Shining Resonance Refrain

TheSixthAxisMiguel Moran

8/10

Shining Resonance Refrain is a triumphant return overseas for an iconic JRPG series. It has solid foundations in the usual JRPG business of fantasy kingdoms and amnesiac warrior boys, but it builds off of that foundation with charming characters and gorgeous art to create a pretty unique identity for itself. While some aspects of the game are a little unpolished, it’s still a standout JRPG worth standing alongside any of the other big players in that genre, and worth checking out by anyone who calls themselves a JRPG fan.

Capsule ComputersTravis Bruno

7.5/10

Although it follows the standard JRPG formula a little too closely, Shining Resonance Refrain makes for an enjoyable and lengthy experience filled with plenty of charm and satisfying combat.

Playstation UniverseGarri Bagdasarov

7.5/10

A great addition to the Shining franchise. Refrain is a fun title with good combat, interesting characters, and some great voice acting that accompany a great translation.

Attack of the FanboyJelani James

Shining Resonance Refrain might be outclassed by modern JRPGs, but if you judge it on it's own merits, you'll quickly find that there is a lot to enjoy.

RPGFanAlana Hagues

65/100

I think some people will like Shining Resonance Refrain — the characters all fit a similar pattern of archetypes JRPGs are known for, and there are some amusing exchanges in some of the dating scenes. But for me, it’s lacking a bit of heart. It doesn’t do anything particularly badly, but all of the elements mashed together create an unremarkable final product. It feels every bit a budget PS3 Tales of game with very little to say for itself, aside from the dating elements and the musical quirks the Shining series is so well known for, and personally, that’s the game’s biggest issue.

Worth PlayingJoseph Doyle

6/10

Marking the return of the series to the West for the first time in a decade, Shining Resonance Refrain is a JPRG that tells the tale of sword-wielding Yuma and his friends as they fight the Empire.

VGChartzEvan Norris

6/10

How to tune your dragon.Shining Resonance Refrain is a professional remaster of a decent, mostly-enjoyable Japanese action-RPG. Nothing it does is exceptional, [...]

Gamer EscapeJosh McGrath

6/10

What we have here is the video game equivalent of plain yogurt. There’s nothing really notable about it, but it’s perfectly edible and gets the job done if you’re hungry. If you’re really in the need to get your JRPG fix, there’s much worse you can play than Refrain. If you’re looking for something new and interesting, though, you’re not going to find it here.

Playstation LifestyleJenny Jones

6/10

Take a look at PlayStation LifeStyle's Shining Resonance Refrain review to see if this is a must buy or one you should refrain from purchasing.

Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski

5.7/10

Although Japanese gamers got to enjoy the latest Shining game back in 2014 for PlayStation 3, it's finally available in the west in an enhanced version. The question is: was Shining Resonance worth remaking?

RPGamerAlex Fuller

After a decade, the Shining series returns to North America. Will its return resonate with players, or is it one to refrain from getting too excited over?

Metro GameCentralGameCentral

5/10

A horribly generic Japanese role-player that has no glaring flaws but fails to offer a single interesting new idea or character of its own.