DESCRIPTION

According to legend, the Dark Dragon will return to the world of Rune 1,000 years after being banished to an alternate dimension. He will defy the powers of the Light and lead the powers of Darkness into a bitter war for complete control of each kingdom. Of course, this prophecy was long ago and many have forgotten it. Had it not been recorded in the Great Book of Ancient Lore, housed within the royal library of Guardiana, it would have probably been lost in the passage of time.

Now the once peaceful kingdom of Runefaust has been assaulting the surrounding kingdoms of Rune. Why is this so? Word has it that King Ramladu is being influenced by a dark presence: the great wizard Darksol. Whether or not this is true is hard to say. Your teacher, esteemed warrior Varios, believes in the rumor and prepares for the inevitable attack on Guardinia. He has a plan, however. While the enemy engages the forces at Guardinia, a small band of warriors will venture out and reclaim the territory lost, with the hope of putting an end to the war by reaching Runefaust.

Guess who will be in charge of this expedition? That's right, you! Shining Force will have you traveling to different towns to gather information, purchase, sell or repair items, or meet new adventurers to add to your party (a maximum of twelve can fight at once). The heart of Shining Force is the battle system, which will play out in a turn-based format. Before fighting, you'll first see a flashing grid of squares illustrating your character's attack range. Highlight the enemy you wish to fight and you'll be taken to the battle screen.

Your character will appear in the right foreground while the enemy appears in the background on the left, and you'll be able to see how much damage is inflicted with each blow. Use each character's strengths in combat and you just might make it through unscathed! You'll also gain experience points and can take the weapon(s) from defeated enemies to disperse among your party. Fourteen different character classes range from traditional knights, mages and archers, to the more exotic werewolves, dragons and samurai.

Weapons include multiple types of swords, bows, spears, lances, axes and magical staves. The weapons also have different attack strengths and character restrictions, so don't expect your mage to wield the mighty Atlas Axe! Battery backup lets you save up to three games in progress, and your adventures can be continued from any Abbey located within a town. Press onward to find out if the ancient prophecy is true! The 12-Meg Shining Force is the sequel to 1991's Shining in the Darkness. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide