A turn-based strategy with real-time combat elements, huh. The only other game I know of which is remotely similar is Mugen Frontier.
Man, I wish I own a DS. This game looks fabulous.
Yes, aside from that and Namco x Capcom, there haven't been any games of this nature that I know of. The new Valkyrie Profile for DS looks like it could be in that same style as well, but I haven't seen enough on it yet to get a good read on how it plays. I don't play handhelds too often, on account of them giving me hand cramps from extended play, but maybe this new Shining Force will give me a reason to put it to more use.
I've been burned by pervious incarnations of "shining force" so i'l still remain unhopeful.
For now, Valkyria Chronicles is the spiritual successor to SRPG Shining Force.
Yeah, but since this new one is being spearheaded by a completely different development team, I'm allowing myself to have hope. Although Flight Plan is a relatively new developer, they've already had one title brought to the US by Atlas - Eternal Poison. That game had some pretty solid mechanics, but lackluster 3d aesthetics. Without the 3d holding them back, I'm optimistic on their results.
And fuck yeah Valkyria Chronicles! That game is almost worth buying a ps3 over. I'd sell my body for a chance to play it through just once.