Shining Hearts is the first game in the Shining universe for PSP platform. The game takes place on a peaceful island of Wyndaria. But things on the island turn more hectic after a great storm one day. A mysterious girl called Kaguya washed ashore, lost her memories, and even her feelings. Rick, a young swordsman who works at the local bakery, finds the lost girl and decides to help her regain her memories. To make things worse, once peaceful island of Wyndaria becomes the target for pirates as they swarm on it searching for a spirit stone who just happens to be in the necklace Kaguya is wearing.
Shining Hearts is a 3D party based role-playing game played from a bird’s view perspective. The player can explore various islands in the game, starting with the island of Wyndaria, or use the ship to travel the seas and visit other islands. Player’s ship can be upgraded and added various functionality to over time. The battle screen is split into a grid formation with front and back row, and the battle itself is turn-based. The player can select physical attack with weapons, use magic, or choose the guard move to boost the defense. The game features typical RPG elements such as trading weapons and items with merchants, performing various mini-game activities, upgrading your characters, solving side quests, and shaping the world in the game based on player’s actions. By performing side quests, player will earn special hearts which will help Kaguya regain her emotions and in turn open gates to new places to progress the main story. Based on player’s actions, the hearts that will be collected may change in color and affect the world in that manner. Each color depicting an awarded emotion, such as happiness, kindness, anger, sadness or hatred.