Shining Resonance Refrain which was originally only released in Japan is finally coming out in the West. This game is another vast Anime RPG that tells a majestic story starring a character named Yuma Ilvern. Yuma at first might not seem like a hero type, but through an adventure, he will grow and learn to become a force to be reckoned with.
Yuma is joined by quite the cast of characters including the knightly princess Sonia Blanche and the Diva Magica Kirika Towa Alma. It is with these two characters that the adventure begins and Yuma is starting off on the right foot. There are other characters like Rinna Mayfield, Agnum Bulletheart, and Kirika’s brother Lestin Serra Alma. A grand bunch of characters all out to save the world even with all their quirks. Such as the fact that Kirika can’t seem to talk in a casual way or Agnum’s over the top character.
The story itself revolves around Yuma and his power known as the Shining Dragon. He can, in fact, turn into this fabled beast even though he has trepidation. He is unsure of himself but when push comes to shove he uses this power to cause great damage. There are other dragons under the control of Excella such as Trishula, Gae Bolg, and Gugnir, and with talk of Ragnarok, it’s awesome. With dragons on the table, war is close and Yuma will have to work hard to get through this trouble.
This game is all about the characters, and the characters all shine in their own way. It is fantastic to see these characters interact and show off what they are. As the player progresses through the game they see other sides of these characters. This is done through Dates and Campfire interaction. Simply ask whoever it is the player wants to talk to, and they should be up for a conversation. These conversations change and grow depending on the player’s choice and the relationship between the characters. There are in fact multiple endings in this game, one for every character. It may behoove the player to max out all of these relationships.
The characters also get to know each other and raise their friendship level. When this happens they are able to join together in battle and help each other out quickly. Soon the characters will be leveraging their friendship to allow for bonuses in stats and healing. Raising the friendship level comes naturally, but it is good to make note of how characters act so the player doesn’t damage the relationships.
Music is also a very important idea in this game, and as the game starts music instantly makes its presence known. Defeating the first enemy in the game the player hears a musical interlude that is actually sad. It made me feel like I had killed a man who might not have deserved it. As the player adds to their party the ending music for every battle is added to like a symphony of sound. In this game, music plays a big part through the Band System. This is where the character’s band together to take down enemies. It is an interesting thing to see the characters wield their weapons as instruments. The performances can also add buffs to the party which can be useful.
Players gain skills and their tuning level rises as they battle. The tuning level is just as important as the skill level and can be leveled up with scores the player finds around the world. Music is definitely an important aspect and it is cool that they’ve been able to tie the power of music into this game’s DNA.
This game is a quick action styled RPG. The battles flow quickly and the player has energy that constantly is in flux. It is never good for the player to attack willy-nilly. The player needs to switch between single attacks and charged attacsk. There is also magic that can do a significant amount of damage. Often it is just fun to slam through enemy after enemy, however.
The world itself is flush with life and looks great. It is clear this game was worked on with an attention to detail. The characters look great regardless of whether they’re the main characters or NPCs. The world is vast and holds many secrets and environments. It is something to behold watching the world spread out before the player.
Voice acting is present in this game and that instantly makes it even better in my opinion. I always enjoy hearing the characters speak. Though, it would have been better if there was an auto button, as the conversations can go on for a while. But having voice acting most of the time is definitely a plus.
There is a brand new mode in this game called Refrain mode. This mode allows for two previously unplayable characters Princess Excella and Dragonslayer Jinas to be playable. This adds another layer to the story but it is better to play the game first. Refrain mode adds to the story and can spoil things if the player hasn’t actually completed the story once already. It is great to see that this game is out and adding to the the lore of the world with an additional game mode.
It is also good to note that this game holds all of the DLC from the previous release. Having all of the DLC costumes at the player’s disposal adds a layer of customization, which is nice. The costumes all look great too even in battle and it is nice to be able to deck out the character’s as the player sees fit.
It is always great for RPG’s that haven’t come West to finally do so. This one is no exception, as it looks absolutely amazing and has a Tales series vibe. Clearly, when playing the game, if the player has enjoyed the Tales series they will see some similarities. It is always nice to see that the great new games are made with some of the magic of other series.
Shining Resonance Refrain is an excellent RPG and one worth playing. This game has fresh ideas that mix things up and to add to the flair of the game. Performing in battle and working to connect characters flows well. This game is a treat to play and should entertain the player for hours. It’s time to get the band together and to save the world!