Shadow Fate
- April 5, 2022
- HuntingSwan
- 30h median play time
Get on SteamIn the city of Atro, play as a powerful shadow spawn in the service of a secretive revenge-seeking organization in this 40-hour JRPG. With turn-based battles, seven playable characters, and a unique "EX" feature, Shadow Fate offers a fresh take on traditional RPG elements. Enjoy the carefully crafted soundtrack and fully animated battle sprites as you progress through the immersive story.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Shadow Fate features a deep and sophisticated combat system with a wide variety of skills, making battles engaging and strategic.
- The game has a well-crafted story with memorable characters, each with unique abilities and personalities that enhance the overall experience.
- The attention to detail in the game's design, from visuals to mechanics, showcases the developer's passion and results in a polished RPG Maker title.
- Some players find the difficulty level to be over-tuned, leading to frustrating encounters, especially with early boss fights.
- The EX system and SP management can feel underwhelming and cumbersome, detracting from the overall enjoyment of combat.
- A few aspects of world-building and pacing may feel lacking, with some quests impacting the flow of the story.
- story40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging and well-paced narrative, featuring a mix of humor and serious themes that keep players invested. Characters are well-developed, with unique backstories and dynamics that enhance the overall experience, despite some minor issues with world-building and pacing in the latter half. Overall, the story is described as a compelling blend of adventure and emotional depth, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“A well-crafted game that has a few weak spots in the world-building, but ultimately the characters, story, and combat carry it through to be an amazing experience that will make you cry, laugh, and feel hopeful even in the darkest of fates.”
“The story is very well presented with good pacing that slowly unravels more of the plot and world as you progress in a way that keeps me very interested.”
“It's a well-executed save-the-world story with a few twists and many shades of gray.”
“Had these mechanics been attached to a project that didn't quite hit the nail on the head in terms of story or pacing, said project would likely still be worth tolerating in order to enjoy some solid battling.”
“Only small demerits can be noted: a few macguffin hunts in the game's later half slightly impact the story flow, and the party only learns about Ysella's and Ioro's past through 'flashbacks'.”
“A well-crafted game that has a few weak spots in the world building, but ultimately the characters, story, and combat carry it through to be an amazing experience that will make you cry, laugh, and feel hopeful even in the darkest of fates.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by engaging turn-based combat with a strong emphasis on unique mechanics, such as the "ex meter" and character-specific skills, allowing for extensive customization and strategic depth. Players appreciate the attention to detail in combat animations and the distinct abilities of each character, making battles both visually appealing and enjoyable. Overall, the game offers a solid and fun experience, even when considered independently of its narrative elements.
“Every playable character has their own cool-looking, often enemy-deleting limit break-type super move—a mechanic that in many games would have been enough to call the battle system a job well done.”
“All the graphics and animations are exceptionally well done, along with a very unique and highly enjoyable battle mechanic.”
“Gameplay: the usual here: you explore dungeons and fight (mob/boss) monsters in turn-based (side-view) battles.”
“One important mechanic at play is the 'ex meter' that fills by using certain skills or performing certain actions during battle.”
“With loads of party combinations and a multitude of learnable skills, you can customize your main party to fit any playstyle you desire—and in order to win against the complex boss mechanics, you’ll need to!”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a deeply emotional experience, particularly highlighted by a satisfying and impactful ending. The well-developed backstories of both the party members and antagonists, Ysella and Ioro, enhance the narrative, adding layers of heartbreak and intrigue that resonate throughout the gameplay.
“To top it all off, the ending is emotional and immensely satisfying, and the many unexpected and competently foreshadowed secrets of the party members spice up things along the way.”
“The antagonists Ysella and Ioro are great, too, since they share a heartbreaking past.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely praised for their beauty and the extensive resources dedicated to creating stunning maps. The animations are exceptionally well executed, complementing a unique and enjoyable battle mechanic.
“The graphics are beautiful; a lot of resources are used to create stunning maps.”
“All the graphics and animations are exceptionally well done, along with a very unique and highly enjoyable battle mechanic.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the uniquely animated combat sequences of various monster types, which are described as both inventive and hilarious, adding a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
“So many of the monster types have uniquely animated combat sequences, and they're often some combination of inventive and hilarious.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highly praised, with users noting that it is a standout feature alongside impressive mapping. The depth of character growth adds a layer of engagement, requiring players to invest effort in battles to succeed.
“My favorite thing (other than the amazing mapping and character development) is that you actually have to put some effort into winning battles if you don't want to get pummeled.”
