Shining Hearts
Encyclopedia
is a role-playing game
developed and published by SEGA
. It is the first Shining game to be released for the PlayStation Portable
and is the third with characters designed by Tony Taka
, the other two being Shining Tears
and Shining Wind
. The game was released on December 16, 2010 in Japan.
The ocean is a major part of Shining Hearts. The game puts the player's base of operations on a ship called "Home Ship". This ship serves both as the player's home and as means of transport. While the ship starts off in a ragged state, the player will be able to build it up with new functionality. Eventually, the player will use the ship to travel to other islands.
When not out at sea, the player is free to roam the Wyndaria Island. The player will be able to take part in a variety of activities. The player can progress through story missions, or take on side quests to help out villagers. The player will also be able to go around the island to collect materials for baking bread and forging weapons, and even go fishing.
While playing through the game, working through the story and helping villagers out on quests, the player will collect Hearts. These can be given to Kaguya to help her return her emotions. As her emotions come back, Kaguya's spirit stone will release "Heart Keys." These can be used to open doors to new worlds, leading to new developments in the story.
Hearts are a parameter indicating how people feel about the main character. In response to the main character's actions, people will release Hearts of varying color. The different colors represent feelings:
By collecting Hearts, the player will bring about changes to the game's island setting and world, and also expand the adventure to new areas. Hearts can also be used in battle. It is also possible to use Hearts when preparing bread at the bakery.
One method for collecting Hearts is through the MOE (Mind Over Emotion) System. During conversation, the player will occasionally be allowed to select a response under constraint of time. Depending on the player's selection, the conversation partner will release Hearts indicating their reaction. Their favor for the main character will change accordingly.
There's more than one MOE System in the game, and one of them being the "Battle MOE" System.
Battle MOE is a group attack system. Every now and then, the player will be given the chance of pairing up with one of the battle members for a group attack. Depending on the selections, the player will get different moves. Some group attacks result in heal spells, some in group attacks, etc.
The feelings of the party members towards the main character will change during combat. The character that the player selects to perform the team attack will be more pleased with the main character and will release Red Hearts, indicating happiness. The characters who doesn't get picked will be angry and will release Blue Hearts, indicating sadness.
, ,
. The soundtrack for the game was released on January 26, 2011. The theme song for the game, entitled , sung by Lia
, was released on December 15, 2010.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
developed and published by SEGA
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. It is the first Shining game to be released for the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
and is the third with characters designed by Tony Taka
Tony Taka
, also referred to as just Tony, is a Japanese manga artist, video game artist and character designer.-Biography:Upon graduating from art design college, he first began working on advertisement designs, but in 1998 subsequently changed careers to become a manga/anime style artist...
, the other two being Shining Tears
Shining Tears
is an action role-playing game co-developed by Nextech and Amusement Vision and published by Sega in 2004 for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console as a part of the Shining Force video game series. It tells the story of a mysterious boy named Xion. An anime adaptation for the game was announced...
and Shining Wind
Shining Wind
is an action role-playing game developed by Nextech and Amusement Vision and published by Sega for the PlayStation 2, and the 18th game in the Shining video game series. It was released on May 17, 2007 in Japan. The game is the sequel to Shining Tears. The main characters from Shining Tears appear...
. The game was released on December 16, 2010 in Japan.
Gameplay
The player can form a party of up to four characters that will be encountered throughout the course of the game. The player will be able to perform special team attacks with party members.The ocean is a major part of Shining Hearts. The game puts the player's base of operations on a ship called "Home Ship". This ship serves both as the player's home and as means of transport. While the ship starts off in a ragged state, the player will be able to build it up with new functionality. Eventually, the player will use the ship to travel to other islands.
When not out at sea, the player is free to roam the Wyndaria Island. The player will be able to take part in a variety of activities. The player can progress through story missions, or take on side quests to help out villagers. The player will also be able to go around the island to collect materials for baking bread and forging weapons, and even go fishing.
While playing through the game, working through the story and helping villagers out on quests, the player will collect Hearts. These can be given to Kaguya to help her return her emotions. As her emotions come back, Kaguya's spirit stone will release "Heart Keys." These can be used to open doors to new worlds, leading to new developments in the story.
Hearts are a parameter indicating how people feel about the main character. In response to the main character's actions, people will release Hearts of varying color. The different colors represent feelings:
- Red Heart: Happiness
- Green Heart: Kindness
- Yellow Heart: Anger
- Blue Heart: Sadness
- Black Heart: Hatred
By collecting Hearts, the player will bring about changes to the game's island setting and world, and also expand the adventure to new areas. Hearts can also be used in battle. It is also possible to use Hearts when preparing bread at the bakery.
One method for collecting Hearts is through the MOE (Mind Over Emotion) System. During conversation, the player will occasionally be allowed to select a response under constraint of time. Depending on the player's selection, the conversation partner will release Hearts indicating their reaction. Their favor for the main character will change accordingly.
There's more than one MOE System in the game, and one of them being the "Battle MOE" System.
Battle MOE is a group attack system. Every now and then, the player will be given the chance of pairing up with one of the battle members for a group attack. Depending on the selections, the player will get different moves. Some group attacks result in heal spells, some in group attacks, etc.
The feelings of the party members towards the main character will change during combat. The character that the player selects to perform the team attack will be more pleased with the main character and will release Red Hearts, indicating happiness. The characters who doesn't get picked will be angry and will release Blue Hearts, indicating sadness.
Story
One day, a mysterious girl named Kaguya was washed ashore the island of Wyndaria after a great storm. She encounters Rick, a swordsman who wound up working at the island's bakery. Apparently, Kaguya is suffering from having lost her memories and emotions. In addition, the usually peaceful Wyndaria is now swarming with pirates who came seeking for the special spirit stone that is worn around Kaguya's neck. Knowing the situation, Rick and his co-workers, Nellis, Amyl, and Aerie decided to bring back peace to island and help Kaguya regain her lost memories and emotions.Characters
- Main protagonist of the game. Rick is a young swordsman who has drifted to the island of Wyndaria, where he now works at the bakery. He lives alongside a trio of sisters, Nellis, Amyl, and Aerie who work with him in the bakery.
, ,
- A trio of sisters who work with Rick in the bakery and each have their own unique baking abilities.
- A mysterious girl who was washed ashore the island of Wyndaria one day after a great storm. She has lost her memories and along with them, her emotions. Soon after the encounter with Rick, pirates came after her seeking the special spirit stone that is worn around Kaguya's neck.
- Princess of Wynderia. She's kind and gentle, and due to her interest in tea and herbs, she'll often be found in the palace garden. She takes a great interest in Rick and his party.
- Prince of Wynderia, and is Rufina's elder brother. He can often be seen dealing with herbs in the palace garden. He'll serve as a guide for the main character on the player's quest.
- Lorna is Rufina's maid, and also a cook. She belongs to the beast race. She's an expert with blades, and she keeps a good store underneath her dress and in her bag.
- A fickle black cat pirate. She's a member of the beast race. Xiao-Mei normally runs an antique shop, but she's also a thief who refers to herself as "Black Tail."
- An elf from the forest of elves. He has the ability to control spirits. After he hears voices of the spirits warning of an approaching change in the world, Alvin heads off on an investigation with Rick. In battle, he makes use of bows, arrows and magic. Alvin is meant to be a support from the back line. He has great pride.
- A "tsundereTsundereis a Japanese character development process that describes a person who is initially cold and even hostile towards another person before gradually showing their warm side over time. The word is derived from the terms , meaning to turn away in disgust, and meaning to become 'lovey dovey'...
" witch who loves ice magic. She resides in a mansion separate from the village, and because she's not too fond of people and hates the sun, she avoids going out. Rick will end up in the company of Melty as he searches for the ingredients for creating "extreme ice cream." In battle, all Melty's special attacks are ice cream based. She can also make her familiar spirit, Sorbet, absorb her damage.
- Melty's familiar spirit.
- The head of a pirate group, Arc Buccaneers.
- A female pirate.
Music
The background music for Shining Hearts is composed by Hiroki KikutaHiroki Kikuta
is a Japanese video game composer and game designer. His major works are Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3, Soukaigi, and Koudelka, for which he also acted as producer and concept designer. He has composed music for seven other games, and worked as a concept designer in addition to composer for the...
. The soundtrack for the game was released on January 26, 2011. The theme song for the game, entitled , sung by Lia
Lia (singer)
Lia is a female Japanese singer-songwriter who is a former member of I've Sound. Lia has also participated in happy hardcore singing, producing four such albums with this style of singing; these albums have her name in all capital letters. She is notable as the singer for the opening and ending...
, was released on December 15, 2010.