Side question, would you say the Shining series can be Sega's counterpoint to Nintendo's Fire Emblem series?
Yes. In fact it used to be but Shining Force series relied on Camelot while relationship between Camelot and SEGA wasn't good anymore after SEGA refuses to localize Shining Force III Scenario 2 & 3.
(to get the true ending we need all three episodes and only Scenario 1 was released in the west)
Shining Force III Scenario 1 (localized) :
Shining Force III Scenario 2 & 3 (Japan only) :
What's once considered as SEGA's loyal second party, since then Camelot decided to move away from Sega completely and have since worked mostly for Nintendo.