If there is a game which makes you feel bad because you know that those good old gaming days are all but gone,
Shining Force was the game which introduced me to the world of RPGs, and eventually, the culprit which made me grew so attached to such a genre. To say that it was a great game is a understatement. It was unparalled, considering what little Genesis offer in the RPG compartment.
The good: This was the first game( at least to me) where the hero did not have any dialogue, other than the occasional head nodding and shaking to express your intentions. The graphics were fantastic with a wonderful blend of colours in an equally beautiful background. The 'promotion' system were something refreshing, and you will be dying to promote your characters to see their new 'outlook'. There are tons of characters to choose from, and you will find yourself wanting for more after you have beat the game once. To add a finishing touch to this already wonderful game, it offered great music.
The bad: Although you are given a choice to select your characters, most of them can be characterised into 2 groups: the excellent and the mediocre. Therefore, you will find yourself using the same old few characters to make your job less of a chore. There aint much character development, and for some, none at all.
This is a great game, considering the wonderful experience you could uncover. Some of the flaws can be overlooked easily. It's a pity this game hasn't had much of a decent predesessor since SF 2 and 3. The Shining series will be attached to the SEGA name forever, and one that they will have a hard time trying to emulate( just think shining force neo).