Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom

Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom is an ambitious action role-playing game that clearly reflects the passion and creativity of its developers, even when its execution struggles to fully match its vision. Created by Enigami and published by Focus Entertainment, the game invites players into the fractured world of Mahera, a planet torn apart by elemental conflict, political tension, and ancient forces. You follow the journey of Chado and his companions as they attempt to prevent further destruction and uncover the truths behind the planet’s instability, setting the stage for a sweeping adventure that draws heavily from classic JRPG inspirations while attempting to carve out its own identity.
One of Shiness’ greatest strengths lies in its presentation and world-building. The game features a vibrant, anime-inspired art style that gives Mahera a colorful and expressive personality, from bustling towns to serene natural landscapes and ominous ruins. The cel-shaded visuals pair well with animated cutscenes that feel reminiscent of manga storytelling, helping important narrative moments stand out. Music further enhances this atmosphere, offering energetic tracks during battles and softer melodies during exploration that reinforce the sense of a grand journey across a living, breathing world.
Exploration plays a major role in the experience, with environments designed to encourage curiosity and interaction. Players solve environmental puzzles, collect resources, and unlock new paths using the unique abilities of party members. Each character contributes something different, not only in combat but in traversal and puzzle-solving, which adds variety and a sense of teamwork. However, while the environments are visually engaging, navigation and objective tracking can sometimes feel unclear, leading to moments of aimless wandering or repetitive backtracking that disrupt the game’s pacing.
Combat is where Shiness takes its boldest risks. Battles are real-time and structured more like duels, combining traditional action RPG mechanics with elements inspired by fighting games. Timing, blocking, dodging, and resource management are all essential, and switching between characters mid-fight allows for strategic adaptation. When it works, combat feels tense and rewarding, especially during challenging encounters that demand careful planning. Unfortunately, this system can also feel inconsistent, with stiff controls, camera issues, and uneven difficulty spikes occasionally undermining otherwise exciting confrontations.
Character progression follows familiar RPG conventions, including leveling up, unlocking skills, and equipping gear to improve performance. The magic system, based around elemental abilities, adds depth and encourages experimentation with different builds and party combinations. While these systems offer meaningful customization, they are not always explained clearly, which can make early progression feel confusing or unintuitive. Players willing to invest time in understanding the mechanics will find satisfying depth, but those expecting immediate clarity may feel overwhelmed.
The narrative ambition of Shiness is evident throughout, tackling themes of friendship, responsibility, and the consequences of power. While the story contains compelling ideas and moments of emotional resonance, its delivery is uneven. Some characters are well-developed and memorable, while others feel underutilized, and certain plot threads are introduced without receiving satisfying resolution. Dialogue can vary in quality, ranging from engaging and heartfelt to overly long or repetitive, which can dilute the impact of key story beats.
Ultimately, Shiness: The Lightning Kingdom is a game defined by its ambition and heart. It offers a distinctive world, a creative combat system, and a clear love for classic RPG traditions, even if technical limitations and uneven polish hold it back from reaching its full potential. For players who value artistic vision, world-building, and experimental mechanics over flawless execution, Shiness can be a rewarding and memorable experience. Those seeking a tightly refined action RPG may find its flaws harder to ignore, but its sincerity and creativity make it a title worth appreciating for what it dares to attempt rather than what it perfectly achieves.
Rating: 7/10