Shadow of Destiny (PlayStation 2, 2001)

This game came out while the Playstation 2 was still new and expanding its catalog of titles. This is certainly one of the gems that came in under the radar and went unrecognized by the majority of gamers. It is a great game though.

The basic premise is that you have a device that can take you back in time in order to prevent your own murder. You go back to several different time periods to unlock the mysteries of the past to solve the puzzles of the future and hopefully change your ill-fated destiny. Changing the past in the slightest of ways though can change everything though and not always for the better. This is such a cinematic game. It really is a lot more like an intereactive movie or one of those choose-your-own-ending books more so than just an out right video game. The story has about a dozen different endings, and each one is very cool and very different. I was so engrossed by this game that I had to play thru until I got them all. If you save the game in several pivotal places, you can just keep going back and making different choices, as your choices, even the simplest ones, drastically change your fate.

This game is very dialogue-heavy....not a lot of action in terms of fighting and stuff like that, although there is a lot of mystery-solving and running around. The voice-overs are suprisingly very good, especially for a game that was released in 2001. This game is better than most the movies Hollywood puts out these days. If you're into time travel, mysteries and puzzle solving, and just great stories that you have an active role in the outcome of, then this is the game for you. I have never played another one like it, and this game deserves all the recognition it can get. You can get it for very cheap these days too. Even though I've beaten this game now about 14 times or so, I'd seriously consider buying it back again after I've forgotten more of it and beating it another time or two. Now that's saying a lot!!

This game was fun, for a little while. It has a great story with multiple endings, all of which you are caused by your actions throughout the game. You solve some puzzles and mysteries though this game, and at the end, you probably will feel like playing through a couple more times to see another ending or two. But it does not take long to finish the story all the way through. Plus, there really is no gameplay. Your responsibility is basically to move your character from one event to the next. If your an action game fan, this game will most likely bore you.
As for the graphics, sound quality, etc., they are beautiful, considering the time of release.
Now, all this makes it had to give it an overall rating. It really depends on what you are looking for. So, I give it an average rating. It really is a game that is up to you to like it or not.
So I say to you who may be interested in purchasing this game: Do not consider yourself purchasing a game, but rather purchasing a movie. You could probably get this game cheaper than many movies, and this has a better story than many movies. But do not get this game expecting any action; there is nil, it is purely a playable mystery movie.

Shadow of Destiny is a great game if you like to explore, now keep in mind this is not a Run-n-Gun or action game. It's basically about exploring the mystery and life of the main character through time travel and preventing his death.

Graphics-
The game looked great for its time, considering that it was released in 2001, The atmosphere is great and basically revolves around a small town of Lebensbaum.

Sound & Music-
Games sounds are pretty accurate, the music does go with every scene but it's nothing special it does bring each time frame to life and makes you feel like your in it. The voice acting is great and is very fitting to the characters involved, though some characters sound annoying.

Controls-
The controls are very simple and makes it easy for anyone of any age to play, sometimes the camera angle can get annoying but the game allows you to manually control the angle.

Overall, Shadow of Destiny is a Good game, made well for its type. If exploring and mystery is for you, then this game will have a good replay value.

Shadow of Destiny is another game I decided to re-purchase because I had been listening to the soundtrack and felt nostalgic. It was one of the first games I had purchased for the PS2 and one that I remember very well. First of all, the game does not have very deep gameplay, it is a story-driven game and a great one at that. It involves a young man, Eike Kusch, who is mysteriously murdered in the street. He awakes in a strange room where an enigmatic voice gives him the ability to go back in time and avoid his death. The thing I love most about the game is the logistics of time travel that is discussed throughout the game, it's extremely thought-provoking and works well with the story. The game is parted by chapters and in each one, you have to find a way to travel to different times, so you can avoid your death and pull the root of evil from the sands of time. It's a great game for intelligent players looking for a thought-provoking story, though it's not a game for gamers looking for depth of gameplay and loads of action.

I bought this game after reading the reviews on Amazon.com. This "game" is mostly cut scenes but my family all gathered 'round and watched and helped figure out where to go next. There is no killing with guns, no shooting zombies, but the brain work is fun.
Very interesting game...never played anything like it...worth it if you find it cheap.

This is a rainy day game when your sitting there thinking "I'm bored". It isn't intense like a fighting game or quite as terrifying as Silent Hill, but more like snuggling up with a good mystery novel. You move your character in and out of time trying to prevent your own death. Death keeps coming. It reminds me a little of the Final Destination movies, in that you really think about what would happen if you cheat fate. There is far more watching than actual playing to this game, but you can finish it in a few hours. Then you can replay it for an alternate ending. There are seven all together I think. It could be boring for some, so if your an action fanatic, don't bother. Like I said...it's more like reading a book speed wise. I found it to be a fantastic game that deserves to be played over and over again.