Shining Soul II Character Create Book

Front cover of the Shining Soul II Character Create Book. Artwork by Yoshitaka Tamaki.

See also: Shining Media

The Shining Soul II Character Create Book (シャイニング・ソウルIIキャラクター設定資料, "Shining Soul II Character Setting Materials") was distributed as a bonus for preordering the Japanese release of Shining Soul II through the online Sega Direct service.

Image showing an example of the book's contents.

The book has fourteen pages containing character illustrations by returning Shining series artist Yoshitaka Tamaki.

Tamaki's Message

The book begins with a message from series artist Yoshitaka Tamaki.

The following text is translated from the statement from Yoshitaka Tamaki printed at the start of the Shining Soul II Character Create Book.

It looked like it was starting to become a really deep conversion, but even though I was thinking, "There's no way this is true," I said something like, "I guess I might as well." I was filled with so many different emotions . . .

なにかモーレツにディープな話になりそうで「如何なものか」と思いつつも、「まいっか」ってコトで、何かいろいろなカンジで･･･

Sega had contacted me. Sproing! "I'm making a game called Shining Soul right now; what do you think?" Wow, he’s asking me what I think . . . ? Wow . . . There’s no way that that’s what he’s asking. [Bursts into laughter.]

それはSEGA社からいきなり連絡があったのでした。ぼよよん。「今、シャイニング・ソウルってゲーム作ってるんだけど、どーよ?」いや、どーよ?って言われてもなぁ･･･いや･･･そういう言われ方はされてないんだけどね。(爆死)

"A bunch of stuff has already happened (a bunch?). So the basic systems are functional, and the broad ideas are already set, right? So what do you want me to do?" And then came the request for me to do monster and character designs. I was like, "Oh, really?"

色々ありまして(色々？)、基本システムは出来てるし、大まかなコトは決まっておりまして、え？じゃワシ何やるのー？ってモンスター＆キャラデザインすれというお達しを頂いて候。「あぁ、そーか!」 みたいな。

They told me, "We're going to include all the boss characters from the series," and I was like, "You're doing what?" No, I only worked on Shining and the Darkness and Shining Force, and I only played Shining Force II (on the Mega Drive) from the perspective of a player. It was kind of a dark age for gaming after that, so I hadn't played them. (I wasn't in any position to play games at the time—[Cracks up.])

「シリーズ中のボスキャラとかみんな出すよん」と言われ、「どーすんだよおい?」みたいな。いえね、ワタシが手がけたプツは「シャイ ニング&ダークネス」と「シャイニング・フォース」だけで、「シャイニ ング・フォースⅡ (MD版)」はユーザーとして遊んでいただけだし。それ以降の作品は、ちょっとした暗黒時代で遊んでなかったのでつ。(ゲーム遊べる身分じゃなかったのでした～(爆死))

So they said, "We're going to include all the boss characters from the series," but I only knew like a fifth of them. I didn't have any design documents from that period, so I was like, "Hey, hang on!" [Laughs.]

よって、「シリーズ中のボスキャラとかみんな出すよん」とかおっしゃられても、自分でも分かって居るのは1/5くらいしか無いし。当時の資料も皆無ということで「おいおい！」みたいな。(笑)

On the first Soul, I had this sense that someway—somehow—I was going to have to figure it out and get it done by looking at strategy guides. So, I can definitely do this sequel, Soul II, but . . .

攻略本とか見ながら何とかなんとか出来ました～

「ソウルⅠ」ってなカンジで。

で、続編の「ソウルⅡ」なんですがーーーーーーーーーーーー

Looks like I’m getting myself into another big mess . . . I was pointing at myself like, "This isn't going to be easy, huh . . ." [Laughs.]

これまたすったもんだありまして･･･「すんなりいかねえなぁ･･･←オレ」みたいな(笑)

On the last game, [Junichiro] Takahashi, the one in charge, had given me some words of encouragement: "You just need to keep in mind what vibe defines the Shining series." [Laughs.] And then he let me do whatever I wanted.

前回のこともあり、「シャイニング意識するのは世界観だけでいいっすよ」と担当の高橋氏から暖かいお言葉を拝領し(笑)、結構好き勝手やらして頂きましたでつ。

Me and the person who worked on the scenario were really on the same wavelength, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to work with him on this. Man, everyone had this wonderful sense like we'd known each other for a long time. It was exciting. [Laughs.] Now that I think about it, Soul gave me the same feeling as Landstalker.

「ソウルⅡ」のシナリオを手がけられた方ノリが、かなりワタシの周波数に合っておりまして、以外と楽しくお仕事させて頂いた次第です。うひょ。みんな妙な生活臭があって、楽しいです(笑)。「ソウル」は「ランドストーカー」に近いカンジでしたな。今から思えば。

You know, the Shining series, it's become this long-running series. There’s a lot to it that players hold dear, and honestly, I was thinking, "It's too late for me to be part of this . . ." . . . And maybe I’m still thinking it? [Laughs.] Really, when I was working on the game, there were a lot of points where it felt like I was walking on eggshells.

こと「シャイニング」シリーズに関しては、長いことシリーズ化されて作品になっており、ユーザーのみなさんが育んできた部分がかなり大きく、正直「今更自分が携わるのもなぁ･･･」と思うことがありました･･･今もかな？（笑）実際作業中は腫れ物さわるみたいなところも多分にありましたよ。

So, I can only hope that from this point on Sega continues to treat the Shining series with care. I say that on a personal level. [Laughs.] I once made a game for the Super Famicom called FEDA that represented my intentions for the Shining series, so these days I wonder if it would be best if I just washed my hands of the Shining series already. I don't know.

故にSEGAという会社に対して、「シャイニングシリーズ」はこれからも大切にして欲しいなぁと願うばかりです。個人的に。(笑) 自分は過去に「FEDA」というSFCのタイトルを作って、「シャイニングシリーズ」に対する一種の「意思表示」を示したりしたので、もう「シャイニングシリーズ」からは足洗ったほうがいいかな？とも思う今日この頃で御座います。どーかな?

But in spite of that feeling, since I got to do so many new things in Soul II, I had fun! No, I really did.

そーいった意味でも「ソウルⅡ」はいろんな新しいこと出来たので、楽しかったですね〜いや、本当に。

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of the staff who worked on Soul II. Thank you so much! (No, for real!) . . . So . . . [Whispers.] You want to let my company make another Landstalker? . . . [Laughs.]

最後に「ソウルⅡ」関係者の方々に心から感謝の言葉を贈らせていただきますです。「有り難うございました‼」(いや、本当に) ･･･そして･･･「ランスト」のウチの会社で作らせてくれねえかな？ﾎﾞｿｯ…(笑)

May 14, 2003
Yoshitaka Tamaki
(From his Yokohama office)

2003年5月14日
玉木美学
(横浜の事務所にて)