Yeah, the PS2 is certainly a questionable piece of hardware.
Personally, I think the Neo team never intended to even try to develop a Strategy/RPG. Instead, they simply tried to do what they do best.
Sega should give the job to a more capable team in my humble opinion. The Panzer team springs to mind… if they aren’t busy working on a new Panzer game of course. I bet they could not only develop a great Shining Force game that’s true to its roots, but make it look better than SF Neo in the process.
[quote=“Geoffrey Duke”]Yeah, the PS2 is certainly a questionable piece of hardware.
Personally, I think the Neo team never intended to even try to develop a Strategy/RPG. Instead, they simply tried to do what they do best.
Sega should give the job to a more capable team in my humble opinion. The Panzer team springs to mind… if they aren’t busy working on a new Panzer game of course. I bet they could not only develop a great Shining Force game that’s true to its roots, but make it look better than SF Neo in the process. [/quote]
Yes it’s starting to look that way and I’ve mentioned it before. If Sega was as strict as Nintendo this would have never have happened. The only good thing now is that Sega has a more visble commander in cheif and he seems very no nonsense. The problem is GD is that your prediction of the game
being popular may happen as it’s got two good reviews from Japan’s leading
game mags. If the game is a smash hit , Sega will just keep making more games of SHINING FORCE NEO which will validate that asshole’s decision that changing the style of the game to create his personal Kingdom Hearts was warranted. Feh.
[quote=“RPGFan”]Q: Sega has revived its world renowned Shining Force series, but why is it that Shining Force Neo is being developed as an action RPG, and not a strategy RPG like previous installments. Furthermore, is there a possibility, that Sega will announce a new Shining Force strategy RPG in the future?
A: Because nowadays the strategy RPG Shining Force (editor’s note: Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon, the GameBoy Advance remake of the original Shining Force) can be played well enough on the GameBoy Advance, when we create [a game] for PlayStation 2, we want to create a game content, which makes [full] use of the PlayStation 2’s capabilities and as a result of the members of the development team doing some trial and error [tests], it turned out to be a 3D action game with a character formation and map-captured strategy style a la Shining Force Neo. Since we have created an exciting and at the same time refreshing action RPG, I really hope all of your readers will play the game as well.
Furthermore, if we talk about the future of the Shining series, since the series from the very beginning has featured various RPG genres, I believe, the possibility of a new simulation RPG being developed at some point exists. In this case, the previous game system will probably evolve.[/quote]
He claims that strategy RPGs don’t make full use of the PS2’s power and yet he claims that a new strategy RPG is possible in the future. Well if such a game is possible in the future, why the hell isn’t it reasonable to make one now that makes “full use of the PlayStation 2’s capabilities” instead of Shining Force Neo? Unless the next generation of consoles magically become more suited for strategy RPGs again?
Sega must enjoy torturing us. SF Neo was just released in Japan, so we will know soon if sacrificing the turn-based gameplay of the older games for a real-time combat system was worth it.
The truth of the matter is, the Shining Force series has already been taken into the 3D realm with great success, and the series can only benefit from the power of the current generation consoles. You only need to look at Shining Force 3 to see how the series could go forward.
For a game that supposedly doesn’t take full advantage of the GameCube’s power and belongs on a hand-held console by Tadashi Takezaki’s inane logic, the new Fire Emblem sure as hell looks better than Shining Force Neo. I doubt that the new Fire Emblem game could even be fully replicated on the PS2. He is clearly trying to make vain excuses to hide the true reasons for turning SF Neo into Action/RPG, and those reasons revolve around the fact that today’s breed of Action/RPGs are simply more marketable than “simulation RPGs”. He should at least have the decency to be honest about it.
[quote=“RPGFan”]Q: Sega has revived its world renowned Shining Force series, but why is it that Shining Force Neo is being developed as an action RPG, and not a strategy RPG like previous installments. Furthermore, is there a possibility, that Sega will announce a new Shining Force strategy RPG in the future?
A: Because nowadays the strategy RPG Shining Force (editor’s note: Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon, the GameBoy Advance remake of the original Shining Force) can be played well enough on the GameBoy Advance, when we create [a game] for PlayStation 2, we want to create a game content, which makes [full] use of the PlayStation 2’s capabilities and as a result of the members of the development team doing some trial and error [tests], it turned out to be a 3D action game with a character formation and map-captured strategy style a la Shining Force Neo. Since we have created an exciting and at the same time refreshing action RPG, I really hope all of your readers will play the game as well.
Furthermore, if we talk about the future of the Shining series, since the series from the very beginning has featured various RPG genres, I believe, the possibility of a new simulation RPG being developed at some point exists. In this case, the previous game system will probably evolve.[/quote]
He claims that strategy RPGs don’t make full use of the PS2’s power and yet he claims that a new strategy RPG is possible in the future. Well if such a game is possible in the future, why the hell isn’t it reasonable to make one now that makes “full use of the PlayStation 2’s capabilities” instead of Shining Force Neo? Unless the next generation of consoles magically become more suited for strategy RPGs again?[/quote]
But in a way he’s basically saying that the PS2 can’t handle a Sega made
SRPG. I have noticed some sort of snobbery with Sega developers in concern
of the PS2 platform. AM2 refused to port SHENMUE 2 or any other significant titles apart from VF4, AM2 has hardly made any other games since Sega become third party,Smilebit once said that JET SET RADIO could never be replicated on the PS2 and Overworks abandoned porting SKIES OF ARCADIA
to the machine as well. Sonic Team was no less but ordered to start developing games for PS2 and stop focusing on Nintendo so Sega would make more money.
In the old regime I think the developers got away with a lot but under this
Sammy management that won’t happen anymore.
[quote=“Geoffrey Duke”]Sega must enjoy torturing us. SF Neo was just released in Japan, so we will know soon if sacrificing the turn-based gameplay of the older games for a real-time combat system was worth it.
The truth of the matter is, the Shining Force series has already been taken into the 3D realm with great success, and the series can only benefit from the power of the current generation consoles. You only need to look at Shining Force 3 to see how the series could go forward.[/quote]
YOu know though I actually liked the STHA/SF3 story arc better than the SF1, 2 and CD one. The Soul 1 + 2 story line was a joke. I just wish they would get Camelot back, but not much chance of that
I’m still certain that Sega is more capable of making Shining Force IV than Camelot ever was.
Unfortunately, if the Sakura Taisen and Shining project manager himself doesn’t see a future for “simulation RPGs” (a genre Sega helped pioneer) on any of the home consoles, then we might as well abandon all hope.
I wish I shared your certainty. I mean, what must have titles have Sega actually released in the last few years? The last memorable Sega game that I played was Panzer Dragoon Orta.
On the other hand, Camelot have made the Golden Sun games, which while not perfect (I’ve only played the first one though), kept the Shining look and feel to them and introduced some creative ideas to the genre. A “Golden Force” game could be better than any Shining game that Sega has created IMO.
Sega still has the Dragon Force team and the Panzer team at their disposal. Phantasy Star Universe is also shaping up to be something quite special indeed, too (especially since it’s both Phantasy Star V and Phantasy Star Online 2 in one single package).
I don’t think all hope is lost for Sega, but I do think that Sega should find a suitable replacement for Tadashi Takezaki. Someone who sees the potential for greatness Shining Force IV has on one of the next generation consoles would do the trick. >:)
After all, where would this series be now without the Force games that helped pioneer the Strategy/RPG genre?
I wish I shared your certainty. I mean, what must have titles have Sega actually released in the last few years? The last memorable Sega game that I played was Panzer Dragoon Orta.[/quote]
?!
Why would Sega suddenly lose competence?
They are broke.The reason why people haven’t seen the same number of must have titles is because Sega can’t afford to go indie right now.
They are broke.The reason why people haven’t seen the same number of must have titles is because Sega can’t afford to go indie right now.[/quote]
The thing is, Sega aren’t just making mediocre niche titles, pretty much all their games suck at the moment. Again, what must have titles have we seen since Panzer Dragoon Orta, mainstream or otherwise?
I don’t see why Sega can’t make some must have titles with mainstream appeal. What’s stopping them? I’d much rather play some Sega games like Halo or Grand Theft Auto if they were good, than what Sega are currently churning out.
[quote=“Geoffrey Duke”]Sega still has the Dragon Force team and the Panzer team at their disposal. Phantasy Star Universe is also shaping up to be something quite special indeed, too (especially since it’s both Phantasy Star V and Phantasy Star Online 2 in one single package).
I don’t think all hope is lost for Sega, but I do think that Sega should find a suitable replacement for Tadashi Takezaki. Someone who sees the potential for greatness Shining Force IV has on one of the next generation consoles would do the trick. >:)[/quote]
I guess if the Panzer team were given the opportunity to work on a true Shining Force game all hope might not be gone yet. What games are the Dragon Force team currently working on, by the way?
I’d still rather see a new Camelot SRPG than a Shining Force game from Sega though… Camelot have already proven that they can make good strategy RPGs, whereas other Sega development teams might want to make a series of action Shining Force games… as we have seen with Amusement Vision.
[quote=“Geoffrey Duke”]Sega still has the Dragon Force team and the Panzer team at their disposal. Phantasy Star Universe is also shaping up to be something quite special indeed, too (especially since it’s both Phantasy Star V and Phantasy Star Online 2 in one single package).
I don’t think all hope is lost for Sega, but I do think that Sega should find a suitable replacement for Tadashi Takezaki. Someone who sees the potential for greatness Shining Force IV has on one of the next generation consoles would do the trick. >:)
After all, where would this series be now without the Force games that helped pioneer the Strategy/RPG genre?[/quote]
which is strange because Sega are still making SRPGs just not of SHINING FORCE. What’s also strange is this guy’s attitude towards the series. This is a guy that is in charge of Sega’s succesful SAKURA TAISEN series which is also a SRPG and a date sim combined. Yet he was probably responsible for that series straying towards the ARPG genre when SAKURA TAISEN V:EPISODE 0 was released. He may be albe to get away with changing SHINING FORCE but SAKURA TAISEN is a different matter entirely. If he has such contempt for SRPG which came across in his Sega Voice interview (which he stated that he wanted the action to be more fluid and not time consuming) then why on earth would Sega give him sole responsiblity of
their most succesful SRPG franchises?
If anyone has seen the latest pictures of PSU at Gamefront you would be almost mistaken that it was the same game. The lead characters are very similar to each other even down to the large sword they carry.
I can only see that if NEO flops and STV does n’t sell then Sega will kick him off from his position. It may be the only way to save the future of the SHINING FORCE games.
[quote=“Solo Wing Dragon”]What games are the Dragon Force team currently working on, by the way?
I’d still rather see a new Camelot SRPG than a Shining Force game from Sega though… Camelot have already proven that they can make good strategy RPGs, whereas other Sega development teams might want to make a series of action Shining Force games… as we have seen with Amusement Vision.[/quote]
The Dragon Force team is currently working on the Dragon Force remake. The original game screamed Sega quality.
I don’t ever foresee Camelot working for Sega again (especially now that Camelot are working on their own console RPG). The best we can hope for is that the people at Sega finally come to their senses.
I suppose in the worst case scenario we can look forward to many more Diablo-clones for years to come.
Of course, if that’s what consumers want then there’s nothing we can do about it.
[quote=“Solo Wing Dragon”]What games are the Dragon Force team currently working on, by the way?
I’d still rather see a new Camelot SRPG than a Shining Force game from Sega though… Camelot have already proven that they can make good strategy RPGs, whereas other Sega development teams might want to make a series of action Shining Force games… as we have seen with Amusement Vision.[/quote]
The Dragon Force team is currently working on the Dragon Force remake. The original game screamed Sega quality.[/quote]
I wish they would do a compilation remake with 2, that game is crying out for translation.
SF Neo was just released in Japan, so we will know soon if sacrificing the turn-based gameplay of the older games for a real-time combat system was worth it.