is a

tactical role-playing game Tactical role-playing games (abbreviated TRPGs), also known as strategy role-playing games and in Japan as (both abbreviated SRPGs), are a video game genre that combines core elements of role-playing video games with those of tactical (turn-bas ...

developed and published by

Sega is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...

for the

PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...

. It is the fourth ''Shining'' game with characters designed by

Tony Taka , also referred to as just , is a Japanese manga artist, video game artist and character designer. Biography Upon graduating from art design college, he first began working on advertisement designs, but in 1998 subsequently changed careers to ...

, the other three being ''

Shining Tears is an action role-playing game co-developed by Nextech and Amusement Vision and published by Sega in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 as a part of the '' Shining'' video game series. It tells the story of a mysterious boy named Xion. An anime adap ...

'', '' Shining Wind'' and ''

Shining Hearts is a PlayStation Portable role-playing video game for the Shining (series), series. Other ones include ''Shining Tears'' and ''Shining Wind''. It was adapted into an anime miniseries ''Shining Hearts: Shiawase no Pan''. Gameplay The player co ...

''. ''Shining Blade'' was released in Japan on March 15, 2012.

Gameplay

The game's battle system is called "Concerto", and is a strategic real time battle system similar to the ones found in '' Sakura Wars'' and ''

Valkyria Chronicles ''Valkyria Chronicles'' is a series of military-themed tactical role-playing video games created by Ryutaro Nonaka and Shuntaro Tanaka, and developed by Sega. The series began with ''Valkyria Chronicles'', which was released for the PlayStation ...

''. The player make use of swords, bows and magic in a battle system that places importance on character cooperation—hence the name "Concerto". The player forms a party of up to five for battle. The game will have damage based on character position, and items collected upon defeating enemies. The songstresses are special members of the player's battle party. By performing their magic song, they can achieve various effects on battle—blocking enemies from moving, increasing characters' move count, making hasten the party's pace. Some songs can even be used for attack. Using the songs requires Mana Energy. The game also has inter-character relationships. Depending on the player's selections during event scenes, movements and usage of group skills during battle, the characters' relationships will change.

Plot

Story

Within the Dragonia Empire, a plan to revive the leader of the Dark Dragon by sapping spirit energy from the land starts to unfold. With giant dragons rampaging throughout the land and the world engulfed in chaos, all hope has turn to the retrieval of the mysterious Shining Blade. And thus, a soul blader is given the task to obtain the legendary blade and find Loreley, the songstress who sings the Song of Mana.

Characters

* : Main protagonist of the game. Rage is a great swordsman who comes from another world. He was given the task as the soul blader to find the legendary Shining Blade. Rage wields a soul blade named Yukihime, who is able to transform between a blade and human form at will because she's a Spirit. Depending on her emotional state, the form she takes as a sword will change. * : Princess of the kingdom of the forest, Fontina and the spirit protector of the sacred Silver Forest of the elves. After finding Rage drifted ashore, she decided to accompany him on his quest. Altina is a proper princess bound by the strict laws of the elves. She uses bow and arrows in combat. * : The second-in-command of the production unit of the Valeria Liberation Front, a faction that opposes the Dragonia Empire. Fenrir is a true veteran of the battlefield with a unique leadership and is capable of providing flexible support to the unit. He is well-trusted and strongly relied upon. * : The empire's priestess. Because of the Dark Dragon's resurrection, she has attracted many apparitions filled with negative emotions. * : A knight of the empire and Roselinde's escort. He is able to use the Crystal Sword with ease. He is actually a man named Kaito. * : A horseman who was revived by the power of the empire from the desert and one of the Dark Dragon's henchman. * * * * * A Schoolgirl Archer from the returning video game Shining Wind while fighting with Sleipnir in the desert. *Kanon Seena (椎名夏音) ''Voiced by'': Nana Mizuki Touka's close friend was an Fencer from the Shining Wind while containing againest Sleipnir in the desert. *Ein Xecty (ゼクティ・アイン) ''Voiced by'' Houko Kuwashima One of the Demonic Alchemy Empire Baelgard (Elven Kingdom Astraea) have been revived as a schoolgirl of St Luminious High School who wields a Katana instead of her Elf sword while battling Sleipnir in the desert.

Reception

References

External links

* {{Media.Vision 2012 video games Dating sims Fantasy video games Japan-exclusive video games PlayStation Portable games PlayStation Portable-only games Role-playing video games Romance video games Sega video games Shining (series) Single-player video games Tactical role-playing video games Video games featuring female protagonists Video games scored by Junpei Fujita Video games with cel-shaded animation Video games developed in Japan Media.Vision games