Shining Force EXA

About

Shining Force EXA throws you into a war between two kingdoms locked in decades of bloodshed. You play as Toma, a sword-wielding braggart, or Cyrille, a secretive mage, leading a small party through a world split between humans and demons. Battles unfold in turn-based grid combat where positioning and class abilities matter. Between fights, you manage Geo Fortress, a base that serves as your hub and shield against enemy sieges. Upgrades and resource gathering blend with character progression, letting you tailor fighters to brute-force or magic-heavy playstyles. The game shines in its balance of tactical combat and base-building. Each mission feels distinct with varied enemies and terrain, while the cast of supporting characters adds depth. Released in 2007, it runs smoothly on PS2 but hasn’t aged well visually. Fans of old-school strategy RPGs might appreciate the 7.5/10 Metacritic score, though modern players could find the pacing slow. Still, the mix of frontline fighting and fortress defense offers a niche blend of action and management.

Storyline

The story focuses mainly on two characters that the player will have the opportunity to control: Toma, a brash sword wielder who dreams of being "King of the World," and Cyrille, a mage of sorts whose reasons for searching for the Shining Force are a well kept mystery. Joining the party almost immediately will be the other half of its members, Gadfort, who wants the blade to become the greatest knight in existence, and Maebelle, an elfin archer seeking the blade to save her people. Their story will unfold in a world that is shared by humans, demons, and beasts that is constantly devastated by war. The world is divided into two main kingdoms. The Noswald Empire is home to the human race and the demons rule the southern territory, Fyrlandt.