Shining the Holy Ark Saturn
Recent eBay Listings
- Sega Saturn Shining the Holy Ark PAL Complete with Manual £140.00
- Sega Saturn Shining the Holy Ark PAL Complete with Manual £146.30
- Shining the Holy Ark - SEGA Saturn | TheGameWorld £139.50
- Shining the Holy Ark (Saturn) -Free Tracked 48 Post £169.80
- Shining the Holy Ark - Sega Saturn Action Adventure RPG Video Boxed manual £156.70
- SHINING THE HOLY ARK Sega Saturn ss £9.60
Price History
| Date | Avg Price | Low | High | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | £119.24 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-04-04 | £127.52 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-04-03 | £127.52 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-04-02 | £115.20 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-04-01 | £115.22 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-03-31 | £112.55 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-03-30 | £112.54 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-03-29 | £112.54 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-03-28 | £118.33 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-03-27 | £118.32 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-03-26 | £118.32 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
| 2026-03-25 | £118.35 | £9.60 | £265.99 | 9 |
Screenshots
Game History
Shining the Holy Ark was developed by Game Arts and published by Sega for the Sega Saturn console. The game was directed by Yoichi Miyaji and represented an evolution of the Shining series, which had established itself across multiple Sega platforms throughout the 1990s.
The game was first released in Japan on November 29, 1996, making it an early title in the Saturn's library. It later received a North American release on September 30, 1997. The game did not receive an official European release during its initial commercial run, limiting its availability in that region.
Shining the Holy Ark received positive reviews from critics at launch, who praised its engaging turn-based RPG mechanics, compelling narrative, and the quality of its sprite-based graphics for the Saturn. However, the game achieved modest commercial success, particularly outside Japan, as the RPG market was becoming increasingly competitive during the mid-to-late 1990s.
Today, Shining the Holy Ark holds significant value among collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts. The original Japanese release commands premium prices in the secondhand market due to its scarcity and early position in the Saturn's lifecycle. The North American version is similarly sought after, though generally more affordable than Japanese copies. The game's limited production run and the general rarity of Saturn software contribute to its collector appeal.
One notable aspect of the game's development was its use of pre-rendered backgrounds combined with sprite-based characters, a technique that was becoming standard for 2D RPGs during this era. The game's soundtrack, composed by Motoi Sakuraba, was well-regarded and contributed to its atmospheric presentation.
Shining the Holy Ark remains historically significant as a solid entry in the Shining franchise and an example of quality 2D RPG design on the Saturn. Its relative obscurity compared to other Saturn titles, combined with its genuine quality, has made it a cult classic among dedicated collectors and a testament to the Saturn's diverse software library during the 32-bit console generation.