GuestLog in

This is the first hack I have played that feels like an improvement over the original game and not just an alternative. I pride myself on beating hard NES games (Battlettoads, Mega Man etc) and I rank SF2 up there with those games with this patch. This is impressive because usually rpgs are not challenging. This patch is not for everyone. Battles take a really long time and I was hitting the reset button a lot. It was frustrating but I got a major sense of accomplishment when I beat this one.

Pros: characters more balanced (could be a con if Peter is your favorite character); challenging; new spells for some characters (like that godzilla guy);looks and feels like the original

Cons: not much; the new spell icons are garbled looking (very minor complaint...I'm reaching here);

Things that might be a con for some: Character stats and spells have been changed(not really a con for me but it might bother you if your favorite character has been nerfed); because of the difficulty I found myself relying on the "desoul reset button" trick a lot; The last battle is so hard, and there is no egress spell in this hack, so it is very possible that you could get stuck at the end and not be able to beat the game (multiple save states could help).

Quite simply - this hack (version 1.01) is what the Super difficulty mode of the game (hardest difficulty) SHOULD have been like.

But just leaving it at that doesn't give Obob enough credit for this masterpiece. Not only does he manage to turn up the difficulty level to a decently challenging level that at the same time is not impossible by any means; he also manages to give each and every character in the game a strategical use with the careful rebalancing he has undertaken.

On top of this, the original 'feeling' of the game is not lost - although a lot of work has obviously gone into this hack, Obob has changed very little outside of the characters and monsters leaving the original content of the game mostly untouched and thus not ruining this game's fantastic 'Shining' atmosphere.

Maybe you've played through Shining Force II a few times and you wish you could get back that initial feeling of challenge and urgency in the battles. Maybe you're sick of using the same characters on each and every playthrough because some of them simply aren't viable enough. Or maybe you're new to the Shining series but have played other, harder SRPG titles such as Fire Emblem (or are a veteran of other 'Shining' games and have not yet taken the delve into Shining Force II yet) and are afraid Shining Force II simply will not be challenging enough for you. Whatever the case, look no further - you've found the hack for you.

I'm a shining force veteran. I've been playing the games for about 12 years, and I love them. But in that time, the games show their age, and having gone through them again and again, the game becomes too easy, and the challenge wanes. This hack shakes things up, shatters previous expectations, and pulls the rug from under you. The difficulty rebalance makes what was a mildly entertaining yet easy game into a challenging tactical masterpiece. It is not for the beginner, and I would recommend one or two playthroughs before attempting this hack. If you're a fan of Shining Force 2, but feel it lacks the challenge it once had, apply this to a copy of your rom. It'll surprise you.

p.s. even veterans fear Super difficulty. ;)