Shadow of Destiny (2001)

Developer: Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: Xbox, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
Genres: Puzzle, Adventure
Rating: 4.2 of 5, 7 player ratings

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A slow, cerebral unraveling of fate where you quietly wander through time, piecing together cause and effect to cheat death before the clock runs out.

mysteriousatmosphericmethodicalnarrative-driventime-pressuredcontemplativepuzzle-focusedeerie

About

Shadow of Destiny is an adventure game. There are no action elements in the game, and the protagonist has no health bar. Each chapter has a time limit, during which Eike has to find a way to prevent the murderer from killing him. This is mainly achieved by traveling through time to different hours, days, years, and even centuries. Obtaining a crucial item, having a conversation with a specific character, or performing another action in the past will prevent Eike from getting killed. Time-traveling requires energy units, which can be found by exploring the town. If Eike fails to achieve the goal at hand within the allotted time and prevent his murder, the chapter must be restarted. During the course of the game the player will have several choices and opportunities to change the future in various ways. Due to the time-traveling feature, many objectives can be accomplished in non-linear ways, branching the storyline and eventually resulting in eight different endings, six of which can be achieved during the first playthrough, and two others unlocked after having reached the other six.

What players say

A distinctive, eerily atmospheric time-travel adventure where you race to prevent your own murder across centuries, praised for its original premise and strong, acclaimed writing. Mediocre at launch but now a cherished cult favorite among adventure fans.

Screenshots

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.