Month: February 2026

Behind the Design, Current Articles, Features

Behind the Design: Shining in the Darkness

Climax burst onto the 16-bit scene with a wonderful 8Mb RPG that looked like nothing coming out of Japan at the time. Filled with memorable characters, fantastic visual effects, and a challenging quest, Shining in the Darkness was one hell of a debut title. It put Climax on the map and laid the foundation for a series that would run for the next three decades.

Classic Interviews, Current Articles, Features

Classic Interview: Shigeo Kamata and Hideki Sato

Early on in the Mega Drive’s life, Sega was ramping up game development and accessory support to make it a real contender against Nintendo’s NES. In this February 1990 interview, Sega’s Deputy General Manager of Consumer Business Dept., Shigeo Kamata, and the Director of R&D, Hideki Sato, talk about that strategy, including console sales, the Mega Modem, the start of the Sega Technical Institute, and more.

SG-1000 Reviews

Girl’s Garden

Girl’s Garden is mostly known for being the debut work of Sega legends Yuji Naka and Hiroshi Kawaguchi, but it’s also a decent little game that works well on the SG-1000. Young girls are definitely it’s target audience, but the gameplay and presentation are solid enough for everyone to have fun with it, regardless of age.