Gamers logo

A Video Game That Speaks to the "Shady Part of Me"

A review of a creepy and beautiful video game.

By Abby DraperPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
1
Shady Part of Me. PlayStation 4 version, Douze Dixièmes, Focus Home Entertainment, 2020.

As a lover of all things eerie and adorable, I was thrilled to discover the game Shady Part of Me on sale in the PlayStation store.

From the trailer, I found that it follows the story of a little girl and her shadow. They must work together to complete puzzles and try to escape where they are. There’s a little twist, though, while the shadow can only move in lit areas, the little girl (afraid of the light) can only move in the dark.

The art itself looked like it would be worth the small price, and it was teased with the poem:

"There once was a girl who was trapped in dark

With naught but her shadow for company.

A journey to escape she did embark

and her shadow followed distrustfully." (Shady Part of Me. PlayStation 4 version, Douze Dixièmes, Focus Home Entertainment, 2020.)

I was sold. So, I bought it, played it, and loved it.

This fantastical universe, presumably inside the girl’s mind, is full of tree stump and teapot people (possibly my favorite parts of the whole game), precarious bridges made of playing cards, waterproof paper boats, and trains and dirigibles that follow you as you move.

Shady Part of Me. PlayStation 4 version, Douze Dixièmes, Focus Home Entertainment, 2020.

There are thorns that the shadow needs to dodge to avoid “dying.” These thorns and being encapsulated in darkness are the dangers of controlling the shadow. Interestingly, the girl asks toward the beginning, “Do you like the thorns? I drew them myself.” This leads into the conflict the two have throughout the story. As mentioned earlier, the physical girl only “dies” if she gets caught in the light.

Some of the puzzles are easy, but some are very challenging. I often found myself asking my left-brained logical husband to help me figure out how to move forward. Luckily, you can conveniently rewind the game at any time if you die or mess up.

There are 98 origami cranes that you can collect throughout the game if you’re looking to get a platinum trophy. (Hint: You can go back to each chapter after completing it from the pause screen, so don’t worry if you miss one on your first try!) This is also a great walkthrough if you need help with any of the puzzles or finding the cranes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdPxvzikbTY

With an affinity for stories about circuses and carnivals, I especially liked the chapter set in a carnival. The tree friends stand at game counters and blankly watch as you pass, lacking the ambition of a true carnie. You make your way past spotlighted tents where shadow dragons fly at you from every direction and unseen spectators cheer when you make it to the other side.

Shady Part of Me. PlayStation 4 version, Douze Dixièmes, Focus Home Entertainment, 2020.

I was happy to see quotes like the one from the teaser were carried throughout the game. As someone with anxiety and depression who often wallows instead of trying to feel better, one quote stood out to me:

"What do we do when the lights go dark?

Where do we go when the shadows grow?

How do we wake up from the bad dreams?

Why do we stay here when we could just leave?"

This is a beautiful and artfully created game about a girl trying to find herself and the puzzles she faces on her journey. As you travel through playrooms, boiler rooms, clock towers, oceans, and even deserts, hints about the girl and her story are unveiled.

Shady Part of Me. PlayStation 4 version, Douze Dixièmes, Focus Home Entertainment, 2020.

If you love games like Little Nightmares, Limbo, and Inside, I encourage you to check out Shady Part of Me. And clocking in at around three hours, the game won’t take too long to complete.

There is no clear definition of what happened in reality before and during the game, so I would love to hear others’ interpretations! If you play it, feel free to share your own stories about it!

puzzle
1

About the Creator

Abby Draper

I have a degree in Creative Writing but have not written for anything other than my marketing job in years. Vocal has inspired me to start creating again! I live with my husband and two pit bulls, as well as my hilarious step kids.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.