History VideoGame / ShiningForceIII

* AllSwordsAreTheSame: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. There are five different classifications of sword-type weapons: [[HeroesPreferSwords swords]], [[{{BFS}} blades]], [[RoyalRapier rapiers]], [[KnifeNut knives]], and [[KatanasAreJustBetter katanas]]. Because they're all handled differently, they each have their own weapon ranking, with the appropriate special moves to go alongside it.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters

Part of the ''Franchise/ShiningSeries'', Shining Force III was a turn based RPG for the Sega Saturn, released during the Saturn's twilight years, and one of the better games for the console. It is a game in three parts, each one following a different main character in a war between The Aspinian Republic and The Empire of Destonia, from which Aspinia declared independence some years ago. Unbeknownst to either side (but knownst to us!), the war is a cover for a demon-worshiping cult to revive Bulzome, an extremely powerful "Vandal" who ruled the entire continent 1,000 years ago before being sealed away. Only the first chapter was released outside of Japan, meaning the game ends with no resolution to any of the larger plot threads, but a Fan Translation project endeavors to fix that. The game is an indirect sequel to the first-person RPG ''Videogame/ShiningTheHolyArk'' - going so far as to cast a background NPC from the game as the third hero of SFIII - much like the first Shining Force followed up on Shining In The Darkness. Added a number of new features to the series' combat system, including weapon proficiencies, special attacks for each weapon type, statistics for elemental defense, and a "friendship" system that rewards characters who heal each other or fight the same enemies [[ThePowerOfFriendship by improving their stats when they're nearby]]. The English language release features legendarily terrible voice acting.

* SmugSnake: Braff. [[spoiler: In the final chapter of Scenario 1, he betrays the Republic and kidnaps Synbios' nethew, to prevent the Malorie army from helping save the Aspia durring the Emperial Invasion. At first, it seems like he's doing this to avenge his father's death. But even when he is told the truth about his father's death (that he was in reality killed by Fial and not by Synbios), he still insists on fighting Synbios anyway, boasting that "I shall one day be a legendary general myself and would be honored to test my skills against such a warrior!". Which means that he betrayed his country, endangered a child and turned down a chance of redemption, just to stroke his own ego.]]

* [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo One Game for the Price of Three]]

* AllSwordsAreTheSame: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. There are five different classifications of sword-type weapons: [[HeroesPreferSwords swords]], [[{{BFG}} blades]], [[RoyalRapier rapiers]], [[KnifeNut knives]], and [[KatanasAreJustBetter katanas]]. Because they're all handled differently, they each have their own weapon ranking, with the appropriate special moves to go alongside it.

[[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo The game was released in three parts]], [[NoExportForYou only one of which was released outside of Japan]]. In each part, a different hero led his force through a separate side of the story, with all three joining together for the final charge against Bullzome.

* {{Badass}}: Most of the playable characters.

* TheChessmaster: Emperor Domaric, although it doesn't show until the second scenario. He spends more than half the game the victim of a kidnapping plot, but [[spoiler: it turns out he knew the kidnapping was coming and let it happen. Rather than call his traitorous son out immediately, he plants TheMole inside Arrawnt's conspiracy and plays along, allowing the "abduction" to throw both Destonia and Aspia into chaos. When the time is right, TheMole frees Domaric, who takes command of a loyal corps of soldiers within the rebel faction, blackmails Medion into providing ''his'' support, and marches straight on Aspia - just as he's wanted to ever since the country seceded 20 years before. He even sends a bit of behind-the-scenes "help" to the last remnants of the traitors, so they'll be able to knock down Aspia's castle walls for him before they die.]]

Part of the ''Franchise/ShiningSeries'', Shining Force III was a turn based RPG for the Sega Saturn, released during the Saturn's twilight years, and one of the better games for the console. It is a game in three parts, each one following a different main character in a war between The Aspinian Republic and The Empire of Destonia, from which Aspinia declared independence some years ago. Unbeknownst to either side (but knownst to us!), the war is a cover for a demon-worshiping cult to revive Bulzome, an extremely powerful "Vandal" who ruled the entire continent 1,000 years ago before being sealed away. Only the first chapter was released outside of Japan, meaning the game ends with no resolution to any of the larger plot threads, but a Fan Translation project endeavors to fix that. The game is an indirect sequel to the first-person RPG ''Videogame/ShiningTheHolyArk'' - going so far as to cast a background NPC from the game as the third hero of SFIII - much like the first Shining Force followed up on Shining In The Darkness. Added a number of new features to the series' combat system, including weapon proficiencies, special attacks for each weapon type, statistics for elemental defense, and a "friendship" system that rewards characters who heal each other or fight the same enemies [[ThePowerOfFriendship by improving their stats when they're nearby]]. The US release features legendarily terrible voice acting.

* NoExportForYou: Scenarios 2 and 3. Which, given that all three scenarios combine to tell the whole story, really makes it painful.

* MeaningfulName: Lots. Dantares - Dauntless, Cybell/Sibarly - Chivalry, Justin- Justice.

* SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear: Subverted and played straight by Julian.

* TheChessmaster: Emperor Domeric.

* EvilPlan: The plot to abduct Emperor Domaric in the third game [[spoiler:is a rare villain-on-villain EvilPlan, perpetrated by Domaric himself. When he hears that one of his sons is plotting to have him killed, blame it on the breakaway republic of Aspinia, and use the resulting war to seize the throne and conquer the rest of the continent, Domaric sends his own agents to infiltrate his son's conspiracy and allows himself to be kidnapped. Then, when the empire's armies are geared up to invade, Domaric has his mole "free" him, takes control of said army, and marches on Aspinia - just as he's wanted ever since the country seceded 20 years before. He even corners his son's partner in the whole plan, to force him to use an ancient superweapon to break down Aspinia's walls for him.]]

* ThePowerOfFriendship[=/=][[ThePowerOfLove Love]][=/=][[ThePowerOfTrust Trust]]: The Friendship system which will imrpve a character stats when they stand next to a character that they have a leveled up friendship level with.

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* ThePowerOfFriendship[=/=][[ThePowerOfLove Love]][=/=][[ThePowerOfTeamwork Teamwork]]: The Friendship system which will imrpve a character stats when they stand next to a character that they have a leveled up friendship level with.

* ThePowerOfFriendship[=/=][[ThePowerOfLove Love]][=/=][ThePowerOfTeamwork Teamwork]]: The Friendship system which will imrpve a character stats when they stand next to a character that they have a leveled up friendship level with.

Part of the ''Franchise/ShiningSeries'', Shining Force III was a turn based RPG for the Sega Saturn, released during the Saturn's twilight years, and one of the better games for the console. It is a game in three parts, each one following a different main character in a war between The Aspinian Republic and The Empire of Destonia, from which Aspinia declared independence some years ago. Unbeknownst to either side (but knownst to us!), the war is a cover for a demon-worshiping cult to revive Bulzome, an extremely powerful "Vandal" who ruled the entire continent 1,000 years ago before being sealed away. Only the first chapter was released outside of Japan, meaning the game ends with no resolution to any of the larger plot threads, but a Fan Translation project endeavors to fix that. The game is an indirect sequel to the first-person RPG ''Videogame/ShiningTheHolyArk'' - going so far as to cast a background NPC from the game as the third hero of SFIII - much like the first Shining Force followed up on Shining In The Darkness. Added a number of new features to the series' combat system, including weapon proficiencies, special attacks for each weapon type, statistics for elemental defense, and a "friendship" system that rewards characters who heal each other or fight the same enemies by improving their stats when they're nearby. The US release features legendarily terrible voice acting.

* PinkGirlBlueBoy: When a new character speaks for the first time, their name appears in their first dialogue box. The name is in blue for male characters and pink for female characters. IT can come in handy when the gender [[DudeLooksLikeALady isn't completely obvious.]]

* AscendedExtra: Julian was originally an NPC from ''ShiningTheHolyArk''.