Shadow Hearts II

This game is a very good and fun follow-up to the Gothic, horror, science fiction game Shadow Hearts. Granted most of the horror is removed for this one and more humor added. And what is this? Can it be? A role playing game that is actually a direct sequel to the original rather than a completely different game and it isn't set in the distant future or past? Yes, Yuri is back and he has problems...a mad priest or something has shoved a cursed object into his chest and he only has a limited time to try and find a cure. Once again the judgment wheel is here to add some excitement to the combat which there are a couple of new touches as well. He meets a lot of interesting characters too as they range from the mysterious beauty Karin, to an old puppeteer, and even a gay wrestling vampire. Yes, only in the world of Shadow Hearts. It does get a bit goofy at times, but at others it is extremely somber as Yuri must confront the guilt he feels for another he felt he let down in the past. The game uses cinematic movie scenes great, good villains and a few surprising twists as well make this a very great and complete role playing adventure that stretches from Europe to Japan during World War I.

Story: 10/10 Shadow Hearts Covenant continues some time after Shadow Hearts left off, Karin the female main heroine helps a man named Nicolai with vanquishing a demon but this demon is not a normal demon, this is Yuri a harmonixer, someone who can fuse with monsters/gods. The story is huge consisting of over 2 dvds with over 100 cut scenes, at least 5 hours of movie, and a lot of gaming, this story is not to be told much about it is only to be experienced.

Gameplay: 10/10 How you play in this game and how many weirds things you stumble upon is huge, everything is done with excellence from the battles to even the small things around Europe and Asia. If you expect something with a lot of action, a lot of funny small tweaks this is the game you should settled with it has everything.

Graphics: 9/10 The Graphics is overall almost perfect, why is it not perfect you ask maybe?. Well it is not something you will notice while playing the game, actually i think you will oversee it many thousand times, but sometimes when looking down on the ground it looks like a game from the first Playstation but other times it does everything it is needed to do so it is not something that will bother people that much.

Sound/Music: 10/10 The music in the game is perfect, the places where you go is filled with just the right music, it actually sometimes make you feel like you are in the game, the ending song is one of the best vocals from a singer, it is sung in Japanese but trust me you will love it. Every other tune is perfect, the music is worth a lot in this game. The actors does a great job in both versions, the people who doesn't think so does not have any sense for anything.

Characters: 10/10 Every character in the game is told about every person has a story and it isn't always easy doing just that. My favorite is of course Yuri and the old and rusty Robert Bacon but you cannot play as him just so you know, not to get your hopes up he he.

Overall: 9/10 If you want a shocking yet joyful ride then buy this game and head right into a fantasy world almost like reality. Everything from the opening and to the ending is shocking, especially if you have played Shadow Hearts then this ending will blow you completely away, this game is worth your time, don't cheat yourself take the ride and remember a single last sentence.

I'll never forget taking this journey with you? and meeting you. Being with you.