| Shining in the Darkness | |
 | |
| 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:  All AgesTecToy:  All AgesCERO:  All AgesESRB:  All AgesOFLC:  Ages 8 and UpPEGI:  Ages 7 and UpiOS: 9+ Ages 9 and Up |
| Release Date(s) | |
Mega Drive/Genesis Japan: 1991-03-29[2] North America: 1991-08-06 Europe: 1991-09-09 Brazil: 1997-09Windows (Sega Game Honpo) Japan: 2003-11-20[3][4][5]Service discontinued 2006-09-30[6] Japan: 2003-11-20 (CD Package Version)[7][8]Wii (Virtual Console) Japan: 2007-06-12 North America: 2007-08-13 Europe: 2007-09-07 Australia: 2007-09Service discontinued 2019-01-30[9] PS3, Xbox 360 (Ultimate Genesis Collection) North America: 2009-02-10[10] Europe: 2009-02-20Windows (Sega Genesis Classics)  Worldwide: 2011-01-26 (Steam)[11]PS4, Xbox One (Sega Genesis Classics) North America: 2018-05-28[12][1] Worldwide: 2018-05-29Android, iOS (Shining Force Classics) Worldwide: 2018-10-24[13][14][15]Switch (Sega Genesis Classics) Europe: 2018-12-06 [16] North America: 2018-12-07[17]Linux, Mac (Sega Genesis Classics) Worldwide: 2019-02-01 (Steam)[18]Xbox Series X/S (Sega Genesis Classics) 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 takes place 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[]
Characters[]
Main Characters[]
Allies of the Force (NPC)[]
- Princess Jessa
- King Drake
- Minister
- Mortred
- Vyrun
- Theos
- Tristan
- Xern
- Wizard Guide
Citizens of Thornwood[]
- Old Vik
- Mrs.Vik
- Innkeeper
- Gilius
- Alkemist
- Armorer
- Trader
- Priest
- 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:
- Humans - e.g. the Hero, Princess Jessa
- Elves - e.g. Pyra
- Hobbits - e.g. Milo
- Dwarves
- Wolflings - e.g. Lupo
- Gelflings - e.g. Dai, Dyan and Edward
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.
| Shining Series | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shining Series | Console games | Shining in the Darkness • Shining Force: The Legacy of Great Intention • Shining Force II • Shining Force CD • Shining Wisdom • Shining the Holy Ark • Shining Force III • Shining Tears • Shining Force Neo • Shining Force EXA • Shining Wind • Shining Resonance | ||
| Handheld games | Shining Force Gaiden • Shining Force Gaiden II • Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict • Shining Soul • Shining Soul II • Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon • Shining Hearts • Shining Blade • Shining Force Feather • Shining Ark | |||
| Mobile games | Shining Road to the Force • Shining Road 2: The Priestess of Dark Dragon • Shining Force EXA Mobile • Shining Wind X • Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness | |||
| Arcade games | Shining Force Cross • Blade Arcus from Shining | |||
| Anime | Shining Tears X Wind • Shining Hearts: Bread of Happiness | |||
References[]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Archived 2020-07-20)
- ↑ segamusic.co.jp Start of service announcement (published 2003-11-13)
- ↑ sega-gamehompo.jp Sega Honpo games list (archived 2003-11-23)
- ↑ sega-gamehompo.jp Service start notice (archived 2003-11-18)
- ↑ sega-hompo.jp Sega Game Hompo termination of service notice (archived 2006-08-22)
- ↑ sega-gamehompo.jp Sega Game Honpo history log (archived 2004-06-05)
- ↑ sega-gamehompo.jp Sega Game Honpo package version product page (archived 2004-03-29)
- ↑ extremetech.com "Nintendo Begins Phasing Out Wii Virtual Console, Making Classic Games Inaccessible" (published 2019-01-30)
- ↑ ign.com "Sonics Ultimate Genesis Collection Review" (published 2009-02-12)
- ↑ steamdb.info "Shining in the Darkness · AppID: 71161 · SteamDB"
- ↑ store.playstation.com "SEGA Genesis Classics" (archived 2021-10-30)
- ↑ apps.apple.com "Shining Force Classics on the App Store" (archived 2021-08-27)
- ↑ androidpolice.com "Shining Force Classics is the latest SEGA Forever release on the Play Store" (archived 2018-10-24)
- ↑ play.google.com "Shining Force Classics - Apps on Google Play" (archived 2021-04-09)
- ↑ megadriveclassics.sega.com "SEGA Mega Drive Classics Coming soon to the Nintendo Switch™" (archived 2021-10-26)
- ↑ Nintendo.com "Sega Genesis Classics for Nintendo Switch" (archived 2021-09-25)
- ↑ steamdb.info "Change #5755274 · Shining in the Darkness · AppID: 71161 · SteamDB"
- ↑ Xbox.com "Xbox Series X | Xbox" (archived 2021-11-07)
- ↑ Xbox.com "Xbox Series S | Xbox" (archived 2021-11-07)