Last Update: 6/22/07
shadow of destiny
The main story revolves around a man named Eike Kusch who dies in the beginning of the game, from being stabbed to the back. However, he wakes up in a dark, strange place, where a mysterious voice offers to send him back in time to prevent his death. In this game, death is only the beginning.
Given the magical ability to travel through time, Eike has to visit four eras - the present day (2001), 1980, 1902 and 1580 - in which he will meet people that are all somehow connected to his life and destiny.
Basically, the game takes place in only one day and is real-time based. It has six very different endings, depending on the actions the player has taken throughout the game. All of the endings are different, but together they explain the whole truth about the events.
The game explores the deep question of who we really are and asks many philosophical questions. Some of the questions in the game stay unanswered - much like real life.
Interestingly, the nature of the game is that Eike's time-travelling adventures can result in drastically different games. Sometimes, the actions of a character in one play-through can be completely different in another, revealing different origins, and wholly different lives depending on Eike's actions (similar to Westwood's Blade Runner or Quantic Dream's Fahrenheit). There is an overall set of actions that can be inferred from the different endings, but there are also conflicting results that cannot possibly co-exist. It is up to the player to find out what is truly happening in the game.
Given the magical ability to travel through time, Eike has to visit four eras - the present day (2001), 1980, 1902 and 1580 - in which he will meet people that are all somehow connected to his life and destiny.
Basically, the game takes place in only one day and is real-time based. It has six very different endings, depending on the actions the player has taken throughout the game. All of the endings are different, but together they explain the whole truth about the events.
The game explores the deep question of who we really are and asks many philosophical questions. Some of the questions in the game stay unanswered - much like real life.
Interestingly, the nature of the game is that Eike's time-travelling adventures can result in drastically different games. Sometimes, the actions of a character in one play-through can be completely different in another, revealing different origins, and wholly different lives depending on Eike's actions (similar to Westwood's Blade Runner or Quantic Dream's Fahrenheit). There is an overall set of actions that can be inferred from the different endings, but there are also conflicting results that cannot possibly co-exist. It is up to the player to find out what is truly happening in the game.
Publisher: Konami
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Bottom Line: A fun multi-ending game riddled with mysteries. Shadow of Destiny is an enjoyable game, and after playing through it once, you'll find you won't be satisfied until you've played it again and again. There are five endings to this game, plus an extra one that you'll be able to unlock after completing all five. Something to keep in mind with each play-through is the percentage list, which basically tells you how many of the options presented to Eike you've completed (ex: not saving Eckert's wife the first time you play, and then saving her the next time). The higher your percentage, the more bonuses (movies and new title screen) you unlock.
As fun as the game is, its graphics are mediocre. The people make rigid motions, and their facial expressions fail to convey convincing emotions. However, the backgrounds and structures more than make up for where the visuals of the people fail. Sound is decent. The voice acting here is actually good unlike in some games (Soul Caliber 2 & 3, Tales of Legendia, recent Sonic games, etc.). The music never grates on one's nerves. Most tracks are laid back and all around pleasant. The gameplay consists mostly of running, talking, and picking up items. There's no whipping out a gun, sword, or left foot to inflict damage on foes. You just use your noggin to figure out what you need to do to prevent your death this time and run to wherever you need to go to pick up whatever you need to get. Overall, the game is worth the $10 you've got to fork over in order to buy. Learning Curve: Takes a second
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