Another update today on Sega Japan’s Shining Force Neo Site, in the System section.
Titled ‘Variable Arms’, the new section details the way in which different equipment (sword, axe, bow, staff, shield etc) may conceal special powers, and how the player can make their character more unique by customising these special powers.
It seems the equipment may have up to two (of almost 200) random special powers, and by attaching different powers to the same item, the efficiency of the player can be increased. The screenshot beside the info shows a Battle Tomahawk having the special power of (I think) 20% extra damage against harpies. Okay. Not only does the equipment have special powers, but also it can be modified further with other power boosts, allowing many possibilities. With two types of power to modify for each item, they hope the enjoyment will be even greater for the player. Right… but where are the tactical battles? 🙁 That’d be more enjoyable IMHO.
As in Shining Tears & the Soul series, unidentified items with unknown powers may be found in battle after killing monsters or by opening chests. These need to be identified before they can be equipped and their powers used/upgraded (by the blacksmith). No surprise there.
So, SF Neo would appear thus far to be a badly (okay, non-Shiningly) illustrated, 3D, more advanced version of Shining Tears. I’ll stick to Tears, methinks.
Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays, if that’s more apt for you).