Shadow Hearts: Covenant

"A tale of realism and fantasy."

The year 1915, the world is at war. An era dominated by death and destruction. Nations tearing each other apart, with countless millions sacrificed. An era where Woodrow Wilson gave his infamous fourteen-point speech that infuriated many Republicans in the Senate. In this era the world saw the fall of a czar and the rise of Lenin and the Bolsheviks. This is the First World War, where all of Europe and other parts of the world are fighting. While the story takes place just a few years before the rise of the Bolsheviks and the controversial Paris peace conference, it still gives one a sense of this grim era in our timeline. The story begins with a small squad of soldiers in a small village called Damremy. Soon after, an unworldly creature slaughters them. In the early parts of the game, one will get hit with a surprising plot twist. Shadow Hearts: Covenant simply does a great job at blending an amazing cast of characters, a very well developed plot, and one of the most amazing turn base combat systems I have ever had the pleasure of playing. What is so special about this game is that it takes an existing formula, and nearly perfects it. I cannot emphasize enough about how much I enjoyed and loved this game. While it contains many things that are associated with rpg's, Shadow Hearts: Covenant simply takes everything one would want in an rpg and performs them at the highest levels. This game will lull you in, like a candy lulls in a baby. The story will immerse the player, they will feel the unique combat system, they will become attached with the characters, and they will simply be blown away by its intoxicating experience.

While Shadow Hearts: Covenant and the original Shadow Hearts isn't quite as popular or as big as other rpg's on the PS2, this game is one hundred percent brilliant. Shadow Hearts: Covenant is the direct sequel to Shadow Hearts. After stopping an evil force from taking over the world, Yuri loses his lover. Yuri returns in this game and he protects a small town. Throughout this adventure, one will witness Yuri grow. One will witness him connect with other characters. This really gives a strong sense of unity. This is what makes the story so good and so breathtaking. It is the unity and the beautifully orchestrated story that truly makes Shadow Hearts: Covenant an epic adventure. This game is right up there with some of the best stories this generation. Shadow Hearts Covenant is now with the top echelon of games in terms of story and plot.

Since Shadow Hearts Covenant is a direct sequel, it would be more rewarding to the person playing it, if they played the original first. I haven't played the original yet, but I do plan to get it and play it. However I don't think it is absolutely necessary for one to play the original first. Over the course of Covenant it does a nice job of informing one about the past incarnation of the game. I thoroughly enjoyed and loved the plot even though I didn't play the first, so I still think one can enjoy themselves without having played Shadow Hearts.

Turn-Base combat at its finest

The most unique part of Shadow Hearts: Covenant is the combat system. It is a turn base system, but it is one of the most unique turn base combat systems I have ever seen. When choosing an attack or special attack a round ring comes up. In this ring there will be a series of hit points. These hit points will usually have a red spot, which differs from the rest of the hit point. So if one hits the part where it isn't red then the damage isn't as great. However if one hits it on the red spot it will deal more damage. The most unique part is that there is more then just one hit point. So if one wants to perform an attack that consists of two hits, one must hit both hit points. In order to hit these hit points, an arrow or pointer will go around in circles, and one must press a button to stop it at the hit points. If one misses then one will miss. I felt this style of combat is very unique and fun. It also gives the game a bit of a challenge. The same also applies for special attacks. So now random battles aren't as boring anymore. Through the course of the game, one can upgrade these hit zones and make them expand. In addition to expanding the hit zones or hit points, one can also add more hit zones that can make one's combos longer. These same hit zones apply for things like magic also.

Another really cool feature is the combo maneuver. This move allows more then one member of the party to attack. Again hit zones will come up, and one has to hit them in those areas. Once one does that, a screen with a certain button comes up, and one must press that button before it stops spinning. Then after it is delivered another party member can perform an attack that will deal a great deal of damage. This is a very effective way to eliminate enemies quickly, especially if one is in a hurry. It is also quite effective against bosses. Also one can use different forms of attack, such as standard or hard hit attacks. Each one of the attacks has their pros and cons. The more members in one's group that one uses in this combo the more damage it does.

Touching up on the ability to make combos between two or more party members, I would like to emphasize again that this ability is quite unique. For example if I wanted Yuri and Karin to team up, they would band together, and one would be able to use the combo attack. If one were to use a high angle attack, then one would knock the enemy in the air. Then one can use the second party member to continue on the assault that will do a vast amount of damage. While one can continue to use this move, one also must keep in mind that the tiniest mistake can cost the turn of two party members without dealing any damage to an enemy at all. At times when I didn't pay attention, I would miss the icon with the button that I am suppose to press.

The special powers among the group are quite balanced and offer some more depth to the already superb combat system. Each character wields some special attacks, which at times are quite devastating and also beautiful to look at. The best one has got to be the fusion power of Yuri, where he can transform himself into a vicious monster. Karin can learn moves called the sword arts, which one can make an educated guess that it has to do with a sword. This is her special attack and some of them are quite powerful. Joachim has muscle arts, one of them allows one to drain an enemy's health and use it as their own. Lucia also carries around cards that are quite useful in battles. Gepetto is the magic wielder. He carries a puppet with him from his old puppet shows from Paris. What is cool about the puppet is throughout the course of the game, one can change what she wears and she will wield powers from it. For example if I equipped her with a fire dancer suit she will have fire elements as part of her magic repertoire.

Neo Amon rules all

Now I will go into further detail about Yuri's fusions. One gets new fusion abilities, when one goes to the graveyard. One racks up a certain amount of soul energy and one goes to the graveyard and releases this soul energy. There are different types of fusion such as water based, fire based, earth based, and so on. One can upgrade these elements by going into the graveyard and releasing Yuri's soul energy. Once one does that, then one can use that certain type of fusion for the fight. This really shows the depth in this combat system. All the things one can do is simply marvelous. When one uses fusion, one can use that fusion's special attacks or the normal attacks that one can do normally.

Lucia also has a very unique power that revolves around a bunch of cards. When one picks this move, the cards will not be seen and one has to pick one. At times one can get some real nice treats. The characters sanity points can be restored, characters can be resurrected, health can be restored, and other positive effects can be selected with the right cards. However there are also negative effects to these cards. There are cards that will make one's characters lose a turn, lose magic points, and other effects. That is why it makes this so tricky. This special move can turn the tides of battle or basically spell one's doom.

Like all rpg's one can upgrade and collect items throughout the game. One can upgrade their weapons and their defense. As time progresses in the game, weapons will be made available. Some of these weapons will improve the characters attack. Some of these weapons can be bought or they can be found. Same goes for equipping items for defensive purposes. Chest with items can be found along the way, some may be harder to find then others, but in the end some of these items are well worth it. Characters can also be equipped with items that will prevent or do certain things. For example some items will prevent paralysis, and others can cause instant death.

Side quests are also a big part of an rpg. Some of these quests are just for fun and some others will help one earn items that cannot be earned anywhere else. The wolf bouts are quite unique and actually really fun to play. Just as the wording says these quests are on the side, so one can choose to do them or not. I recommend doing some of them because not only will one get more involved in the game, but it will also give one some rewarding items.

Characters can also equip themselves with crests that allows for one to use magic. Yuri cannot equip it, but why would he need to when he has fusion. I usually equip a crest to one of my characters that contains a healing magic, and someone else with rage. It is recommended to do this because it becomes quite expensive to keep buying healing items. One can also toy around with these crests and see which type of magic element or power that they want to go with. One can equip magic powers like rage, gale, and etc. It is really quite unique, and it adds depth by allowing one to do this.

The storyline is very well written, and quite interesting. The story conveys a mysterious feeling that really keeps one guessing at times. It also has some really good plot twists, which will leave one amazed about how well thought out it is. The storyline is darker then most rpg's that I have played, but through the course of one's quest, there will be some comedic scenes that will ease the tension. Like I said the story is really, just flat out awesome. Stories in rpg's have always had an epic storyline ala the Final Fantasies, or they have an extremely light hearted and comedic storyline like Paper Mario. Rarely have I seen a game that blends these two qualities together and I certainly have never seen a game that blends them so well. Shadow Hearts: Covenant not only features an epic storyline, but it also features well placed comedic scenes that simply lightens up the day. As one continues forth in the story, one can sense how the relationships of the characters start to mold together. It is such a beautiful sight when one sees the characters have a connection. This story is just so well written and heart throbbing that one can't help but admire the sheer joy of it.

One also gets to travel across Europe, which is very cool. One will be able to explore cities like Paris, Florence, and London. What is unique is the game has a lot of variety in its dungeons. The dungeons are usually very large and allows for the gamer to explore every nuances in there. Sometimes one would get lost, but it is all part of what makes a good rpg. One will be able to explore the rather large environments. Along the way there will be plenty of items for one to collect.

Character development is a major plus in this game. It is very deep and offers many mechanics that enhances the game's experience. Along the adventure, one can collect items that will allow one to upgrade their ring. Whether it is used to expand one's hit zones or add another one, finding them along one's adventure will help one's character improve. Each character also has some unique characteristics about them. For example, Yuri can use fusion, which allows him to take form of a number of monsters. Yuri can visit a graveyard that is in his mind, when he does this he can release more fusion powers. One can sense how the group molds together as they get farther in the game. It is like a group of friends where they make fun of each other, but are always there to defend each other.

The game also has a good amount of saved points. It seems very balance and it never makes it to easy or overly difficult. The game starts out very linear, but the game soon opens up and allows for one to explore. Another important part about rpg's are exploring towns and mingling with the town folks. This is the case for Shadow Hearts: Covenant also. One can go about the towns and talk to people. Some have some very interesting things to say about the war and others have things that can be quite helpful.

Instead of a traditional inn in many rpg's, Shadow Hearts: Covenant uses tents. One can purchase these tents and use them at save points. When I first started playing Shadow Hearts: Covenant, I was quite confused at the concept of not having inns. At first it was a bit difficult to adjust, but in the end a tent is very similar. One has to pay for a night at the inn and one has to buy tents. One needs the tents to rejuvenate the party's health, sanity points, and magic points. What is interesting is the fact that one does not heal once they level up. This adds a bit of difficulty and challenge to the game.

Like most rpg's, puzzles are a nice way to get the brain working and to take a break from the story and combat. Shadow Hearts: Covenant's puzzles are in no way difficult. Some of them are quite challenging and requires one to work on them. Some of them are overly easy, but all in all the puzzles weren't too bad. I thought the puzzles were nicely spread out and gave the game a nice pace.

Since Shadow Hearts Covenant has random battles, it would be a chore to fight if the enemies were repetitive and if the combat was dull. Luckily with the way the game encompasses the rings and the hit zones, it offers a totally new and inventive way to fight. While a lot of this has to do with the deep combat system, part of this has to do with the vast array of enemies. Instead of fighting the same dull enemies over and over, this game has great variety. For the most part each chapter will provide new waves of enemies. As one can imagine they get harder as one progress. Given the variety of enemies, it is quite fun to tinker with them to see what their weaknesses and strengths are.

What is really unique is the way one buys items. When one buys an item, one can go for a certain amount of percent that one would like to use as a discount. This challenge will have a set of hit zones that one will have to hit in order to get the discount. If there were extra money around, then it would be a safer bet to just go for the full price. As one goes through the game they can earn a twenty percent discount and so on, which is quite cool as it saves a lot of money. One other cool thing is the lottery, where the hit zones come up again. If one lands on a certain color one gets a free gift.

A soul ring will appear now and then and give one new capabilities that will help one's adventure. During the soul ring's appearances, one will feel a comedic situation between it and the party. It is quite nice to read and one can't help but laugh at it a bit. Another nice little comedic situation that eases the situation and since it can usually be found in dungeons it is all for the better.

Simply gorgeous

Perhaps the most amazing thing about the game is its mixture of FMV's and in game cut scenes. The way the developers made the cut scenes gave it a very nice pacing. The in game cut scenes for the most part does not have any voice acting, but in this situation it doesn't matter because it uses the game engine very nicely. It is so nicely done that one can't help but be apart of the game. The FMV's are also brilliantly done. Instead of overdoing it and forming the game into one long movie ala Xenosaga, the developers did a great job at spreading them out. In Xenosaga the FMV's were so long that it became a chore to not only watch, but also the plot seemed to be forced down one's throat. Now with Shadow Hearts: Covenant it does a great job at keeping its pacing through FMV's and in game cut scenes. A little reading here and a little watching there, will keep the game going. The in game cut scenes are used in the right moments, that it seems it doesn't take one away from the game. Then every now and then FMV's are used to break up the tension. FMV's were used so that it could tell the story more dramatically, and not just put in there to extend the game's length. Every now and then there will be in game cut scenes where there will some voice acting. This is usually done, so that a character can talk about the past. It is quite nice that they use pictures in a storytelling manner to relive those past events.

The lighting effects actually look quite good. I was definitely surprised by that. Especially when I first started playing, the game showed that the PS2 was no slouch when it comes to graphical capabilities. The in game graphics engine is quite solid. Shadow Hearts: Covenant ran exceptionally well. The character models look very good and offers a very crisp and precise look to them. The game really shows off its graphical capabilities during battle. The animation is quite good, especially the animation and movements of the special attacks. The backgrounds at times sport a variety of color and it also does a nice job of setting the mood. While the game is definitely not as colorful and light hearted as games like Final Fantasy X and Baten Kaitos, it does a good job when it needs to. What I mean by this is the fact that the game sets up the mood really well. It really gives one a sense of a war going on and also a historical sense by the way the cities look.

The musical scores are absolutely beautiful. It can be very soothing and relaxing at times. Then it can make one feel its intensity at the right moments. At certain points in the game it emits this dreary and tense musical score. During this time, is a time of war, so one can expect to feel tense and uneasy. The music did a great job at conveying this feeling. At the right moments to break up this dreary feeling, the developers did a great job of easing the intensity of it. Like before when I mentioned there were scenes where there are comedic scenes, the developers found the right tone to match it. One can sense the upbeat and very cheery music. At other times when one is in a town, one can really feel the soothing music coursing through one's veins. The music has a lot of variety and does a superb job of getting its message across. I simply love the soundtrack and felt it was one of the brightest spots in the game.

There have been many rpgs over the course of this generation that has had great voice work. Take Final Fantasy X and Knights of the Old Republic for example, these two had great voice actors who really put the setting and mood into perspective. For one Shadow Hearts: Covenant stands up quite well in its own merits. While not quite as good as the two games I mentioned, it does have its strong points. The main characters mostly had superb voice acting, but the voicing of Blanca and Lucia became a drag to hear. Blanca being a wolf had a voice that made him sound like one of those shy college types. Lucia had a very irritating voice, which made her sound like a child rather then an adult. With the exceptions of these two, the others were simply splendid.

With the exceptions of the two Knights of the Old Republic games, I have been completely disappointed with the current rpg lineup on the Xbox. Being a big fan of the genre, I couldn't help myself and went out to get a PS2. To say the least this game has more then justified my purchase of the PS2. This game alone is longer then any rpg on the Xbox. In fact games like Sudeki and Fable can be beaten in less then twenty hours. That is simply unacceptable for an rpg. I was really satisfied with Shadow Heart: Covenant's length. It isn't the longest rpg, but its fairly lengthy quest is more then enough to justify a purchase. I beat this game in 43 hours and I plan to play it again because this game is just that good.

Shadow Hearts: Covenant does a great job at getting its message across. It is a semi-dark rpg, with a perfect era in the timeline to convey it. While mostly fictional the storyline does a great job at convincing one about this time period. The characters are very well developed and have great personality. The graphics show off the PS2's capabilities quite well. Shadow Hearts: Covenant also features one of the most well developed and simply amazing turn base combat systems I have ever had the chance to play. From the well rounded sequences of FMV”s to the storyline development, Shadow Hearts: Covenant simply rises to the occasion on many levels.

Shadow Hearts: Covenant sets the bar

As a big rpg fan, I would have to say that this is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best rpg's I have ever played. Shadow Hearts: Covenant takes everything an rpg should have and raises it to another level. On its own merits, Shadow Hearts Covenant raises the bar so high, that no developer may ever reach. I know I am giving this game very high praises, but all I can say is that this game flat out deserves every single bit of praise that I give. Nautilus simply did an amazing job with this game and I believe that any fan of the genre with be blown away also. While this game will definitely please the hardcore rpg fans, this game should also appeal to others that are not so familiar with the genre.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 03/05/05, Updated 03/14/05