Shining Force - Resurrection of Dark Dragon for the GBA is a remake of the first Shining Force game on the Sega Genesis. It was an early, simple strategy RPG that still managed to be fun. The GBA remake adds some new characters and features to further enhance the game and is easily the definitive version to play.

A comparative rival series is Fire Emblem, which this game has some similarities to. I do find the Genesis version to be better than the Fire Emblem games that were out at the time and even the GBA remake can hold up to the GBA Fire Emblem games. One thing in particular that I like about Fire Emblem is that even though ranged attacks typically are only 2 panels away in length, magic spells can be upgraded as the character levels and give you a better range and targeting area. This is something that many future SRPGs have adapted and Fire Emblem seems to miss.

Another charm of Fire Emblem that's mostly unique to it is the ability to freely roam world maps as if you were playing a standard RPG. Most SRPGs just take you from map to map without any movement control. Here, you can walk around towns to shop. Walk from town to town and you literally walk right onto your battle map when the next battle is to occur. I must prefer this to the forced linear progression of ushering you directly to your next location that most SRPGs have.

Like most SRPGs, you have a variety of character types. All characters are set in stone and not really customizable. They have their own unique abilities and movement styles depending on their class. Some characters are melee, some are archers, some are mages. You can also class change to upgrade them to a more powerful class at level 20.

Some of the newer characters also create some really interesting additions to the game. I really like the card system to give you special abilities and the concept of cloning a character as an extra fighter that can be defeated without consequences.

Don't be fooled by my ratings. The game isn't anything special compared to other GBA games, but it's still a really good game if you take it for what it is.

Graphics: Graphically, the game isn't too special, but definitely far above the original Genesis graphics. It looks like a standard GBA game which is a definite improvement. The animations gain improvement as well.

Sound: The sound quality is about average... not too much better than the original if I recall correctly. The soundtrack itself is pretty good. As simple as the basic battle theme is, it's kinda catchy. The sound effects were also well done.

Addictiveness: This is a very fun game to play if you like SRPGs. It's very traditional in its formula and execution, but I don't find this to be a bad thing. Some of the new GBA-exclusive features also give you much more to do than you had before.

Story: The story's kind of standard for an old RPG... you play as a young man who someone gets mixed up in a wild adventure and now has to save the world. There are a few interesting things that happen, but nothing super amazing. Still, I'd say the story was pretty good considering the time of the original game.

Depth: The game is of decent length, giving you a fair amount of battles. The new card system is something else to explore and add to your play time a bit. There's also the idea of getting all your characters to level 20 so you can upgrade their classes and then retrain them before you go to beat the game.

Difficulty: I'm very good at these kinds of games, so maybe it's not as easy as I feel it is... but the game wasn't that challenging. Each of the three new characters to the game also give you something that makes battles easier in some way. Whether it's just being really awesome at attacking or providing additional support, I'd say having them makes the GBA version easier than the Genesis one.

Crazy Li : Nice review. I think they have this for Sega CD too. I'll be sure to check out this game when I get the chance.

megamanmaniac : I was under the impression that the Sega CD version was a different story. I know the Game Gear Shining Force is a separate story from the Genesis ones despite not having a new number or anything.