Shining Soul (2002). Play online

Summary

Shining Soul drops you into a clash between the Dark Dragon and the elite Shining Fleet. At the start you pick one of four classes—Warrior, Archer, Wizard or Dragonute—and can customize colors, weapons and armor. Though it plays like a fast hack‑and‑slash, every kill grants experience that can be invested in strength, dexterity and other base stats, plus class‑specific skill points such as melee defense for the Warrior or critical‑hit boost for the Archer.

Combat stays frenetic, and the ability to swap between melee and magic keeps encounters fresh. Leveling also raises weapon and magic proficiencies, reinforcing each class’s personality while preserving the Shining series’ magic aesthetic.

Up to four players can link‑cable together for co‑op dungeon runs, turning solo grind into chaotic fun. The game launched in Europe in early 2003 via Infogrames, while THQ never released it in the U.S., giving it a niche following. Reviews hovered around the mid‑55s on GameRankings, but colorful sprites and four‑player mode earned it lasting fans. A sequel, Shining Soul II, appeared in 2003, and both titles were re‑issued in Japan’s 2006 Value Selection.

Storyline

Shining Soul unfolds in the mystical land of Rune, a realm now threatened by the Dark Dragon. This fearsome creature has mustered an army of Darkness, intent on tearing the world apart. The hero you control belongs to the legendary Shining Fleet, a band of warriors sworn to protect Rune. The Fleet has already cornered the Dark Dragon and its five generals within the cursed region of Runefaust. With the enemy forces contained, the fleet is gearing up for a decisive final assault to end the looming devastation.