Shining Resonance Refrain is a lot like old school RPGs, which means it could be around 50 hours before you find yourself finished with the game. In addition to an ample main story, the game has a lot of side-quests and supplemental content. But someone might wonder what is left to do after getting through the game the first time. Well, it feels a lot like Shining Resonance Refrain wants you to do as much as you can with that save file.
I have mentioned this before, but Shining Resonance Refrain is a game that sort of pulls the rug out from under you. There are two modes to choose from when you begin. One is Original, which is the game mostly as it appeared on the PlayStation 3 in Japan. The other is Refrain, where the main selling point is having Excella and Jinas in your party. (There is other stuff there too, but having more people to fight alongside and date is a big deal.) However, there is no new game plus option available. This means you can not go through Original, get a nice save file set up with all sorts of money, Tuning options, and equipment, then head into Refrain with the things you have earned.
It is because of this that I advocate for abandoning Shining Resonance Refrain’s Original mode as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. Maybe give it between three and five hours. That way, you have enough time to find your footing and determine if you would be okay with having the two bonus characters around, but should not be too invested in the adventure yet.
Which is important, because Shining Resonance Refrain does have post-game opportunities to explore. This allows you to accomplish a number of things. You can explore Grimoire Dungeons that will challenge your already powerful characters, if you check in with Alfriede. These were designed as bonuses in the original PlayStation 3 release. Maybe you even missed getting some Grimoire Events, which let you see a scene and maybe earn some crafting recipes. Getting to know your party members can give you Sigils, which can be used to make incredibly difficult dungeons. Just make sure not to use a character’s Sigil until you have seen their ending. You want to make sure it is not wasted. In the case of Excella and Jinas, using theirs ahead of time can keep you from getting the Wheel of Fortune achievement.
Once you have seen character endings and are ready to test yourself, go ahead and use Sigils to gain access to Shining Resonance Refrain’s S Rank areas. Just remember to save before using the item. It is possible to not get the best rewards after exploring a Grimoire Dungeon. Fortunately, you can reload if things don’t well and try again for a better reward.
I felt the ability to see all character endings was the greatest blessing with Shining Resonance Refrain’s endgame. It is very clear about whose endings are available at the very end. You have an opportunity to save and see how many characters have hearts above their heads. You pick who you want to be with, and that person’s ending will be locked in. After you beat the game with them, you are returned to moment before the ending so you can change your mind, if you would like.
Shining Resonance Refrain strikes me as a game that wants you to try and do it all in one run. The lack of new game plus incentivizes sticking with the file you have been playing through for hours. It purposely places you in a position to see every ending after beating the game and returning to a file. The Grimoire Dungeons also allow you the option to keep running through places with foes more fearsome than you might ever encounter in the main game.
Shining Resonance Refrain is available for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
Published: Jul 27, 2018 12:00 pm