and it gets wierder. There are MULTIPLE GAMES IN THIS SERIES. The progression is: Shining in the Darkness Shining Force (the above) Shining Force 2 Shining Force Gaiden/Final Conflict in the US. The ACTUAL TIMELINE HOWEVER, is: Shining Force Shining Force Gaiden/Final Conflict Shining Force 2 Shining in the Darkness (long after!) You are given the impression that the secondary villain of 'Shining in the Darkness' returns for Shining Force later. The US marketing material made that clear. The main character of Shining in the Darkness is the CHILD of two of Shining Force's secondary villains, who is sealed away in 'Shining force Gaiden', and then Shining Force 2 is a century later, and Shining in the Darkness takes place EVEN LATER, and they mistake the villain of that for his father. But due to the US localization they set Shining in the Darkness as a prequel to Shining Force and make the villain the same.