is an action role-playing game

Action role-playing game

Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...

 co-developed by Nextech and Amusement Vision and published by Sega

Sega

, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...

 in 2004 for the Sony

Sony

, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....

 PlayStation 2

PlayStation 2

The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...

 video game console as a part of the Shining Force

Shining Force

Shining Force, known as in Japan, and otherwise known as Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention, is a 1992 turn-based strategy role-playing video game for the Mega Drive/Genesis console...

video game series. It tells the story of a mysterious boy named Xion. An anime adaptation for the game was announced by Sega, entitled Shining Tears X Wind

Shining Tears X Wind

is a Japanese anime based on the PlayStation 2 games Shining Tears and Shining Wind. Shining Tears X Wind presents an adapted version of Shining Winds story, seen through Souma's perspective. It is directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and produced by Studio Deen. The series started airing in Japan on April...

. It is produced by Studio Deen

Studio DEEN

is a Japanese company that produces anime. Three years after Sunrise was founded in 1972, Studio Deen was established by Sunrise's members in 1975. As a result of this, anime shows such as Cowboy Bebop that were produced by Sunrise may have had assistance from Studio Deen.-Produced anime:* Urusei...

 and began airing in early April 2007. A sequel, Shining Wind

Shining Wind

is an action role-playing game developed by Nextech and Amusement Vision and published by Sega for the PlayStation 2, and the 18th game in the Shining video game series. It was released on May 17, 2007 in Japan. The game is the sequel to Shining Tears. The main characters from Shining Tears appear...

, was released in 2007, with return appearances by all the main characters of Shining Tears.

Xion

Xion is an amnesiac boy who carries the Twin Dragon Rings, which he received from his Mother, Zenovia, to use for his training. Xion was washed up on a shore near the inn Heroes Hearth. He is found by the elven girl Elwyn and introduced to Doctor Pios, who nurses him back to health. Xion becomes involved in a series of battles to defend the nation Shildia from aggressors.

Xion has three personalities within him: A somewhat insecure, good hearted young boy (when no one is wearing the other Twin Dragon Ring), a serene, noble hero (when the other bearer of a Ring has a dark soul), and a battle-crazy, insult-flinging fighter (when the other bearer of a Ring has a light soul) though he retains his kind traits even in this form.

In the Japanese version his voice actor is Sōichirō Hoshi

Soichiro Hoshi

is a Japanese seiyū. He is affiliated with Arts Vision.He uses the name when appearing in adult games.With the exception of Jungle Emperor Leo , he has been cast as a major or supporting character in every Goro Taniguchi directed anime.-Anime:...

, who also performed the theme song for the game.

Lazarus

Lazarus is the Dragonian guardian of the priestess Ryuna. As is the rule for Dragonians, Lazarus was raised from the day he hatched to protect the current priestess of the Etwarl Temple, the house of worship for the Dragon God, at all costs. Lazarus' enormous strength and defense are his most noteworthy traits, as well as his protective nature that extends to all his allies. Lazarus is slightly jealous of Xion.

At one point in the game, Lazarus sacrifices his life to protect the party from a devastating magic attack. If the player has developed enough of a friendship with Ryuna, Xion will journey with her to the Tower of Heaven to revive him, though Lazarus will return from the dead at the same point in any case. Upon his revival, Lazarus' soul changes from Light to Dark and this alters the qualities of some of his moves.

Lazarus' seiyuu is Daisuke Gori

Daisuke Gori

was a Japanese voice actor, narrator and actor from Kōtō, Tokyo. Throughout his life, he was attached to TV Talent Center Tokyo, Yoshizawa Theatre School and then Mausu Promotion; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. His real name, as well as his former stage name, was...

.

Neige

Often referred to as the Ice Witch due to her specialization in ice magic, Neige was first identified as a member of Volg's Weissritter group. It is later revealed that she is crown princess of Runevale Kingdom (one of the opposing forces). She was targeted for a murder by her younger brother Galahad, but was rescued by Cupido and taken to Shildia where she joined Weissritter. She's cold, sarcastic and antisocial, but intelligent. She first doubts Xion's potential, but changes her mind once she's fought alongside him. As time passes, her cold personality fades and she's revealed to be a nice and honorable girl. In the war against Runegeist (the new name of Runevale), Galahad is killed, much to her dismay.

Her Japanese voice actress is Megumi Hayashibara

Megumi Hayashibara

is a Japanese voice actress, singer, radio personality, and lyricist from Tokyo. She is currently affiliated with Aksent. Her nicknames include: Megu-san, Megu-nee, Bara-san, Kakka, and Daijin...

.

Story

In the beginning of the story, an elven girl named Elwyn finds Xion washed up on the shore of a river. She checks if he's still alive and as she looks, a ring fell by the water. As Elwyn tried to take it, Xion was on the verge of death so she took him quickly to the village doctor, Pios. When Xion wakes up, he finds himself in The Heroes' Hearth, the tavern of the town Heroes' Way.

He is then confronted by Pios and Elwyn, questioning him on what happened. He says he cannot remember and only vaguely remembers his name. The two introduce themselves to him and he finds both his hands have two strange rings. They would not come off his hands as Pios tries to investigate the rings. The two then explain that the rings could possibly be the Twin Dragon Rings, the legendary rings of power. Discarding the thought, Pios investigates more on the rings as Xion falls asleep.

Ending

A feature of this game is that there is a unique ending involving each of the eight characters that Xion can team up with, making up a total of eight endings. The ending is determined by the character that Xion has developed the highest relationship with.

Advanced Mode

After beating the game the first time and saving the completion data, the player has the option to switch difficulty modes between Normal and Advanced when loading a file from the save screen (either from their first playthrough or subsequent playthroughs); thus a player can level up greatly during Advanced Mode at one location and then switch back to Normal Mode to handle the next area they had trouble with. Advanced Mode offers more of a challenge as enemies have increased their original stats by roughly 30 levels. Additionally, the skill levels of the characters can now reach 20 instead of 10, adding more incentive to train.

Music

Opening Theme

• "Shining Tears"

  Lyrics by: Natsuko Kondo

  Composition and arrangement by: Gou Takahashi

  Performed by: Souichiro Hoshi

Ending Theme

• Lyrics by: Yurie Kokubu

  Composition and arrangement by: Masaki Iwamoto

  Performed by: Souichiro Hoshi

These theme songs were also used in the anime version, Shining Tears X Wind

Shining Tears X Wind

is a Japanese anime based on the PlayStation 2 games Shining Tears and Shining Wind. Shining Tears X Wind presents an adapted version of Shining Winds story, seen through Souma's perspective. It is directed by Hiroshi Watanabe and produced by Studio Deen. The series started airing in Japan on April...

.

External links

• Official Website – English
• Official Website – Japanese