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Shining Blade
Developer(s)Media.Vision
Publisher(s)Sega
Artist(s)Character Designer
Tony Taka
SeriesShining
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing game
Mode(s)Single-player

Shining Blade (シャイニング・ブレイド, Shainingu Bureido) is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Sega for the PlayStation Portable. It is the fourth Shining game with characters designed by Tony Taka, the other three being Shining Tears, Shining Wind and Shining Hearts. Shining Blade was released in Japan on March 15, 2012.[1]

Gameplay

The game's battle system is called "Concerto", and is a strategic real time battle system similar to the ones found in Sakura Wars and Valkyria Chronicles. The player make use of swords, bows and magic in a battle system that places importance on character cooperation—hence the name "Concerto".[2] The player forms a party of up to five for battle. The game will have damage based on character position, and items collected upon defeating enemies.[2]

The songstresses are special members of the player's battle party. By performing their magic song, they can achieve various effects on battle—blocking enemies from moving, increasing characters' move count, making hasten the party's pace. Some songs can even be used for attack. Using the songs requires Mana Energy.[2]

The game also has inter-character relationships. Depending on the player's selections during event scenes, movements and usage of group skills during battle, the characters' relationships will change.[2]

Plot

Story

Within the Dragonia Empire, a plan to revive the leader of the Dark Dragon by sapping spirit energy from the land starts to unfold. With giant dragons rampaging throughout the land and the world engulfed in chaos, all hope has turned to the retrieval of the mysterious “Shining Blade”. And thus, a soul blader is given the task to obtain the legendary blade and find Loreley, the songstress who sings the “Song of Mana”.[3]

Characters

A Schoolgirl Archer from the returning video game Shining Wind while fighting with Sleipnir in the desert.

Touka's close friend was a Fencer from the Shining Wind while containing against Sleipnir in the desert.

One of the Demonic Alchemy Empire Baelgard (Elven Kingdom Astraea) have been revived as a schoolgirl of St Luminious High School who wields a Katana instead of her Elf sword while battling Sleipnir in the desert.

Reception

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References

  1. ^ a b Spencer (December 13, 2011). "Atelier Elkrone And Shining Blade Set For March Release". siliconera. Retrieved December 14, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e Anoop Gantayat (May 15, 2011). "Check out these (probably fake) materials for the next Shining game". Andriasang.com. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Spencer (October 20, 2011). "Shining Blade's Battle System Has Us Most Intrigued". siliconera. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Famitsu (October 21, 2011). "『シャイニング・ブレイド』歌姫を巡る戦いの幕が開く" (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved October 21, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c MOCO (October 19, 2011). "PSP 『シャイニング・ブレイド』 セガのRPGシリーズ最新作が2012年春発売予定" (in Japanese). とりあえずゲーム速報(Live). Retrieved October 21, 2011.