SEGA working on new Shining Force

By Fred Dutton Published 27 April, 2011

Classic RPG franchise returns.

SEGA is working on a new title in its long-running Shining RPG series, creator Tsuyoshi Sawada has revealed.

According to 1Up, Sawada told Famitsu that an announcement was imminent, though didn't provide specific details.

"It's been ten years since the Shining series was re-invented," he commented, referring to 2002 GBA effort Shining Soul, developed by Grasshopper Manufacture.

"Currently, we're preparing a title that sums up the whole series and should provide an answer to users' curiosity. I can't give details yet, but I'd like to reveal it before we go too far into the future."

First popularised on the Mega Drive back in 1992 with Shining Force, the last game in the 28 title-strong franchise to see an English language release was Shining Force EXA on the PlayStation 2 back in 2007.

"Shining is a long-running series, but development work largely stopped on it for a period of time," Sawada explained.

"We redeveloped and resurrected the name as SEGA shifted from hardware to software, and the goal for the games I've worked on is to target a large swathe of the userbase and do something that hasn't been done before with the series. That's still the direction I take today."

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 1 year ago

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  • INSOMANiAC #1 1 year ago

    Nice one

  • JoeGBallad #2 1 year ago

    Wonder if it'll be a port of the Japanese coin-op, which would be brilliant.

  • Mister-Wario #3 1 year ago

    Hey, I think I have the earlier games on the PS3 Megadrive collection. Maybe I'll check them out again.

  • silversun #4 1 year ago

    I know sega and camelot fell out but they are the team to make a great shining force game , even if it means it to a nintendo console sega should try work with them and it would be best shining game ever made.

    The thing that worries me is they will go the action route when the turn based tatical , if never played similar to final fantasy tatics or ogre battle or even fire emblem but 100 million times better than that (Shining force 3 is really exceptional game all 3 parts) So will wait and see on this , oh well at least camelot still making games like golden sun.
    Edited by silversun at 27/04/11 @ 20:20

  • Malek86 #5 1 year ago

    How about bringing here Shining Hearts first?

  • Scimarad #6 1 year ago

    They'll screw it up...

    It's such a simple concept that it should be SO easy to do but they keep releasing crap that has absolutely nothing to do with the original games.

  • morbidflyer #7 1 year ago

    As much as I love the Shining series, and it's my favorite turn-based tactical RPG of all time, of all time, I don't think Sega knows how to deliver quality anymore outside of a tiny number of IPs. They've just made a lot of really bad decisions this gen.

  • Bander #8 1 year ago

    Phantasy Star Online 2 has recently been shown off also. Videos are on YouTube and screenshots are at pso2.jp

    It's expected to come out later this year.

    I would expect PSO2 to be a much bigger deal than Shining Force to be honest, especially as it does look quite fun. Having them clash with each other is typical modern Sega...

  • Koborover #9 1 year ago

    A portable/XBLA/PSN strategy RPG like M&M: Clash of Heroes could work for Shining Force.

  • Machetazo #10 1 year ago

    I would be delighted to see a new Shining Force, so I'll look forward to more details on this!

  • sega #11 1 year ago

    This is the greatest news I've ever heard!! Actually, I should probably be cautious - there's been a ton of Shining games since Shining Force 3, all of which ditched the awesome battle system. If they keep the same battle system of the original Shining Force games then ... oh god, they're not are they? I suppose I could learn Japanese and play Scenarios 2 and 3...

  • metalangel #12 1 year ago

    While we're getting old franchises, how about a new Master Of Monsters as an XBLA/PSN game?

  • Anciegher #13 1 year ago

    wii 2 exclusive?

  • Mr_Brown #14 1 year ago

    This is great news! I genuinely hope they keep it strategy RPG like the original games. I also hope this is released on an handheld system. Nintendo DS or a special edition PSP release (ala Tactics Ogre) please!
    Edited by Mr_Brown at 27/04/11 @ 21:40

  • simsini #15 1 year ago

    And where is Shenmue III? Come on Sega!

  • j1m.ch053n #16 1 year ago

    loved the original

  • TheApologist #17 1 year ago

    If we can get a downloadable Shining Force 3 collection that would be awesome

  • gospvg #18 1 year ago

    Oh please god make it a turn based strategy game

  • Gojiratron #19 1 year ago

    Actually the link just says it's a new Shining game, it doesn't say it's specifically a Shining Force game.

    This could be an action RPG (like Shining Wisdom), a Strategy RPG (Shining Force) or a Dungeon Crawler (Shining the Holy Ark) or maybe even something else.

    I love Shining Force 2 & 3 but I would crawl on my hands and knees over broken glass and used syringes for a follow-up to Holy Ark. However the Shining games from the last decade haven't been anywhere near the quality of the Sonic Software Planning (Camelot) developed titles of the nineties.

    If the game is going to be developed internally I think they should let the guys behind Valkyria Chronicles handle it.

    I suppose I could learn Japanese and play Scenarios 2 and 3...

    There's fan translated English patches for scenarios 2, 3 and the Premium Disc btw. Go here
    Edited by Gojiratron at 27/04/11 @ 22:31

  • retr0gamer #20 1 year ago

    Sega really need Camelot to develop this game and as aSRPG because Sega are incapable of making a good Shining Force game.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #21 1 year ago

    Rather see another E.S.W.A.T or Burning Rangers, frankly.

    Over used IP, but some will love it.

  • Zastai #22 1 year ago

    Actually, the first Shining game on the Megadrive was the rather excellent dungeon crawler Shining in the Darkness. Loved that game, and was great to see it in the MD Collection.
    Which reminds of two glaring omissions from said collection: Landstalker and Soleil, both rather good Zeldaesque Action RPGs. Do you hear me SEGA? Put them on PSN or on Sonic's Second and Therefore Somewhat Less Ultimate Megadrive Collection forthwith.

  • Pwnsweet #23 1 year ago

    Shining Force? Wake me up when the title says "SEGA working on new Shenmue"

  • Gojiratron #24 1 year ago

    Which reminds of two glaring omissions from said collection: Landstalker and Soleil, both rather good Zeldaesque Action RPGs. Do you hear me SEGA? Put them on PSN or on Sonic's Second and Therefore Somewhat Less Ultimate Megadrive Collection forthwith.

    Landstalker was done with Climax who also did Shining in the Darkness and Shining Force 1 with Sonic Software Planning. Good game that and it made laugh as well.

    I also have a soft spot for Soleil/Ragnacenty as well. Its developer Nex Entertainment is actually responsible for some of the "revived" Shining games.


    Wake me up when the title says "SEGA working on new Shenmue"

    They are...



    ...but it's a Japanese mobile phone game. :(
    Edited by Gojiratron at 28/04/11 @ 08:43

  • Aradiel #25 1 year ago

    Awesome, can we have all of Shining Force 3, please?

    Since it's being mentioned, Soleil is also called "Crusader of Centy" in America. Not helpful, just saying.

  • telboy007 #26 1 year ago

    I was gutted after the sega europe Shining Force III failathon. Loved part one, it was brilliant.

  • trip919 #27 1 year ago

    Shining Force 2 is the best Mega Drive game by a vast distance for me - the perfect wedding of the JRPG & SRPG template that they seem unable to repeat. After the endless disappointments I don't hold out much hope for this one tbh.

  • Bilstar #28 1 year ago

    I love the Mega Drive Shining Force games, I play the first two often on my iphone (59p!!) so I'd really like to see them do a good 'un. However, as other comments have said, Sega will balls it up! I don't think they're even capable of making a decent game nowadays.
    It pains me to say it, it really does, but they are an embarrassment to their memory.

  • Rack #29 1 year ago

    So that's not a new Shining Force at all. Why get our hopes up like that?

  • Silvergun-Blue #30 1 year ago

    If it's not Camelot, it's not a Shining force game.... Simples!

  • Zastai #31 1 year ago

    @Aradiel: yup, and Ragnacenty in JP I think. I remember it actually having a different translation between US and EU (nothing major IIRC, but not just -ize and -our either).