Sega is taking its Shining series to the PSP with its new installment Shining Hearts. According to Japanese video game magazine Famitsu, the game will be released this winter for about $60.

According to Famitsu, the game will stray away from the action RPG style seen in previous titles like Shining Tears. Shining Hearts will be a traditional Japanese RPG where gameplay centers around the theme of love and bonds between each character. Players must collect "hearts" throughout the game, which will change the state of the players' home island, Wyndaria Island, and allow players to open up new areas to the world and progress the story further.

The game will include character designs by Tony Taka in a super deformed (SD) style. Gamers will traverse through the world of Shining Hearts from a top down view.

As the game's young protagonist Rick, players must fight for the affection of three sisters: Neries, Airy and Amaru during the course of the gameplay. An additional girl, Kaguya enters, loses her memory, and later has an important role in the game's story. Kaguya's memory is returned slowly as gamers slowly gather more and more hearts.

Players will utilize turn-based combat to tackle pirates who invade Wyndaria Island. Combat is viewed from the side in a 2D format with SD characters battling against the pirates. Players can have up to four characters in the battling party and the emotional connection between the characters will determine what type of team attacks they use. When gamers aren't attacking pirates, they can enjoy side-quests, which allow players to help out villagers on the island, as well as a collection aspect including picking up different plant types.

According to Sega, the game is near completion and will probably have a major presence at Comiket 78, due to the fact Tony Taka is doing the character designs. Sega plans to sell feature items during Japan's biggest anime and manga event at the Tokyo Big Site.

[Source: andriasang.com]