- Gorgeous 2D backdrops and fluid, expressive anime characters. Up to 50 enemies can appear onscreen at the same time.
- Offers both single-player and 2 player-simultaneous gameplay.
- Deep character customization Players have access to a wide range of skills, items, and weapons. Characters can level up from 1 to 99.
- Partner Bond System The bond between the hero and his partner affects the scenario he faces and part of the story.
- 20 to 50 hours of game time and 8 possible endings.
Product description
-------------------
Shining Tears tells the story of a young man caught up in a war
he does not quite understand. Xion has lost his memory and
discovers that he holds two magical rings. Their source are
unknown to him, but so is so much else -- he and his friends will
travel to find answers. Soon they'll realize how terrifying the
world can truly be; Their choices after learning this hard lesson
will shake the land, for better or worse.
Review
------
Shining Tears is a throwback to a bygone era in gaming. A
spin-off of Sega's classic Shining titles, its real-time action
is reminiscent of the SNES game Secret of Mana, which is
definitely a compliment. In many ways, Shining Tears is a
retro-RPG gamer's dream, and will make you feel like you've gone
back in time to the early ‘90s – which, as we all know, is both a
good and a bad thing.
The plot of Shining Tears is, as Mr. T would say, simply a bunch
of jibba jabba, filled with more clichés and stilted dialogue
than an episode of Full House. But the plot is not really the
draw – the two-character combat is the heart of this game. In
single-player you control the primary character while AI handles
your partner. But you can also steer the second player with the
right analog stick and execute linked attacks between the two
with a few clicks of the R1 button. It's a nifty little system
that works well, but I found it inferior to playing with a real
person (even if it was Joe). Coordinating linked attacks with a
second player requires more cooperation and allows you more
strategic thinking in battle. This is a definite plus because
later fights throw so many hordes of enemies at you you'll feel
like you're trying to fight your way out of a crowd at a Color Me
Badd concert.
After a while, the combat can get as stale as MC Hammer's career,
thanks to stages that are repeated over and over, and the
necessity of replaying missions with different characters in
order to level up your entire crew. The hand-drawn environments
are gorgeous, as are the visuals as a whole, but that doesn't
mean I want to see the same areas again and again. With
repetitive combat and a plot thinner than Tracey Gold, Shining
Tears shouldn't be quite as good as it is. But the retro vibe,
beautiful graphics and unique control dynamic add a lot of value.
It's not the best action/RPG out there, but offers some fun co-op
and recalls days past in a far better way than any of the lame
jokes I've made in this review.
Concept:
Sega's Shining series returns with an action-oriented spin-off
featuring lush visuals, a unique control scheme, and a buttload
of RPG clichés
Graphics:
The hand-drawn art style is simply amazing, and the characters
are surprisingly well animated
Sound:
It would be nice to have more voice work than just a tiny handful
of battle cries
Playability:
Controlling two characters with the dual analog sticks is a bit
tricky, but co-op is a blast
Entertainment:
At first it's as fun and fresh as Gallagher, but it quickly gets
as dull as Bob Sagat
Replay:
Moderate
Rated: 7.75 out of 10
Editor: Jeremy Zoss
Issue: March 2005
2nd Opinion:
As its name suggests, Shining Tears is full of both radiance and
grief. It pulls off its unique two-character combat with
brilliant artistic style, and provides surprising depth despite
its simple appearance. Sadly, the game's lack of variation on the
combat front and a tendency to make me revisit the same s wore
thin on my patience. The story isn't much help, either; it's
bubbling over with every fantasy stereotype imaginable (emphasis
on the "fantasy" – there isn't a single bustline smaller than
36D). Without a truly edge, Shining Tears gets
repetitive quickly, though the actions you find yourself
repeating are immensely entertaining.
Rated: 7.25 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
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