Shining Tears is an old-school action RPG set in the Shining universe. You play as Xion, a hero who is drawn into saving the City of Shilidia from a formerly peaceful neighbor due to his possession of the powerful Twin Dragon Rings. This sets the stage for an epic RPG storyline with varied characters and some surprises.
The game features hand-drawn 2D graphics and backgrounds. For battles, you can choose from 8 unlockable companions, each with their own unique powers, strengths, and weaknesses. The co-op system allows two players to cooperate in battles, pulling off special combo moves and leveling up their characters together.
The companion you pick changes Xion's abilities due to the nature of the Twin Dragon Rings, which are light or dark depending on the soul. In single-player mode, your companion AI helps you out of tight spots.