Some game characters start with a detailed design document.
Others start with a strange idea that refuses to leave your head.
For this game, one of those ideas became The Shadow.
The Shadow represents the darker, repressed parts of the protagonistโthe thoughts, fears, and emotions he would rather ignore.
But I didn’t want to make it a typical evil shadow character.
I wanted something more unpredictable.
Something that could mock you, challenge you, manipulate you… and occasionally even help you.
The Inspiration
One of the inspirations came from the classic Prince of Persia, particularly the iconic moment where the protagonist encounters his own shadow.
Another major inspiration was The Stanley Parable and its narrator.
I loved the idea of having a character that constantly observes what the player is doing and comments on their choices.
So I started imagining the Shadow as something between an inner critic and a sarcastic trickster.
It doesn’t simply want to defeat the player.
It wants to get inside their head.
The Shadow and Healing
There’s also a deeper reason for the Shadow’s existence.
The game explores the idea of healingโand one of its themes is learning how to deal with negative thoughts and emotions.
Instead of constantly fighting your darker thoughts, what if you learned to understand them?
What if your Shadow could become something you work with rather than something you try to destroy?
That’s the role I want the Shadow to play throughout the story.
From Concept to Gameplay
The Shadow isn’t just a story concept anymore.
The first version of the Shadow System has already been implemented.
The player can summon the Shadow, watch it mimic their movements, and interact with it through dialogue.
There are still many mechanics I’d like to explore as the story develops, but this is where the idea starts becoming a real part of the game.
A character born from the protagonist’s darkness…
but perhaps not as evil as he first appears. ๐ญ
๐ฌ Watch Behind the Dream #1
In this episode, I talk about the inspirations, story purpose, and gameplay concept behind the Shadow.
Behind the Dream is a development series exploring the ideas, inspirations, and design concepts behind the game.
๐ Support the Project
If you’d like to follow the development and support the project, you can wishlist the game on the PlayStation Store.
Every wishlist helps more people discover the project and brings the dream one step closer to reality.
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