Shining Force Neo

"Old School Hack & Slash!"

Story: 5/10.

Shining Force Neo has a very simple story. Thirteen years ago the power of the light crystal, a powerful forced used to ward evil in the world, was destroyed by The Clan of the Moon, and darkness was unleashed upon the world. The Force Knights gathered the remaining power of the light from the broken crystal and sealed away the evil, and ultimately destroying the Clan of the Moon. Now it's thirteen years later and darkness threatens the world once again, and now a young knight named Max is called upon using the powers of The Force to bring the world back into the light, and in typical RPG fashion, save the world. The game begins with the main character Max training at Fort Larcyle with his master and mentor Graham. Max wants desperately to become a Force, just like his brother and father before him, and thus we have an adventure.

Graphics: 7/10.

Let's just say this isn't going to win any end of the year awards for graphics. The game is by no means ugly, and it has Anime style cut scenes that are beautiful, but the in game graphics are average at best. However, because the game graphics are average at best doesn't mean that the game isn't enjoyable at all. The worlds in the game are very lush, colorful, and finely detailed helping to create a deep vivid world that's easily enjoyable and easy on the eyes.. The character designs aren't greatly inspired, but they are detailed and outlined very nicely. Overall the graphics aren't pushing any limits, but for a simple hack and slash game with an overhead view it's very pleasant.

Gameplay/Control: 9/10.

With any type of RPG the battle system is one of the most important elements in the overall design of the game along with the story. Combos in Shining Force Neo are strung together with one button, which can be assigned to any button on the controller, making a very simple and easy to pick up battle system. What's really interesting is that no matter what controller set up you desire every single button on the controller will be used, including the D-Pad to select various options such as returning to town or healing yourself or your party. The camera is never a concern because of the 3/4 overhead view, and nothing is ever out of place and everything on screen is in view and very large creating a simple and effect element of gameplay. The major problem with the game is Slowdown. There shouldn't be any slowdown this late in the generation for a console such as the PS2. Nevertheless, there is slowdown when too many characters gather on the screen, and there will be fights with more than two dozen enemies on screen at once. Thus the slowdown can be a bit of a hassle if you're pressing the attack button rapidly and Max isn't responding at all. However, the battles are still intense, fun, simple, and ultimately deep and rewarding, and that supercedes any amount of slowdown the game has in its presentation.

Sound: 4/10.

The game lacks a Dolby Pro Logic II or DTS track which would make the game sound better, but that would only help to hurt your ears when you hear the terrible, and I mean terrible, voice acting in this game. I swear I can hear the pages turn and sounds of ruffling papers in the background as the actors say their lines. The problem is the actors are not acting their lines, instead they are reading their lines, and thus no emotions or empathy shines through at all. I suppose it's not the actor's fault to an extent when the script is horrid. Second graders and a few middle school students could probably come up with a more deep, diverse, and ultimately thought provoking and fulfilling dialogue between characters in this hack of a script. The script and voice acting doesn't give you a sense of deep emotional involvement with the characters, and that's a shame because the soundtrack itself is very pleasant and very soothing. The battle music changes with each new area you enter, with every single character you encounter, and with all the major events of the game. Also, the overall sound effects vary greatly and change with each weapon the main character Max uses, and each spell effect has its on distinctive sound. If the game offered a Surround Sound option, and had a script and voice actors that were up to par with the in game music then this game might be one of the best RPG soundtracks to date.

Overall: 8/10.

Even with the atrocious voice acting Shining Force Neo manages to thrive in an under populated genre. If the slowdown problems were addressed, the gameplay would be near-perfect. With a solid 25 to 30 hours of gameplay, and that doesn't include optional side quests and dungeons Shining Force Neo really is a winner. Another plus is that the Strategy Guide for this game is beautiful. All the pages are in full color and very finely detailed, and easily read and comprehended.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/04/05