Sleeper of the Week: Shadow of Destiny (PS2)

[maxlords]

We’ve got another little known gem from Konami this week. It’s probably a game you’ve seen on the shelf and ignored. Shadow of Destiny is basically a murder mystery wherein you are the victim. As Eike Kusch, you have been inconveniently murdered. However, upon your death, you wake up in a strange nether realm where you are given a device that lets you travel back in time and explore the events in history that lead up to your own death.

Starting with a unique concept, Konami engineered a really different sort of game in Shadow of Destiny. To solve your murder, you must travel back to several different time periods within the same town and explore the history of the place, as well as your connections to it. In addition, you must find out what to do within a certain timeframe or the assailant that murders you will catch up to you. You have limited time to figure out the mystery, and a limited ability to travel through time, making your investigation challenging. The game’s pacing isn’t incredibly fast and sometimes you really have to think to get past certain sections. When you do die, you’re returned to the limbo from whence you were resurrected and you must try again.

I found Shadow of Destiny to be a very intriguing game. As stated, it is a slower paced game, but as the mystery unravels, you find yourself really drawn into the story. Certain events must be completed in extremely short times, making the stress level fairly high to get things done right. Eike takes notes when he notices interesting things as well, adding comments about things you may not have noticed or interpreted quite the way he does. All in all, it adds up to an excellent story with intriguing characters.

As for graphics, Shadow of Destiny is a first (or maybe second) gen PS2 game, so don’t expect anything too stunning. It’s nice looking, but it’s nothing special. The music is good and sets the tone well for the game, but I didn’t find it to be particularly notable. It just fits. If you don’t mind the slower pacing and the rather different feel of the game, this is definitely a title to check out. I played all the way through the game more than once myself, as there are multiple endings to it, and not just ones that are slight variations. Other than that, I found the replay value to be fairly low on this one. Demand is low too, with auctions closing on eBay for $.99-$8.00 for complete copies of the game. Heck for that price, you really can’t go wrong, can you? If you like a good mystery, go snag a copy of Shadow of Destiny!

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[RJ]

YES!!! I rented this game when it first debuted & LOVED it. I got to the first ending- there were even guides on the 'net for it. I think I used one to see one of the several alternate endings.

A few years ago I was at EB GAmes in downtown Mpls & ALMOST bought it but didnt want to haul it around the rest of the night.

So recently I came across it again at a used bookstore & snapped it up for $10. As I played through it the greatness & ingenuity of the game came flooding back. I thought it was very advanced for its time. I had remembered certain parts of it even to this day! This time I played through all the endings & got the special EX ending. I get a kick out of how it's called "Shadow of Memories" in the preview movies.

If you're a PS2 owner & find this game, pick it up- you WONT be sorry. It's not action-packed or very fast-paced, & there's quite a bit of watching cutscenes (although on later playthrus you can skip most of them) but it's one of my favorites of all-time.

[kevincure]

Great game, and the length is perfect. I know many complain about games that are 5-6 hours long, but I don't have much time to play anymore, so it's nice to reach the end in a reasonable amount of time. Plus, there are a bunch of alternate "paths" (not just alternate endings) that keep replayability high. Truly original and entertaining adventure.

[Saabmeister]

It took me quite a while to find a nice copy of this game. Maybe I'll finally get it started this week...

[studvicious]

Just had to log in to say how great of a game this is! You must play it! I promise that you won't be dissapointed :) Two thumbs up! :D

[Oobgarm]

One of my most treasured PS2 games. I could write more but I'd just be repeating everyone else. :)

[SoulBlazer]

YES!

GREAT choice, my friend!

Shadow of Destiny is a GREAT game, a nice adventure game with a unique and good plot, good voice acting, and replayability to see all the different endings. It's a wonderfull game, and it also has action parts in it as well to keep you entertained.

I got this game when I got my PS2 in early 2001 and I've never looked back on it. One of my favorite games for the system.

My nitpicks on the game are small -- as mentioned, the graphics defentily show it as a early PS2 game, and I don't like how hard it can be sometimes to find the power capsules you need for your time traveling device. The controls and camera can also be a bit akward. But those are small nitpicks.

It's been over a year since I last played this, I think I'm going to dig it out again. :D

BTW -- if you don't have a PS2, Konami also made a port of this game for the PC, and it does'nt require a high end system.

[SamuraiSmurfette]

I agree. Absolutely excellent.
I guess what I liked about it most was the plot.
Really kept you going.
I never knew who the culprit was until the very end.
I was like "It's gotta be this guy. FOr sure. And if it's not, then maybe this guy."
I wasn't even close.
But then, after going back and playing it again,
you can get filled in with little details that you're looking for.
Brilliant.
Kinda like 12 Monkeys, one of my fave movies.

[RJ]

I've always found those "power capsules" rather easily- if you know where to look!

There's one just outside the Fortune Teller's place, on the other side of the "street". There's usually one at the southernmsot part of the city- if you're coming down the path from the library/museum, take a quick left when you get to the street.
And, usually one under a bridge (on the left) heading NE from the library/museum.

They do seem pretty scarce in the 1500s- there's always one in the churchyard next to the tree to the right of the church entry.

[PDorr3]

I always wanted this game, but when I first had my ps2 I wanted something with aslot of gameplay so I avoided this one, but now it is really hard to find in stores now, atleast for me. Ill give it a go, this will be a future rare title for ps2 years down the road, rest assured.

[SoulBlazer]

Next time I play the game I'll look at a FAQ for those capsules. :)

And like I said, you don't HAVE to get the PS2 version -- there's a PC port of the game as well.