Great Intention
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This article contains spoilers for Doom Blade! |
The Great Intention (大いなる意思[1] or 意志,[2] Ōinaru Ishi) is a powerful entity referenced in the English title of Shining Force and involved in the plot of Doom Blade: Shining and the Darkness Gaiden who controls the reincarnation and destinies of mortal souls.
The Great Intention is described by Otranto in Doom Blade as an absolute power responsible for the creation of Dark Dragon and the Giant of Light.[2] It is not stated whether the Great Intention is a singular being, a plurality, or some other kind of force, and its origin or association with the Ancients of Rune is never revealed.
The voice of the Great Intention is able to speak directly to characters in Doom Blade and make them its emissaries.[1] The sword known as the Doom Blade expresses that it was itself sent by the Great Intention to steer Killy toward his destiny.
Dark Sol opposes the Great Intention, whose control over the fate of the world he believes will lead to the deaths of the remaining Star Eyes of Metaphaluna.[3]
Translation Notes
Although the Great Intention is referenced in the English subtitle of Shining Force, The Legacy of Great Intention, it is never mentioned in the dialogue of either the Japanese or English script. This subtitle is used on the title screen of the game's original Japanese release, as well as its English localization. It is also shown in articles printed in Japanese magazines during the game's development, indicating the the title precedes the game's English localization.[4] However, the materials connected to the Japanese release only ever use the subtitle Legacy of the Gods (神々の遺産, Kamigami no Isan) when the title is given in Japanese.
Yoshitaka Tamaki uses two Japanese spellings for Ōinaru Ishi in Doom Blade: Shining and the Darkness Gaiden. Starting with its first reference in Chapter 8, Ishi is written with the kanji 意志 (typically translated to English as "will"), whereas from Chapter 16 onward, Tamaki uses the kanji 意思 (more commonly translated as "intention"). Both choices of kanji have the same pronunciation in Japanese, but suggest a difference in meaning. Tamaki may have chosen to change the spelling to better match the actual title of the game.
The term Ōinaru Ishi with its original spelling (大いなる意志) has been used in other media in reference to divinity. The Megami Tensei series started using the concept under the name Ōinaru Ishi in Megami Tensei II, released in 1990. English adaptations of the series have translated the name as "Great Will". More recently, Elden Ring, released in 2022, has used the same term translated as "Greater Will" to refer to a type of cosmic divinity.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Doom Blade, Chapter 16ː "Samsara", pp. 2, 7, 8. Mega Drive FAN, May 1993 issue, pp. 58, 63, 64.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Doom Blade, Chapter 8ː "Death Cross", p. 3. Mega Drive FAN, Sept. 1992 issue, p. 55.
- ↑ Doom Blade, Chapter 9ː "Heir of the Stars", p. 2. Mega Drive FAN, Oct. 1992 issue, p. 54. Sept. 1992.
- ↑ Mega Drive FAN, Jan. 1992 issue, p. 6. Dec. 7, 1991.
Shining Setting and Story Directory
| Locations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Endias[disputed] | Storm | Stormsang・Ancient Temple |
| Rune | Guardiana・ Altarone・Yurt・Runefaust | |
| Parmecia | Granseal・Ark Valley | |
| Valleria | Crantor・Shieldia・Runevale | |
| Erd | Tatsumi | St. Luminous |
| Alfheim | Astoria・Lombardia | |
| World Concepts | ||
| Constructs | Legacy of the Gods・Metaphaluna | |
| Metaphysics | Magic・Great Intention | |