Action role-playing game fans in Japan may recall that the last entry in Sega's Shining series was Shining Hearts for the PSP. The latest issue of Famitsu reports (via Andriasang) that Sega has a new action-RPG entry in the Shining Heart series in the works for Sony's portable system.

　　The cast of Shining Blade striking a pose. The latest entry stars a red-haired "Soul Blader" warrior called Reiji. Accompanying him in his quest to stop the Dragonia Empire in the game's world are Altia the bow-wielding elf and Fenrill the half-dog half-man fighter.

　　According to Andriasang's report, Shining Blade's battle system is rumored to combine Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love's ARMS system and Valkyria Chronicles' BLiTZ system. The RPG will have character designs from artist Tony Taka and music from Hiroki Kikuta, both of whom contributed to past Shining titles like Shining Tears, Shining Wind, and Shining Hearts. The game will cost 6,279 yen ($82) at retail and 5,600 yen ($73) as a download on PlayStation Network.

　　Shining Blade is slated for a spring 2012 release in Japan. An English version of the game has yet to be announced.