Long before Final Fantasy Tactics and Triangle Strategy and away from the bright spotlight of Fire Emblem, there was Shining Force. Released on the Sega Genesis in 1992, it was like nothing ever seen before on the system. A prequel to dungeon crawler Shining in the Darkness, it combined strategic combat with RPG mechanics to make something that was a breath of fresh air for those on the Sega side of the ‘90s console wars. Re-released on Steam as part of the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collection, it’s been announced that it’ll be delisted soon, meaning this underappreciated classic RPG will no longer be buyable on PC.
Currently available on PC in the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collection, Shining Force starts off similarly to many RPGs. You’re an orphan being trained by a famous swordsman when a terrible event occurs leading you to head up the titular army as you take on the evils of the world. Thankfully, there’s more to it than that, and one area where it sets itself apart is in its combat, which comes directly from turn-based strategy games. It tasks you with fighting through large arenas with differing terrain elements against a varied collection of deadly fantasy enemies, levelling up the more you slay. It’s surprisingly difficult at times but there’s depth too, as your team make-up gives you a ton of strategic flexibility on the battlefield.
Alongside the main character, you have an army with 11 slots to fill. As you play you’ll recruit characters you can bring with you, and they can range from warriors, archers, and wizards to things that get wild – fast. There’s an armadillo in a steam-powered suit of armor, a floating magic jellyfish, a grandpa in a flying machine, a baby dragon, a furious werewolf, and a helmet-wearing hamster called Jogurt.
Its world is also worthy of note as while on the surface this is your standard fantasy fayre, you don’t have to dig deep to see there’s plenty more going on. This is a faded world, much like the Lord of the Rings, where magic currently reigns but there was once a golden age that’s become long forgotten. Many signs of technological advancement can be found in the game’s many locations, including a robot you can recruit who likes to blast foes with lasers.
It’s a travesty that soon you won’t be able to get your hands on Shining Force anymore on Steam, as Sega has taken the decision to delist the entire Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collection. In addition to Shining Force and its sequel, this collection also includes some other true classics that will become impossible to buy on PC. Sonic the Hedgehog, Toejam and Earl, Ecco the Dolphin, Phantasy Star 2, 3, and 4, Golden Axe, Dynamite Headdy, Light Crusader, and many more are about to be delisted from Steam – though if you already own them, you’ll still be able to play them as normal.
The Sega Mega Drive and Genesis Classics collection will be delisted from Steam on Friday December 6. If you’d like to check them out before then and grab something for yourself, head over to the collection’s store page to learn more.
Should you want something else in this vein in your life, our guides to the best strategy games and the best classic games you can play on PC will be sure to keep you in fine company for a long time to come.
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