Shadow Hearts: Covenant

"The Best Experience a Game has to Offer."

Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a video game that I annoyingly boast as being the greatest game ever. While I have contributed to ideas and theory behind it (two sticky topics on the SHC board and a review) I am often told I boast without purpose or what it means to me. Well, like Thomas said about Jesus "Words cannot begin to utter what you mean to me". So let me try to put into words why this game is wonderful.

"Shadow Hearts: Covenant" is the sequel to Nautilus's 2001 role playing game "Shadow Hearts". The game picks a half year after "Shadow Hearts" ends and follows the hero of the previous game, Yuri Hyuga. He meets up with Karin, a soldier in the German army, as well as other characters to fight a plethora of twisted demons, soldiers and gods.

The story starts off in Domremey, France where Yuri Hyuga now resides. The German army wants to take the village to flex their military muscle around easter Europe. During the attack Yuri first encounters the secret society, Sapientes Gladio. In the confrontation he is cursed by the soul stealing mistletoe. Yuri then flees the encounter with his friend Gepetto, Karin a German soldier and his pet wolf Blanca. The group then sets out to find a cure for Yuri's curse and to find out the purpose of the secret society. Along the way they meet new friends and old ones. The story is very traditional but rarely moves a slow pace. There are a few nice twists and turns along the way. The games offers 2 ending in which the player can chose from. Both are very unpredictable and quite thoughtful. It is a emotional story that forces you to feel something.

The game play of "Covenant" adds on to what its original set up. The battle system employs the judgement ring, a spinning needle in a highlighted circle that you have time in order to accomplish your actions.It sounds much more complicated than it actually is. It is fun and simple. There is a great level of customization that allows for a unique ring creation. The game adds new elements to the game such as magic crests that allow each character, save Yuri and Kurando, to use, level up and exchange magic spells. This is very helpful and useful in creating a personalized character. Each spell has a hit area in which it will attack whatever in inside its area, very similar to Suikoden 3. Yuri and Kurando don't use the crests because they have their own way to cast magic. Both characters use a fusion or morphing ability that allows them to execute magic attacks or other feats according to which monster you chose to fuse or morph into. The game adds an active turn bar, much like Final Fantasy 10, that is very useful to timing and applying strategies for your attacks. There are four members of your party available during fights and all can team up to do a combo attack that adds damage points as well gives you items after the battle for impressive combo attacks. Random battles yield experienced used to level up, items, money and souls. If you preform certain special tasks during battles you will receive a bonus. Usually you will get more exp. or money but in special battles you can get rare items and weapons.

The game is linear in story but not in play. There over 10 hours of extras and side quests to complete if you wish. From getting the infamous stud cards ( I will let you figure that one out if you don't already know what they are) acquiring the black and white panties!, to getting all of the fusions. Each character has his/her own side quest that lets you control that character on screen during their quest. You can do as much as you want or nothing at all. There is plenty to keep the completionist busy or to satisfy the simple the player.

The level design is very dynamic. Your character will do exploring with a moving fixed camera in gorgeous environments. The game is very rewarding. If you are an exploring you will find treasure. Whether it is behind a tree, sticking on a fence of in the standard treasure chest there is lots to find. The color palette has a lot for variety. Each dungeon of town has a color that reflects the personality of town. This helps to amplify the attitude of the level you are in.

The games greatest point is its characters. Miyako Kato has done a wonderful job again by designing masterpieces of gaming. The visual design flows very well with the character personality. Each characters design reflects the character with great accuracy. They are aesthetically pleasing while being functional and symbolic. Yuri wheres a split cross on his back that represents a rebellious Youth. The cross traditionally represents Christs sacrifice. Pairing those ideas up creates a great representation of what Yuri Hyuga is and what he represents. Overall there is a level of sophistication in the design that is not often present in video games.

The sound presentation is above average. While the voice acting is above average it could be better. I always believe the actors when they speak but in certain places there could be more conviction in the script. The sound effects are solid and believable as well. The OST is what makes the sound astounding. From the introduction of the game the music presents a strong emotional sound.

Overall the experience is the best a game can offer. The game is all-around excellent but it is the areas that the game perfects that makes this the best game ever made.

10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/19/05, Updated 04/25/06