Shining Force II is one of those classic tactical RPGs that just sticks with you. You start off as this kid named Bowie (yeah, the name's a bit odd) who gets thrown into leading a ragtag group of warriors, mages, and even weird stuff like centaurs and birdmen against an ancient evil. The battles play out on grid maps where positioning actually matters—archers wreck you from afar if you're not careful, and healers need protection in the backline.

What I love is how each character feels distinct. Peter the phoenix guy starts strong but gets ridiculous if you grind him, while some of the spellcasters take forever to become useful (looking at you, Karna). The story's simple but charming—lots of towns to explore, hidden recruits to find, and that classic "oh crap, the villain just got way stronger" moment halfway through.

It's not perfect—the AI sometimes derps around instead of attacking, and grinding can be a pain—but the mix of strategy and old-school JRPG vibes makes it way more memorable than most Genesis games. Still holds up if you can handle the slower pace.