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Shining Force was a Sega Genesis game developed by Climax Entertainment and Sonic! Software Planning, released in the early 1990s. It arrived during a period when console RPGs were expanding beyond simple dungeon crawls, offering players a more structured, story-driven campaign. You lead a band of heroes, the Shining Force, on a quest to prevent the resurrection of the ancient demon Dark Dragon.

You control a central hero and gradually recruit over a dozen unique characters, from knights and archers to mages and centaurs. The core of the game alternates between exploring towns and the world map to gather clues and new members, and engaging in large, grid-based tactical battles. In these fights, you position your units across varied terrain, considering weapon ranges, magic spells, and character facing. The game's pacing is deliberate, with exploration segments broken up by these significant, turn-based encounters that require careful planning. Successfully maneuvering your team to flank a powerful enemy or using a well-timed healing spell creates a genuine sense of accomplishment after a hard-fought battle.