Shining in the Darkness

From Sega Retro

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ShiningInTheDarkness title.png

Shining in the Darkness
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: RPG

















Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages:
  • 日本語
  • English
  • Português
    • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega Drive
    JP     		¥8,7008,700 G-5506
    Sega Mega Drive
    US     		$79.9579.95[2] 1310
    Sega Mega Drive
    EU     		1310
    Sega Mega Drive
    UK     		£49.9949.99[3]
    Sega Mega Drive
    BR     		041260
    Wii Virtual Console
    JP ▼     		700pts700[8]
    CERO: A
    Wii Virtual Console
    US ▼     		800pts800[4]
    ESRB: Everyone
    Wii Virtual Console
    EU ▼     		800pts800[5]
    Wii Virtual Console
    AU ▼     		800pts800[9]
    OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
    CERO
    Missing Parameter!

    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.

    Story

    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 Left and Right to navigate and A to interact.

    The Labyrinth is (appropriately) a 3D maze. Up moves forward, Left and Right turn, and Down moves backward. A and C 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, headded by Hiroyuki Takahashi, a rising stars in the world of RPG development (Takahashi had previously been involved in Enix's popular Dragon Quest series, so were seen as a good fit for the project). However, corporate reasoning gave Shining and the Darkness a minimal development budget, and a small four-man team, meaning Climax were responsible for the bulk of the game's development.

    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

    Also known as
    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


    Digital manuals

    • Steam manual

    Magazine articles

    Main article: Shining in the Darkness/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Logo-pdf.svg
    Mega Drive print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #120: "November 1991" (1991-10-15)
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Ad with quotes from Hiroyuki Takahashi and Kan Naitoh in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-03: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-04: "April 1991" (1991-03-08)
    also published in:
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Logo-pdf.svg
    Advertisement on bottom half of page in Mega Drive Fan (JP) #16: "May 1991" (1991-04-08)
    Logo-pdf.svg

    Artwork

    • SitD MD JP Art Cover.jpg
    • SitD Art 1.jpg

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    83 [14]
    79 [15]
    78
    91 №12
    80 №27
    90 №1991-04, p40
    91 [16]
    75 №5, p63
    №5, p94
    89 №18, p71
    72 [17]
    69 [18]
    89 [19]
    100 [20]
    92 №28, p38/39
    100 [21]
    93 [22]
    90 [23]
    88 №18, p67
    90 [24]
    Sega Mega Drive
    		 86
    Based on
    19 reviews
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
    70
    		[25]
    Ação Games (BR) NTSC-U (BR)
    80
    		[26]
    Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
    80
    		[27]
    Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
    83
    		[28]
    Consoles + (FR)
    68
    		[29]
    Console XS (UK) PAL
    93
    		[30]
    Cool Gamer (RU)
    50
    		[31]
    Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 8 (RU)
    80
    		[32]
    Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
    69
    		[33]
    Games-X (UK) NTSC-J
    91
    		[34]
    Games-X (UK)
    80
    		[35]
    Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
    90
    		[36]
    Joypad (FR)
    93
    		[37]
    Joystick (FR)
    91
    		[16]
    Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
    75
    		[38]
    Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
    86
    		[39]
    Mega (UK) PAL
    89
    		[40]
    Mega Force (FR) PAL
    95
    		[41]
    MegaTech (UK)
    72
    		[17]
    Mean Machines (UK) PAL
    69
    		[42]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK)
    72
    		[43]
    Player One (FR)
    89
    		[44]
    Play Time (DE)
    75
    		[45]
    Power Play (DE)
    85
    		[46]
    Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
    100
    		[20]
    Sega Power (UK) PAL
    92
    		[47]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    93
    		[48]
    Sega Pro (UK)
    90
    		[23]
    Sega Pro (UK) PAL
    88
    		[49]
    Sega Force (UK) PAL
    90
    		[50]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    79
    		[51]
    Super Gaming (US)
    50
    		[52]
    Tilt (FR)
    85
    		[53]
    Tricks Gold (RU)
    85
    		[54]
    VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)
    80
    		[55]
    Video Games (DE)
    85
    		[56]
    Sega Mega Drive
    		 82
    Based on
    36 reviews

    Shining in the Darkness

    Mega Drive, US
    SitD MD US Box.jpg
    Cover
    SitD md us cart.jpg
    Cart
    Shining In The Darkness MD US Manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, EU
    SitD MD EU Box.jpg
    Cover
    SitD MD EU Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Mega Drive, JP
    SitD MD JP Box.jpg
    Cover
    SaTD MD JP CartTop.jpg
    SitD MD JP Cart.jpg
    Cart
    Shiningdarkness md jp manual.pdf
    Manual
    Mega Drive, BR
    SitD MD BR Box.jpg
    Cover
    SitD MD BR Cart.jpg
    Cart

    Technical information

    ROM dump status

    System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments

    External links

    References

    1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 9
    2. ↑ File:CGW US 091.pdf, page 22
    3. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-15), page 83
    4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/yCO37nvA4Ck5A7m_G3GEmGBstzt3YuTZ (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-23 02:24)
    5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/shining_in_the_darkness (Wayback Machine: 2017-10-31 18:34)
    6. ↑ https://archive.is/6BApK
    7. ↑ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/03.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-06 00:26)
    8. ↑ http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_shiningdarkness/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-06-10 16:58)
    9. ↑ http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19767&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 02:34)
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 https://steamdb.info/app/71161/ (Wayback Machine: 2017-05-25 05:33)
    11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 http://steamdb.info/app/71161/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 20:00)
    12. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 2
    13. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 2
    14. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 29 (31)
    15. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 83 (85)
    16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Joystick, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 121
    17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 80
    18. ↑ Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 112/113 (112)
    19. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 58/59 (58)
    20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
    21. ↑ Sega Power, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-05), page 98
    22. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 58-60 (58)
    23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 28
    24. ↑ Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 52/53 (52)
    25. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 206
    26. ↑ Ação Games, "Novembro 1997" (BR; 1997-xx-xx), page 8
    27. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Dezember 1991" (DE; 1991-11-15), page 138
    28. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 29
    29. ↑ Consoles +, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-07), page 92
    30. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 134
    31. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 186
    32. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 8, "" (RU; 2001-10-04), page 295
    33. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 88
    34. ↑ Games-X, "11th-17th July 1991" (UK; 1991-07-11), page 38
    35. ↑ Games-X, "24th-30th October 1991" (UK; 1991-10-24), page 36
    36. ↑ Hippon Super, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-04), page 40
    37. ↑ Joypad, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 73
    38. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 63
    39. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "June 1991" (JP; 1991-05-08), page 91
    40. ↑ Mega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 71
    41. ↑ Mega Force, "Novembre 1991" (FR; 1991-11-19), page 92
    42. ↑ Mean Machines, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-10-29), page 112
    43. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
    44. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 58
    45. ↑ Play Time, "2/92" (DE; 1992-01-08), page 93
    46. ↑ Power Play, "12/91" (DE; 1991-11-13), page 170
    47. ↑ Sega Power, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-06), page 38
    48. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 58
    49. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 67
    50. ↑ Sega Force, "January 1992" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 52
    51. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
    52. ↑ Super Gaming, "Fall 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 6
    53. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 50
    54. ↑ Tricks Gold, "Sega dlya strategov" (RU; 2003-01-09), page 162
    55. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "November 1991" (US; 1991-1x-xx), page 38
    56. ↑ Video Games, "3/91" (DE; 1991-09-06), page 82


    Shining in the Darkness

    ShiningInTheDarkness title.png

    Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Magazine articles | Reception | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


    Books: Shining and the Darkness Koushiki Guide Book (1991) | Shining and the Darkness Kouryaku Hon (1991)
    Music: Sound Story of Shining and the Darkness (1991)

    No results



    Shining series of games
    Sega Mega Drive
    		 Shining in the Darkness (1991) | Shining Force (1992) | Shining Force II (1993)
    Sega Game Gear
    		 Shining Force Gaiden: Ensei Jashin no Kuni e (1992) | Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (1993) | Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict (1995)
    Sega Mega-CD
    		 Shining Force CD (1994)
    Sega Saturn
    		 Shining Wisdom (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark (1996) | Shining Force III (Scenario 2, 3, Premium Disc) (1997-1998)
    Game Boy Advance
    		 Shining Soul (2002) | Shining Soul II (2003) | Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (2004)
    Sony PlayStation 2
    		 Shining Tears (2004) | Shining Force Neo (2005) | Shining Force EXA (2007) | Shining Wind (2007)
    Mobile phone
    		 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)
    Windows PC
    		 Shining Tears Material Collection (2006) | Shining Wind Fan Fest (2009)
    Nintendo DS
    		 Shining Force Feather (2009)
    Arcade
    		 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)
    Sony PlayStation Portable
    		 Shining Hearts (2010) | Shining Blade (2012) | Shining Ark (2013)
    Sony PlayStation 3
    		 Shining Resonance (2014) | Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015)
    Sony PlayStation 4
    		 Blade Arcus from Shining EX (2015) | Shining Resonance Refrain (2018)
    iOS
    Google Android OS
    		 Shining Force Classics (2018) | Shining Force: Hero of Light and Darkness (2022)
    World
    Strategy games: Gameplay | Items | Accessories | Weapons | Magic
    Shining related media
    Albums
    Sound Story of Shining and the Darkness (1991) | Shining Force Special Sound CD (1992) | Symphonic Suite Shining Force II (1993) | Symphonic Suite the Another Story of Shining Force (1994) | Shining Wisdom (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark Original Soundtrack (1996) | Shining Force III Original Soundtrack (1998) | Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon Original Sound Tracks (2004) | Shining Tears (2004) | Shining Force Neo Music Collection (2005) | Shining Theme Music Shiro SAGISU Collection (2005) | Shining Tears Music Collection (2005) | Shining Force EXA Music Collection (2007) | Shining Wind Music Collection (2007) | Shining Tears X Wind Original Soundtrack (2007) | Shining Force Feather Soundtrack (2009) | Shining Hearts Kaizoku Hihou Fan Disc (2010) | Shining Force Cross Raid Original Sound Track (2011) | Shining Hearts Original Soundtrack (2011) | Shining Blade Haru no Shin Seikatsu Ouen Fan Disc (2012) | Shining Blade Character Song Album (2012) | Shining Ark Tenshi no Fandisc (2013) | Shining Force Cross Original Sound Track (2014) | Shining Resonance Music Collection (2015)
    Audiobooks
    Shining Tears Drama CD Vol. 1 Dark Side: Memories and departure (2006) | Shining Tears Drama CD Vol. 2 Light Side: Yuushatei Hanjouki (2006) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 1 (2007) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 2 (2008) | Shining Force EXA Drama CD (2008) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 3 (2008) | Shining Wind Drama CD Vol. 4 (2009) | Drama CD Shining Force Feather (2009) | Drama CD Shining Hearts (2011)
    Books
    Guide book: Shining and the Darkness Koushiki Guide Book (1991) | Shining Force Kanzen Kouryaku Guide (1992) | Shining Force Battle Guide (1993) | Shining Force II: Inishie no Fuuin Game Guide Book (1993) | Shining Force CD Koushiki Guide Book (1994) | Shining Wisdom Koushiki Guide Book (1995) | Shining the Holy Ark Koushiki Guide Book (1996) | Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin Official Guide (1997) | Shining Force III Scenario 1: Outo no Kyoshin Perfect Navi (1998) | Shining Force III Scenario 2: Nerawareta Miko Official Guide (1998) | Shining Force III Scenario 2: Nerawareta Miko Perfect Navi (1998) | Shining Force III Scenario 3: Hyouheki no Jashinguu Perfect Navi (1998) | Shining Force III Koushiki Settei Shiryoushuu (1999) | Shining Soul Kanzen Kouryaku Guide (2002) | Shining Force: Kuroki Ryuu no Fukkatsu Final Complete Guide (2004) | Shining Tears Final Complete Guide (2004) | Shining Tears Saikyou Kishidan Ikusei Guide (2004) | Shining Tears Official Strategy Guide (2005) | Shining Force Neo Force Master Ikusei Guide (2005) | Shining Force Neo Final Complete Guide (2005) | Shining Force Neo Official Strategy Guide (2005) | Shining Force EXA: The Master Guide‎ (2007) | Shining Force EXA Official Strategy Guide (2007) | Shining Force EXA Final Complete Guide (2007) | Shining Wind Saisoku Guide Book (2007) | Shining Wind Final Complete Guide (2007) | Shining Tears X Wind Original Soundtrack (2007) | Shining Force Feather: The Master Guide‎ (2009) | Shining Force Feather Complete Guide (2009) | Shining Hearts Saisoku Guide Book (2010) | Shining Hearts Complete Guide (2011) | Shining Force Cross Raid Guide Book 1st (2011) | Shining Force Cross Raid Guide Book 2nd (2011) | Shining Blade First Blader's Guide (2012) | Shining Blade Complete Guide (2012) | Shining Force Cross Settei Shiryoushuu (2012) | Shining Ark Complete Guide (2013) | Shining Blade & Ark Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2013)
    Art book: Works for Shining the Holy Ark (1996) | Shining Force III Koushiki Settei Shiryoushuu (1999) | Shining Force EXA Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2007) | Shining Force Feather Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2009) | Shining Hearts Visual Settei Shiryoushuu (2011)
    Unsorted: Shining and the Darkness Kouryakuhon (xxxx) | Shining Force: Kamigami no Isan Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Shining Force Kouryaku no Tebiki (xxxx) | Shining Force II Inishie no Fuuin Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Shining Force II Inishie no Fuuin Kouryaku no Tebiki (xxxx) | Shining Force Gaiden Final Conflict Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Shining Force Gaiden & Gaiden II Hisshou Kouryaku-hou (xxxx) | Tony's Artworks from Shining Worlds (xxxx)
    Film
    Shining Tears X Wind (2007) | Shining Hearts: Shiawase no Pan (2010)
    Toys
    Weiß Schwarz Shining Force EXA TCG (2009)
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