Product Review: Shining Force Neo

[Melf]

The Shining series is alive and well, with perhaps the best release since Shining Force III on the Saturn. The newest game, Shining Force NEO, is a solid action/RPG, and while it may not be the classic Force game we all wanted, it's an incredible game in its ownright. Read our write up (http://www.sega-16.com/Feature-%20Shining%20Force%20NEO%20review.htm) and see why Sega still has a few tricks up its sleeve.

[Dartagnan1083]

The game was developed by 'Neverland' which is why so many compared it to 'Record of Lodoss War' (one of their previous titles).

Otherwise it's a great review.
one that further cements my decsision to pick it up this month.

[Melf]

I kind of thought it was them, but several sites I've checked (including Game Stats) listed Amusement Vision as the developer.

[Dartagnan1083]

They be stupid and out of touch :P
you could list them both. . .sort of like that whole Astroboy=Hitmaker/Treasure thing

[Demonic Weasel]

I'd advise you not to pick it up personally. A mate of mine bought it and we both played a bit. It's pretty is some respects, but that's all. It's also a complete ripoff of the true Shining Force.

[j_factor]

I'm surprised it's getting positive reviews and impressions. I really thought it looked like it would be a crap game. I still don't get why it has that title, though. Why couldn't they just call it Shining Wisdom 2? :P

[Melf]

Thing is, it doesn't play like Wisdom, Force, or Darkness. It's more like Ys or Baldur's Gate than any other game in the series. Even the story has no relation to anything Shining. I don't see any reason for the name other than brand recognition.

[j_factor]

Hmm, I was told that the story of Neo directly relates to Shining Force..

[Melf]

I'm about ten hours in, and there isn't anything familiar at all. Maybe something else appears later on? I sincerely doubt it though, as there has been absolutely nothing to indicate any relation so far. It's what peeved me the most about the game.

[Demonic Weasel]

It's supposed to fill in the plotholes created by the crack-induced plot of the gameboy remake of LoGI. The game is a typical Diabolo II clone, and while those sorts of games are fine in their own right it is not Shining Force. Heck, Wisdom was better than Neo, at least it was part of Camelot's Shining World. I'd even go for Shining Tears over this. At least Tears had a kind of Shining feel to it.

The name is little more than an attempt at a quick buck by Sega. It's an okay game in it's own right, but I cannot play it witout my stomach roiling at Sega's stupidity.

[Revenge of Joe Musashi]

I'm personally not a fan of the game since it has rejected the established system of the previous Force games. I'm told that in it self it's a good game but politically i wouldn't purchase it since they could have called it Shining something instead of Shining force.

[Dartagnan1083]

sorta reminds me of my decision not to buy Final Fantasy X-2 because it isn't called "Stupid Charlie's Angels RPG"

Sorta backwards if you ask me.


I find myself hoping that Treasure releases a sequel to Radiant Silvergun that manages to be the most perfect shmup you could ask for.

And Title it 'Scrotum-Licker Extreme 2006' just to laugh at the people that didn't buy it because of a title.


Not liking the gameplay style is one thing
but to ignore quality when the only thing bugging you is name treatment. . .
.....
People have bought crappy games because of the title.
why refuse a nice one for the same reason?

[Revenge of Joe Musashi]

Buying the game would condone their actions in changing the style. If enough people brought the title it would mean sega will make another sequel to this game and not release the SRPG version that the majority of Shining Force fans want to see. I refuse to do such a thing and be seen in condoning something i personally don't agree with. You can call it back ward thinking if you want but if it was as simple as changing the name then they could have easily called it Shining something else.

[Dartagnan1083]

With all the positive feedback from all the former designers behind the SRPG games concerning more Shining SRPGs, I doubt they'll change the style/name permanantly.

[Demonic Weasel]

I refuse to buy it not only because of the name, but because it messes with my childhood memories. Since this is supposed to continue the crack-induced storyline of RotDD I won't buy it seeing that RotDD screwed around with my childhood memories. I also won't buy it because it would be condoning the action and sending a message I like this game and style for Shining Force. Which for me is simply not true. If I buy it it would have to be a private purchase, and I doubt that I would do that even.

Simply put, screw it, whip out the saturn and play SF3.

[Revenge of Joe Musashi]

With all the positive feedback from all the former designers behind the SRPG games concerning more Shining SRPGs, I doubt they'll change the style/name permanantly.


Problem is that the former designers have NO say in the matter since they famously walked out on Sega in a semi public row. Since then, uneducated third parties have messed with the established stroyline that Camelot-the games original creators made.Now they soley work for Nintendo.

Sega themselves have rarely been involved with the programming of the new SHINING FORCE titles.