Difference between revisions of "Shining in the Darkness"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
===Development=== | ===Development=== | ||
| − | ''Shining in the Darkness'' was a joint venture developed by Sega's newly founded [[Sonic Co.]] and a team at [[Climax Entertainment]], headed by [[ | + | ''Shining in the Darkness'' was a joint venture developed by Sega's newly founded [[Sonic Co.]] and a team at [[Climax Entertainment]], headed by [[Hiroyuki Takahashi]], a rising star in the world of RPG development. Takahashi was seen as a good fit for the project because of his previous involvement in [[Enix]]'s popular ''Dragon Quest'' series. However, corporate reasoning gave ''Shining and the Darkness'' a minimal development budget, and a small four-man team, meaning Climax was responsible for the bulk of the game's development. |
| − | {{quote|Because we were on such a tight budget, apart from the programming and graphics, I did nearly all of the work on ''Shining in the Darkness''. I suppose the basic concept behind ''Darkness'' was 'realism'. I thought it would be exciting if the player could actually travel to a fantasy world and walk around, exploring old houses, dungeons and other places. It was in essence a continuation of the sense of excitement you'd get from moving through the dungeons in older games such as ''Wizardry]''. By 'reality' I'm not talking about true realism – I mean the feeling that you really are progressing through actual houses and dungeons, and the same thing applied to the battles.|''[[ | + | {{quote|Because we were on such a tight budget, apart from the programming and graphics, I did nearly all of the work on ''Shining in the Darkness''. I suppose the basic concept behind ''Darkness'' was 'realism'. I thought it would be exciting if the player could actually travel to a fantasy world and walk around, exploring old houses, dungeons and other places. It was in essence a continuation of the sense of excitement you'd get from moving through the dungeons in older games such as ''Wizardry]''. By 'reality' I'm not talking about true realism – I mean the feeling that you really are progressing through actual houses and dungeons, and the same thing applied to the battles.|''[[Hiroyuki Takahashi]]''|ref={{ref|https://archive.org/details/GamesTMThe25GreatestSEGAGames/page/n25/mode/2up}}}} |
Nevertheless ''Shining in the Darkness'' was a success for the company, and led to other entries in the ''Shining'' franchise, most notably the next game, ''[[Shining Force]]''. | Nevertheless ''Shining in the Darkness'' was a success for the company, and led to other entries in the ''Shining'' franchise, most notably the next game, ''[[Shining Force]]''. | ||
Revision as of 11:34, 12 April 2022
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| Shining in the Darkness | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publisher: Sega | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Genre: RPG[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of players: 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Official in-game languages: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shining in the Darkness, called Shining and the Darkness (シャイニング＆ザ・ダクネス) in Japan, is a 1991 game by Sega and Climax Entertainment for the Sega Mega Drive. It is the first game in Sega's Shining series, but unlike most of the rest of the franchise, this one is a 3D dungeon-crawler RPG.
Contents
Story
Map
You are the son of Mortred, a warrior who was last seen near a dungeon known as the Labyrinth in the kingdom of Thornwood with the Princess Jessa. King Drake summons you to go find her, but just as that is about to happen, the evil Dark Sol appears and offers a ransom — Mortred and the Princess for the kingdom. It is now up to you to save the two and defeat Dark Sol before he destroys King Drake instead...
Gameplay
The game takes place in three areas — the castle (where you talk to the King and his servants), the town (where you can buy weapons, armor, and items, save your game and heal in the church, and talk to townsfolk), and the Labyrinth (the actual dungeon). In the castle, towns, and buildings, use 
and 
to navigate and 
to interact.
The Labyrinth is (appropriately) a 3D maze. 
moves forward, and turn, and 
moves backward. and 
open a menu at the bottom of the screen where you can do mundane things to the members of your party. Enemy encounters happen randomly throughout the Labyrinth — the same menu is used to attack. Should you die in battle, you will be taken back to the church in the town, losing half your collected gold in the process.
History
Development
Shining in the Darkness was a joint venture developed by Sega's newly founded Sonic Co. and a team at Climax Entertainment, headed by Hiroyuki Takahashi, a rising star in the world of RPG development. Takahashi was seen as a good fit for the project because of his previous involvement in Enix's popular Dragon Quest series. However, corporate reasoning gave Shining and the Darkness a minimal development budget, and a small four-man team, meaning Climax was responsible for the bulk of the game's development.
| “ | Because we were on such a tight budget, apart from the programming and graphics, I did nearly all of the work on Shining in the Darkness. I suppose the basic concept behind Darkness was 'realism'. I thought it would be exciting if the player could actually travel to a fantasy world and walk around, exploring old houses, dungeons and other places. It was in essence a continuation of the sense of excitement you'd get from moving through the dungeons in older games such as Wizardry]. By 'reality' I'm not talking about true realism – I mean the feeling that you really are progressing through actual houses and dungeons, and the same thing applied to the battles. | „ |
Nevertheless Shining in the Darkness was a success for the company, and led to other entries in the Shining franchise, most notably the next game, Shining Force.
Versions
Localised names
| Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Shining in the Darkness | Shining in the Darkness |
| English (US) | Shining in the Darkness | Shining in the Darkness |
| Japanese | シャイニング＆ザ・ダクネス | Shining and the Darkness |
Production credits
- Written and Produced by: Hiroyuki Takahashi
- Special Effects: Yasuhiro Taguchi
- Assistant Director: Yoshinori Tagawa, Bob Timbello
- Artwork and Design: Hidehiro Yoshida
- Outline and Storyboards: Yoshitaka Tamaki
- Music: Masahiko Yoshimura
- Visual Support: Ryutaro Ishimatsu
- Technical Support: Haruki Kodera
- Director: Kan Naitoh
- Special Thanks: Media Mixture, Mad Cap
- Executive Producer: Sega Enterprises
- Created by: Climax
- Japanese cover artist: Yoshitaka Tamaki
Digital manuals
Steam manual
Magazine articles
- Main article: Shining in the Darkness/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Mega Drive print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #120: "November 1991" (1991-10-15)
Ad with quotes from Hiroyuki Takahashi and Kan Naitoh in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-03: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)
also published in:
also published in:
- Mega Drive Fan (JP) #14: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)[19]
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-04: "April 1991" (1991-03-08)
also published in:
also published in:
- Mega Drive Fan (JP) #15: "April 1991" (1991-03-08)[20]
Advertisement on bottom half of page in Mega Drive Fan (JP) #16: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)
Artwork
Physical scans
|
82 |
|---|---|
| Based on 36 reviews | |
| Mega Drive, JP |
|---|
 Cover
|
  Cart  Manual |
| Mega Drive, US |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Cart  Manual  PCB |
| Mega Drive, EU |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Cart  Manual  PCB |
| Mega Drive, BR |
|---|
 Cover
|
 Cart |
| Mega Drive, AS† |
|---|
|
Technical information
ROM dump status
| System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1MB | 1991-07 | Cartridge (US/EU) | ||||||||||
|
|
1MB | 1991-03 | Cartridge (JP) | ||||||||||
|
|
1MB | 1997-06 | Cartridge (BR) |
External links
- Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
- Nintendo catalogue pages: US, UK, AU
- Shining in the Darkness on Steam
References
- ↑ File:SitD MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
- ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/CPV6hrGp_d4/m/9EpVhNiDfEcJ
- ↑ File:CGW US 091.pdf, page 22
- ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-15), page 83
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/yCO37nvA4Ck5A7m_G3GEmGBstzt3YuTZ (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-23 02:24)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/shining_in_the_darkness (Wayback Machine: 2017-10-31 18:34)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/Shining-in-the-Darkness--278909.html (archive.today)
- ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/03.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-06 00:26)
- ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_shiningdarkness/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-06-10 16:58)
- ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19767&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 02:34)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 https://steamdb.info/app/71161/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-13 00:00)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 http://steamdb.info/app/71161/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:00)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 https://steamdb.info/app/71161/history/?changeid=5755274
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9 http://steamdb.info/app/71161/ (Wayback Machine: 2019-11-13 00:00)
- ↑ https://archive.org/details/GamesTMThe25GreatestSEGAGames/page/n25/mode/2up
- ↑ Sega TV Game Genga Gallery, Graphic Sha, page 35
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 2
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 2
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 206
- ↑ Ação Games, "Novembro 1997" (BR; 1997-xx-xx), page 8
- ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1991" (DE; 1991-11-15), page 138
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 29
- ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-07), page 92
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 134
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 186
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 8, "" (RU; 2001-10-04), page 295
- ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 88
- ↑ Games-X, "11th-17th July 1991" (UK; 1991-07-11), page 38
- ↑ Games-X, "24th-30th October 1991" (UK; 1991-10-24), page 36
- ↑ Hippon Super, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-04), page 40
- ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 73
- ↑ Joystick, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 121
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 63
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "June 1991" (JP; 1991-05-08), page 91
- ↑ Mega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 71
- ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 92
- ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 80
- ↑ Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 112
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
- ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 58
- ↑ Play Time, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-08), page 93
- ↑ Power Play, "12/91" (DE; 1991-11-13), page 170
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
- ↑ Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 38
- ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 58
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 28
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
- ↑ Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 52
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
- ↑ Super Gaming, "Fall 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 6
- ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 50
- ↑ Tricks Gold, "Sega dlya strategov" (RU; 2003-01-09), page 162
- ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 38
- ↑ Video Games, "3/91" (DE; 1991-09-06), page 82
| Shining in the Darkness | |
|---|---|
|
Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs
Music: Sound Story of Shining and the Darkness (1991) | |
| Shining series of games | |
|---|---|
|
Shining in the Darkness (1991) | Shining Force (1992) | Shining Force II (1993) |
 |
Shining Force Gaiden: Ensei Jashin no Kuni e (1992) | Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (1993) | Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict (1995) |
 |
Shining Force CD (1994) |
 |
Shining Wisdom (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark (1996) | Shining Force III (Scenario 2, 3, Premium Disc) (1997-1998) |
 |
Shining Soul (2002) | Shining Soul II (2003) | Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (2004) |
 |
Shining Tears (2004) | Shining Force Neo (2005) | Shining Force EXA (2007) | Shining Wind (2007) |
 |
Shining Road to the Force (2005) | Shining Force Chronicle I (2005) | Shining Force Chronicle II (2005) | Shining Force Chronicle III (2006) | Shining Road II (2006) | Shining Wind X (2008) | SFCE Tokei (2012) |
 |
Shining Tears Material Collection (2006) | Shining Wind Fan Fest (2009) |
 |
Shining Force Feather (2009) |
 |
Shining Force Cross (2009) | Shining Force Cross Raid (2010) | Shining Force Cross Elysion (2012) | Shining Force Cross Exlesia (2013) | Shining Force Cross Exlesia Zenith (2014) | Blade Arcus from Shining (2014) |
 |
Shining Hearts (2010) | Shining Blade (2012) | Shining Ark (2013) |
 |
Shining Resonance (2014) | Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015) |
 |
Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015) | Shining Resonance Refrain (2018) |
  |
Shining Force Classics (2018) | Shining Force: Hero of Light and Darkness (2022) |
| World | |
| Strategy games: Gameplay | Items | Accessories | Weapons | Magic | |
| Shining related media | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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