Crazy Games would co-develop the arcade title The Maze of the Kings with Hitmaker before closing in December 2002 due to the uncertain Japanese economy at that time.

[2][3] Following the release of Dark Savior in 1996, Nishigaki and a collection of staff members from Climax Entertainment's CGI section decided to form a new studio that would create new graphics-focused titles, beginning pre-production on their first game in September 1996.

[2] Climax Graphic's next title was Illbleed, a survival horror inspired by both Nishigaki's love of movies and horror-themed amusement parks.

[2][18] Reviews of Blue Stinger gave praise to its graphics and music, but most faulted its camera controls in both the Japanese and Western versions.

[24][25] Gaming magazine and website Retro Gamer felt the title had become mislabelled as survival horror since its release, having enjoyable action gameplay and a strong narrative to engage players.

[25] Reception of Illbleed was fairly mixed, with several critics highlighting its atmosphere and alternate take on the survival horror genre, but faulting the controls and audio design; most also noted its unconventional tone.

[30] In an IGN preview of The Maze of the Kings, Anoop Gantayat noted a lack of original elements beyond its aesthetic design and the use of magical staffs rather than guns in-game as weapons.

[31] On a 2018 Retro Gamer article on unported arcade titles, The Maze of Kings was described as standard for the light gun genre despite the aesthetic differences, and coming too late to see profitable ports to other systems or overseas.

[14] In a 2012 feature for 1UP.com on Resident Evil "rip-offs", Bob Mackey felt Blue Stinger was lacking elements to make it a true survival horror, and having too great a focus on combat and graphics.