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Game Information
- Platform: PlayStation2
- ELSPA Minimum Age: 15
- Media: Video Game
- Item Quantity: 1
Product Features
- Solve puzzles in various ways while finding clues to reach the killer
- Watch a highly detailed European town change as different time periods are visited
- Numerous endings to the story line
- New scenarios are unlocked as the games is replayed
- 10 Massive chapters
- Full voice-over for all characters
Product details
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Imagine being able to turn back time and prevent your own death. Now, imagine that in doing so you forever alter history and have to jump back and forth through the dimensions to put the world to rights. Welcome to Shadow of Memories.
Described by Konami as an "interactive novel", the game's plot follows the fortunes of lead character Eike, a man knifed to death in a quiet German town by an unknown assailant, who must save his own life and in the process discover why he was murdered in the first place.
This is a full 3-D world around which Eike can wander in a number of different time zones ranging from the present back to the middle ages, with suitable graphical treatments for all. It's a standard adventure game fare, with the usual array of objects to collect and use in the pursuit of altering history. Graphics are well above average and convey a real sense of being there; this is heightened by the superb 3-D sound, which makes a major mark on the gameplay, thoroughly enhancing the atmosphere in a way little seen in console games.
There are only two things which prevent Shadow of Memories from being a grade A PS2 title. The first is the length and frequency of the cutscenes. In the first 45 minutes or so of play there's so much scene setting that there's precious little for the player to do except watch--it can be frustrating, but the patient player is rewarded with a deep and immersive experience that becomes compulsive. The second is the short playing time--around seven hours to complete one of the game's half dozen paths. It's just not long enough for the serious gamer and does the title no justice.
However, if you can get past these hurdles, Shadow of Memories is a wonderful game, with the plot intriguing enough to have you arguing over who the killer was.
Shadow of Memories certainly won't be to everyone's taste. It's unusual mix of heavy storytelling and adventure action seems a little odd at first but perseverance is the name of the game and the player who sticks with it will be left with an engrossing experience. --Chris Russell
Manufacturer's Description
You, unfortunately, have been murdered. But don't worry! Thanks to your ability to travel back in time you can change the course of history and alter your fate. Shadow of Memories is part game, and part movie with much of your time spent watching cut-scenes that help unravel the mystery of your demise.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Shadow of Memories is very game light. Of its 6 game endings, many alternative chapters, twists and turns - most of it will come about through story telling and cut scene's. If you prefer your games full of action then I really cant recommend this game to you.
However, for those who want to get emmersed in a story and adventure - this is for you. Essentially 1 part 3D platformer, 2 parts point and click (without a mouse), these types of gaes are based on two things - storyline and their puzzles.
Shadow of Memories places you as Eike, a man killed but given the chance to go back through time and cheat death by preparing yourself for the incident and preventing your death. However fate has it in for you so you must cheat death for the day before you can go on living life again.
How you cheat death is ho the puzzles work. You can go back in time and effect events, objects or even buldings and scenery up to hundreds of years ago - and that will effect how things end up in the future and hopefully keep you alive. But you must get it all done before your next time of death otherwise you'll be lost in time forever!
It sounds like great scope for adventure and while the story ticks over perfectly, the puzzles dont really seem to get going. You cant get stuck for too long because your given a lot of tips on what to do. Thankfully getting all the different endings (all signiicantly different too) provides a much harder task and you'll be more than willing to revisit the game over and over to see what all the different choices you make can do.
An excellent piece of story telling raise this games ball. Not essential by any means - but for people who get into their games like they do good films, I'd heartily recommend this.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Never before have i seen such a materpiece!Although some people think is too short it has 7 endings (Although it says there are six on the cover)and i find it impossible to get a total of 100%.Basically it is like a film where control what happens.You'll notice that the bottom of the CD it is actually gold instead of blue because it has a built-in DVD drive in order to give the beatiful cut-scenes(but remember it wont work on a DVD player or PC etc).It takes alot of figuring out to do because some chapters themselves have 2-6 endings.This game has so much twists and turns your stomach will be sore.Because it is on the Playstation 2 the acting is astonishing with raw emotion.The best thing about this game that alot the actions you do will change the outcome.Every ending tells us more about our hero Eike.A must have game for people who enjoy using their brains and patience rather than killing everything that appears on the screen.Every timezone you'll travel is shown in different colours eg.When you travel to 1902 everthing is black and white(seeming as photographs and films were in black and white then).I certainly hope there is going to be a sequel!
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
All people are different, and gamers are no different. Some prefer hard-core button-mashing a la Tekken or FIFA, others are into it basically to be told a story, like the Final Fantasy series.
Shadow of Memories (sold abroad as Shadow of Destiny) is very much so for the latter group, except there isn't even any turn-based combat- there is just plot, and minimal gameplay (largely running around places and between timezones) with only flimsy excuses for puzzles. You need to collect energy balls to travel between timezones- but there are so many you that it's rather pointless and get the feeling that they were added as a committee decision at the end of the game development.
The plot runs along the lines of "A man dies, but is given the chance to change his fate by going back in time". There are numerous endings- technically there are 7- all of which interweave and reveal more and more about the characters' true histories.
The game starts off well, with a spooky feeling as your character, Eike, tries to avoid being killed. It's way easy though, and after you've finished a couple of the endings you may get a bit bored trying to get the other few. It's satisfying when you get the "A" ending and the "EX" endings; it's just getting there that's the problem.
Still, there are some nice little extras for getting there- some movies of development and the EX ending are unlocked when you complete the various threads. But you can't help getting a feeling that you've been a bit cheated on actual entertainment, as you sit there watching the game go by.
I would recommend the game to those who *wouldn't* buy a football or racing game, but who *would* buy all the Final Fantasy games. Some people will love the cerebral nature of the game but like I said, it's not for everyone.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent game, shame it's so short but "quality over quanity!...
picked this up second hand after liking the sound of it, I just fell in love with it...it is a unique game, a really thoughtful time-travel-based game with multiple endings so... Read more
Published 16 days ago by Ceallaigh
Shadow of Memories - A Trip Through Time
If you've never experienced SoM before, my advice to those with a PS2 or compatible PS3 is to buy it now!
You play as Eike Kusch, a guy with the worst luck. Read more
You play as Eike Kusch, a guy with the worst luck. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. B. Riim
Shadow of Memories played Review
Good quality game and arrived as almost new. No complaints from this supplier etc.
As for the game itself, I personally played it in 2003 and have to say it is one of... Read more
As for the game itself, I personally played it in 2003 and have to say it is one of... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. M. Cooper
Classic point-and-click with a twist
I remember this game actually coming out around 2001/2002 and even then it stood out from the crowd. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Patricia Fleetham
Fairly good, but over-hyped
I played this game for a few hours today for the first time. The concept is very good, but the aging graphics and the lack of any real puzzle challenges pull it down, plus some of... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2008 by Mr_MeAgain .
A classic at the time
Now, I remember many years ago rushing out of school to get this game (too many years ago) when the PS2 was yet to see the splendor of a great deal of games, but having just... Read more
Published on 19 Sep 2006 by C. O'Connor
Fantastic while it lasts.
Shadow of Memories is a meticulously plotted time travel adventure and murder mystery rolled into one. Read more
Published on 13 April 2006 by Zorro
If I could turn back time...
...If I could find a way. No, this game isn't about Cher. It is, infact, about a young man named Eike who is knifed in the back whilst taking a stroll. How rude. Read more
Published on 4 April 2006 by M. Hall
if i could turn back time
The aim of this is to avoid being killed. You have time to plan out your escape, change how the plot played out. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2006
Shadow of Memories
This game is un-mistakably a thinking mans master piece, a completly origonal idea. Although it won't fit everyones tastes. Read more
Published on 11 Dec 2004
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