DESCRIPTION

Fading Shadows is a puzzle game from Lithuanian developer Ivolgamus that combines the ball-rolling gameplay of Marble Madness with mild fantasy elements. It seems the evil Master Gardal has plans to conquer the Castle of Heaven, but to breach its gates he must sacrifice a young boy named Erwyn. But Aira, Erwyn's clairvoyant sister, has encapsulated his soul in a small orb and it's up to gamers to guide the ball through 40 levels full of puzzles and traps constructed by Gardal's evil minions Quiph and Morg. The twist is, gamers control a beam of light — rather than the actual ball — that the orb then follows though dungeons, swamps, mountains, and gardens.

The intensity of the beam can be adjusted for more precise control, and the ball itself can change from glass, to wood, to metal. Glass is the standard form, but it can melt after prolonged contact to the beam and it will shatter if dropped from height. The wooden ball is more durable and can float in water, but will burn easily if exposed to an intense beam. The metal ball will sink and rust in water, but it does not melt and can actually jump when heated. The beam itself is also used in a number of puzzles involving mirrors, and the intensity can be adjusted to evaporate water, burn rope, and start fires. Fading Shadows is designed primarily as a single-player adventure, but two people can use the Ad-hoc connection to go head-to-head in ten dedicated multiplayer levels. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide