Shining Tears
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| Shining Tears | |
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| Developer(s) | Nextech / Amusement Vision |
| Publisher(s) | Sega |
| Release date(s) |  November 3, 2004 March 22, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | Action RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player/two player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
Shining Tears (シャイニング・ティアーズ) is a PlayStation 2 game in the Shining series, developed by Nextech and Sega. It was released in November 2004 in Japan, followed by a March 2005 release in North America. It tells the story of a mysterious boy named Xion.
Contents |
[edit] Characters
[edit] Xion
Bio: Xion is an amnesiac boy who carries the Twin Dragon Rings. Legend say that the rings were once wielded by two invincible knights, granting them immense power. However, one of the knights became greedy and killed his friend to claim the other ring, and when he wore the other ring, the absolute power turned him into dusts. It is unknown how Xion got the ring, but it's presumed that he received it from his parents: Maxima and Zenovia. In the beginning of the game, Xion was washed up on a shore near the inn Heroes Hearth. He was found by the elven girl Elwyn and was introduced to Doctor Pios, who nursed him back to health. Xion would later get involved into a series of battles that may just start as a war to defend the nation Shildia from an aggressor into fighting a threat against humanity: the Beast God Behemoth.
It should be noted that Xion has three personalities within him: A somewhat insecure, good hearted young boy (when his friends are not wearing the other Twin Dragon Ring), into a serene, noble hero (when the other bearer of the Ring has a Dark Soul), into a battle-crazy, somewhat berserk, insult-flinging fighter (when the other bearer of the Ring has a Light soul). However, sometimes Xion managed to show some kind side when he is in the third form.
In the Japanese version, his voice actor is Soichiro Hoshi, who also performed the theme song on the game.
[edit] Volg
[edit] Elwyn
[edit] Neige
Bio: Often referred as the Ice Witch due to her specialization in ice magic, Neige was first identified as a member of Volg's Weissritter group. She's cold, sarcastic and antisocial (and a bit stuck up, as Elwyn referred for the first time), but in the same time intelligent. She first doubted Xion's potential, but changed her mind once she's forced fought alongside Xion and accepted to work with him. As time passed, her cold personality faded and she's revealed to be an actually nice and honorable girl. It is later revealed that her full name was Ira Blanc Neige Gardenias, crown princess of Runevale Kingdom (one of the opposing force of the game), making her the sister of Keiner. She was targeted for a murder by her younger brother Galahad, but was rescued by Cupido and taken to Shildia where she joined Weissritter, where the overconfident old members of the team made her develop her cold, untrusting personality. The subsequent battle against Rune Geist (the new name of Runevale) led her to kill Galahad, much to her dismay.
Due to her personality and ice cold exterior, she may be very similar to Raven of Teen Titans' fame. Her Japanese voice actor was in fact Megumi Hayashibara. Coincidentally, Megumi has also voiced a sorceress who is a polar opposite of Neige, Lina Inverse of Slayers' fame.
[edit] Ryuna
[edit] Mao
[edit] Lazarus
[edit] Keiner
[edit] Cupido
[edit] Story
In the beginning of the story, an elfen girl named Elwyn finds Xion washed up on the shore of a river. She checks if he's still alive and as she looks, a ring fell by the water. As Elwyn tried to take it, Xion was on the verge of death so she took him quickly to the village doctor, Pios. When Xion wakes up, he finds himself in The Heroes' Hearth, the tavern of the town Heroes' Way.
He is then confronted by Pios and Elwyn, questioning him on what happened. He would say he can't remember and even vaguely remembers his name. The two introduce themselves to him and he finds both his hands with two strange rings. They would'nt come off his hands as Pios tries to investigate the rings. The two then explain that the rings could possibly be the Twin Dragon Rings, the legendary rings of power. Discarding the thought, Pios investigates more on the rings as Xion falls asleep.
You will wake up the next three or more days in the middle of the tavern where you can interact with people. At the counter, you will see Volg, the bestian that owns the tavern. There are 3 others that aren't playable characters and you can't go outside. On the far right-hand corner down, there is a girl white hair named Neige who will answer you with: "I have no business with you. Begone" no matter how mant times you talk to her. Talking to everyone, talk to Elwyn and Pios and he will ask you to get a flower for him in Regulus Hills. This is where the power of the rings will be unleashed for the first time.
You will also see Elwyn's capabilities there as well.
[edit] Ending
An interesting feature of this game is that there is a unique ending involving each of the 8 characters that Xion can team up with, making up a total of 8 endings. The ending is determined by the highest relationship Xion has with the character.
[edit] Trivia
- This is the first RPG that X-play gave a 1 of 5, claiming it was the worst RPG they have ever played. It was also featured as X-Play's 3rd Worst PS2 Game Ever.
- The game's characters were designed by the Japanese hentai artist Tony Taka.
[edit] External links
- Official Website - English
- Official Website - Japanese
- Without Hesitation: The Approved Shining Tears Fanlisting - English
