>       I have some really dumb questions about Shinning Force CD (SEGA
>CD).
>         Is this game nothing but battle after one another?  So far it
>just seems that I go from one battle then right into another, with
>sometimes with a break in there.  Are there any Role Playing in this
>game at all, like the Shinning Force for the SEGA Genesis (Mega Drive)
>did?

> Shining Force CD is a port of the three Game Gear Shining Force games,
> which are official 'gaiden' or side story events. There is no town
> exploration or NPC interaction beyond healing and resupply. However, you
> do get that bonus game at the end that has you fight all of the boss
> villains, which is quite cool.

> That doesn't make a lot of sense, given that the Sega CD predates the
> Saturn by quite a bit. I think officially, the events of the Gaiden
> stories happen no less than a decade after Shining Force II. But don't
> quote me on that, as that's just a guess based on some of the secret
> characters you can recruit, who come from a few of the previous games.

> Shining Force III is a new game, and quite possibly set in a completely
> different world. As one of the last four games released in the United
> States for the Saturn, it's perceived as a rare title and so fetches a lot
> at resale. It's really not all that uncommon, and the Japanese versions
> are floating around all over the place. It's important to note that the
> American and European releases were only the first chapter, and the other
> two chapters were released only in Japan on separate disks. They use a
> somewhat uncommon save file mechanism that changes the battle conditions
> based on your performance in the previous chapter based on the save data.

> You're talking about the mechanisms in Shining Force CD, right? Different
> players have different viewpoints about promotion... If you promote early,
> then you have more time to develop characters in their new class. If you
> promote late, you start off in the new class more powerful but end up
> having less time to develop. I was able to get to the end of the Awakening
> of the Evil God promoting all my characters at level 10 or 11, but you
> should really do whatever suits your style of play. Check out Malik's FAQ
> on GameFAQs for an opposing viewpoint.

> Hope that helps you out. Have fun.

> -KKC, who wonders if any of the Sega Ages stuff will make it to PSN or
> Xbox Live Arcade.

>> That doesn't make a lot of sense, given that the Sega CD predates the
>> Saturn by quite a bit. I think officially, the events of the Gaiden
>> stories happen no less than a decade after Shining Force II. But don't
>> quote me on that, as that's just a guess based on some of the secret
>> characters you can recruit, who come from a few of the previous games.

>     That was a typo, I meant to type 'II' and not 'III'.   Sorry for
>the confusion.  Also this game taking place where the Game Gear games
>left off makes more sense then me trying to tie it to Shinning Force
>II. I have never played those games so I don't know their stories. :/

> No no, these are ports of the Game Gear games. They are exactly the same
> story and battles as the three carts released for Game Gear, translated
> and recoded to run on the Sega CD. The second chapter, Dark God Rising,
> was released in the United States for the Game Gear as the Sword of Hajya.
> The first and third games didn't get released outside of Japan as far as I
> know.

> -KKC, hunting around for the Soul Nomad game...

>> Healers earn experience points by casting spells, including healing
>> spells. They can also be useful for mop-up operations, when you have an
>> enemy that has only one or two hit points left and your heavy hitters are
>> best used hitting fresh opponents. I found it worthwhile in every tactical
>> Shining Force game to keep all my characters around the same level.

>  Well all my characters are the same level except for my magic users.  
>Right now I'm in a battle that I really need my magic users!  :)

> >> Healers earn experience points by casting spells, including healing
> >> spells. They can also be useful for mop-up operations, when you have an
> >> enemy that has only one or two hit points left and your heavy hitters are
> >> best used hitting fresh opponents. I found it worthwhile in every tactical
> >> Shining Force game to keep all my characters around the same level.

> >  Well all my characters are the same level except for my magic users.  
> >Right now I'm in a battle that I really need my magic users!  :)

> If you can revert back to an older save, you might want to change up your
> tactics. The lion's share of experience points are awarded to the
> character that lands the killing blow when fighting enemies, so it might
> be useful to have your fighters soften up tough enemies so your magic
> users can finish them off easier. That should get them caught up in levels
> quickly enough, if you didn't try to balance them up to this point.

> -KKC, doing fun things with laptops.