The PSP version of Shadow of Destiny is for fans of the original version.

By the time I played Shadow of Destiny on the PlayStation 2, the game had been out for years. It was one of those games that was always in the back of my head due to it being advertised in the instruction manual of my first PlayStation 2 game: Ephemeral Fantasia. I remember the phoned in voice acting, the interesting premise, and the somewhat tedious progression. I also remember a lot of ambition behind it. So, similarly, the PSP version of eventually ended up in the back of my head, too. I figured that this version would be an opportunity for Konami to fix some of the smaller issues. They were barely successful. If you enjoyed the PlayStation 2 version, then you’ll enjoy this one. If not, then you’re not missing anything by skipping.

One of the most effective yet subtle changes is the voice acting. Now, the cast of Shadow of Destiny is backed by credible voice actors that give a solid performance. This especially applies to Eike, the main character. He has the most lines so it’s a good thing he got one of the more prominent actors. The supporting cast keeps up, which is a bonus. I can’t remember if the script is the same or not from the PlayStation 2 version. It can feel a bit stiff at times, but again, having better voice acting helps move things along. While on the topic of presentation, the graphics look the same just in a more compact capacity. The art direction attempted to go the realistic route, but games of the era that did this usually end up with goofy looking characters. I mean, they work, but they’re awkward. Poor Eike is always cross-eyed for some reason. On the other hand, exploring the small European town shows that a lot of care went into getting every building, house, and detail within.

Actually, “Poor Eike” is a good nickname for our hero. Eike Kusch is in the small town of Lebensbaum enjoying the quiet, European life. After yet another afternoon in a small café, he gets murdered. Yes. Murdered. Someone stabs him in the back in broad daylight. Kind of random. Or is it? There has to be some reason behind this attack. Luckily, or unluckily depending on your POV, Eike is given a second chance at life thanks to a strange being called Homunculus. Homunculus gifts Eike the Zeit Pad, a special device that lets Eike journey to the past. With this device, his new “friend”, and a good attitude, Eike will constantly travel back and forth through time until the murdered is stopped. Time travel isn’t everyone’s favorite theme, yes. But, I found Shadow of Destiny’s ambitious. You really start to feel for Eike’s struggle. He gets stabbed, ran over, crushed, poisoned, you name it.

And yet, the dude gets back up with an eagerness to stop the madness. Shadow of Destiny, inspired by point and click adventures of the past, is divided into chapters. Eike will get killed, then get revived and it’s up to you to foil the murderer so history doesn’t repeat. Eike will travel throughout town, collecting clues and key items to use that will foil the murder plot. This applies to the present and past. Choices you make will effect the fate’s of certain characters. They will also impact the ending. New endings have been added to the PSP version. A fortune teller in town will assist with hints and tips if you get stuck. One thing to keep in mind is running out of time while in the past. This will result in a game over. It’s innocuous, classic gameplay that can be exciting one second and tedious the next. Shadow of Destiny is a short game, but there are times it feels long due to the lack of variety. One thing that caused undue stress was the Zeit Pad’s required special energy. There are energy fragments that can be found around town to recharge it, but there came a point when it was dangerously close to empty. I didn’t like this in the PlayStation 2 version and certainly didn’t care for it here.

Again, the game is short. It can be finished in a weekend if you really hustle. Multiple pathways and endings might entice some for an immediate replay. For me, I’ll wait a bit before trying out new methods to save Eike and stop his enemies. I’m glad I was able to finally get my hands on this PSP version despite it being, essentially, the exact same thing. Shadow of Destiny has always felt out of place as a Konami product. It was nice to see an attempt at something different; something outside Castlevania or Suikoden. But, it’s another title about time that will end up being lost to time.

Overall 5.5/10: The bite sized version of Shadow of Destiny offers very little to those that have already experienced it on PlayStation 2.