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Shining Force III (Sega Saturn, 1998)
Shining Force III (Sega Saturn, 1998)
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item 2 - ¤ Shining Force III ¤ Complete GREAT Sega Saturn SS
item 4 - Shining Force III (Sega Saturn) Complete!
item 6 - Sega Saturn SHINING FORCE III Game 3 three 1998 *DISC ONLY*
item 7 - Shining Force III (Sega Saturn, 1998) Complete Excellent!
item 8 - Shining Force III (Sega Saturn, 1998)
item 11 - Shining Force III (Sega Saturn, 1998) - Japanese Version
About this product
Product Highlights
- Video
Product Information
- Product InformationAs the story unfolds the Destonia Empire and the Aspinian Empire are close to peace. However, during a peace summit in Saraband, the Bulzome monks and their leaders are able to kidnap the Destonian emperor while impersonating the Aspinian king. Thus, the world believes the Aspinian people do not want peace and a war ensues.
Shining Force III is a combination of role-playing and strategy. You take the role of Synbios, son of the Destonian emperor's son. You command an army of characters who are made up of typical RPG classes such as knights and mages. Each character has their own types of weapons and some are capable of magic. Battles are where the strategy elements take place. On the battlefield players take turns attacking and can even make friends with other characters who are attacking the same foe.
Product Identifiers
- PublisherSega of America, Inc.
- GameShining Force III
- MPN010086813838
- UPC010086813838
Key Features
- PlatformSega Saturn
- ESRB RatingT - Teen
- GenreRPG
- LocationUSA
Tech Details
- ESRB DescriptorMild Animated Violence, Mild Language
- Control ElementsGamepad/Joystick
- Number of Players1
- Release Year1998
- Game SeriesShining Force Series
Most relevant reviews
- by hoagtech360Mar 13, 2015
Expensive but worth the money. Way better fire emblem or final fantasy tac
it's something great like an epic from Homer or discovery of flight. The graphics are 2d in the towns but have many redraws depending on your 3d camera. (Think Mario kart 64 2d) but all environments are polygon based. Battles are full 3d and stunning for its age and will still make your crt flash vibrantly. I would recommend you spend the extra money and I can't believe I have again after 8 years.
- by rizakloboMar 05, 2012
Great. No better way to put it.
I have only recently began my collection of Sega Saturn titles and I have gathered quite an impressive array of games, some of them have been labeled as titles that have defined the console. Shining Force 3 is one of them and I can surely tell that any fan of the original series on the Sega Mega Drive will be delighted with such an excellent sequel. Others that have not played the previous games will have the opportunity to play one of the most immersive Strategy/Roleplaying gmaes ever. The story is truly amazing and the plot is solid, the game system functional and has the battle system has kept all the great elements of the previous games but the transition to 3d further enhances the gameplay experience. The graphics are good, although the 3d character models look like legos (but hey it was 1997 back then). The only downside is that it is a three part game and only the first installment was translated. However I would highly recommend this game for any Sega Saturn or RPG enthusiast. Truly great stuff!Read full review
- by antraxxargadiSep 19, 2010
The friggin best in this largely underrated series!
I have long been a fan of the original Shining Forces. They're one of the TRUE forefathers of interactive Turn-Based Strategy, and their pick up and play simplicity and cutesy anime appeal is only later revealed to be the more challenging and engrossing fantasy war sim that they are. They don't have all the complex gimmicks that most Nippon-Ichi games sport, but they also don't need them. What is offered are memorable characters who actually have a unique personality and purpose (unlike FF Tactics' cookie cutter copies), and thus a much larger probability that the player will actually FEEL for any of them should they die on the field (revivals at a local church are offered for a fee though). These heroes-to-be are often young and inexperienced, but courageous and unbreakable in their greater fight against injustice -- this is the SHINING FORCE: a band of misfit legends that hold a special place in Sega boys/girls' hearts.
I remember playing the third installment briefly on my brother's Sega Saturn, but the text was all in Japanese. At the time I was really impressed by the 3D panning and spinning during a fight scene, and the abundance of colorful sights and audio. The problem was, I couldn't understand the rest of what I saw, and could only guess at what the hell was going on. I recently purchased a Sega Saturn and English Shining Force III. I couldn't be happier.
SF III is by all accounts the most accomplished work in the series' history,
featuring a mature and genuinely fascinating political-espionage war drama that can butt heads any day with the bigger budget, cut-scene driven wash that you find now. I'm very thankful then that the western localization is so good. Only a few villager responses seem suspect, and the various tense relationships between the multiple factions involved are represented very faithfully. The story actually encompasses three games, but only the first made it stateside.
What starts out as a routine visit for the defected Republic into Imperial lands to discuss border treaties after a recent world war, turns into much more when the imperial king is seemingly kidnapped by the very leader of said republic. When it turns out that a third faction might have initiated the ruse, things start to get really complex. In this tense world state of uncertainty and hostility, alliances are only as sure as the sword on your back, and the shield at your side. For who/what exactly are you fighting for?
Series' gameplay staples like character swapping when your party is too big, and
promotion to higher, more effective ranks returns, but some great new additions like "friendship" and side objectives are very welcome. No longer does "grouping your party strategically" only mean to avoid a dark mage's multi-hit spell. Characters who consistently survive together on the field will develop a symbiosis: boosting each others stats, depending on their respective specialties. A soldier will bolster a priestess' attack, while he gains her magic defense, so long as they stand near each other in combat. But should a friend die in battle, you'll lose their trust and have to earn it again. It's a novel concept that adds even more strategy and drama to a fight.
Also new is the ability to split up the party to scout out separate maps and ruins. I like to send my hunter in to find treasure while the battle rages on outside.
If you're a fan of Shining Force, this is a MUST-PLAY; If you're not, there's no
better one to start with. - A+Read full review - by animefreak28Mar 19, 2009
One of the Saturn's best RPGs
Shining Force III was a very late entry into the US Saturn catalog. It appeared at the end of the Saturn's run in the US, but it did have two subsequent scenarios that were released in Japan only. All three are heralded as some of the better titles on the Saturn. It has since become a pricey title, so is it worth adding to your Saturn library? Let's check it out:
GRAPHICS: 7/10
Not bad, but not great either. The different towns and battlegrounds you traverse look good and have some variety to them. During battles, you are treated to a 3D rendering of your character and the opponent when you attack. These look pretty good, even if the characters are blocky. The spells and summons look pretty good, but aren't on the level of FFVII or such. The characters are really 2D sprites on the battlefield, but this actually works well to see where each character is stationed. The water effects in this game are very good. The movements of the characters is pretty fluid in the 2D and especially 3D renderings, so this adds to the experience. Honestly, this isn't a title you'll be getting for the graphics alone. However, they do the job and don't detract from the experience.
GAMEPLAY: 9/10
The heart and soul of SFIII. The battles consist of different maps and a grid system that allows your character to move a certain distance. Some characters can move further than others, like a horseman can move further than an archer. After each move, you have four options: attack (if you are next to an opponent or in range in the case of an archer/magician), an item menu, magic, and a hold option. Just about all of these are self explanatory and work well. There are many different classes of characters as well- swordmen, horsemen, magicians, warriors, etc. You fight your opponent until either your leader (Synbios) is defeated, or until all of the enemy troops are defeated (or sometimes just killing their leader will end the battle). The battles are well done. The many different areas you encounter during the story make for good battles and make you devise different strategies to win. Your characters gain experience for attacking enemies as well as healing each other and using items. Every 100 experience gains you a level. At level 10, you can promote your character and begin leveling him from level 1 with upgraded statistics. There are many items to buy at shops and find in tombs as well as secret characters to find. The gameplay of Shining Force III is simple, but that's what makes it so easy to enjoy.
LASTING VALUE/REPLAYABILITY: 7/10
I'd say you're looking at about 30 hours of gameplay in the story. I've heard of much higher though, if you are into leveling up more and searching for all the items. It isn't one of those games that you're going to want to play again right after, but it's a good title to pop in from time to time to enjoy. There are about 5 secret characters to find, and some are difficult to find, so that may have you coming back. It's probably a little longer than your average RPG, and that's really all you can ask for. Also worth noting is that the story is good- it features a lot of characters that become fleshed out over time, and the game ends with a lot of untied ends that are resolved in sequels.
WORTH BUYING: YES
SFIII runs at $60+ for a copy with the case and in good condition. Honestly, I don't know if I would shell that out for this. I got mine for $15 as a disc only, and that was a steal. If you're not a collector.Read full review - by kitkit.comDec 20, 2006
Simply the best RPG game for Sega Saturn
Simply the best Sega Saturn RPG! Shining Force III is an exclusive release for the Sega Saturn system. The US release is actually Part 1 of 3 of the story (Part 2, part 3 and the Premium Disc never made it to the US). While Part 2 and Part 3 are available on Japanese Sega Saturn.
Like many great RPG, you get to explore towns, dungeons, tombs and talk to people to gather information for the game. You can also upgrade, buy and sell weapons, equipments, portions in town to prepare for battle. During battles, it's turn-based. Don't underestimate the enemies as there will be reinforcement and ambush for the computer.
In Shining Force III, you start out with 4 characters. As you proceed with the story, you will encounter and recruit more characters.
This game will certainly gives you hours of gameplay and you will not be disappointed. If you ever decide to play the Japanese version of Part 2 and Part 3 to get the complete story of Shining Force III, you can use the saved data (in your memory card) from Part 1 to continue the game. There are also many walkthrough and FAQ available online. All in all, Shining Force III is a solid RPG.Read full review
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