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Decent, for what it is

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 11, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is a fairly good game. It is not a great game, nor a terrible game, but simply a decent game. It fails where so many do, in the gameplay. The story is interesting enough, the characters fairly deep, but the combat is, as is all turn-based combat, a crime against gaming. If you like Final Fantasy games, and are looking for something a bit darker, then you will love this game. If you liked Morrowind, Oblivion, or Kingdom Hearts, you may find this game acceptable, as I did. Worth a try, but don't expect a life-changing experience.

Only worth playing for the sequels

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: January 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Don't be deceived by the 4-star rating this game inexplicably has on Amazon. Granted, it's not the worst game ever, but it just doesn't compare favorably to most of the other recent games that I've played for the PS2. Once the spectacular (albeit gory) opening cutscene is done, it's all downhill.

First of all, it's clear that this was intended to be a PS1 title originally, so it's not really fair to compare it to what's currently available for the PS2. Therefore, I have to cut them some slack on the choice to go with painted backdrops instead of a 3D rendered environment. Still, they clearly didn't have the talent to make the environments interesting and/or beautiful. It's not so much that I prefer 3D environments; it's just that if you're going to go with backdrops, please, make them well drawn. Shadow Hearts' backdrops don't even compare favorably to most of Square's RPG games for the PS1, let alone stuff that's available for the PS2.

The dialogue is, more often than not, skin-crawlingly bad. They were apparently trying to be campy and anachronistic; however, they didn't take it far enough to make it seem deliberate. You could write it off as bad translation, but the frequent use of modern American idioms makes me think otherwise. Someone at Sacnoth just had really bad taste with language. The main character Yuri goes from man-child timid to tough-guy bravado far too quickly; it's not clever or funny, it's just inconsistent writing. Alice, the pretty young thing and object of everyone's desire (those programmers really, really need to get out more - I mean, just look at her skirt), is drawn paper-thin in terms of character, and everyone else is just there as props. The writers also seem to take great glee in presenting you with as much blood and gore as possible. I'm not sure what the point is. Is it supposed to make the game more "adult" or edgy? It's just icky. There's one section of the game when you're pretty much just walking around on blood-soaked earth (and probably entrails), and the accompanying sound effects are enough to turn your stomach. Yuck!!

The bad guy's name is Roger Bacon. I'm sorry, that's the most ridiculous name for a villain I've ever heard. Yes, I understand there's a historical reason for this, but come on; you're up against a breakfast side-dish. I mean, how threatening is that. "I went to the store today and I picked up some Roger Bacon."

The sub-plots are mostly lame (you have to go through TRIALS to get to the temple - how original), the cut-scenes are long and boring (ask anyone who has played this game about "Shloop... shloop... splat! Skreeeee!"), and most of your time is spent just hoping you can get to somewhere more interesting than where you are. Occasionally there was a well-thought-out plot point that I enjoyed (particularly the parallels between Yuri and his father), but for the most part it's just one dull environment after another.

The plot itself suffers from serious lack of development. It looks like the programmers and writers simply ran out of time, so they wrapped it up as quickly as possible; in fact, they specifically threw in a not-so-subtle self-conscious joke about the fact that they couldn't finish writing the game in time, so they had to cut stuff. Really sad. The end battle and resulting aftermath is so anti-climactic and boring that I ended up feeling like the whole game was a complete waste of my time. That's 40+ hours of my life that I will never get back.

The music is one of the game's few strong suits, with a pretty good number of catchy tunes. But once again, it's wildly inconsistent. It's 1913 and you've got heavy metal blaring in the opening cutscene. Wha huh? The music tends to be fairly inappropriate for a lot of the game, but at least it's entertaining.

Most games that feature turn-based combat (since Final Fantasy VII at least) tend to involve selecting an action, and then you sit there for a good long time while the animation plays out. Not so with Shadow Hearts; you have to do a little thumb-dancing with the Judgment Ring(tm). Overall, I find this to be a plus because it adds a little risk/reward element. You can elect to just go with the safe route, or you can take a risk and go with a more difficult (and more damaging) option. I like it.

The monster and player animation is adequate. Not great. Every once in a while a character does something clever or amusing and I have to chuckle at the animator's sense of humor, but meh. I've seen better. For some reason, something like 75% of the monsters are essentially humans hanging upside down, or with mis-placed limbs or joints. I'm betting that they found it easier to simply move a few limbs around on a standard humanoid 3d-model to create a new monster instead of coming up with something truly original.

For some reason, inventory items are limited in the number of characters for the name, so you get really stupid and meaningless item names like "V-blade-Blodauth." Wha?

The use of emoticons is reasonably clever, but it seems to me that it was mainly implemented for the purpose of cutting down the number of animations or movements that they needed to code. It doesn't really add much, and sometimes it's a little puzzling; like, just what is that icon that looks like a teardrop?

To sum up, if you do get this game, you'll probably have a good time, but you'll have to laugh at some of the ridiculous cliches and other absurdities. Overall, I give this game 2 stars as it isn't ENTIRELY horrible, but it's just not quite developed enough to be what I would call "average." I would only recommend playing through this game if you intend to also play the sequels, which are markedly better in production quality and more deliberate with their use of camp and anachronism.

Refreshing and a bit innovative RPG!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: July 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I just beat this game.

Ok, first, is it a horror game, like 'M rating' imlies? The introductory movie is certainly what you might call horror or black humor. The first level is moody, and the second one is ... I don't know whether to call it a taoist scary tale or something that will make you laugh like crazy. It's something in between. There is one more ghost tale and that's it!!! Game continues with lot of humor and great characterization and NO SPOOKY STUFF!!!

System is like Persona and bit like a Materia system in Final Fantasy VII, considering Yuri only. Main character 'tames' demons and fictive beings and has ability to fuse with them (get their appearance and powers), just like you do in Persona 2, except in Persona 2 you don't become exactly that creature/persona. Other guys in game are typical, you have normal attack and special one, which drains magic points (think spells).

People in game (except Yuri) are your typical fighter, white mage, mage, but they are well disguised by game designers in gun shooter, priest's daughter, old Chinese sage and so on. There is even funny female spy: she doesnt have spells but she always calls her friends on the phone and then you see funny animation, like drop of brick on opponent's head.

What I dislike about game is that it goes linear with no backtracking required to progress , and after you defeat sub boss (after long stairs), who is really strong and after which you get movie, you need to do quests all over map at old places and read FAQs or guides, because last boss is really too hard.
************************SPOILERS***************************************
When you fight boss after large stairs, well that is just half a game. SAVE ITEMS

I built Keith, Alice and Yuri up to level 70 and took out Alien Meta god easily, but I think you needn't do that. Level 51 is ok, because they will have ultimate spells, but again, more the merrier. For last fights, you need 10 tera extracts and just 6 7 pure roots. If your characters hit hard, 400 points or so, there is no problem, fight meta god with your melee weapon using third key and other keys IF YOU ARE AT LEVEL 70.

Even if you miss some Gravestones in China and Asia, you can get them all in Europe after big fight that is not a boss fight but looks like one...

What you CAN'T seem to get in Europe is get Erotic Book/'Shanghai angels' which you need to get best weapon and armor for Yuri. Pay attention about stone for getting fusion monster Amon , you need that for best fusion monster for Yuri, it's rock is in front stairs mentioned before.

I must admit that some puzzles are ok and logical, but game designer made it hard and bit illogical after sub boss fight.
**********************MUST READ*************************
THERE IS EXTRACT SHOP IN PRAGUE AT THE END OF GAME. YOU NEED JUST 10-15 Thera Extracts and 10 Pure Roots for last bosses if you are 70+level.

You HAVE to wait for Alice to get best magic , before it she doesn't have one good offensive magic before last one.

BE SURE to have AT LEAST 3 crusifixes and three more bundles of Leonardo Bear, Cosmix and zodiac bracelet. Get 6 pocket watches, they are byable.

If you want good ending, you have to read one of Valuable items/ a book about in which order you beat masks. Check FAQ for complete explanation. How do you challenge masks? Well, get malice to red and walk around, without going to graveyard to beat malice. Beat masks in order given in document. Since they don't come in that order, spare 90 minutes and: wait till you meet first one , run away from others. When you kill first one, wait for the second one and run away from first, third and fourth when you meet them. The probability to meet all four in desired order is one out of 256 and thats why u run.

If you miss order in first fights, kill all four in no particular order and then kill weakened versions in proper order. So, to get good ending, read book, kill masks and go to graveyard to read Alice's tombstone.

*****************************CONCLUSION*******************************
Fun game, in not so typical ambient for rpg, with sometimes illogical side quests, but you can also build caracters in typical rpg fashion, find cave and battle it out till you get cash and exp. I ENJOYED IT !!!

*****************************CONCLUSION*******************************
After beating Persona 3, Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne, Digital devil BOTH discs, I must admit, this game is real good and interactions between characters unforgetable!!!

Shadow Hearts

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 11, 2007
Author: Amazon User

As recommended(by some-one else) I played Shadow Hearts 2 first. Shadow hearts would have been a lot tougher without knowledge obtained from the second game. Using the rings for battle was a little tough at first, but i caught on and had a lot of fun with the game. I liked the story line and the characters are bekievanle. Some of the puzzels are tough. Over-all, idin't want to put the game down. Its like a good book, that you just couldn't put down.( at the young age of 69, I find most good RPG'S are like that). I would reccomend The Shadow Hearts series to anyone who plays RPG's. RPG GRAMPS. I'm just starting Shadow Hearts 3.

a rare rpg must have

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The first SH game I played was number 3(which was awsome by the way) Then I read about SH 1 and how it was one of the top 10 rare rp games to own, so of course, I had to have it. However, I was rather dissappointed when I put the game in and started to play. The graphics on this game are really bad and the story, for me, was a bit confusing. Also, there is just so much reading involved and you can't just skip through it. Sure, you can just not read it, but then you wouldn't know what's going on. I guess that's why the story was confusing for me, I did just skim through all the talking scenes, which there are A LOT!!

Your main character Yuri is kinda cool, I guess. He transforms into different monsters so long as you have enough MP and SP for it. The bad thing is he has so many fusions to choose from that it makes it kinda hard to know which three to equip on him. I just simply had my three favorite equipped to him at all times.

Then you have some characters that are simply worthless that I hardly played with at all, like Margarete and Zhuzhen Liu. Even Alice is pretty much useless until she learns her ability to cure the whole party.

Then there are your awsome characters. Yuri, the hero, of course. Haley, who is just a kid, but very powerful. And then there is Keith, the silver bat, who makes a cameo apperance in Sh 3. And the only way to learn new abilities for your people is to play them and when they reach a certain level, they will aquire a new skill. That works out great for the team you use the most, but it will take forever getting new skills for your less played characters.

This game is very dark and sinnister, very different from SH 2, which was quite humerous, and SH 3 which was set during the Great Depression. I can't say this game is all that bad, it has some rather interesting features, such as the judgement ring.

The judement ring determines the fate of your attack. If you miss, then your turn ends, but if you're able to hit your mark, your attack is successful.

Another thing that's great is that you can aquire like over 200 items to use on the field, or during combat. Some of these items are quite powerful and should only be used during boss fights.

Unlike the other 2 games you don't have crest magic or stellar charts to equip to your characters. Which can be good so you don't have to keep track of what's equipped to who and leveling up your magic. However, like in the other 2 games (at least in SH 3) you can have the same magic equipped to 2 or 3 of your people, like Cure or Cure ALL, so you don't have to rely on just one person healing the party and having to keep that person in play the entire game. Sure you can use your items, but they normally don't affect the party as much as using your magic.

If you are interested in any of the SH games, I suggest playing 3 first, simply because it's not connected storywise to the first two. If you played this one first, chances are you would not play the others. Don't get me wrong, the game is good, but the others are way better, and hey, why not add a rare game to your collection?

Oldie, but a goodie.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: February 16, 2007
Author: Amazon User

The Shadow Hearts series, unlike the Final Fantasy series, doesn't get very much recognition. There have been 3 SHs and they have only grown better with each one. SH 1 is the worst one out of trilogy, but it's not saying it's bad in any way. I figure the more games they release, the better they get (a special exemption to DMC, DMC 2 was horrific). This one follows out main protaginist Yuri on an adventure, he didnt even know he was going to embark on. Albert Smith is the main antagonist in the game, both being a "Demon Shifter", and after they meet...the fun begins!

This is a definite buy, although, it can get pricy somtimes.

Also try: Shadow Hearts 2 (If you've beat this one) or Shadow Hearts 3 (It's totally different)

An Artistic Game; Well Worth the Cost.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: June 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Plot: The plot of this story in interesting, expressing an original point of view in the process of its' awesomeness. Also, you can have two endings, determined on how you played the game. One: Very VERY bad, while the other is :) good.

Characters (in general): I loved the characters of this game. The main character, Yuri Hyuga, was fun and could make me laugh easily.
Margerete was even better, with her wit and brute charm.
Alice was an extremely likable character. Like a less-perfect Aeris.
Anyway, each character contained at leasta bit of deph in their personalites, only deepening the plot further.

Characters (interaction): I'm actually a fan of the main pairing of this game, which is surprising, considering I'm a yaoi fan. Yuri and Alice don't just speak to eachother, which is a nice change. They interract with other characters. Big plus.

It was nice to watch the characters grow, too. Alice warming up to Yuri, Yuri and his father's relationship becoming more clear, another big plus.

Battle system: I don't know why so many people are upset about this. I liked it; it added a bit of action to the original Final Fantasy BS.

Music: Wonderful. Even worth buying the soundtrack.

Overall, I loved this game. Anyone mature enough to handle the character deph and bllod&gore should buy it.

The third one is coming out soon!

A great RPG, but not for little kids

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 18
Date: November 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Just a quick review.

If you like RPG's, this one gets you back to the basic's ... with a twist. The hero has a dirty mind, and some monsters actually slap you around with their schlongs.

I liked this game a lot.

One of the best RPGs

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: September 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Shadow Hearts is one heck of a game you can't ignore, I played it for a few minutes and was instantly hooked. It's got excellent graphics and great music, the battle system is unique and the story is truely good. I would recomend Shadow Hearts to anyone who liked Final Fantasy. You play as Yuri - a young man with a mysterious past - trying to save the world.

Breath taking and amazing

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: September 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game without knowing anything about it, it just looked cool. As I started playing it, I found out that it wasn't just cool, it was amazing. The scenes and music just gave me chills and the judgement ring (which takes some pratice) gave the game a whole new challenge (making it diffrent from FF which I also love).

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