Shadow Hearts

[Devil King]

Anyone else a fan?

I loved these games. Discuss.

[Phakiel]

Yes definetely. Well I havent played From the New World. I got it but the disc was damaged and couldnt find a replacement. Changed it for DQVIII. They said FtNW wasnt that great but it cant possibly be as boring as DQVIII.

Anyway, I loved the first two. I got into the series when Covenant came out as this guy at other forums recommended it to me and i wasnt disapointed. Its one of the best rpgs for the ps2 and one of the few rpgs not made my Squenix that really look great.

I also liked the first one a lot too but I liked Covenant more even though fans say the first one is better.

[Raidou]

Could you stop f**king DQVIII in every single thread? FTNW sux balls, no explaination needed, play it and regret. SH1 is the best RPG for sure, no explaination needed for this as well, just play it if you yet too. SH: C was ok, but they could have done better by not spoiling it with the stupid ending Karin is Yuri's mum, WTF!?

[Phakiel]

Uhhh, I havent ****ed DQVIII thank you very much. We have common friends and all but no, there totally nothing going on between us you know. We just happen to chill at the same places at the same time.

[Sushi_b]

Um no explaination for why the Judgement ring in the first game was boring and not that interesting? I own the first game and started playing it for a while but I got caught up with some other games at the time. I enjoyed the begining and the atmosphere was really neat. Also liked the time period. Aside from that I don't remember the first game very well. Might have to look more into the others in the near future.

[Raidou]

The judgement ring boring? It actually keeps me awake, unlike other turn-based RPGs out there.

[Phakiel]

Is it me or Raidou has suddenly taken a huge quality drop in his posts and discussions.

[Devil King]

Um no explaination for why the Judgement ring in the first game was boring and not that interesting? I own the first game and started playing it for a while but I got caught up with some other games at the time. I enjoyed the begining and the atmosphere was really neat. Also liked the time period. Aside from that I don't remember the first game very well. Might have to look more into the others in the near future.

Yeah, I thought the Judgement Ring was pretty pointless. A futile attempt to change the way RPGs are played.

[Phakiel]

Actually I kinda like the Judgement Ring. It was different from just pressing a button once. Didnt find it that bad even on the first game.

[Raidou]

Is it me or Raidou has suddenly taken a huge quality drop in his posts and discussions.

I blame Atlas.

[UO_Duck]

Probably the best RPG series out there, period. FTNW was actually amazing gameplay-wise, and to this day still blows away every other RPG combat system out there.

SH1 was absolutely amazing, though. My favorite game of all time, and nothing has topped it yet.

[Indigo]

Covenant rules.

[Luisfe]

Fun and silly series with awesome battle systems and music. Have not played From THe New World, though.

[UO_Duck]

Fun and silly series with awesome battle systems and music. Have not played From THe New World, though.

You MUST get it. It's awesome. Fixes a lot of the problems from Covenant.

[Indigo]

Fun and silly series with awesome battle systems and music. Have not played From THe New World, though.

From the new world actually sucked. The main character was stupid, the main cast was just bad, story was nowhere near as impressive, just don't get it, if you do you're gonna hate the series, and you don't want that do you? No Yuri? No thank you!

And Covenant was a perfect game, that's all you need.

[Luisfe]

As for the Judgement Ring discussion: What?
It is pretty much what makes the games unique! It is a nice twist that adds some much needed variation on jRPGs. It prevents you from just mashing a single attack, and it is actually fun.

It is like complaining about the timing stuffs on the Mario RPGs.

[Raidou]

You MUST get it. It's awesome. Fixes a lot of the problems from Covenant.

No Luisfe, don't listen to him, read FE's comment. The most important is no Yuri equals not Shadow Hearts.

[Ninjalizer]

I loved Covenant but got bored with From the New World. The characters in the latter were more bland compared to Covenant. The gameplay and additions to the Judgement Ring were nice though...

I'm a little disappointed in the lack of announcement for a 4th installment.

[Blackdragon]

I tried to get into Shadow Hearts: Covenant, but just couldn't. The battle system was interesting, but left little to no room for mistakes. Money was an extremely important factor, but hard to come by to me. Especially when there are no Inns and the only method of healing is magic and items, so I kept finding myself broke, which I can't stand when I play RPGs.

The story was pretty good though, but I just found myself falling asleep while trying to navigate my way in and out of a new dungeon/mansion/or whatever. Maybe I'll try the new one when I come into some more money and there's nothing else to buy.

[UO_Duck]

No Luisfe, don't listen to him, read FE's comment. The most important is no Yuri equals not Shadow Hearts.

Are you kidding me? Hahaha. Wow. Yuri =/= Shadow Hearts... Shadow Hearts is a combination of elements... and Yuri's story is over in Covenant, though Covenant probably had one of the messiest RPG plots ever conceived. So many plot retcons, so much discontinuity... it shouldn't have existed.

From the New World features better graphics, a better soundtrack, the best battle system in the entire series (and also, in the RPG world), and a decent if simple story that has its quirks.

I'm going to have to go with Phakiel's comment here... this was an unnecessary post and really, if you actually liked the series (and not just Covenant, which was the weakest of them all), you'd know that Yuri is not the only reason Shadow Hearts is good.

[Raidou]

Are you kidding me? Hahaha. Wow. Yuri =/= Shadow Hearts... Shadow Hearts is a combination of elements... and Yuri's story is over in Covenant, though Covenant probably had one of the messiest RPG plots ever conceived. So many plot retcons, so much discontinuity... it shouldn't have existed.

From the New World features better graphics, a better soundtrack, the best battle system in the entire series (and also, in the RPG world), and a decent if simple story that has its quirks.

I'm going to have to go with Phakiel's comment here... this was an unnecessary post and really, if you actually liked the series (and not just Covenant, which was the weakest of them all), you'd know that Yuri is not the only reason Shadow Hearts is good.

FTNW have the better graphics and soundtrack for the series == true. BUT who the hell cares about that when the characters sux so much and the storyline sux, period.

[UO_Duck]

FTNW have the better graphics and soundtrack for the series == true. BUT who the hell cares about that when the characters sux so much and the storyline sux, period.

What about the storyline sucked? I would like to know. Yes, there were parts that were unnecessary and pointless, but Covenant had many more sequences like that.

[Raidou]

What about the storyline sucked? I would like to know. Yes, there were parts that were unnecessary and pointless, but Covenant had many more sequences like that.

You just said it. And what gives you the idea that I like Covenant?

[UO_Duck]

Those parts hardly make FTNW's plot suck.

[Raidou]

You are indeed a confuse man like what the others had said.

[UO_Duck]

You are indeed a confuse man like what the others had said.

A "confuse man"? Well, yeah, I guess that's my occupation. Any other grammatically-incorrect adjectives you want to use?

[Indigo]

A "confuse man"? Well, yeah, I guess that's my occupation. Any other grammatically-incorrect adjectives you want to use?

1. Pointing out someone's use grammar to intimidate the person in the middle of an argument is just wrong. Especially if that person is not even English. Show a little respect, k?

2. I don't know how you can still hold on to the idea that Covenant was worse than FTNW, that's just lack of taste. Also, since the series started with Yuri as the main character and then continued on with him as such through covenant bringing up a whole new cast is just unexpected, SH stops being a story about a demon boy called Yuri and becomes just a formula, which isn't good for most people who liked the first two games.

[UO_Duck]

1. Pointing out someone's use grammar to intimidate the person in the middle of an argument is just wrong. Especially if that person is not even English. Show a little respect, k?

2. I don't know how you can still hold on to the idea that Covenant was worse than FTNW, that's just lack of taste. Also, since the series started with Yuri as the main character and then continued on with him as such through covenant bringing up a whole new cast is just unexpected, SH stops being a story about a demon boy called Yuri and becomes just a formula, which isn't good for most people who liked the first two games.
SH was NEVER just about Yuri. NEVER. SH is a combination of features: 1. People who can fuse with demons. 2. Modern setting. 3. Judgment Ring gameplay system. 4. Varied, haunting soundtrack. 5. Rich, original character artwork.

Yuri's story ended in Covenant, although really stupidly and filled with retcons. "Lack of taste"? I think people who enjoy Covenant the most have a "lack of taste", if we're going to go there. Opinions opinions lol.

[Indigo]

Fine, I'm not asking you to change you opinion. I couldn't care less if you enjoyed playing the game.

Oh and just remember that when you say "I think people who enjoy Covenant the most have a "lack of taste" " you're pretty much most hardcore RPGers.

[UO_Duck]

Now that's just blatantly false. Any more outlandish, false, unsupported claims you'd like to make? I'd love to hear them.

[Indigo]

... I really don't want to argue with you anymore. If you want proof to my claims go read some reviews, or even just posts from people in this forum.

[UO_Duck]

... I really don't want to argue with you anymore. If you want proof to my claims go read some reviews, or even just posts from people in this forum.

Reviews are opinions, too!

Q.E.D.

Edit: Great games like God Hand got 3s from reviewers. Hmm... yeah, and Operation Darkness just got a 2.5 from IGN. Reviewers are credible?

[Raidou]

All other sources are not credible except UO_Ducky OPINION, period. You win! Whatever.

Edit: BTW, you miss out the very one thing that is SH, the ?migr? Manuscript. Some hardcore you are ducky.

[UO_Duck]

All other sources are not credible except UO_Ducky OPINION, period. You win! Whatever.

Edit: BTW, you miss out the very one thing that is SH, the ?migr? Manuscript. Some hardcore you are ducky.
Hm? My opinion is no more credible than anyone else's.

The Emigre Manuscript is from Koudelka, originally, and I don't consider it near as important as what I mentioned.

[Raidou]

?migr? Manuscript not important in SH!? What the stupid f**k crap are you talking there? WTF!!!!????

[UO_Duck]

It's important, but not nearly a defining aspect of SH.

[CoolOtaku]

I haven't dared touch From the New World out of fear that I would hate it (the whole "no Yuri" thing kinda ****ed that game for me, and I think a lot of other people as well). I absolutely loved Shadow Hearts though, and Shadow Hearts: Covenant was fantastic as well. I liked Covenant's mechanics more, but I liked pretty much everything else more in Shadow Hearts 1. It had better atmosphere, better music, better story, better visuals (not technically, but stylistically). Koudelka though...? No thanks. Fifteen minutes of that was enough for a lifetime.

[UO_Duck]

I haven't dared touch From the New World out of fear that I would hate it (the whole "no Yuri" thing kinda ****ed that game for me, and I think a lot of other people as well). I absolutely loved Shadow Hearts though, and Shadow Hearts: Covenant was fantastic as well. I liked Covenant's mechanics more, but I liked pretty much everything else more in Shadow Hearts 1. It had better atmosphere, better music, better story, better visuals (not technically, but stylistically). Koudelka though...? No thanks. Fifteen minutes of that was enough for a lifetime.
Not playing FTNW because there is no Yuri in it is bar-none the worst reason not to play the game. I liked SH1 and parts of Covenant outside of Yuri. Hell, Yuri was ****ing retarded in Covenant, with no sense of intelligence or wit whatsoever.

[Raidou]

Yuri is not retarded, you are. He was just portrayed to have a confused and emotional personality in Covenant. Stop insulting Yuri.

[CoolOtaku]

Not playing FTNW because there is no Yuri in it is bar-none the worst reason not to play the game. I liked SH1 and parts of Covenant outside of Yuri. Hell, Yuri was ****ing retarded in Covenant, with no sense of intelligence or wit whatsoever.

They took out my favorite character... and that's a bad reason for me to not want to play From the New World...?

...What?

[Indigo]

Demon fusion was better in SH:C than it was in FTNW, in my opinion.

[UO_Duck]

"Confused and emotional personality..." eh? Yuri's intelligence level was actually LOWERED in Covenant. His quips and comments seem to come from someone much younger than him (he's 25 in Covenant, remember?). Maturity level and all that...

Yeah, it's a bad reason. The game is great despite Yuri not being there. Go play it.

FTNW's fusion system isn't Fusion, but more akin to Skinwalking and other Native American religious practices.

[CoolOtaku]

My whole point is that it's not Shadow Hearts without Yuri for me. I've looked into it and I didn't find a single thing that sounded interesting enough for me to buy it. So! No Yuri, no purchase. The game not fitting my interests is hardly a bad reason.

[UO_Duck]

That's pretty sad, then. I'm sorry.