Based on a Japanese manga and anim� series (which are themselves tenuous re-enactments of the classic Chinese novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms), Shining Dragon is a brawler that focuses on a group of eight scantily clad Japanese schoolgirls. Each girl serves as the embodiment of an ancient Chinese warlord, and they duke it out with their classmates to secure future control of Japan. The combat takes the form of an introductory series of enclosed battles against groups of schoolmates, bullies, and punks, and then a head-to-head fight against one of the other main characters. The fighting in the boss battles is similar to the combat in the preliminary battles, though boss battles let players unleash power attacks, which conveniently shred the opponent's clothing.