Shining Force EXA | |
Information | |
Developer(s) | Neverland Company |
Publisher(s) | SEGA |
Character Designer(s) | pako |
Genre | Action RPG |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
Rating(s) | CERO: All Ages GRAC: All Ages ESRB: Ages 10 and Up |
Release Date(s) | |
PlayStation 2 Japan: 2007-01-18[1][2] Japan: 2008-07-17 (The Best)[3] Korea: 2007-02-15[4] North America: 2007-03-20[5] |
Shining Force EXA (シャイニング・フォース イクサ, Shainingu Fōsu Ikusa?) is an action role-playing video game for the PlayStation 2.
An alternate version of the game titled Shining Force EXA Mobile was released for Japanese mobile phones in July 2007.
Gameplay[]
Shining Force EXA is an action-based RPG, that plays identical to the previous PlayStation 2 entry, Shining Force Neo. In addition, Shining Force EXA has the player play as two protagonists: Toma and Cyrille.
Battles take place in real-time, and the player is either in control of Toma or Cyrille. In addition to controlling either protagonist, two additional party members can be brought to fight alongside them. The X button is used to attack with the equipped weapon. The Circle button is used to interact with characters and the environment, pick up items and open doors. The Triangle button is used to cast spells, shoot the Geo-fortress cannon, and activate skills. The Square button uses items. The directional pad is used to select which spells and item are used when the corresponding button is pressed. Pressing the left and right buttons on the directional pad will move along the items, while pressing the up and down buttons on the directional pad will move along the spells, Geo-Fortress cannon and abilities.
Geo-Fortress[]
Main Article: Geo-Fortress
The Geo-Fortress is the main location where the players will be spending their time. Inside of the Geo-Fortress, they can purchase and upgrade weapons and armor, level up Force Arts, replenish their health and refill their health waters and goddess tears, talk with and exchange party members, and upgrade the Geo-Fortress. The Geo-fortress also provides a series of different functions including: radar, cannon, training facility, and even more, all of which require the use of Core Metals. Core Metals can be obtained from Boss fights, Ancient Arenas, Defensive Battles, plot progression and Garyu.
The Geo-Fortress, however, can also be the target of enemies in game. These battles are known as a Defensive Battle. When one occurs, the player will be forced to switch to either Toma or Cyrille and must defend a Photon Converter, which is also linked to the Geo-Fortress's health, from an onslaught of enemies. If the Geo-Fortress's health reaches zero, the game is over. The frequency of Defensive Battle is dependent on the chapter and can also be forced by plot progression. Health can be restored to the Geo-Fortress by use of Cure Metals.
Leveling up, Force Arts & Secret Arts[]
Main Article: Force Arts, Secret Arts
Experience points or more popularly known as, EXP is awarded after the defeat of enemies and monster generators. When a character gains enough EXP, they obtain a level up. When a character reaches a level up, their stats increase and regain all health.
Similarly, to Shining Force Neo, the game utilizes the Force Arts mechanic, now dubbed Power Arts. Power arts are a series of attributes that can increase stats such as Health Points or Fire Damage and Resistance. that is either increased that can be upgraded in the Geo-Fortress with the use of Mithril. Mithril can be broken off Mithril crystals, or randomly obtained from breaking barrels and creates, examining furniture or open chests. Force Arts are held to the character who is has them upgraded, so any upgrades to Toma's Force Arts will only affect Toma; the same goes for Cyrille.
Items, equipment & spells[]
Both Toma and Cyrille have an inventory cap that limits the number of items they can carry. Toma and Cyrille can also place their items in storage.
Both Toma and Cyrille have a dedicated set of armor of and equipment. Toma uses One-handed swords, Two-handed Swords and Shields. Cyrille uses Crossbows and Spellbooks. Depending on the weapons equipped, they will also give Toma and Cyrille Spells.
Story[]
A legend about a powerful sword with godlike power, called Shining Force, attracts many adventurers to the frontier between Fyrlandt and the Noswald Empire, which are in war. The demons rule the southern territory, Fyrlandt, while the Noswald Empire is home to the human race. On the search for the legendary sword, a boy, Toma, joins the last-born elf, Maebelle, a former Noswald knight, Gadfort, and a young Noswald mage, Cyrille. Toma is a brash sword wielder who dreams of being "King of the World". Cyrille's reasons for searching for the Shining Force are a well-kept mystery. Gadfort wants the blade to become the greatest knight in existence. Maebelle seeks the blade to save her people.
Characters[]
Playable characters[]
- Toma - A nomadic child who went in search of Shining Force alongside, Cyrille, Maebelle and Gadfort. He is optimistic and has a good-to-do heart, often launching himself into tricky situations without ever thinking. He is a skilled warrior who can wield one-handed and two-handed weapons with ease.
- Cyrille - The child of a librarian from the Noswald Empire. She has devoted a lot of her time to studying history and magic. She is cold and distant and often keeps to herself, while she accompanies Toma and the other on their journey to find Shining Force. She is a skilled sharpshooter and excels at magic.
Party members[]
- Maebelle - The last elf child to be born in the last fifty years. She is an exquisite chef and a notorious glutton who can eat several boars by herself. She acts like a motherly/sisterly figure towards Cyrille. She wields a massive bow with six strings.
- Gadfort - A centaur knight who formerly served under the Noswald Empire. He is a calm and collected man who cares deeply about his friends. He is quick on his feet and wields a lance into battle.
- Amitaliri - A fiery and hot-headed magus who hails from the kingdom of Frylandt in search of Shining Force. She is overconfident, irresponsible and often leaves her messes to be cleaned up by Faulklin. She is a master spellcaster.
- Faulklin - A young quintol boy who joined his best friend Amitaliri on her search for Shining Force. She bullies him into undertaking a multitude of chores for her. Despite this, he will do anything for Amitaliri, even if it means putting himself in harm's way. Although sensitive and physically weak compared to his counterparts, he is a powerful magic user and often uses his magic to heal friends and ward off undead.
- Duga - A genetically engineered wolfling who fights under the Noswald Empire's flag. A notorious womanizer and the antithesis of Gadfort, the two are best friends. He is a swift and powerful berserker who uses giant metal blades wrapped around his arms as a weapon.
- Adam - A robot who has been in service since the original heritors. However, now he is the last one left alive. He is a very straightforward being.
- Garyu - A child dragon.
- Avalon - A famous knight from centuries ago was turned to undead after upsetting a witch in his hot-headed youth. The witch then scattered his body parts around the world. He is a powerful ally, wields a greatsword into battle and has incredibly powerful spell, Avalon Nova.
Enemies[]
- Riemsianne
- Ragnadaam III
- Malxatra
Other[]
Packing Artwork[]
Shining Series | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Shining Series | Console games | Shining in the Darkness • Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention • Shining Force II • Shining Force CD • Shining Wisdom • Shining the Holy Ark • Shining Force III • Shining Tears • Shining Force Neo • Shining Force EXA • Shining Wind • Shining Resonance | ||
Handheld games | Shining Force Gaiden • Shining Force Gaiden II • Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict • Shining Soul • Shining Soul II • Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon • Shining Hearts • Shining Blade • Shining Force Feather • Shining Ark | |||
Mobile games | Shining Road to the Force • Shining Road 2: The Priestess of Dark Dragon • Shining Force EXA Mobile • Shining Wind X • Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness | |||
Arcade games | Shining Force Cross • Blade Arcus from Shining | |||
Anime | Shining Tears X Wind • Shining Hearts: Bread of Happiness |
External Links[]
- shining-force.jp/exa Shining Force EXA official website (HTML version) (archived 2011-05-12)
References[]
- ↑ jp.playstation.com Shining Force EXA SLPM-66646
- ↑ shining-force.jp/exa Shining Force EXA Product page (archived 2011-02-09)
- ↑ jp.playstation.com Shining Force EXA PlayStation 2 the Best SLPM-74260
- ↑ playstation.co.kr Shining Force EXA (archived 2021-11-08)
- ↑ gamespot.com "Shining Force EXA date for US" (published 2006-09-26)