• Unique 2 player cooperative battle system brings multiple gameplay options.
• Partner bonding system effects storyline and scenarios, allows for more than eight possible endings. 
• Create over 30 possible attack combinations with Link Attacks.
• Up to 50 enemies can appear on screen at once.
• Player 2 can play as the AI partner character, or import a character from a previously saved game. 
• Over 300 items to collect across more than 70 different battle stages with unique terrain and weather. 
• Over 100 upgradeable skills from sword attacks to witchery. 
• Switch modes and attack at close range with a wide variety of combat skills as a Dark Warrior or defend with long range skills as a Light Warrior.

     > The graphics in Shining Tears are lush with plenty of fluid animation.  The artwork is on par with prior Shining Force games, and will be apprciated by anime/manga fans.  Fans of the series will feel right at home with the familiar animated icons for "Yes" and "No" and other actions.  From here, the old-school strategy maps with turn-based battles has been dropped in favor of real-time action.  As you play the role of Xion with a human/CPU controlled comrade, you'll race across the land in real-time and engage in frenzied button mashing fighting encounters.  Although the battle team never grows beyond two members, your (selectable) partner provides backup muscle, magic, and combination attacks.  If you're playing solo, the trigger buttons on the Dual Shock 2 activate special attacks from the comrade in arms.  The monsters' actions in Shining Tears are said to be hardly fearsome, yet you still gain EXP and coins upon their demise.  Finally, rings found during exploration play a big part in this game.  Rings can enhance skills or attack power, and can be used for a catastrophic combo blast.