Aura4, the creator of Mega Force, Mega Force 2, and Immunity Force recently contacted me with details of his latest Shining-style game – Minimalist Force 2!

The graphics are deliberately simple, just like the original Minimalist Force, with a single dot representing your team and two dots the enemy. The hero’s “recruit” spell also returns, which can be used to convince blank characters to fight for you.

This time around there are also towers that can be recruited, and they will occasionally spit out a warrior to aid in your quest (or not if the enemy gets there first). These towers usually end up as the focal point of battles, and it’s a bit of a rush to get there before the enemy AI captures them.

The presentation may be minimal, but the gameplay is very faithful to the Shining Force series. You can attack enemies at range, hit multiple targets with magic, and use healing items in battle. There are also critical hits and double attacks, and even the occasional dodge.

The game runs on Windows and comes with a readme explaining the controls. Give it a try!

Download Minimalist Force 2