October 1st 2024.
Shadows Of Doubt is a new indie game that offers a unique experience, blending elements of film noir, alternative history, and dystopia. It's like a cross between Blade Runner and The Maltese Falcon, with a pixelated visual style that adds to its charm.
The game's concept is intriguing - it's designed to appeal to the inner detective in all of us, while paying homage to classic hard-boiled detective films. What sets it apart is its use of procedural generation, which creates a new city for each playthrough, allowing players to live out their dreams of being a detective in a fictional world. And what's even more impressive is that this ambitious project was created mostly by a single developer from ColePowered Games.
At first glance, Shadows Of Doubt seems like a promising game. The setting is a dystopian universe where private corporations have taken over security duties from the police, resulting in a society that is paranoid and heavily monitored. However, the game is technically set in the 1980s, so the technology is limited to landline phones, analog cameras, and primitive computers.
In the game, you play as a detective who receives a case to investigate a murder. As you gather clues and evidence, you can pin them on a board to make connections and solve the case. The map is also a crucial tool, providing blueprints of the city and allowing players to plan their routes to different locations.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Shadows Of Doubt is amassing leads and clues. However, the game's focus on stealth can be a turn-off for some players. In certain situations, players must escape from an area without being detected, which adds a thrilling element of danger. But unfortunately, the stealth gameplay can be clunky and frustrating at times.
Despite its film noir theme, stealth is the dominant gameplay element, and it's not as enjoyable as it could be. The game's combat system is also lacking, and players may find it unpleasant to beat up or shoot innocent people.
The game does have some great ideas, such as its sandbox mode, where players can generate a new city and take on smaller cases to earn their detective skills. However, the cities tend to look the same, and the inhabitants follow similar patterns, which can make the gameplay feel repetitive.
Graphically, Shadows Of Doubt is not very impressive, using blocky voxel-style graphics reminiscent of Minecraft. The PlayStation 5 version also has some visual glitches that can be distracting. Additionally, the game takes a while to reveal its main plot, which involves a serial killer and a corrupt corporation. But the amount of frustrating stealth gameplay needed to uncover this narrative may not be worth it for some players.
It's a pity that a game with such ambition falls short in terms of gameplay. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the use of procedural generation is commendable. However, the clunky stealth and repetitive gameplay hinder the game's potential.
In summary, Shadows Of Doubt is an interesting indie game that offers a different take on the detective genre. It's worth a try for its unique concept and atmosphere, but be prepared for some frustrating moments.
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