Oh Happy Day! I get to review a game from my most favorite genre, and it's a good game! Shadow is a quiet yet solid escape game by Kotorinosu, which stands apart from the crowd of point-and-click puzzle games with its simplicity, appealing graphics, and honest escape game fare.
Shadow's formula sticks to escape game tradition; use your mouse to navigate rooms, examine areas and objects, collect items and solve puzzles. The inventory is beautifully simple to use, click on items to use them and when no longer needed the items disappear from the inventory. This is a delightful escape game to play, generously providing some easy finds and obvious puzzles to solve. However there is a confounding moment or two where certain steps need to be taken to make progress.
So what makes Shadow such a great escape game? Apart from the predominantly logical puzzle solving and intuitive use of objects, Shadow presents beautifully with gorgeously rendered graphics, satisfying sounds effects and smooth responsiveness to clicking. There's not even a smidgeon of pixel-hunting to be had here. And what's more, this is a game that will satisfy even the hungriest of the hungry for escape games. How often have you experienced that bittersweet realisation that you're about to exit through the final door, the triumph of success tinged with the slight sadness that it's all over? Shadow offers just that little bit more gameplay, which sweetens the ending somehow.
Although not overly challenging, Shadow is deliciously satisfying to the very last click of a lock. If you have an appetite for honest-to-goodness escape games, then loosen your belt a knotch and enjoy a hearty helping.
Thanks to Fhyre and Patrixio for sending this one in!
Walkthrough Guide
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Shadow Walkthrough
General Information
Hover the mouse over the edges of the screen to reveal navigation arrows.
The inventory runs across the bottom of the screen.
Click on items to add them to the inventory.
Clicking on the small magnifying glass icon for each item brings objects into close up for further examination and manipulation.
Once an item is no longer needed it will automatically disappear from the inventory.
Walkthrough
Items to be collected
Blue puzzle piece
Located in the left cupboard.
Light bulb
Found in the cupboard right side from where the blue puzzle piece is found.
Green puzzle piece
Behind the frame with the picture of the origami crane.
Red puzzle piece
In the middle drawer. Click twice to look right inside the drawer.
Yellow puzzle piece
In the trashcan just right of the safe.
Stencil
In the safe.
Clue to the safe can be found once the light bulb has been put in the lamp, and the lamp turned on.
Look on the top of the cupboard where the lamp light is shining.
VI II IV
Silver key
Is located in the middle window, once the shutters have been opened.
To open the shutters, solve the clock puzzle.
Use the stencil on the small table, located near the trashcan and safe.
The clue displays a digital time and the word 'Morning'.
Enter 7:30 AM into the clock, and push the button on the top of the clock.
Once the shutters are open, turn either right or left twice and note the light shining from the middle window on the floor. Turn back to the windows, and click on the middle window to get the key.
Figurine
Found in the bottom drawer which is unlocked with the silver key.
Metal cutters
Located inside the small white box with arrow buttons on top.
The clue to opening the box is located on the top of the cupboard, once you've placed the figurine on the duck feet markings, and tilted the lampshade upwards.
Click behind the figurine to see a line of arrows.
Tilt your head to the right to see the correct order of arrows, which is:
Up (bottom button)
Right (left button)
Up (bottom)
Down (top button)
Left (right button)
Left (right button)
Up (bottom button)
Right (left button)
Gold Key
Use the metal cutters on the lamp-cord, on the lamp next to the bed.
Flashlight
Located in the top drawer, which is unlocked with the gold key.
Coin
Found under the bed with the aid of the flashlight.
Main door key
Once you have the coin, use it on the back of the figurine to release the figurine's arm.
Place the figurine back on the top of the cupboard and note the shadow it casts.
Turn right so that you're facing the safe and click on the figurine's shadow for a close-up.
Click on the wall where the shadow is pointing to reveal a button.
Press the button and a secret door will open, revealing a ladder.
Click on the ladder a couple of times until you're at the top and use the flashlight.
A clue will be revealed showing an X above two +'s with a - between them.
Climb back down the ladder and turn left to view the cupboards.
Click on the floor space in the center of the cupboards and note a tiny spot to the left.
Click on the spot to reveal a trapdoor.
Click on the trapdoor and then look inside it for the main door key.
Screwdriver
Located beyond a certain door.
Use the black-topped key on the main door and click to enter.
Click for a close-up on the square panel on the door.
Here's where the colored puzzle pieces come in handy.
You may wish to go back to the frame next to the vase of flowers to refresh your memory.
The pieces go into the panel in the following way:
Top left = Green
Top Right = Red
Bottom Left = Yellow
Bottom Right = Blue
When the puzzle is complete, the inner door will open and a gate will come down, but you can still collect the screwdriver.
Ladder
You'll need the screwdriver.
When in the main room, click on the ladder once for a close-up.
Use the screwdriver on each screw, and then click on each of the plates to remove them.
Click back out so that you're in the main room again, and then click on the ladder to take it.
Origami Crane Piece
Use the ladder inside the trapdoor and go down to the basement.
Note the two pictures on the wall.
The picture on the left is the clue.
From left to right it reads:
Clubs
Diamonds
Spades
Hearts
Use the clue from the left picture to solve the right, by clicking on the card symbols in order.
A compartment will open revealing the origami crane piece.
Last Key
Place the origami crane piece in the basement door puzzle to retrieve the last key.
Step-by-Step walkthrough
Turn right and note the drawers and cupboards.
Check the two cupboards on the left-hand side to collect the blue puzzle piece and the light-bulb.
Click back out for a full view.
Check out the vase and the frame, and clicking on the frame reveals a green puzzle piece, so take that too.
While you're there, take note of the shape of the origame crane in the picture frame.
Back out and click on the lamp.
Hmm, no light-bulb.
Click on the lamp for a close-up and use the light-bulb in the inventory on it. Click back out.
Click on the lamp's power switch to turn it on.
Click on the center of the cupboard/bench and take note of the roman numerals.
Click to open the middle drawer, and click again to look inside it; take the red puzzle piece.
Click back out twice and then click on the right cupboard and then the book to read a clue relating to the lamp.
Back out and turn right.
Click on the safe and note that its combination requires roman numerals.
Remembering the code revealed by the lamp, enter it into the safe and collect the stencil.
Click on the trashcan to collect the yellow puzzle piece.
Click on the table for a close-up, and collect the small white box from the shelf.
Use the stencil on the picture on the top of the table.
The stencil on the picture reveals a clue: 7:30 in the morning.
Turn right twice and click on the bed-clock for a close-up.
Enter the solution from the stencil and click on the button on the top of the clock.
The window shutters will open, so click right or left twice and note the light on the floor from the middle window.
Turn back to the windows and click on the middle window to get the silver key.
Go back to the cupboards and use the silver key on the bottom drawer to get the figurine.
Place the figurine on the top of the cupboard where the duck-feet are, and then click on the lampshade to tilt it up.
Click to the right of the figurine to reveal a clue for the arrows on the small white box. (Read the code as if the right edge of the desk is the top of the clue—tilt your head to the right—and read down from the top.)
Examine the small white box in the inventory and enter the arrows clue:
Up=bottom
Right=left
Up=bottom
Down=top
Left=right
Left=right
Up=bottom
Right=left
Take the metal cutters, and use them on the lamp next to the bed to get the gold key.
Use the gold key to unlock the top drawer, and take the flashlight.
Go back to the bed view, and click to look underneath the bed.
Use the flashlight to retrieve the coin.
Back out and go back to the cupboard view with the figurine.
Use the coin on the back of the figurine, and an arm should pop out.
Replace the figurine on the cupboard, note the shadow and turn right.
Click on the figurine shadow for a close-up and click on the wall where the figurine shadow is pointing.
A button in the wall should reveal itself, so click on it.
When the ladder appears, click to climb to the top of it.
Use the flashlight at the top to reveal a clue.
Go back to the main room and turn left to view the cupboards, then click on the floor space at the bottom.
Click on the small speck that appears on the floor to reveal a trapdoor, then click on the trapdoor.
Click inside the trapdoor and retrieve the key.
Go back to the main door and use the key to unlock it, then go in until you get a close-up of a panel on a gray door.
Use the puzzle pieces on the panel to open the door.
Collect the screwdriver that appears between the bars.
Go back to the main room viewing the ladder.
Click on the ladder until you have a view of the screws,use the screwdriver on each screw and then click on each of the two panels to remove them.
Click back out to the main room, then click on the ladder.
Turn left and use the ladder on the trapdoor.
Go down into the basement and note the clues on the walls.
Using the left side clue, click on the symbols on the right side picture:
Clubs
Diamonds
Spades
Hearts
Take the Origami crane piece that appears, and then place it in the door panel to get the final key.
Take the key and head back up to where the bars are blocking the exit.
Use the key on the lock and solve the smiley face puzzle by clicking on each square until they all match up.
Click to mvoe forward into the bright light and feel the lovely sense of freedom that only beating an escape game can bring.
Posted by: Chiktionary
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April 13, 2011 2:35 PM