A Shadow’s Tale is a puzzle platformer in two dimensions that can only be played solo on the Wii.
At the beginning of the game, a young boy is locked up and appears floating in the air. A stranger walks in and attacks the youngster with what seems to be an odd-looking blade. Strangely, the youngster does not sustain any injuries due to this, but the connection between him and his shadow, which the stranger casts off the tower, is severed.
The player is cast in the role of the shadow as it climbs its way to the tower’s peak throughout the narrative. During this portion of the voyage, the player must remain in shaded places, primarily restricted to interacting with the shadows of things rather than the actual items themselves. During this mission, the player is helped by a fairy named “Spangle,” who can occasionally usefully shift the angle of light. This alters the shadows cast by objects, making previously impossible jumps possible and making previously difficult things accessible.
The game is played on multiple levels, and the only way to go from one level to the next is by acquiring magic eyeballs. There are a variety of dangers to face, such as shadow spiders, and they must be defeated with shadow weapons that have been gathered along the route. While losing health points during a fight is possible, it is also possible to recoup them by collecting “memories,” which, in addition to restoring health, provide information about the player’s current level.
