "Hydlide".

That deathbed animation sounds funny though.

Codiekitty · 01-16-2005, 07:55 PM

In case you're wondering (And I doubt you'll be playing the game), he didn't die. There was some confusing crap about the girl (dying dude's sis) getting sucked into a swamp and some magical water that saved her, giving her healing powers that were activated when she saw her brother near death, and he was saved.

Truth is, he seemed like one of those poor souls who was a really awesome dude who landed a role in a horrible game.

The low budget "I'm dying" animation thing was still hilarious.

Where did the lemmings go? I was forced to give them the day off. So you can either stare at Taro like an idiot, waiting for him to do something, or bug Shane to do something about the SMBHQ server. Your call.

Wonder Wario · 01-16-2005, 08:34 PM

Jeez, now I have to see it for myself... XD

Sim Kid · 01-19-2005, 06:02 PM

Yeah, now I have that feeling too. XD

Codiekitty · 01-19-2005, 06:40 PM

It's about ten to fifteen bucks on eBay plus the high shipping a lot of them probably charge (I got it out of the Gamestop bin for about twelve, plus about a buck for tax), but that's too expensive just for a laugh.

I could force myself to start a new game and take screen captures of it so you can see what it looks like. But I can't say I'm exactly motivated to do it.

Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

Wonder Wario · 01-19-2005, 06:50 PM

Nah. Don't go to any trouble Codie!

01-15-2005, 02:32 PM	#1
Codiekitty Just Another Face in Red Jumpsuit Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lemmingland Gender: Posts: 19,142 Thanks: 121 Thanked 176 Times in 121 Posts	Shining Force: I've only completed two of the five Shining games I've played, and this is one of them. I didn't think it was all that good. The AI is horrible, the graphics are ugly, the sound is boring and repetetive, and the plot is so cliche it makes Final Fantasy IV's Cecil roll on the floor laughing. Shining Force 2: I didn't play enough of this to develop a real opinion of it, but what I did play was a lot better than the first Shining Force. The graphics and sound took a flying leap, and the battle system seemed more interesting. Shining in the Darkness: ...you're better off with Arcana for the SNES. Shining the Holy Ark: Not just the best Shining game I've played yet, but also one of the best games I played last year. Although the humans are ugly, the sound effects are the same for almost all the enemies in the entire game, and the well thought-out plot got shot to development hell, the monsters look fairly good, the music is awesome, the puzzles are interesting, and the battle system is fast and exciting. If you have a Saturn but not this, get it now! Beyond the Beyond: I'm fairly certain this is a Shining game, despite the name. The font, graphic style, and method of communication between characters all scream Shining Force with flashing neon lights, and the main character seems to be what the designers thought Max looked like when he was ten. This game is clearly the result of Shining Force and Albert Odyssey getting drunk and making out, with the child getting all the bad genes from its parents with some FAS on the side. It has Shining Force's slow as molasses gameplay and obnoxious sound, and Albert Odyssey's loading times and bare bones battle system. According to some sources, it was actually the first PSX RPG, and is often hailed as one of the worst for the system. And by what I played, the latter is right on. Where did the lemmings go? I was forced to give them the day off. So you can either stare at Taro like an idiot, waiting for him to do something, or bug Shane to do something about the SMBHQ server. Your call. [ January 15, 2005, 02:34 PM: Message edited by: CodieKitty ]

01-15-2005, 06:27 PM	#3
Codiekitty Just Another Face in Red Jumpsuit Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lemmingland Gender: Posts: 19,142 Thanks: 121 Thanked 176 Times in 121 Posts	I saw it in the Gamestop used bin, and somehow found myself unable to resist adding it to my collection. I guess I couldn't fathom there could be anything wrong with a game blessed with a name as awesome as "Beyond the Beyond". ...that was sarcasm in case you couldn't tell. I took it home, looked at the manual, and realized it was a Shining game. I thought "Well, it's a standard RPG, and Shining the Holy Ark was great." So after I got out of the shower, I popped it into my PS2. After a sluggish intro and two fights I was ready to rip it out and stomp it into shiny dust. But I forced myself to play it until that injured guy appeared and was saying "Oh, sis, remember the brother you once had". I actually found it hilarious instead of depressing, what his "deathbed" animation just being his "walking in place" animation turned on its side. As soon as I could, I saved and put it away, likely to never be touched again. Where did the lemmings go? I was forced to give them the day off. So you can either stare at Taro like an idiot, waiting for him to do something, or bug Shane to do something about the SMBHQ server. Your call. [ January 15, 2005, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: CodieKitty ]

01-16-2005, 07:24 PM	#4
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 8,884 Thanks: 80 Thanked 198 Times in 122 Posts	Oh joy. The return of "Hydlide". That deathbed animation sounds funny though.

01-16-2005, 07:55 PM	#5
Codiekitty Just Another Face in Red Jumpsuit Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lemmingland Gender: Posts: 19,142 Thanks: 121 Thanked 176 Times in 121 Posts	In case you're wondering (And I doubt you'll be playing the game), he didn't die. There was some confusing crap about the girl (dying dude's sis) getting sucked into a swamp and some magical water that saved her, giving her healing powers that were activated when she saw her brother near death, and he was saved. Truth is, he seemed like one of those poor souls who was a really awesome dude who landed a role in a horrible game. The low budget "I'm dying" animation thing was still hilarious. Where did the lemmings go? I was forced to give them the day off. So you can either stare at Taro like an idiot, waiting for him to do something, or bug Shane to do something about the SMBHQ server. Your call.

01-16-2005, 08:34 PM	#6
Wonder Wario Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Gender: Posts: 2,090 Thanks: 65 Thanked 37 Times in 23 Posts	Jeez, now I have to see it for myself... XD

01-19-2005, 06:02 PM	#7
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 8,884 Thanks: 80 Thanked 198 Times in 122 Posts	Yeah, now I have that feeling too. XD

01-19-2005, 06:40 PM	#8
Codiekitty Just Another Face in Red Jumpsuit Join Date: May 2001 Location: Lemmingland Gender: Posts: 19,142 Thanks: 121 Thanked 176 Times in 121 Posts	It's about ten to fifteen bucks on eBay plus the high shipping a lot of them probably charge (I got it out of the Gamestop bin for about twelve, plus about a buck for tax), but that's too expensive just for a laugh. I could force myself to start a new game and take screen captures of it so you can see what it looks like. But I can't say I'm exactly motivated to do it. Where are these lemmings going? The Super Nintendo Super Shire! Hop in line and follow them there!

01-19-2005, 06:50 PM	#9
Wonder Wario Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Gender: Posts: 2,090 Thanks: 65 Thanked 37 Times in 23 Posts	Nah. Don't go to any trouble Codie!