![Shining Force III (Saturn) Playthrough [1 of 3] @NintendoComplete](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XnPdZvZJIrg/maxresdefault.jpg)
Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A playthrough of Sega's 1998 strategy-RPG for the Sega Saturn, Shining Force III.
This is the first part of a three-part playthrough. The other parts can be found at:
Part 2: youtu.be/lxAoyO-gOoI
Part 3: youtu.be/QXOo3_eBfxw
In this video:
4:07 Chapter 1 "Nightmare in the Floating City of Saraband"
2:52:52 Chapter 2 "Cross-Continental Railway"
5:49:44 Chapter 3 "Target: Guardian Statue of Elbesem"
Shining Force III was the penultimate North American release for the Sega Saturn. It followed four years after Shining Force II's 1994 release on the Sega Genesis, and it was the last of the Shining games to be made by Camelot.
Shining Force III is a localization of Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin (シャイニングフォースIIIシナリオ1「王都の巨神」, lit. "The Royal Capital's Giant"). Because of its massive scope, SF3 was split up into three parts, but only the first of them was officially released outside of Japan. (Scenarios 2 & 3 have since been translated by fans and made playable on original Saturn hardware.)
In Scenario 1, you play as Synbios, a noble who finds himself leading his forces to war after peace talks between the nations of Aspinia and Destonia break down during a conference in the city of Saraband.
Built on the strong foundation laid by the previous Shining Force titles, SF3 feels incredibly familiar, but it offers several improvements. The battlefields feature dynamic elements that can shake up conditions mid-battle, a friendship system has been implemented, characters can unlock abilities and spells as their skill improves with certain weapon types, the story is far more complex and political in nature than anything seen in the previous games, the JRPG-style exploration segments have been fleshed out, and everything is now presented in 3D.
It strikes the perfect balance between old and new. The systems are about as straightforward as they were in the 16-bit titles, and the nuances introduced by the new mechanics help to keep the game fresh and challenging without sacrificing accessibility. The modernized graphics are flashy, impressive, and greatly improve the readability of the battlefield. The expanded scope of the plot and the creativity shown in the set-pieces make for a more substantial and engaging experience overall. The only major drawbacks are how often the characters drone on and on without saying anything meaningful, and how harsh the attack animations can be on the eyes. (If you have photosensitivity issues, you might want to pass on this one. The rapid, high contrast strobing effects become increasingly intense as the game goes on.)
Shining Force III perfects the series' formula, and though it's a real shame that only the first scenario made its way westward, it still offers a ton of quality gameplay that'll keep you hooked for a long while.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
A playthrough of Sega's 1998 strategy-RPG for the Sega Saturn, Shining Force III.
This is the first part of a three-part playthrough. The other parts can be found at:
Part 2: youtu.be/lxAoyO-gOoI
Part 3: youtu.be/QXOo3_eBfxw
In this video:
4:07 Chapter 1 "Nightmare in the Floating City of Saraband"
2:52:52 Chapter 2 "Cross-Continental Railway"
5:49:44 Chapter 3 "Target: Guardian Statue of Elbesem"
Shining Force III was the penultimate North American release for the Sega Saturn. It followed four years after Shining Force II's 1994 release on the Sega Genesis, and it was the last of the Shining games to be made by Camelot.
Shining Force III is a localization of Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin (シャイニングフォースIIIシナリオ1「王都の巨神」, lit. "The Royal Capital's Giant"). Because of its massive scope, SF3 was split up into three parts, but only the first of them was officially released outside of Japan. (Scenarios 2 & 3 have since been translated by fans and made playable on original Saturn hardware.)
In Scenario 1, you play as Synbios, a noble who finds himself leading his forces to war after peace talks between the nations of Aspinia and Destonia break down during a conference in the city of Saraband.
Built on the strong foundation laid by the previous Shining Force titles, SF3 feels incredibly familiar, but it offers several improvements. The battlefields feature dynamic elements that can shake up conditions mid-battle, a friendship system has been implemented, characters can unlock abilities and spells as their skill improves with certain weapon types, the story is far more complex and political in nature than anything seen in the previous games, the JRPG-style exploration segments have been fleshed out, and everything is now presented in 3D.
It strikes the perfect balance between old and new. The systems are about as straightforward as they were in the 16-bit titles, and the nuances introduced by the new mechanics help to keep the game fresh and challenging without sacrificing accessibility. The modernized graphics are flashy, impressive, and greatly improve the readability of the battlefield. The expanded scope of the plot and the creativity shown in the set-pieces make for a more substantial and engaging experience overall. The only major drawbacks are how often the characters drone on and on without saying anything meaningful, and how harsh the attack animations can be on the eyes. (If you have photosensitivity issues, you might want to pass on this one. The rapid, high contrast strobing effects become increasingly intense as the game goes on.)
Shining Force III perfects the series' formula, and though it's a real shame that only the first scenario made its way westward, it still offers a ton of quality gameplay that'll keep you hooked for a long while.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!
![Shining Force III (Saturn) Playthrough [1 of 3]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XnPdZvZJIrg/mqdefault.jpg "Shining Force III (Saturn) Playthrough [1 of 3]
A playthrough of Segas 1998 strategy-RPG for the Sega Saturn, Shining Force III.
This is the first part of a three-part playthrough. The other parts can be found at:
Part 2: https://youtu.be/lxAoyO-gOoI
Part 3: https://youtu.be/QXOo3_eBfxw
In this video:
4:07 Chapter 1 Nightmare in the Floating City of Saraband
2:52:52 Chapter 2 Cross-Continental Railway
5:49:44 Chapter 3 Target: Guardian Statue of Elbesem
Shining Force III was the penultimate North American release for the Sega Saturn. It followed four years after Shining Force IIs 1994 release on the Sega Genesis, and it was the last of the Shining games to be made by Camelot.
Shining Force III is a localization of Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin (シャイニングフォースIIIシナリオ1「王都の巨神」, lit. The Royal Capitals Giant). Because of its massive scope, SF3 was split up into three parts, but only the first of them was officially released outside of Japan. (Scenarios 2 & 3 have since been translated by fans and made playable on original Saturn hardware.)
In Scenario 1, you play as Synbios, a noble who finds himself leading his forces to war after peace talks between the nations of Aspinia and Destonia break down during a conference in the city of Saraband.
Built on the strong foundation laid by the previous Shining Force titles, SF3 feels incredibly familiar, but it offers several improvements. The battlefields feature dynamic elements that can shake up conditions mid-battle, a friendship system has been implemented, characters can unlock abilities and spells as their skill improves with certain weapon types, the story is far more complex and political in nature than anything seen in the previous games, the JRPG-style exploration segments have been fleshed out, and everything is now presented in 3D.
It strikes the perfect balance between old and new. The systems are about as straightforward as they were in the 16-bit titles, and the nuances introduced by the new mechanics help to keep the game fresh and challenging without sacrificing accessibility. The modernized graphics are flashy, impressive, and greatly improve the readability of the battlefield. The expanded scope of the plot and the creativity shown in the set-pieces make for a more substantial and engaging experience overall. The only major drawbacks are how often the characters drone on and on without saying anything meaningful, and how harsh the attack animations can be on the eyes. (If you have photosensitivity issues, you might want to pass on this one. The rapid, high contrast strobing effects become increasingly intense as the game goes on.)
Shining Force III perfects the series formula, and though its a real shame that only the first scenario made its way westward, it still offers a ton of quality gameplay thatll keep you hooked for a long while.
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!")
![Rushing Beat Ran (SNES) Playthrough [English Translation]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XwNQZamaxnk/mqdefault.jpg "Rushing Beat Ran (SNES) Playthrough [English Translation]
Rushing Beat Ran (SNES) Playthrough [English Translation]")
![Phantasy Star II (Genesis) Playthrough [2 of 2]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YPwAWM4cE8c/mqdefault.jpg "Phantasy Star II (Genesis) Playthrough [2 of 2]
Phantasy Star II (Genesis) Playthrough [2 of 2]")
![Final Fantasy II (NES) Playthrough [2 of 2]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YhTMZDQko54/mqdefault.jpg "Final Fantasy II (NES) Playthrough [2 of 2]
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![Getsu Fuuma Den (Famicom) Playthrough [English]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZsJzcATo0zs/mqdefault.jpg "Getsu Fuuma Den (Famicom) Playthrough [English]
A playthrough of Konamis 1987 horror-themed action-adventure game for the Nintendo Famicom, Getsu Fuuma Den (月風魔伝).
Since the game was a Japanese exclusive, I used a translation patch for this recording. You can find the patch at https://www.romhacking.net/translations/3482/
Getsu Fuuma Den follows the story of Fuuma, the youngest of a trio of brothers who ruled over the surface kingdom. The demon Ryuukotuki rose from Hell to take over the world, and the three fought fiercely with their legendary pulse swords, but it was not enough. Fuuma, the lone survivor, now seeks to recover his fallen brothers swords and wreak vengeance on the one who took everything from him.
That sounds a lot like the setup for Namcos Genpei Toumaden and its sequel, Samurai Ghost (https://youtu.be/bVQl-RvvMaY), dont you think?
And if Fuumas name sounds familiar, thats probably because hes based on the fabled Sengoku-era badass Fuuma Koutaro, leader of the Fuuma ninja and rival of Hattori Hanzou. He has been the basis for many video game characters, including Fuuma from the World Heroes series and Koutaro from Onimusha 2. The Fuma shuriken from Final Fantasy IV was also named after him.
Getsu Fuuma Den sees Fuuma running across feudal Japan, hacking his way through hordes of nightmarish creatures in his quest for the blades that are needed to take on Ryuukotuki. The world is broken up into three primary areas, each with its own overworld map, substages, and boss dungeon.
Being a Konami game from the mid/late 80s, the gameplay is an amalgamation of several distinct styles. The overworld resembles that of an RPG, complete with shops and places to speak with NPCs for hints on where to go next. The action stages are hack-and-slash platforming fare, and by defeating enemies and consuming their spirits, you can level up the strength of your attacks. The dungeons, where youll find the bosses who guard the weapons, play out as 3D mazes from an over-the-shoulder view and incorporate their own unique real-time battle system.
Its an ambitious design that yokes its elements together to create an unexpectedly grand sense of scale, and the variety in the graphics goes a long way in selling the scope of the world. Its an extraordinary looking game for a 1987 release. (I especially loved the trippy vaporwave backdrops you see in some of the outdoor areas, like at 1:53:26).
Getsu Fuuma Den is often likened to Castlevania, but the horror theme aside, they have little in common (though I did appreciate the hilariously named Simon enemy, who you can see in action at 9:31). While the game incorporates ideas from several other Konami titles, it doesnt neatly compare to any single one. The closest analog would probably be Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (https://youtu.be/k4MjHpc25eg) - the platforming has a similar floaty feel and the overworlds are similarly structured - but broadly claiming broadly that theyre alike would be stretching the truth a bit far.
However much it resists being pigeonholed, Getsu Fuuma Den is a quality game from Konamis golden 8-bit era, and for NES fans, that should be more than enough reason to give it a look. Its dark, stylish, innovative, challenging, and fun. What more could you want?
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (http://www.nintendocomplete.com/) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!")
