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Shining the Holy Ark (Saturn)

Shining the Holy Ark Saturn
Genre: Role-Playing (RPG)
Perspective: 1st-person
Setting: Fantasy
Pacing: Turn-based
Art: Anime / Manga
Published by: SEGA of America
Developed by: Camelot Software Planning
Released: 1997
Platform: SEGA Saturn

The gameplay is similar to that of Shining in the Darkness. The player explores dungeons and towers with first person view, and battles that take place exclusively in dungeons.
Although the battles have sequences with a first person view, the player can also see the actions of his companions. A unique mechanism is the "pixie" system, where the player can "summon" his "pixies" to fight enemies as a team.

Plot

Three mercenaries (Arthur, Melody and Forte) are sent by the King of Enrich to hunt and capture the renegade ninja named Rodi. In the pursuit of the ninja, the mercenaries are seriously injured, but they are quickly cured by strange spirits, while possessing their bodies. Arthur, Melody and Rodi managed to free themselves, but Forte was possessed by an evil spirit. From now on the fight will focus on preventing the re-emergence of a legendary kingdom of more than 1,000 years, whose goal will be to plunge humanity into darkness.

Characters

  • Arthur: A mercenary swordsman, protagonist of the story. It is possessed by a spirit. As you progress through the levels, the character acquires magical abilities. The game unfolds seen by his eyes.
  • Melody: Mercenary shaman, is possessed by a spirit. Use magical healing abilities and offensive spells.
  • Rodi: Ninja from the Far East Village. It is possessed by a spirit.
  • Forte: Mercenary sorcerer. He is possessed by an evil spirit for a time.
  • Lisa: Mercenaria-solado very skillful with the sword and with magical abilities. It is a paladin.
  • Basso: Mercenary man-dragon, companion of Lisa.
  • Akane: A Kunoichi, Rodi's sister.
  • Doyle: Ninja werewolf. It appears several times as an unusable character, but later becomes playable, hidden.

Non-playable characters

  • Rilix: Vandal who gives recommendations to the king. One of the main enemies of the game.
  • Sabato: Responsible for summoning Galm back to the mortal world. By manipulating the course of events, it will be possible for good to triumph over evil.
  • Lord of the Far East Village: Elf leader of the Far East Village. Father of Rodi and Akane, and adoptive father of Panzer. Provides help and recommendations to the team in their fight against Rilix.
  • Galam: The most powerful vandal.
  • Elise: Sister of Rilix; like Galam, he is not interested in reviving the kingdom of 1,000 years.
  • Panzer: Young vandal of the Far Villa del Este, seeks to revive the kingdom of 1,000 years. One of the main enemies.

Continuity in the Shining series

"Shinig the Holy Ark" takes place 10 years after Shining Force III. In the tower of Enrich Arthur and the others meet a young boy named Julian. He tells them that his father wanted to investigate a mansion in the forest, but he never returned. Since then Julian is in the care of a friend of the family. It is soon discovered that his father was killed by Galm, one of the Vandals who lived in the dark kingdom era of more than 1,000 years old. The death of his father drives him to take revenge against Galm, who was involved in events corresponding to Shining Force III.