Shining Force Cross

Shining Force Cross
Shining Force Cross Logo
Information
Publisher(s)	Sega
Genre	Action RPG
Platform(s)	Sega RingEdge (Arcade)
Release Date(s)
Cross Japan: 2009-12-03 Japan: 2010-02-08 (Version 1.05) Japan: 2010-02-26 (Version A) Japan: 2010-04-08 (Version B) Japan: 2010-05-18 (Version C) Japan: 2010-07-01 (Version D) Cross Raid Japan: 2010-11-25 Japan: 2011-06-14 (Version A) Japan: 2011-11-16 (Version B) Cross Elysion Japan: 2012-03-15 Japan: 2012-07-03 (Version A) Japan: 2012-10-04 (Version B) Japan: 2013-01-29 (Version C) Cross Exlesia Japan: 2013-06-20 Japan: 2013-10-24 (Version A) Japan: 2014-03-19 (Version B) Cross Exlesia Zenith Japan: 2014-08-05 Japan: 2014-12-03 (Version 2.0) Japan: 2016-01 (Final Version) Service discontinued 2016-11-01

Shining Force Cross (シャイニング・フォース クロス, Shainingu Fōsu Kurosu^?, abbreviated as "SFC") was the first of a series of action RPG arcade games that released in December 2009. It was also the first arcade game in the Shining series.

Shining Force Cross Raid (シャイニング・フォース クロスレイド, Shainingu Fōsu Kurosu Reido^?, abbreviated as "SFCR") was an updated version of Shining Force Cross that released in November 2010.

Shining Force Cross Elysion (シャイニング・フォース クロスエリュシオン, Shainingu Fōsu Kurosu Eryushion^?, abbreviated as "SFCE") was an updated version of Shining Force Cross that released in March 2012.

Shining Force Cross Exlesia (シャイニング・フォース クロスエクレシア, Shainingu Fōsu Kurosu Ekureshia^?, abbreviated as "SFCEX") was an updated version of Shining Force Cross that released in June 2013.

Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith (シャイニング・フォース クロスエクレシア ゼニス, Shainingu Fōsu Kurosu Ekureshia Zenisu^?, abbreviated as "SFCEXZ") was an updated version of Shining Force Cross that released in August 2014. Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith services were discontinued on November 1st, 2016. SFC.NET, the game's online portal services, were discontinued by February 28th, 2017.

Gameplay

Character Creation

To play Shining Force Cross:

1. First purchase an IC card from a vending machine or store staff.
   
2. Insert the card in the arcade terminal's card slot to begin registration.
   
3. First, the player enters their character's name.
   
4. Then the player chooses their character's race (added in Cross ver. B), gender (cannot be changed later), and voice.
   
5. Then the player can choose a face and hairstyle.
   
6. The player chooses their character's weight, height and coloration.
   
7. Lastly, the player chooses a starting weapon for their character.

After character registration, the player can customize their character through the Character Customization (キャラカスタマイズ, Character Customization) screen (excluding race, name, and gender). Alternatively, a player can change their name, race (Cross ver. D and later), voice, face, and body through SFC.NET.

Races

• Human (ヒューマン, Human) — A balanced race with average skill that has existed since the beginning of Cross.
• Beast-Half (ビーストハーフ, Beast-Half) — A race that excels in power, that favors knuckles and hammers. Female option added in Cross ver. B, and male option added in Cross Raid ver. A.
• Elf (エルフ, Elf) — A race with high magic power and intelligence, that favors daggers and sorcerous artifacts. Added in Cross Raid.
• Birdling (バードリング, Birdling) — A race with high dexterity, that favors magic guns and flails. Added in Cross Raid.
• Darkwraith (ダークレイス, Darkwraith) — A race with high strength and intelligence, that favors two-handed swords and transforming tools. Female option added in Cross Elysion, and male option added in Cross Elysion ver. B.

Weapons

• Two-handed Sword (両手剣, Two-handed Sword) — A stable weapon recommended for beginners.
• Hammer (ハンマー, Hammer) — High attack power but slow speed; recommended for beginners.
• Flail (フレイル, Flail) — A chain-type weapon that uses interesting attack patterns; recommended for intermediate players.
• Magic Gun (魔導銃, Magic Gun) — Good for long range attacks; recommended for intermediate players.
• Knuckles (ナックル, Knuckles) — A weapon specialized in close combat; recommended for advanced players.
• Daggers (ダガー, Daggers) — 2 blades that can attack in multiple directions; recommended for advanced players.
• Sorcerous Artifact (魔導器, Sorcerous Artifact) — Used to cast different types of magic; added in Cross Raid.
• Transforming Tool (魔装, Transforming Tool) — A polearm weapon that can change shape; Added in Cross Elysion. The three forms available are scythe (balanced), spear (offense), and bow gun (defense). In Elysion Mode it is locked to scythe shape.

Game Modes

In Shining Force Cross, there are 4–6 different game modes:

• Scenario Mode — A single-player mode where Shining Force Cross scenarios can be chosen from to play.
• National Co-op Mode — A multiplayer mode where up to 4 players can play together from anywhere in Japan over the internet.
• Store Co-op Mode — A multiplayer mode where up to 4 players can play together from neighboring terminals in the same store.
• Team Co-op Mode — A multiplayer mode where up to 4 players from the same team can play together. An exclusive mode to SFC.NET subscribers.
  • In Cross Raid, Team Co-Op Mode was expanded to Team/Mentor Co-Op Mode, where players also had the option of playing with, or as, a mentor player.
• Event Mode — Added in Cross Raid. Players compete nationwide for a limited period of time, and then earn rewards according to their ranking at the end of the event.
• Elysion Mode — Added in Cross Elysion. A multiplayer mode where up to 8 players are tasked with defeating a boss in a field. To help defeat the boss, players can make use of "bases". When a player takes control of a base, it increases a gauge that allows the player to deal more damage when attacking the boss. When all players' gauges are full, mobs on the field get wiped out and the boss becomes stunned for a period of time. Thus the recommended strategy is to maintain control of all bases to defeat the boss more quickly.

Characters

Player Character

• The player-named protagonist is a member of the Treasure Hunter Guild.

Scenario Mode Characters

• Chronos (クロノス, Kuronosu)
• Lilith (リリス, Ririsu)
• Brunel (バルネル, Baruneru)
• Kyle Balzers (カイル・バルザス, Kairu Baruzasu)
• Belancica (ベランシカ, Beranshika) - An elf warrior, and Misc's mother.
• Misc (ミスク, Misuku) - An elf boy, Belancica's child.
• Brad (ブラッド, Buraddo)
• Lucifer (ルシフェル, Rushiferu)

Other Characters

• Luna (ルナ, Runa) - A blacksmith.
• Mel (メル, Meru) - A blacksmith apprentice, and Luna's younger sister.
• Cran (クラン, Kuran) - A blacksmith, and Luna and Mel's father.

Gallery

Shining Force Cross game manual artwork

Shining Force Cross Raid game manual artwork

Shining Force Cross Elysion illustration by Murayama

Shining Force Cross Exlesia illustration by Hisakata

Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith illustration by Hisakata

External Links

• http://shining-force.jp/cross/ Shining Force Cross official website
• http://shining-force.jp/crossraid/ Shining Force Cross Raid official website
• http://shining-force.jp/crosselysion/ Shining Force Cross Elysion official website
• http://shining-force.jp/crossexlesia/ Shining Force Cross Exlesia official website
• https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://pc.sega-sfc.net/ SFC.NET online portal for PC (archived)