![]() Eike explores four eras-2001, 1979/1980, 19 to 1584 - as he attempts to unmask his killer and figure out a way of stopping his own murder at various points in the present. However, he is resurrected by Homunculus (voiced by Charles Martinet in the first English dub), a djinn or genie, who offers to send him back in time to prevent his death and gives him the time-traveling digipad. Set in a fictional German town named Lebensbaum (The Tree of Life), Shadow of Memories revolves around a 22-year-old man named Eike Kusch, who dies in the beginning of the game from being stabbed after leaving a small diner. When the clock arrives at the time of Eike's death, the chapter restarts, however, if Eike is not in his time period at the time of his death, the game ends. The cut-scenes and dialogue takes up varying amounts of in-game time. The amount of time Eike spends in the different eras also passes in the present-day one. Īdditionally, the game keeps two digital clocks: one depicting the time in the present-day era and another for whichever era Eike time-travels to. Actions taken in one time period affect future ones for example, if Eike removes a seal from the squire's manor in 1580, the seal will not appear in the present era. The gameplay primarily consists of time-traveling through the different eras, finding items, and interacting through dialogue with the non-player characters. The digipad, a time-traveling item given to Eike by Homunculus, requires energy units, which the player can find scattered around the town. Shadow of Memories lacks traditional action elements, and Eike cannot attack nor does he have a bar displaying his health. In the prologue and each chapter, Eike dies, is resurrected by the non-player character Homunculus, and travels back in time before his death with the intent of changing events to prevent it. ![]() The game takes place in three parts: a prologue, eight chapters, and an epilogue. The objective of Shadow of Memories is to guide player character Eike Kusch through the fictional German town of Lebensbaum (Life's Tree) as he travels through time to prevent and unmask his murderer. For example, the early twentieth century is depicted in grey tones while 1580 appears in earth-colored ones. But, having played it, I can honestly say that Shadow of Destiny really is a great story with solid gameplay.The color tone varies depending on which era Eike time-travels to. I didn’t think I had anything to lose by buying it, nor did I have high expectations. The game bodes well on the PSP, making it a perfect portable adventure game. I first came across Shadow of Destiny at an EB Games in the bargain bin for under $5. No doubt, at first, I figured some elements of the game would be a little hokey in appearance being from the early 2000’s, but it looked good, and its story more than made up for any flaws. Shadow of Destiny was originally a PlayStation release in 2001, which was later released on Windows, and then on the PSP in 2010. I didn’t go and try to replay the game to see what other ending I could pull (not that adventurous / satisfied with the ending I got). There are 8 possible endings to this game, and there is no wrong way to play. ![]() Similar to the plot device of the Walking Dead game I played on the Xbox 360, this game relies heavily on the choices the player makes, in dialogue and interaction with other characters within the game. As we meet different characters from different time periods, we find out the thread that ties all the time periods he explores is Eike himself, and it’s interesting to see this legacy unravel. ![]() The story goes much deeper than someone trying to murder him in foul play. At the end of each chapter, Eike gets killed, in a different locale and in a different way, but with each chapter he gains more insight into who the perpitrator is. The game consists of a prologue, eight chapters, and an epilogue. He is permitted to travel to 4 different time periods, including as far back at the 1500s to investigate this mystery. The scene ends, and this is where Eike meets Homunculus, a sprite of some sort who brings him back to life and gives Eike a digital time traveling device (a digipad) used to travel back in time to just before his murder takes place, encouraging him to find out who is trying to kill him and why. When we first meet him, he had just finished eating at a diner Next thing he knows, someone stabs him to death. You play as Eike, a guy who is apparently in someone’s crosshairs. This question is the theme behind Shadow of Destiny (aka Shadow of Memories in Japan), a game I played on the PlayStation Portable (PSP) this past January. If given the chance to change your fate, would you?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |