Shining Force 3--Does it get any better?

[Robonaut]

I'm about four or five battles into Shining Force 3...and I can't say I'm impressed.

Your tactical options seem way too limited. For example, occassionally one of my characters will perform a counterattack or shoot off some special ability, but it all seems to happen randomly. Also, it doesn't seem like there are any bonuses for things like surrounding an enemy.

And, boy, do missile weapons suck. A bow has a range of freakin' two squares?! Who thought *that* was a good idea?

Speaking of weapons, it's also pretty annoying how limited each character's equipment choices are. It would be nice to be able to, say, equip everyone in the party with spears or swords if I wanted to.

I've seen so much praise for this game, I was expecting something on the level of Final Fantasy Tactics, but Shining Force 3 doesn't appear to be even close to that level.


Does it get better as the game progresses?

[MrPopo]

The range of 2-3 on bows and magic means that you have to have more consideration for positioning; chokepoints can do more for you. At the same time, it also makes you more vulnerable to group magic, so you have to balance it. It also means that your melee fighters don't run the risk of being completely plastered at range before they can get in. The purpose of range is to allow you to get more hits in against a target and utilize meat shields, rather than to soften up a target before moving in, due to couner attacks being relatively rare.

The limited weapons are actually a good thing in this iteration of Shining Force. Previous entries made the difference between a sword and an axe and a lance essentially cosmetic. Now there's an actual Fire Emblem-style weapons triangle in place. It gives you that much more incentive to correctly position your troops and lead a balanced army.

Really, FFT and SF try to accomplish different things. FFT is all about how well you can build your army and create this unbeatable force that plays off each other's strengths. SF is more about taking a series of imperfect pieces and seeing if you can forge a working cohesive whole. And the nature of positioning is different between the two games. With FFT positioning becomes the dance between your units and enemy units on an individual level. With SF it's more about overall positioning, as well as baiting out enemy units and keeping your more fragile members protected. But once a battle line is drawn it tends to be more static than FFT.

So to answer your original question, I think you just disagree with some fundamental choices of the SF system. So in that case no, it won't get to be more like FFT as it goes along. What you're seeing now is what you'll have going forward.

[Stark]

I'll give you $10 for it.

[Betamax001]

I'll give you $10 for it.

Nooo! It's not worth that much! Give me 5 bucks for it!

[ZenErik]

I'll gladly give you $10.01 for that atrocious game.

[Anayo]

$12, take it or leave it.

[SpaceBooger]

FFT is all about how well you can build your army and create this unbeatable force that plays off each other's strengths. SF is more about taking a series of imperfect pieces and seeing if you can forge a working cohesive whole

Well put. That is probably the best description of a SF (original style) game ever.

[Inazuma]

It does get better. Later on you will have 12 characters to control, along with many different attacks and weapons. There is also a friendship system that will affect the placement of your forces.

Shining Force III is one of my all time favorite games, and easily the best strategy RPG I've played. And this is coming from someone who has played Final Fantasy Tactics and the first Makai Senki Disgaea.

I would rate Shining Force III a perfect 10 out of 10, without hesitation. It is a magnificent game in so many ways. Best game on the Saturn imo.

[brunoafh]

Yes, it sure as hell gets better. If you aren't enjoying it though, then perhaps it's just not for you.

Shining Force III is one of my all time favorite games, and easily the best strategy RPG I've played. And this is coming from someone who has played Final Fantasy Tactics and the first Makai Senki Disgaea.

I would rate Shining Force III a perfect 10 out of 10, without hesitation. It is a magnificent game in so many ways. Best game on the Saturn imo.

I agree with everything stated here, with the exception of the "best game on the Saturn" part. It depends, are you talking about all 3 scenarios, or just scenario 1? If you're considering all three scenarios as "Shining Force III", then I think I would agree that it's at least the best Saturn RPG as a whole.

FFT is good, but SFIII is on a different level.

[Inazuma]

Yes, it sure as hell gets better. If you aren't enjoying it though, then perhaps it's just not for you.

Shining Force III is one of my all time favorite games, and easily the best strategy RPG I've played. And this is coming from someone who has played Final Fantasy Tactics and the first Makai Senki Disgaea.

I would rate Shining Force III a perfect 10 out of 10, without hesitation. It is a magnificent game in so many ways. Best game on the Saturn imo.

I agree with everything stated here, with the exception of the "best game on the Saturn" part. It depends, are you talking about all 3 scenarios, or just scenario 1? If you're considering all three scenarios as "Shining Force III", then I think I would agree that it's at least the best Saturn RPG as a whole.

FFT is good, but SFIII is on a different level.

Yes. I was talking about the entire game. All 3 scenarios and Premium disc.