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Very boring game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: March 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If you buy a game for graphics, then this is a game to buy. However if you buy a game for game play then this is not the game for you. Don't be fooled by other peoples reviews, well over half the game is movie, and I for one did not buy the playstation 2 to watch movies. The entire game you just run from one movie to the next, never really doing anything except maybe picking up a key. The problem solving is very simple as well, so simple in fact that it took me an afternoon to complete the game, my total time was like a little over 10 hours. Save your money and don't buy this cheese fest of a game.

this game is craaaaap

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 8
Date: January 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game was completely boring and as soon as I beat it (under a day mind you) I threw it away.

Awful. Not worth the money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: January 09, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I was SO excited about getting to play this game. I rushed through Silent Hill 2 to start this one and was so disapopinted. The theory and story line are good, as are the graphics. But the whole game was over with in under 4 hours. There weren't many choices given throughout the game so I don't imagine there can be much variation on the endings. It certainly is not worth paying $50 for and I have no interest in playing it again. The puzzles were stupidly simple and there was very little thought needed to go into "where do I go next?". Save yourself the money. Rent the game from Blockbuster for 5 nights... you'll have it solved in 4 hours anyway!

Movie or game?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: June 01, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This so called game has a very good story and plot. It keeps your attention, by making you want to see what happens next. However, the gameplay could not satisfy an 8 year old. Why you ask? Because there is none. You watch 15 minutes of cinematics and then are pretty much told what you have to do. There is really not much thought needed since you are pretty much led directly to where you have to be or the object you need. Oooooh. there are multple endings. Whoopee! You still have to sit through a majority of the same cinematics and virtually do nothing. Out of the 5 or 6 hours spent playing this game through the first time, I would estimate that I only needed the controller in my hand for 30 minutes. This makes for a good movie but don't buy it if you actually like to PLAY your games instead of watch them.

Good graphics, interesting storyline...but short and dull.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: August 20, 2001
Author: Amazon User

The beginning of the game starts out being interesting and mysterious enough, and the first half of the game (took me a couple hours) was fun to play, but after that it went downhill. The detail is incredible, but the entire game takes place within the space of a few city blocks. You eventually get tired of all the running back and forth between buildings and finding nothing, switching to a new time period only to find nothing and switch to yet another. The time paradoxes are interesting, but some of them really dont make sense, and the endings are rather dissapointing, as well. Depending on the ending you get, the game explains various parts of whats *really* going on, as if you hadnt figured it out the first time. I got all the endings (there are a few pivotal points where the choices you make determine the ending you get) and found it to be an utter waste of time. Replay value is nil, I'll never pick it up again.

I don't think so!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 18, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Yeah, the graphics and voice are cool but please...the actual game was sorry. I played through chapter 2 and stopped, I wasn't even remotely interested in what was going to happen next. You spend half your time reclining on the couch with the controller next to you watching a very long and boring movie hoping to god you get to play soon. I love murder mysteries but as far as I'm concerned Eike can stay dead because I'm not especially interested in finding out who killed him.

I guess it was sort of okay...........

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 14, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game over a year ago and I have not yet beaten it. It is interesting but I cannot figure out what to do on the second level so the game offers me no enjoyment anymore. If you like RPG's you should probably check it out. But if you're looking for a lot of action, you certainly won't find it here.

Phenomenal Storytelling, Flawed Gameplay

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 21 / 23
Date: March 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Shadows of Destiny, hands down, has the most engaging story of any game I have ever played. Probably a third of the game is CG movies--which are great at moving a story. The voice acting, if not perfect, is well above average for a video game. The graphics, as other reviews attest, are simply top-notch, making this game a visual feast. Indeed, it is interactive cinema, if I have ever seen it.

The premise is that you are being murdered, over and over again, and that you need to flit through time (from the 16th century to the present) to tweak events to prevent the possibility of your murder. This involves puzzle solving, such as the use of ropes, ladders, discussing possible movie topics (no joke!), borrowing keys, eavesdropping, and, of course, making weird use of the legendary Philosopher's Stone (if only Harry Potter was along for the ride). Sounds great, right? Well, aside from its not really engaging deeply with the implications and paradoxes of time travel, the story is. The puzzles are not too easy, but you won't need a clue book, either--this isn't Myst.

For all you technical types out there, there is occasional pop-up and slowdown, but it didn't bother me.

The real problem is game play. There is no action in this game. No jumping, no punching, no epic boss battles, no strategy, no practicing your Crouching Tiger day after day. You can walk, talk, and manipulate objects in the most basic way. Anything more (including most object manipulation) is handled by the cut scenes. So the game basically alternates between walking and talking on the one hand, and cut scenes on the other. The story emerges beautifully (I have finished the game) chapter by chapter.

So what do you do when it is over? Well, unless you like to watch the same movie over and over again, you go out and buy another movie. There is no skill to develop, no "I should have done it that way" from hindsight. There is no reason to play this again. Yes, the box promises some new bits and pieces, but this is no Vagrant Story, where the second time is more fun than the first.

So, will you plunk down $xx for an awesome ten-hour interactive movie that you will only play once? I did, and I don't regret it. Story to me is paramount, and I have a bunch of other games and don't give each of my games 50 hours anyway.

But if you have limited resources and a small library of beloved games that you play over and over? Rent it on a rainy weekend and play through the whole thing.

Great Plotline Carries Sub-Par Gameplay

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: July 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Of all the games I've played, only few have stories that are incredibly well written. These plots could be made as movies, but are a little too complex to be profitable, so I am glad to see them pop up in games.

Shadow Of Destiny has a plot to kill for. The characters are very well personified and the voice acting is very well done, which is gladly seen in a video game. The entire town you explore has a great overall attitude, which changes depending on the time period you are in. The story takes fantastic turns and twists as you discover the backgrounds of mysterious and interesting characters. It's enough for any science fiction fan to salivate over.

The gameplay, however, is very unimpressive. Imagine the old point and click adventures such as the Sierra classics King's Quest and Police Quest, only with a behind view third person perspective. All you really have to do is get the right object to the rigt person, or talk to the right person at the right time. There is not much puzzle solving involved, but the payback in plot lines is great.

This game can be completed once in about 5 to 6 hours, but the drive to see all the endings is great. Each ending is very unique and range from your usual good to bad finales. So overall I strongly suggest that you rent this one and complete it in a few days instead of owning it, seeing all the endings, and have it gather dust in the corner.

An great storyline set in a mediocre game.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: February 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Mind you this game is somewhat older now and can be found in most bargain bins. however not all games in the bargain bin are worth picking up. This game was anice break from traditional role playing and adventure games. It looks a lot like Silent Hill just much simpler and easier. Also not as gory or scary. The game has an eerie tone to it but thats mostly cause you get killed like every 5 minutes. The graphics are so-so. The town, which is the only environment you play in just through different time periods, is well done but pretty bland. Nothing spectacular. The characters are nicly represented and fit in their time frames. The voice acting was pretty bland though and as many adventure games your character is just a babbling moron who can't even make sense of the obvious. The game itself does not really require any skill just some minor thinking. A few puzzles can be tricky but the game will mostly point out most options you can take. There aren't many different routes you can take either to finish a chapter but there are 5 different endings. I beat the game in under 4 hours and potentially I could have gotten it done in under 3 but I wandered around a lot. The game is pretty weak in free raoming. There are only a handful of random people to talk to and if you don't need to go somewhere to progress the story then you can't so raomeing is pretty useless just go where you need to go. I did find though that I didn't complete as much of the story as I had thought. The challenge factor is also very light as none of the puzzles are very hard. In fact the game pretty much solves them for you you just have to find certain things. The big drawback is that if you fail during a chapter you have to do the entire chapter over. This can be tedious at times. For the most part this game was enjoyable but nothing over the top. THe best feature of the game is the story. It is pretty much why I liked it even though the game itself was pretty weak. The graphics particularly the characters during the cut scenes are pretty good. The game seems more like a mildly interactive movie where you get to dictate the flow and maybe make a few decisions but it pretty much is just going from cut scene to cut scene until the end. I would recomened this title but I would consider renting it or maybe picking it out of a bargain bin because it won't take you more than a couple hours to beat it. Even if you want to see all the endings you still only need a couple days. It is worth it but hardcore gamers will hate this title.

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