Shining Force I and II

This thread is the place to discuss things you liked or didn't like about Shining Force I and II. Topics may include: Favorite characters, favorite battles, comparisons between I and II, etc.

Shining Force:
In ages long forgotten... Light fought Darkness for control of the world.
Dark Dragon led the evil hordes of darkness.
The Ancients fought back with the Powers of Light.
Dark Dragon was defeated and cast into another dimension.
The Lord of Darkness vowed to return in 1,000 years.
Time passed, and Dark Dragon was forgotten by all.
Ten centuries of peace ruled the land of Rune.
Until the kingdom of Runefaust brought war to Rune.
Hordes of evil creatures ravaged the land.
Here and there, strongholds of Good still held out...
awaiting a Hero who could wield the Powers of Light!

Shining Force II:
The citizens of Granseal are hard at work. Inside the castle grounds, the
centaurs concentrate on jousting and target practice while the spellcasters
compare teleportation and healing spells. Granseal isn't at war, but there
has been trouble with monsters on the outskirts of the kingdom, and the
king has ordered troops to sweep the area and drive the creatures away.

All notice the thunderclouds that gather above the castle. Not only is rain
unusual for the season, but the storm does not look to be an ordinary one.

The storm is a harbinger of coming events - events which will change
Granseal and its neighboring kingdoms forever. An ancient evil has broken
free, and is spreading over the land of Rune, devastating all that it
touches. Is there anyone, or anything, that can stop it? Start the
adventure and find out!

I vs. II
I liked both, but I liked the first a little better. The second one didn't have any good magic characters until it was so late in the game that it would be a hassle to bring them up. Also, it seemed like there were battles everywhere. You leave town A, you fight a battle, you get near town B, you fight a battle, you then fight a battle in town B.

Still, II had better graphics (obviously, since it's newer), had "secret" promotions, and more character development.

Did you like I or II better?

Favorite Characters:
I: Bleu, Domingo, Adam, Anri
II: Karna, Peter, Tyrin, Gerhalt

Someone will disagree with me about Adam, but he becomes as powerful as Bleu if you put enough time into him. Domingo and Anri make a good team; Domingo gets Freeze 3 quickly, Anri catches up and gets Freeze 4, before Domingo finally gets Freeze 4 late in the game.

Peter and Gerhalt are power characters, whom I usually keep to the end of the game. I always have the most difficult time deciding whether to take Karna or Tyrin. Karna becomes ridiculously powerful and gets Aura 4 by the end of the game, but Tyrin is the only other viable magic user (early on) besides Kazin, who takes a long time to get Blaze 4, and that's all he ever gets. Tyrin gets Freeze 4, and eventually, gets Blaze 4 and Bolt 4.

Who are your favorite characters?

Favorite Battles:
I: Laser Eye battle, Pao Prarie battle, second sea battle, and the battle with Ramladu.
II: Kraken Battle, Chess Battle, Odd Eye Battle, Tower of the Ancients.

The Laser Eye battle is fun because of the timing, and the Pao Prarie battle is large, with some good enemies. It's great to smash through all the sea creatures on the second sea battle, and the battle with Ramladu is one of my favorites because of all the experience you get from beating the robots!

The Kraken Battle is a good, tough battle, where you have to find a way to make up for the movement disadvantage. I love the battle with the Chess Army; it's challenging, and you get good experience. The Odd Eye Battle is a classic, leading up to the end of the game, and seeing the lava far below the tiles fits the mood. I like the Tower of the Ancients because it tests your endurance.

What are your favorite battles?

Shining Force I and II are classic favorites of mine, and I will continue playing them!