This game was only released in Japan, but saw a form of release in the rest of the world as the first book of Shining Force CD for the Mega CD a few years later. The 1st Edition (with the red triangle in the bottom left corner) is worth more than the Classic Edition (“Meisaku series” – with the green triangle). There are no differences in the games themselves, only with the packaging and manual designs.

The game takes place 20 years after the original Shining Force. Anri is now the Queen of Guardiana, and some of the original Force (or their children) still dwell nearby, although many have returned to their homes in other parts of Rune.

You play the role of Nick, a young man whose true identity is unknown until later in the game. The Guardiana Shining Force must travel to the Kingdom of Cypress to rescue Queen Anri…

Since the game is on an 8-bit system, the graphics aren’t great by comparison to the other games (but quite spectacular as Game Gear graphics go!) and the sound… well, I like it anyway. The one thing I really missed while playing Shining Force Gaiden was “town roaming” sections – there aren’t any. All three of the Gaidens, and even Shining Force CD lack towns – all towns are the same and are more like the one in Shining in the Darkness than in Shining Force. A single shop, and HQ, that’s it. No roaming around plundering houses… the game is battle upon battle with some cut scenes of story inbetween. Still great fun though, and great for those who get tired of spending an hour in town trying to figure out what to do next.