It sounds impossible, more so when you know it’s mostly developed by one person.
Sure, the alpha could be glitchy, quirky, and more than a little buggy.
But when it came together, Shadows of Doubt was magic.
Unfortunately, my experience with Shadows of Doubt 1.0 is the worst I’ve had so far.
That said, let’s start with the good stuff, because there’s plenty to discuss.
And when I say everything, I meaneverything.
Into this meticulously assembled society your sleuth spawns, homeless, jobless, and virtually penniless.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of work for a P.I.
When they do, a call comes in on the wire, accompanied by a dramatic title card.
Things like “Whodunnit?
Where do they live?
What weapon did they use?”
You don’t have to answereveryquestion to solve a case.
But the more you’re free to answer, the richer the reward.
This file can be pinned to your detective’s mental corkboard, which exists in a separate menu.
Here, you amass and organise clues and evidence for your case.
Moreover, files may also provide further information to help you solve the crime.
you’re able to also steal their cash, just like a real wallet inspector!
Gathering information in this manner represents one half of Shadows of Doubt’s play.
The other half revolves around finding ways to access this information.
As a private investigator, you have no legal right to impose your investigation on other people.
Andby Chandler’s typewriter,that combination can be gripping.
The possibility space feelsenormous.
I’ve cracked numerous cases through canny investigation and bona-fide Eureka moments.
But I’ve also solved just as many through old-fashioned shoe-leather and door-knocking.
Combined with the aesthetics and atmosphere of the city, Shadows of Doubt can be astonishingly evocative.
But the game does not consistently operate at this level.
It’s usually a wonkier experience than that.
Sometimes, though, Shadows of Doubt’s idiosyncrasies are less fun.
Stealth is haphazard, because NPCs operate on logical behaviour patterns rather than set patrols.
A bigger problem though, is that the simulation sometimes gets in the way of its own crimes.
In such instances, I assume something prevented the game-assigned murderer from reaching their selected target.
But from the player’s perspective, the central premise of the game has essentially ceased functioning.
There are larger problems still.
Again, there’s logic behind those differences, but that doesn’t make them any more intuitive.
The biggest disappointment, though, are the kidnappings.
Kidnappings are a new major case bang out that alternate with murders.
Or at least, that’s the idea.
This is obviously a bug of some sort, but I’m generally not sold on these kidnapping cases.
They have a timed element to them which I don’t think suits Shadows of Doubts more methodical pacing.
This would make sense, were it not for the killer sending a ransom note in the first instance.
Ultimately, Shadows of Doubt doesn’t work as well as it could.
Then again, the fact that it works at all is an enormous achievement.
A copy of Shadows of Doubt was provided for review by Fireshine Games.
