Shining Soul II
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Shining Soul II is a role-playing game for the Game Boy Advance. It was developed by Sega and published by Sega in 2003 (Japan), Atlus (2004, America) and THQ (2004, Europe), as the sequel to Shining Soul and part of the Shining Force series. It features eight playable characters and several dungeons to explore. The game supports multiplayer via link cable as well as single player.
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[edit] Characters
The game features eight character classes: the Warrior, Archer, Sorceress, and Dragonute, return from Shining Soul, and the Priestess, Dark Wizard, Brawler and Ninja have been added to the team. Each is skilled with a variety of weapons, spells and support abilities. Even different characters who can use the same weapons attack differently with them: the Warrior's spear attack is a thrust, while the Archer throws his over a distance, for example. The Spellbooks category is even more misleading: every spell in the game has its own spellbook, and only classes with that spell on their skills list can use it to cast the spell.
Each character has three slots in their inventory to equip weapons for use: while the game only has one attack buttons, they can switch between their equipped weapons with a press of the L shoulder button (Items work in the same way, with three slots, an item button, and the R shoulder button for switching). Weapons can either be used for a simple attack (With a tap of the button: there is no combo system in this game) or be held then released for a "charged" attack, similar to the special weapon strikes found in other games, which does more damage and attacks in some special way: to continue the previous example, the Warrior's charged spear is a multiple jab attack, while the Ranger's is a stronger-than-usual single throw. There is sometimes some confusion over how spells are used in the system: their regular attack is a physical hit (Using the book itself), while a charged attack results in the spell actually being cast.
In addition to skills, each character differs in their base stats: STRength, DEXterity, INTelligence, and VITality. These base stats are used to calculate HP (Hit Points, used for survival: if these ever fall to 0, the character is killed, and returned to the castle), SP (Soul Power, used for spells and charged combat attacks: these will slowly regenerate over time), ATtacK (Base attack value with regular melee strikes) and DEFense (Resistance to physical damage).
These stats can be raised by equipment (You can equip items to your head, body, hand and accessory areas): in common with most games of this type, in addition to simple defence-raising, these can possess various magical properties, including increased attack speed, healing effects, decreased attack costs, and statistic-raising. You can also equip a "Soul" item, which can be charged through the deaths of enemies, and unleashed to inflict massive damage on anything nearby: these come in various elemental types and effectiveness levels.
Characters also have resistances to a number of elements: Fire, Ice, Thunder, Light, Dark, and Poison. These can be raised by equipment, but also through endurance: by taking damage of a particular elemental kind, you can increase your resistance to it, but being killed by an attack of that type will decrease your resistance by a point.
Characters gain experience over time, as they kill monsters: when enough are acquired, an experience level is gained. These reward them with four status points (Which can be spent on STR, DEX, INT or VIT) and one skill point, which can be spent on any of the character's eight skills. Higher levels in a skill cost more skill points (Equal to the skill level you require, so points will have to be saved over multiple experience levels) but confer increased benefits: increase in the ATK of particular weapons, more damaging charge attacks, the ability to wield better weapons, increased defences, increased spell effectiveness, and others: precise details depend on the individual skill and character. The maximum level is 200, which requires a lot of very dedicated play, and replaying of stages, to reach, although the game can be beaten easily at much less.
[edit] Warrior
Well balanced expert at close-range fighting. A warrior can use powerful close-range weapons. This character is well balanced with a strong defense.
The warrior is a strong melee fighter, with no particularly exciting special abilities. He can use Swords, Spears and Axes in combat, as well as Shields for defense (which are equipped in the "gloves" equipment slot). Other abilities include increases to friendly players' ATK ("tactics"), the ability to use armor more effectively to increase its defense rating, and increased effectiveness of healing items. His "counter" skill is still a mystery (among fans, the consensus is that it is a non-working skill).
[edit] Archer
Skilled at long-range attacks with bows and spears. Although this character can attack effectively from afar, he is not good at close-range fighting. Also, he can borrow the power of forest animals in times of urgency.
The Archer is the game's primary ranged character, and can use Bows, Spears, and Spellbooks. The bow can deal more damage to a single foe, while the spear is capable of hitting multiple enemies at once. He is able to use a limited form of "pets", by both converting enemy characters and summoning forest animals. His other skills include increased damage to flying enemies, a slow but constant healing effect, and the chance to inflict critical damage on opponents. His skill "range" increases the distance that his projectiles travel.
[edit] Sorceress
Uses a variety of spells, but specialises in attack spells. She can attack with magic from a distance, but her physical strength is low, so she is not good at hand to hand combat. Her defense is low, too.
The Sorceress is the main elemental damage character in the game, with spells able to deal fire, ice, lightning and wind (Physical) damage to monsters, with each spell having differing attack characteristics. She also possesses a magic shield skill, to increase her (usually low) defenses and increased SP regeneration speed. While weak in melee combat, she can also wield a Rod in combat if necessary.
[edit] Dragonute
His attack power is unmatched, but his heavy blows can leave him off guard. He uses heavy weapons such as axes and flails to deal great damage to foes. But, he's vulnerable after attacking, and his movement is rather slow.
Undeniably the game's "tank"-type character, the Dragonute is slow, powerful, and very hard to kill. He uses Axes and Flails in combat, and can use the Shield items for extra defense. He can boost the defense ratings of his equipment, increase his elemental resistances (permanently, unlike the resistance-type spells used by other characters), lower the attack of enemies simply by standing near them, and counterattack with a devastating fire breath attack when he is hit.
[edit] Priestess
Helps the party out with healing and support spells. Although she can equip a flail, hand to hand combat is not her greatest asset.
Arguably more a paladin-style character, the Priestess can possess a lot of versatility, if used correctly. She has the best melee capabilities of the game's casters, because she can use the Flail weapons, in addition to Staff weapons, and has a versatile set of Spellbooks: healing, stat increases, elemental and physical defenses, and damaging anyone nearby with a holy aura. When combined with her increased SP regeneration, the Priestess can be quite powerful in the right hands, although she is weakened by her heavy stat needs: while the other characters can afford to be lax in some areas, she has a use for every status point that she gets.
[edit] Dark Wizard
Half vampire and half human whose speciality is spellcasting. He can change shapes, create Poison clouds, and use other Dark spells. He can also summon a special sword to fight as he commands.
The Dark Wizard is the male equivalent to the Sorceress, with the same weapons (Staff and Spellbook). His spells are mainly Dark- and Poison-based, with a HP leeching spell and the ability to summon a spectral sword, to attack enemies who come too close to him. He also has the ability to transform into monsters (Which will cause real monsters to ignore him, unless he attacks them first) and has an increased SP regeneration rate.
[edit] Brawler
His defense is low, but his speed and attack power make up for it. Quick and strong, this character uses limited equipment so he is not weighed down. However, for that reason, his defense is low.
The Brawler is both the shortest-ranged character in the game, and the one capable of inflicting the most damage. He uses Claws and Knives in combat, can both counterattack enemies that hit him and increase his own evasion skills, inflict both critical and stunning blows on opponents, become stronger after taking too much damage, and heal himself over time. All of these abilities combined, plus the devastating Knife charged attack (The Brawler spins around, inflicting multiple rapid weak hits which add up to quite incredible amounts of damage even at low levels) have led some to claim that he is drastically overpowered. Even though the Dragonute has stronger single hits, the Brawler has excellent combos.
[edit] Ninja
Quickly finishes off enemies using swift attacks and spells. Monsters are easily confused by his ninja tactics. The fastest of all the characters.
The Ninja is a combination melee and ranged class, somewhere between the Warrior and the Archer. He can use Swords for melee, and Knives for ranged attacks. He also has a few spells (Cast from Scrolls, instead of other character's Spellbooks), which allow him to increase his walking speed and attack with magic ("debris"). Finally, he can also sometimes dodge attacks and inflict critical hits on enemies, as well as deal extra damage from behind ("backstab").
[edit] Story
Long ago, the warriors of Light defeated Darkness, but in time, the story became just an old legend. For many years, the world was at peace, but eventually disaster drew neat. Thick, mysterious clouds formed overhead, blocking out the sun, but not releasing a drop of rain.
The people were tormented by drought for years. Then, monsters began to appear, and people's hearts filled with despair. King Marcel, the ruler of Klantol, feared for his people's welfare. And so, he announced a grand tournament at the colosseum to find a mighty hero that could protect the country and vanquish the wandering monsters.
"...heroes who have inherited the Power of Light, save this world from being engulfed in Darkness!"
King Marcel holds a tournament to find new heroes, which the player's character attends. The tournament is interrupted by the news that Marcel's daughter has been kidnapped: the King sends his greatest warrior, the knight Deatharte (As with all knights in the Shining series, a Centaur), to find her, while the player is sent to investigate a nearby Goblin incursion. The player eventually locates and rescues the princess, who has been kidnapped to use as a sacrifice by the evil sorceress Wizari, who the player dispatches.
The death of Wizari causes the King's crystal to glow strangely, and the player is sent to see the water spirit Clione, who attacks, believing the player to be a bringer of darkness. The princess has taken this opportunity to go travelling again: the player is sent to investigate Captain Roberts, a renowned sailor, who has begun acting strangely. He is under the power of a creature of darkness, and after both he and the creature are defeated, helps the player cross the ocean, to Driazhek Desert, home of the evil knight Oswald.
The princess is again rescued, from Koldazhek Cave, and tells the player about a horde of demons rising at a nearby tower. The player fights through the tower to destroy their leader, Dark Angel, who tells them about the nearby volcano. The player encounters the dark wizard Gillespie, brother to the player Dark Wizard, who fights the player twice, before the volcano's guardian and opening up the way to the final dungeon.
Gillespie challenges the player again, but is easily beaten, and renounces Chaos. The player continues through the castle to encounter Deatharte, who has turned to Chaos and been rewarded with vast size and strength. After a hard-fought battle, Deatharte is slain, and the player returns to the castle for a feast in his honour. Here, however, the final evil has been unleashed: Chaos, who threatens to destroy the entire world. After a final battle in his dimension, the player emerges victorious, with Chaos defeated forever, and able to enjoy the somewhat delayed feasting.
[edit] Secrets
- After completing the game, Gillespie is unlocked as a playable character (He is identical to the Dark Wizard, except for higher initial stats and a walking speed equal to the Ninja's).
- An Advanced difficulty, with more powerful enemies and higher XP/item rewards, is opened for play upon completion of Normal mode.
- There are a number of secret dungeons which can be accessed, and hidden sub-missions in the main storyline. For example, it is possible to rescue the grandson of the old man in the castle during the "Robert's Pirate Ship" stage.
- Traditional Shining mascot Yogurt is hidden in one of the stages.
- There are a number of dungeons from Shining Soul 1 hidden in the game.
- It is possible to find various classic Sega artifacts in the game, including past consoles, which can be used as items for communication.
- By finding various Ores randomly dropped in stages, it is possible to forge your own equipment.
- The American version has a number of special character names that can be used to start characters with various bonuses, including increased stats and resistances.
[edit] Criticisms
The Shining Soul series has been criticized by some fans for deviating from the roots of the Shining series. However, in the past, games in the Shining series have been of varied styles. For example, games in the Shining series have been dungeon crawlers, tactical RPGs, and action RPGs. Thus, this criticism seems somewhat unfounded.
[edit] External links
- GameFAQ's Shining Soul 2 page - Release data, FAQ's, reviews and message board
