Okay, so I'm a big JRPG fan, I have most of the better JRPGs from the last 3 generations, and basically all the great JRPG's on handhelds (at least the ones I like).

I've been thinking about getting into the Shining Force Series. However, I'm the type of guy that likes to go all in (get every game of the franchise), and I don't have a Sega Saturn. I don't mind missing the games on that one console, but regardless...

Is this a quality JRPG franchise worth getting into? or should I look somewhere else/stick to what I have?

I'm pretty backlogged on JRPG's as it is. I have yet to beat a single Dragon Quest game (but I've played them all a bit), I haven't beaten any Final Fantasy between 3-9 (but I'm 60% done FFVII), and haven't beaten most of my PS1/PS2/Dreamcast JRPG's (XenoGears, Chrono Cross, Skies of Arcadia, Grandia 1-3, Drakengard 2, Shadow Hearts, Various Tales of Games, etc).

Yea, I think I answered my own questions, but should I still consider this series? I love Fire Emblem and FF Tactics. I also really love Camalot Software (makers of Shining Force and Golden Sun).

If you like FE, I see no reason you shouldn't play Shining Force. It's quite similar to Fire Emblem.

Any recommendations of where to start? Any specific titles which stand out in the series?

I would recommend getting and playing the GBA remake of the first game(Ressurrection of the Dark Dragon) before jumping onto the next games. Every new chapter in the Shining Force series is somewhat related to the previous one, so you'll probably miss a few things if you play the games out of order.

That's actually the one Shining Force game I own.

Thank You, I think I'll do that, but I'll probably just limit myself to Camalot's Shing Force games. I have a Sega CD and a Genesis, so I if I look I should be able to pick up copies of Shining Force II and Shining Force CD fiarly easily (and hopefully inexpensively).

I think I'll like Shining Force because I like the genre, and I might like Camalots other Shining games because Shining the Holy Ark looks a lot like Golden Sun,

I also own Shing Force EXA, and I remember liking it, but the PS2 Action RPG's are suppose to be very different, so I'll wait until I beat EXA before I buy others (if I like it).

However looking into retro RPG's, I'm tempted to get a Sega Saturn one day. Panzer Dragoons' multiple Shining __ games, Blazing Hero's, Dragon Force, etc.

The only Shining Force games i've played are either on the Genesis or on the GBA, so I can't comment on Shining Force PS2 games and Shining the Holy Ark. If you already have a Genesis and a Sega CD, though, it'll  be easy for you to follow the storyline, as Shining Force CD is actually a remake of the Game Gear's Shining Force games.

Yup, I wikipedia'd it.

Basically I have to play

Shining Force: Ressurection of the Dark Dragon (to give me an idea of what the series is like)
Shining in the Darkness - first game in the series, before the term Force was added
Shining Force II
Shing Force CD (Game Gear Remakes)

and then if I get a Saturn

Shining Force III
Shining the Holy Ark.

Still those first 4, I think that's the main series, and I think I'll get into it.

There is also a third title for the Game Gear that I believe was not ported to the Sega CD (Shining Force Final Conflict). I believe it was also japanese only (I played through it with a script via an emulator).

Also, if you are looking to play chronologically, Shining in the Darkness was the original Shining game; however, it is an old school dungeon crawler, like Shining the Holy Ark.

Me personally, I would stay away from the Gameboy Advance Remake as they add elements to the original story that I feel don't really fit (whole new character and story arcs). Though I may be biased given that the Shining series was the series that got me into gaming and made me a Sega fan.

See, I'm looking into Shing Force because I'm a Golden Sun fan (Camalot's more recent RPG). Golden Sun was an excellent GBA game, and a game this retro....I'd probably prefer playing it on the go, or in bed. I can't see myself getting into an 8-bit game at home when I have so many current gen games to catch up on, plus PS1/PS2/Dreamcast RPG's.

Thanks for the info on Shining into the Darkness, as for Shining Force Final Conflict, I thoroughly read the wikipedia page. I have no plans to get a GameGear (have to tried to play that monstrosity?) so I'll only look into this if I get addicted to the series.

However this does make my pre-Dreamcast Sega collection look more diverse and well tasteful. I only had Sonic games before and 1 2D Shooter called "Ranger X" which I like better then Mega Man X.

If you are into JRPG and don't have a Saturn than you should get one for more than the awsome Shinning Force 3. Panzer Dragoon Saga is the single greatest 32bit era RPG and even though it is rare expensive it is worth the price of entry. Do yourself a favor and discover what all of us Sega fans were talking about during the Saturn's underrated life.