Shining Force Walkthrough for the Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection
A full walkthrough for the original Shining Force exists for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. Here is where to find it, how to start the game, and why your version can change what the guide shows.
In this article
You can follow a complete Shining Force walkthrough for the original Sega Genesis game, and a fan-run site already publishes one. Shining Force is a classic Sega Genesis/Mega Drive RPG [1][2]. The site Shining Force: The Ultimate Guide describes itself as a complete guide for that game [2]. For a closer look, read Shining Force.
This article helps you find that guide, get the original game running, and understand why your copy might not match the walkthrough. Shining Force has been released on several systems, including the Sega Mega Drive, iOS, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online and Steam [1]. That means the version you own decides which steps and screens you will see.
Read on for how to start the game and what differs between versions. Then pick the guide that fits your copy and follow it from the first battle.
Which walkthrough should you follow?
If you want a walkthrough for the original Shining Force, ShiningForceCentral's Shining Force: The Ultimate Guide is a solid pick. It covers the classic Sega Genesis/Mega Drive RPG [2].
The site describes itself as a complete guide for the original game [2]. That matters because the Sega Genesis Ultimate Collection is built around the original Genesis release, so a guide written for that game lines up with what you will see on screen.
How to use it
Follow the guide chapter by chapter instead of jumping ahead to the boss fights. Shining Force rewards you for recruiting characters as you go, and a missed recruit or a skipped battle can leave you short on party members later. Working through the chapters in order keeps your party complete from the start.
Keep the guide open in a window or on a second screen while you play. When a chapter ends, read the next section before you start its first battle, so you know who joins and where to go. It also helps to read Shining Force Character Recruitment Guide.
If you find yourself stuck, look up only the part you need rather than reading ahead. That way you keep the discovery of the story and the battles, while still getting past the spot that is blocking you.
How do you start Shining Force on a Genesis?
To start Shining Force, power the console down, load the cartridge, and then switch it back on. Following that order gets the game running with no extra setup.
- Make sure the power switch is OFF. Do this before you touch the cartridge. [3]
- Insert the Shining Force cartridge into the console. Press it in until it sits snugly in the slot. [3]
- Turn the power switch ON. Wait for the Sega logo to appear, which tells you the console has started up. [3]
The order matters more than it looks. If another game is still in the console, eject it before you insert Shining Force, since a Genesis slot holds one cartridge at a time.
If the Sega logo doesn't appear, the cartridge may not be fully seated. Power down, press it in again, and repeat step 3. Once the logo fades, the title screen loads, and you can start your first battle with the opening chapter of your walkthrough.
Why might your version not match the walkthrough?
Your copy may not match this walkthrough, because the Shining Force name covers more than one game. Shining Force CD is one release, and it came out in the US in 1995 for the Sega CD [4]. If you are playing that disc, expect a different experience from the Genesis cartridge this walkthrough follows.
Shining Force CD is also a remake of two Game Gear Shining Force games [4]. That means its maps, battles, and story beats can differ from the Genesis original. For example, if your first battle looks nothing like the one described here, you are probably not on the Genesis game.
Those entries all point to the same original game, so this walkthrough applies to whichever of these you are playing. Start with the Genesis/Mega Drive cartridge when you follow the steps.
When you read a walkthrough online, keep the release in mind. A guide written for one version may use names or battle order that your copy does not follow.
What should you do next?
The one thing to remember is that a walkthrough only helps when it matches your copy of the game. Pick the walkthrough that matches your version of Shining Force before you follow any step, so the battles on your screen line up with the guide.
Next, start the game with the steps above and keep the guide open beside you. Move through the battles one chapter at a time rather than jumping ahead. Skipping ahead is how players miss recruits and story events.
ShiningForceCentral's Shining Force: The Ultimate Guide describes itself as a complete guide for the classic Sega Genesis/Mega Drive RPG, Shining Force [2].