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Shining in the Darkness
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Information
Developer(s) Climax Entertainment
Publisher(s) Sega
Genre Dungeon Crawler
Platform(s) Mega Drive/Genesis
Nintendo Wii
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Android
iOS
Nintendo Switch
Linux
Mac
Xbox Series X/S[1]
Rating(s) VRC: VRC GA All Ages
TecToy: Tectoy TI All Ages
CERO: CERO A All Ages
ESRB: ESRB E All Ages
OFLC: OFLC PG Ages 8 and Up
PEGI: PEGI 7 Ages 7 and Up
iOS: 9+ Ages 9 and Up
Release Date(s)
Mega Drive/Genesis
Japan Japan: 1991-03-29[2]
United States North America: 1991-08-06
Europe Europe: 1991-09-09
Flag of Brazil Brazil: 1997-09

Windows (Sega Game Honpo)
Japan Japan: 2003-11-20[3][4][5]
Service discontinued 2006-09-30[6]
Japan Japan: 2003-11-20 (CD Package Version)[7][8]

Wii (Virtual Console)
Japan Japan: 2007-06-12
United States North America: 2007-08-13
Europe Europe: 2007-09-07
Flag of Australia Australia: 2007-09
Service discontinued 2019-01-30[9]

PS3, Xbox 360 (Ultimate Genesis Collection)
United States North America: 2009-02-10[10]
Europe Europe: 2009-02-20

Windows (Sega Genesis Classics)
World Map Flag Worldwide: 2011-01-26 (Steam)[11]

PS4, Xbox One (Sega Genesis Classics)
United States North America: 2018-05-28[12][1]
World Map Flag Worldwide: 2018-05-29

Android, iOS (Shining Force Classics)
World Map Flag Worldwide: 2018-10-24[13][14][15]

Switch (Sega Genesis Classics)
Europe Europe: 2018-12-06 [16]
United States North America: 2018-12-07[17]

Linux, Mac (Sega Genesis Classics)
World Map Flag Worldwide: 2019-02-01 (Steam)[18]

Xbox Series X/S (Sega Genesis Classics)
World Map Flag Worldwide: 2020-11-10 (Xbox One backwards compatible)[1][19][20]

Shining in the Darkness (シャイニング&ザ・ダクネス, Shainingu Endo Za Dakunesu?, known as Shining and the Darkness in Japan) is a 1991 dungeon crawler role-playing video game for the Mega Drive/Genesis console. It is the first game in the Shining Series, although chronologically it happens after the events of every Shining game prior to Shining the Holy Ark.

Shining in the Darkness was re-released for the Wii Virtual Console in 2007. It also appears in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2009, and Vol. 4 of Sega Genesis Classics released for PC in 2011; PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in 2018. It was also included in Shining Force Classics released for mobile devices in 2018.


Gameplay[]

Shining in the Darkness is a dungeon crawler RPG. Battles take place at random intervals while exploring the Labyrinth dungeon, and have random sets of enemies. In battle a character has the option to attack, cast a spell, use an item or run away, which ends the battle if successful. The order of the turns is determined by the unit's agility score and a random seed. Units can use offensive actions, such as physical attacks or offensive magic, only on units belonging to the other side and can use supportive actions, such as healing magic, stat-enhancing magic, and items, only on units belonging to the same side.

As is most common for the RPG genre, characters become stronger by defeating sets of enemies. Victories give the characters experience points (EXP.), which allow them to gain levels.

Plot[]

The game opens in the Kingdom of Thornwood. The silent protagonist, Hiro, asks to join a search for the missing Princess Jessa. Hiro believes that finding the Princess will also lead him to his missing father, Mortred. Mephisto (localized as "Dark Sol" in English versions) shows up in the castle and claims if King Drake steps down he will return the Princess. Hiro is joined by his friends Pyra Myst and Milo Brax. He also receives advice from the King's minister. Hiro must face four Trials of the Ancients - Strength, Wisdom, Courage and Truth - before he can find the Princess and his father.

Locations[]

The Land of Shining in the Darkness[]

  • Thornwood
  • Labyrinth
  • Castle

Characters[]

Main Characters[]

Allies of the Force (NPC)[]

Citizens of Thornwood[]

  • Old Vik
  • Mrs.Vik
  • Innkeeper
  • Gilius
  • Alkemist
  • Armorer
  • Trader
  • Lupo
  • Gatt
  • Tack
  • Gnorn
  • Gila
  • Krun
  • Dyan
  • Dai
  • Edward
  • Mr. Brax
  • Mrs. Myst

Bosses[]

Races[]

Specific races[]

A number of individuals from generic races may also be any of a number of different classes in the Shining Force, and in other characters (often single individuals of a certain kind) their specific race is combined with their own specific class. Examples of specific races, not classes, include:

Equipment and Items[]

Magic[]

  • Offensive spells
  • Defensive spells
  • Support spells
  • Healing spells

Trivia[]

  • The weapons shop owner is based on Gilius, a character from the Golden Axe series.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Xbox.com/en-us/ "SEGA® Genesis Classics™ | Xbox" (archived 2021-11-07) Note: A different release date is delivered by Xbox servers depending on the accessor's IP address. NA IP addresses see "5/28/2018". Archive server appears not to be NA-based.
  2. https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Archived 2020-07-20)
  3. segamusic.co.jp Start of service announcement (published 2003-11-13)
  4. sega-gamehompo.jp Sega Honpo games list (archived 2003-11-23)
  5. sega-gamehompo.jp Service start notice (archived 2003-11-18)
  6. sega-hompo.jp Sega Game Hompo termination of service notice (archived 2006-08-22)
  7. sega-gamehompo.jp Sega Game Honpo history log (archived 2004-06-05)
  8. sega-gamehompo.jp Sega Game Honpo package version product page (archived 2004-03-29)
  9. extremetech.com "Nintendo Begins Phasing Out Wii Virtual Console, Making Classic Games Inaccessible" (published 2019-01-30)
  10. ign.com "Sonics Ultimate Genesis Collection Review" (published 2009-02-12)
  11. steamdb.info "Shining in the Darkness · AppID: 71161 · SteamDB"
  12. store.playstation.com "SEGA Genesis Classics" (archived 2021-10-30)
  13. apps.apple.com "Shining Force Classics on the App Store" (archived 2021-08-27)
  14. androidpolice.com "Shining Force Classics is the latest SEGA Forever release on the Play Store" (archived 2018-10-24)
  15. play.google.com "Shining Force Classics - Apps on Google Play" (archived 2021-04-09)
  16. megadriveclassics.sega.com "SEGA Mega Drive Classics Coming soon to the Nintendo Switch™" (archived 2021-10-26)
  17. Nintendo.com "Sega Genesis Classics for Nintendo Switch" (archived 2021-09-25)
  18. steamdb.info "Change #5755274 · Shining in the Darkness · AppID: 71161 · SteamDB"
  19. Xbox.com "Xbox Series X | Xbox" (archived 2021-11-07)
  20. Xbox.com "Xbox Series S | Xbox" (archived 2021-11-07)
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