Fireplace Emblem might nicely have been one of many first, and most well-known, tactical RPGs, regardless of the actual fact there can be over a decade between the collection Japanese and worldwide releases. Nonetheless, for these of us within the West who fancied overhead wargaming in a fantasy setting, you can do worse than try the simply pretty much as good (and barely extra neglected) Shining Drive.
Debuting on the Mega Drive/Genesis, the collection was created by first-party studio Sonic! Software program Planning (who is commonly credited as Staff Sonic – by no means complicated for Sonic Staff), an organization which later cut up from Sega and rebranded as Camelot. Yep, that is proper; the identical studio behind the Golden Solar collection.
Again when my data of role-playing video games was extraordinarily restricted and I used to be solely taking part in due to the draw I felt to elves, centaur knights, and different fantasy tropes, Shining Drive was basically my introduction to the RPG style – and to the thought of video games being for much longer kind than the fast arcade thrills of Sonic or Streets of Rage that I used to be used to. Protected to say, although, after renting it from an area video retailer, it shortly left an impression on me.
Right here’s a recreation the place you start as a humble swordsman who turns into a frontrunner of an increasing power of warriors. In comparison with journey video games like Zelda, you weren’t notably highly effective however you can command your companions throughout totally different battle grids, taking your turns to encompass the enemy and assault like a a lot fancier chessboard. I recall, initially, leaving my chief (canonically named Max) within the again and simply letting the others get on with it as his assaults have been weak and also you’d lose the battle if he died.
However then I realised I might have my stronger characters weaken enemies so he might swoop in to complete them off and web probably the most XP, finally grow to be a stronger character. Sure, levelling up characters, selling their courses, upgrading their gear; all of it sounds fairly fundamental stuff now, however this strategic form of play was an eye-opener to me as I used to be slowly studying extra about what video games may very well be.
Whereas Shining Drive was just about Sega’s reply to Fireplace Emblem, the 2 collection have been additionally fairly totally different from one another in some key areas. Particularly, Shining Drive didn’t have the identical cruel permadeath as its Nintendo rival. That, and battles have been additionally extra like typical RPGs the place characters’ turns have been decided by their pace. Not like in Fireplace Emblem, you weren’t getting to maneuver all of your characters in a single go earlier than ready for the enemy to take their flip – and so an opponent countering was an exception reasonably than the norm.
Shining Drive additionally had higher presentation than Fireplace Emblem – a minimum of at first. There’s the way in which the motion would transition from the top-down grids with pretty easy pixel sprites to extra cinematic battle illustrations of your characters making their assault, which have been extra dramatic to have a look at. Shining Drive additionally wasn’t restricted to simply battles: you can interact in different RPG fare, too, like exploring cities on foot, speaking to NPCs, and visiting retailers to purchase new gear and provides. For a reasonably rudimentary RPG, it had plenty of depth.
It wasn’t till the sequel – predictably known as Shining Drive 2 – that I might see this sort of gameplay system once more. The follow-up was merely a much bigger, higher sequel, with its protagonist having the a lot cooler official identify of Bowie (sorry, Max).
Should you performed Shining Drive when it got here the Mega Drive/Genesis library as a part of the Change On-line Enlargement Pack (with the unique recreation a part of the line-up at launch), you’d have seen that its 16-bit pixel artwork nonetheless holds up very nicely in comparison with its dated predecessor, and likewise featured a bigger world the place you possibly can freely roam in between battles.
Nonetheless – as a lot as I take pleasure in Shining Drive and the not-dated-too-well vibe of Shining Drive 2 – the collection’ actual crowning achievement was Shining Drive 3. This wasn’t only a recreation, however an epic intertwining trilogy that was fairly not like the rest on the time. At, actually, since. I suppose it’s similar to the totally different paths you possibly can soak up Fireplace Emblem: Three Homes, besides this was a cohesive overarching story reasonably than splintered into what-ifs.
Set throughout the specter of warfare between the Republic of Aspinia and the Empire of Destonia (with each truly being manipulated by spiritual cult the Bulzome Sect), the primary state of affairs had you taking part in as Synbios; a younger lord from Aspinia. Within the second state of affairs, you play as Medion, a prince of Destonia. You’ll see the identical plot from totally different views, or get a touch of a battle occurring that then performs out within the different state of affairs, otherwise you would possibly save a personality who then turns into recruitable within the subsequent one. It is good, and it is aware of it is good. In each situations you additionally encounter a mysterious redheaded swordsman, known as Julian, who truly emerges because the true protagonist within the third state of affairs – and its this flame-haired firebran who unites the opposite two forces so as to tackle the actual massive dangerous. Not dangerous for a recreation that got here out in 1998, proper?
Then there’s the battles themselves, which noticed the collection transitioning to 3D, however nonetheless utilizing character sprites in an isometric perspective with a rotatable digital camera. Tpercenthe motion sequences would utilise full-blown polygons and results to point out off assaults and spells. Whereas battles have been basically about defeating the enemy or beating the boss, the maps themselves have been stuffed with drama; whether or not you’re combating between oncoming trains on a railtrack or towards one other military over a rickety bridge, there was at all times some factor of hazard to maintain you in your proverbial toes. You may even uncover secret ruins after which ship off just a few items to beat the thieves to the loot inside!
It’d be no shock in the event you’ve by no means heard of this epic trilogy earlier than, as a result of the West by no means truly obtained to expertise Shining Drive 3 as envisioned. Launched through the summer season of 1998, it was among the many final releases for the ailing Sega Saturn in each Europe and the US (by then the second state of affairs had already launched in Japan, with the third launched later that yr) and so we solely ever obtained the primary half, with a last-minute edit that tries to tidy up the cliffhanger on the finish of Synbios’ marketing campaign.
For a few years, eager to know what occurred afterwards had been one thing of a Holy Grail. Fortuitously, I additionally found a pair years in the past {that a} fan translation exists, which continues to be being revised and improved to at the present time by people from the Shining Drive Central group. Should you’re ready to get into emulation, it’s truly potential to expertise your complete trilogy translated in English. It is a difficult endevour, however one which’s actually value your time.
In fact, I’d reasonably Sega would simply pay attention and provides us an official localisation and remaster of the entire Shining Drive 3 trilogy, which I’d be very happy to slap down massive bucks for. It’s laborious to see that taking place although, on condition that the Shining collection has since pivoted away to extra action-oriented anime RPG fare corresponding to Shining Resonance Chorus. Unique developer Camelot has additionally not been concerned in RPGs for a few years now, and as of late is best identified for the Mario Sports activities titles.
Nonetheless, I consider there’s nonetheless a smooth spot for the Shining Drive collection. In spite of everything, the not too long ago introduced Mega Drive Mini 2 has confirmed one in all its titles might be Shining Drive CD, an acclaimed remake of two Shining Drive titles from the Recreation Gear.
We all know that reviving and remastering dormant IP is a part of Sega’s marketing strategy, and if it’s seen the success of Fireplace Emblem and Sq. Enix’s glorious Triangle Technique, then it’s clear there’s nonetheless a very good urge for food for tactical RPGs. Within the meantime although, if you wish to get Sega’s consideration, then taking part in the Mega Drive/Genesis Shining Drive titles on the Change isn’t a nasty place to start out.