# Shining in the Darkness: The First Spark ## Overview *Shining in the Darkness* is a legendary first-person dungeon crawler that marks the beginning of the iconic "Shining" series. The story is set in the peaceful Kingdom of Thornwood, which is thrown into chaos when the princess is kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Dark Sol and imprisoned within the ancient, monster-infested Labyrinth. As the son of a legendary knight, the player's character is tasked by the king to brave the treacherous maze, find the princess, and defeat Dark Sol to restore peace to the land. ## Background Released for the Sega Genesis in 1991, *Shining in the Darkness* was a foundational title for the role-playing genre on the 16-bit console. At a time when the Genesis was primarily known for fast-paced action games, this title offered a deep, methodical, and atmospheric adventure. It was the first game in the prolific *Shining* franchise, establishing the lore, art style, and core themes that would later evolve into the famous *Shining Force* strategy RPGs. Its charming anime-inspired visuals and challenging gameplay helped it become a beloved classic. ## Gameplay The gameplay of *Shining in the Darkness* is centered on first-person exploration and turn-based combat. Players navigate the massive, grid-based Labyrinth one step at a time, mapping out its winding corridors, hidden doors, and dangerous traps. When encountering enemies, the game switches to a turn-based battle screen. The player controls a party of three heroes—the main hero, a priest, and a wizard—issuing commands to attack, cast magic, or use items. The town of Thornwood serves as the game's hub, where players can rest, save their progress, and purchase new weapons, armor, and items before venturing back into the Labyrinth's depths. Success requires careful resource management, strategic combat, and persistent exploration.