Shadow Hearts for PS2 ...any good ?

Q

qube

Guest
Retrogamer said:
And also ...is it really the sequel to Koudelka ?
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I don't believe it is the true sequel to Koudelka. Just made by Sacnoth and distributed by the almighty SNK :cool:

The game is alot of fun from what I remember. Cool little wheel device is used for combat, making it a bit of a challenge. You don't always get what you planned for. Graphics are decent, and the musics not bad either. I didn't play all the way through it, but I had fun with what I played :)

Q-
 
Korigama

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Yes, it's quite good. The story, dialogue, localization,
as well as the battle system are all done very well.
Great cast and soundtrack, too (the composer being
Yasunori Mitsuda :buttrock: ). Officially, it's the spiritual
successor to Koudelka (not direct sequel), plus...

SPOILER
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Koudelka herself makes an appearance sometime later
in the game (but I won't spoil how).
 
twalden

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I'm not a big RPG fan, but I loved this game. It only took me about 20 hours to complete it, but I don't like long RPGs so it's fine by me. The battle system/wheel thingie is awesome. If you miss an attack, you have no one to blame but yourself. It's unfortunate that Shadow Hearts was released around the same time as Final Fantasy X. It was overlooked by almost everyone.
 
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kaos

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not really a sequel
not so challenging
not so long

a so-so average act/RPG

but...

one of the best soundtrack EVER

made by Yasunori Mitsuda
the same composer behind Xenogears and Chrono series
I'd get the game just for it;)
 
Poison Sama

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If its anything like Koudelka, then its definitely worth checking out. I loved Koudelka and I'm sure that I'll feel the same about this one. Gotta keep an eye out for it.
 
N

Nick Goracke

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Some people swear by this game. I'm sure Nate will show up soon. ;)

Bored the hell out of me, though! The story seemed plenty interesting, and I liked the change of atmosphere... but I'm quite allergic to "fight, fight, fight, repeat" RPG battle systems and the timed button presses did nothing to save it for me.

So I would recommend it to someone who doesn't mind thoughtless battles (or better yet, someone who doesn't like how complex certain RPG games have become). I don't mean that in a bad way, either. Some people can still play through Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy 1 and have a blast. You could get into this game. I can't.

If you're into more of the "thinking man's" RPG, though - try Jade Cacoon 2 for a solid, obscure PS2 RPG.
 
kaos

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Nick Goracke said:
If you're into more of the "thinking man's" RPG, though - try Jade Cacoon 2 for a solid, obscure PS2 RPG.
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nice choice!!

nothing special for an old-style lover like me plus It's not so challenging
but good overall
and good dark atmosphere too
 
N

Nick Goracke

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kaos said:
nice choice!!

nothing special for an old-style lover like me plus It's not so challenging
but good overall
and good dark atmosphere too
Click to expand...

Nobody bought this game when it was released. I didn't either. The first one was... it felt like Pokemon on the PSX. Pokemon isn't a bad game or anything, but it was just kinda "ho-hum".

This game, though... the "ring" battle system allows for a lot of freedom and strategy. Completely unique. It has a "dungeon crawl" feel to it, but the story is still there (and interesting). If they ever were to make a Jade Cacoon 3 - using this battle system with a true adventure setup would make it just about perfect!

Back to Shadow Hearts, though... I didn't think Mitsuda's score for this game was all that great. Same with his stuff in Tsugunai, Breath of Fire 5, and Xenosaga. It seems like he had to work on too many games in a short period of time, and his work suffered a bit. I suppose everyone wants your music when you crank out stuff like Chrono Trigger/Cross and Xenogears...
 
kaos

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Nick Goracke said:
Nobody bought this game when it was released. I didn't either. The first one was... it felt like Pokemon on the PSX. Pokemon isn't a bad game or anything, but it was just kinda "ho-hum".
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well I did:D
really I was hearing bout it from PS2 release
I read a lot good about it on famitsu
plus I liked the original jap cover
slps25054.jpg



Back to Shadow Hearts, though... I didn't think Mitsuda's score for this game was all that great. Same with his stuff in Tsugunai, Breath of Fire 5, and Xenosaga. It seems like he had to work on too many games in a short period of time, and his work suffered a bit. I suppose everyone wants your music when you crank out stuff like Chrono Trigger/Cross and Xenogears...
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I gotta agree
but I usually bought evrything Mitsuda did
He's been always my fav
anyway SH got something different ...It has lotta more drums than Xeno/Chrono
or the Georgian sounds of Xenosaga
 
Crovax

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It was a good game, but I liked Koudelka a lot better. Shadow Hearts really doesn't have the same atmosphere as Koudelka at all. In fact, some of the cheesy dialogue and misplaced humor really kind of killed the game for me in a lot of ways.

Anyway, as was said earlier, this game is indeed merely the "spiritual sequal" to koudelka. However, don't go in expecting the same dark, gritty atmosphere.
 
N

Nick Goracke

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kaos said:
well I did:D
really I was hearing bout it from PS2 release
I read a lot good about it on famitsu
plus I liked the original jap cover
Click to expand...

That cover is AWESOME! I'm definately tracking down a Japanese version...

The dub was actually kinda good/funny, though. There's a reason to own both. ;)
 
GregN

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Couldn't find a shadowhearts: From the New World thread so I bumped this one.

I've started playing From the New World and my expectations are shattered beyond all belief. It's wonderfully wacky. It's humor 100%, with a Hot Native American, a Flamenco player, a Big drunken fist cat as party members, Ninjas AND pirates, breaking Al Capone out of prison, and a trip to Roswell.

No wonder this game barely saw the light of day in the US.
 
neojedi

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GregN. said:
No wonder this game barely saw the light of day in the US.
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I don't think it's that... 1 and 2 did fine in the US. The problem is by the end of 2, people were sick of stopping the spinning dial when it reaches the narrow wedge... that system got totally played out, and no amount of depth or artistry in the game can help that fact. Regular RPGs, tactics RPGs, they can all remain interesting with additional depth... but a spinning dial is a spinning dial no matter how you (no pun intended) slice it.

I don't know if 3 uses the same system, but I assumed it did... which is probably what everyone else assumed.
 
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