The game has been repeatedly re-released: in Sega Smash Pack Volume 1 for the Dreamcast and Sega Smash Pack 2 for Microsoft Windows, in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3,[8] and as a standalone game for the Wii Virtual Console and Microsoft Windows via Steam.

Depending on its location relative to enemies and to allies, a unit can also perform one action: attack, cast a spell, use an item, or search the area.

As is most common for the RPG genre, units become stronger by fighting enemies or by performing other actions in battle, such as healing allies.

In Shining Force, each allied unit is represented by a character with his or her own background and personality, much like in the Fire Emblem series.

This gameplay mode is essentially a Japanese-style traditional RPG, along the lines of Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, although there are no labyrinths and only a few puzzles to solve.

The protagonist, Max, is sent on a mission to prevent the evil Kane, who commands the hordes of Runefaust, from opening the Shining Path and resurrecting Dark Dragon.

[11] Contrary to popular assumption, Shining Force was not influenced by archetypal tactical RPG Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light.

In fact, when asked about the game, lead Shining Force developer Hiroyuki Takahashi remarked: "The tempo of that title was so bad that it wasn't something I even wanted to play.

Asking himself how he and the rest of the development team could "take the battles from Dragon Quest and make them more fun", he drew inspiration from an obscure Japanese PC game called Silver Ghost, "a simulation action type of game where you had to direct, oversee and command multiple characters".

The changes included an expanded plot, three new playable characters, three new battles, ramping difficulty system and some tweaks in the gameplay.