Shadow Hearts: From the New World

"The new game in the Shadow Hearts series... but is this one superior to the rest?"

Shadow Hearts: From the New World is a solid game overall. I found myself coming back to it time to time again, and it is definitely one of those games that makes you come back for more and more each time.

Story: 8/10
Shadow Hearts: From the New World may not have some of the memorable faces that were seen in the previous installments of the series. The story is good overall. The main protagonist, Johnny Garland, has a cast of colorful characters with him where their main goal is to find out about Johnny's true past.

That does not necessarily mean that the story in this game is bad; it simply doesn't compare to the previous 2 games' main storyline. The ending in Shadow Hearts: From the New World was a letdown for me, as I was expecting something more.

Graphics: 7/10
The graphics were actually sub par in this game. I found them to be worse than Shadow Hearts: Covenant. The battle scenes, however, are well done and truly are a "feast for the eyes". With its spells and attacks, the game truly shines in that part of the graphics department. The FMV's are an improvement over the other Shadow Hearts' games, and the characters' emotions during the FMV's truly make it even that much better.

To the bad part, the interface should have been updated. The menus are the same as in the other games in the series, which makes it seem a bit too bland. The overworld is choppy in some situations, but luckily you can adjust the brightness from the options menu.

Gameplay: 9/10
This has to be the best part of the game, and probably the most vital part, and this is definitely where you will find that this game is truly a gem. The battles are much more fluent and engaging, which makes you want to battle just for the fun of it. The added strategy is also a pleasant surprise, and adds more strategy to the battles. The Strike Gauge, for example, allows you to perform a double attack, where you have 2 turns in one, or you can use a combo where you attack with 2 characters, one after the other. The double combo is a great element in battles as well, and allows you to make multiple combos. The added tactic is that enemies as well have a stock gauge.

The spells that a character can cast during battles are in the form of something called a Stellar Chart. This allows you to add a specific node to a chart, which allows you to cast different spells, whether they are a defensive, offensive, or recovery spell. I personally enjoyed this addition as it allows you to control the spells you can cast, and who can cast what.

Longetivity: 9/10
There is definitely a lot to be enjoyed here. The main quest boasts around 25-30 hours of playing time, and of course there are side quests to go along with that. This adds extra time to the game, although not required to beat the game. "New Game+" allows you to replay the game once you have beat it which gives you the privilege of keeping your Stellar Charts, any snapshots you have taken, and a lot of other goodies that would make the second time through a bit more easier.

Overall: 8/10
There are plenty of things to be enjoyed in this game. By not playing this, you will definitely be missing out on quite a spectacular game. Although it doesn't necessarily compare to the others in the series, it is definitely something that you should pick up. If you can see past the sometimes bland storyline, this game is truly great. With its great battles, unforgettable FMV's, and much, much more, this is one you do not want to miss out on.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/20/06