Not much time to write at the moment, so expect more tomorrow…

Many thanks to SFCer Synbios1978, for pointing out this little news gem! It seems IGN have had the opportunity to play a demo of Shining Tears – and the verdict is good!

They’ve added some lovely quality screen shots and a whole bunch of gameplay movies. I’ll try to add the vids to the movie archive here at SFC tomorrow, when the other 3 dozen or so finish uploading 😉 The movies are well worth watching, the music, graphics and gameplay all seem quite fantastic!

The preview is very positive about the game itself too – seems like it will be to Shining Soul II what Shining Soul II was to Shining Soul. Watch the vids and you’ll see what I mean 🙂

A couple of quotes which stood out to me, which I think will be equally pleasing to you all:

“… it’s definitely aimed towards the old school crowd. Sixteen-bit through and through, the straightforward gameplay mechanics aren’t as complicated as the majority of today’s more recent role-players…”

“The game’s level-up system promises to be just as customizable as the attack types too, as players will be able to distribute the various skill points they attain to build specific attributes and abilities.”

Go, read, enjoy 🙂

Sega Japan have today updated their Shining Tears site…

There is now information about a new series of Shining Tears telephone cards, illustrated by Tony and available with in-store pre-orders of Shining Tears. The catch is that there are 9 (yes NINE!) different cards and different stores will stock different designs – and you’ll only get one of them! Looks like it could be very difficult to get a complete set of these. I’ll try to contact Sega Japan if possible to see if I can get a set to give away at SFC – doubtful, but it must be tried. I’ve no idea how I’ll get all of them for my collection, but I’m glad it’s not just Messe Sanoh that stock these cards as I thought yesterday! The cards are limited in quantity (though not limited edition as such), and the designs are subject to change. I’ll be adding these cards to the collectables section of SFC this afternoon.

In case it is of any use to you, here is a list of shops which will have the cards available:

Ryuna Card 1: Media Land
Blanc Neige Card: Gamers
Elwing Card 1: Messe Sanoh
Mao Card: Game One
Maple Card: Chameleon Club
Elwing Card 2: Yamagiu Software Mansion
Xion & Keiner Card: Messe Sanoh (2F)
Xion & Elwing Card: Sofmap
Ryuna Card 2: Wander

I think you’ll agree the cards are all lovely – I’ll be sure to make some new forum avatars from them!

Elwing’s character page has been updated to include her skills and, as with Xion and Ryuna, a high quality picture of her front and back views has been posted for cosplayers. Click on the second of the two buttons above her vital stats to view all the pictures and information on her skills. Unfortunately I’ve been unable to translate some of this information, but I can tell you that the third screenshot is called Dryad’s *something*, and is a single (rather than combined) attack; the fourth is Multishot, a combined attack with Xion; Return Arrow is the fifth screenshot which also seems to be a combo attack with Xion; the sixth is Elemental Shot, another combo attack which seems to be able to use fire or water. The seventh screenshot looks like some super attack, unfortunately I can’t translate the name but it is a combo attack with Xion – surely, this will be the most devastating of Elwing’s abilities!

Information about items in the game has been added to the site too. Apparently most items will have an effect but there is also fun to be had in collecting items rather like in Shining Soul. Also like Shining Soul, unrecognised items will be marked with a question mark, and must be taken to the ‘judgement house’ to be identified for use.

In addition, there’s some information about the game’s shop system – from the looks of the pictures, these are also very much like Shining Soul’s shops in design and content: identifier, forge, items & equipment. The item pictures do look very sweet 🙂 As usual, deals will be available at the equipment shop, marked with an exclamation mark – this is one of the ways to find super rare items.

And finally, the download section of the site now features some lovely, high quality original Shining Tears artwork by Tony. The designs include the game’s cover illustration, the promotional poster illustration and a new picture of Elwing at a riverside. Expect some more forum avatars from these later today, and perhaps some desktops & new greeting cards here at SFC!

Sega Japan today updated their Shining Tears site with two short TV commercials for Shining Tears.

At 15 seconds each, and in low quality they obviously won’t take long to stream, but sadly this also means it’s difficult to make out what’s being shown. The first concentrates on gameplay footage, while the second shows clips from the anime video shown at TGS. The game’s themesong can be heard in the background of each. I like it 🙂

While I was there, I also noticed an SF Remake video, which I’d obviously missed during the redesign.

Sadly I cannot download the videos (since they are streamed) to add to the SFC video archive, but a kind site visitor has provided me with several dozen Shining video clips to add, which I will be doing this week. I also have more fanart, links and FAQs to add – great stuff, keep those submissions coming!

Finally, Gamefront reported at the weekend that according to Famitsu, Shining Tears is number 18 on their readers’ Most Wanted lists, just below Fire Emblem and above Driv3r. Seems the whole of Japan is looking forward to this as much as we are! 😀

Meanwhile, yet more promotional merchandise has become available in the form of limited edition ST phonecards (200 produced – these are selling for in excess of US$40 at the moment, often more); Shining Tears bags (well more like pencil cases) and all the usual posters, cut-outs etc. I’ll be adding those to the collectables section ASAP.

Less than a month until the game is released – time to order a PStwo and investigate region modding it, methinks! Any tips?!

Gamefront today reported that Sega have released a new Shining Tears video. Well, not quite new, but it’s certainly nice – the first video shown at TGS was quite jerky when viewed at IGN etc, due to it being filmed on a handycam from a TV screen!

So, now you can see the footage in all its glory! I must say, I’m rather keen on the music – reminds me of a cross between Shining the Holy Ark & Shining Soul II, somehow. Very nice indeed!

Well, what are you waiting for? Go stream the movie

Our lovely sponsor, Lik-Sang have put up some reports about TGS, including two lovely quality screenshots from Shining Tears (see right – click to zoom).

Lik-Sang also now have Shining Force PS2 available for pre-order, at US$59.90 – click here to take a look! With free shipping worldwide, it is a deal not to be missed!

Also, according to Gamefront, the various videos of Shining Tears & Shining Force will be available on the bonus DVD which will come with Shining Tears in Japan. I will post the videos here at SFC when I receive the DVD!

Buy for US$59.90

Excited about Shining Tears? Why not pre-order from Lik-Sang?

Sega Japan have today updated their main site & Shining Tears site with reports on the Shining Tears event at the Tokyo Games Show.

If Babelfish has not let me down with the translation, it would seem that the producer of Shining Tears spoke about the game for around half an hour, much to the delight of fans. The event proved to be the most popular at the Sega Booth.

The performance of the Shining Tears theme song at the end of the event received a standing ovation and is apparently recorded on DVD – perhaps this will be available somehow through the game?

Something seems to be mentioned about the two sides to Xion, the main character, and that this is reflected in two voices – one sweet, one wild.

There is also something about a large amount of women being present – whether this was on stage or in the crowd is uncertain due to the translation, however the photos would suggest they were in the crowd.

It seems the crowd really loved what they saw and that the event was much enjoyed. A good sign indeed, still very much looking forward to this title!

Yes indeed folks, as mentioned at Famitsu recently, the Shining Tears Opening Theme will be available to buy as a CD single in Japan from November 26th onwards, priced at 1,134yen (around US$10).

No picture is available at this time, however the Sega Direct product page for the item also says that the Ending Theme is on the CD – so you had best make sure you have completed the game before listening to it 😉

I am quite surprised this one slipped past me yesterday – but no report on Famitsu about it that I can find, and the news went up on IGN long after TGS finished for the day yesterday…

Many thanks to GreatGen from the forums for posting this news!

IGN have posted videos showing the gameplay in Shining Force PS2, and also the an introductory vid for Shining Tears! 56k users beware, the files are both 7-10MB in size!

I have to say I am quite disappointed, watching the Shining Force video – though the game looks quite immense, the battles do not appear to be even slightly Force-style, and it all seems rather over the top (though I recognise that Sega will want to be showing off all the amazing-looking stuff at this stage). Sorry, but it does not look very Shiny at all to me – what is with these humanly proportioned characters wandering around? Where are the cute little stumpy sprites/models for wandering? What about that spaceship?! I will of course still wait until I have played the game, to judge it… but at this stage, Moogie is not waiting with great anticipation. Nice anime footage though 😉

Shining Tears, on the other hand…
Well, also nice anime – though many characters remind me of folks from Escaflowne and Lodoss, it looks nice, still Shiny (both those animes always remind me of the Shining series anyway ;)). Sounds like we can finally hear the theme song in the background too – the first Shining theme with lyrics, no less! I must admit, I made a few Shining tears myself the other day, watching the Shining Tears gameplay vids – overwhelmed with that Shining feeling. I felt the same watching this vid – roll on, Shining Tears!

Unfortunately, it does not look like Sega Japan are going to be updating their Shining Tears site with info about the TGS Event today, so I shall have to rely on Famitsu for information 😉

The game was apparently demonstrated, along with a talk about the gameplay (by the voice actor for Xion?) – introducing the tag system, presumably a 2 player feature. It seems that they were quite excited about watching the game – Famitsu comment that fans cheered wildly during and after the event!

The event finished with the Shining Tears theme song being performed. Sadly, no audio has been posted, so we cannot yet hear it – but there are photos of it being performed. Apparently, it may even be released as a CD single in Japan – it must be good then!