Gaming Shadow Hearts: Covenant

[Guest Destati]

Has anyone ever played it before? This game is about 10x better then the first, and not just in graphics. There's more plot, and it's less confusing. You're eyes don't twitch when you read about 600 lines of talking now thats theres voiceovers. The characters are very unique especially the main characters.. There's a gothic look to it, and everything's dark and dreary since its the 1900's and WW1 is currently taking place. The battle system is that of the FF series, and the special judgement ring that you battle by is quite unique and VERY useful. You should rent this game at least once if you're a roleplaying fan, like fantasy, or other things. For more info check here at the offical site. [URL=http://www.shadowheartscovenant.com]Shadow Hearts 2 Clicky Here[/URL]

[Meggido]

I've been waiting for this game since it was announced but I'm not sure if it is going to be released in Australia where I live. The first game was awesome and this could only be better. What I'm disappointed about though is the fact that Alice isn't in the game. I mean didn't she end up with Yuri at the end of the first?

[Toorima]

I checked that site, and you're right, the second looks much better. I hated the first one, but the opening cut-scene where he shoves his hand n the guys face, that was excellent.

[Semjaza]

Most people ignored the first one and even more blew it off because it was just ugly as sin. The backgrounds were okay, but the CG was just awful and the texture work was sub-N64 quality.

However, it did have a great, mature themed storyline. That's really what saved it, along with the wheel battle system (despite its flaws).

I'm very interested in Covenant. I've not picked it up yet, but I think what it improves on is obvious. The graphics are very nice, the story is apparently just as good, the battle system was improved on, etc.

I'm glad Midway brought it over. Along with Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, this is the only PS2 RPG I care about that's due this year (unless we somehow get DQ8 before January lol).

[Immortal Meier]

Probably one of my favourite games
the first catch me from the first game..yuri is one of the best character i've ever seen
i'm waiting for covenant but in italy hadn't come out yet..even if in france it will be surely released..well i'll have to study french^^''
its gothic location is one of the best thing..with a perfect soundtrack that can rocks with every cd you'll ever have..with the pearl of the cd..the main theme of the game ;)

[Semjaza]

I picked this up the other day. One nice thing about Midway publishing it is that it's easy to find in stores lol.

Graphically, it just murders the other game. I'm glad the prerendered backgrounds have been replaced with 3D areas. It just fits the game better. The FMV is also very improved... I wouldn't say it rivals Square, but it's definitely good and well done.

I'm happy with the story thus far. One thing I liked about these games is that the rely on actual locations. Fighting in Germany and having characters talk about other places you actually recognize gives it something a lot of fake locations lack... even if these places are overrun with demons and monsters lol.

I'm happy that they kept the battle system intact, yet still improved upon it substantially. It makes you feel like you actually have some role in their attack patterns, and the combo system and attack types (aerial, ground, etc) really help mix it up.

My only gripe so far is the voice acting. It's not horrible, but it's not really all that great either. Perhaps it improves as the game goes on (seems to happen a lot in RPGS, I guess the actors get comfortable), but I find a lot of it sounds too forced. I kind of like the stereotypical old-man-voice Geopetto has though.

I was also surprised this thing is 2 DVDs lol.

[Magus]

I don't hear (or see) too many people talking (or writing) about this game (nor the Shin Megami Tensei series....) unless I end up asking about it and whatnot. Anyways, I've had Shadow Hearts: Covenant for about a week and a half now, and finally decided to start playing it a little bit earlier today.

So far, it's nothing too impressive, but I guess that's because I'm just now getting into the game. I just beat some spider looking monster. I do agree with Generic, about the voice acting. It's nothing spectacular, but it's not really bad either.

The main character, Yuri, reminds me of Dante from the Devil May Cry series, mainly the 1st DMC.

The judgment ring can get a little tedious at times, especially for one that's trying to adapt to this type of gameplay. I like the combo's thus far as well. The magic attacks, I haven't seen anything spectacular, perhaps, it's because I like the magic attacks in FFVII and FFVIII a lot more.

This fusion that Yuri can do. It definately sparked my interest in what other types of fusions I can acquire. I see in the main menu that I can visit the graveyard at any time. Does that mean I can get these fusion monsters any time I want or do I have to reach a certain level to get the rest?

[Sandy]

[QUOTE=Phenom]
[spoiler]This fusion that Yuri can do. It definately sparked my interest in what other types of fusions I can acquire.[/spoiler] I see in the main menu [spoiler]that I can visit the graveyard at any time. Does that mean I can get these fusion monsters any time I want or do I have to reach a certain level to get the rest?[/spoiler][/QUOTE]

I don't think this is spoilerrific issue, as it concerns the gameplay and not the story.

You have to visit the Graveyard and consume souls (the points you get from killing monsters) to the different altars to obtain the fusions. When you have them, you can consume more souls to the fusions in the main menu to level them up. I'm surprised you couldn't figure this one out by yourself...

Anyways, this game is one of my favorite ones, and I've played it through twice (which in my case requires a very interesting game to do). I'm surprised to see that I haven't replied to this thread yet, but I guess it has just slipped from me. In any case, it's the game's dark humor and historic references that appeal to me, especially, and of course the sympathetic cast of characters.

Great game, this one! Too bad we didn't get the prequel nor the sequel released around here...

[TheResplendent]

[FONT=Tahoma]The entire SH series is a great one, and Yuri is an awesome main character. This particular game I can definitly call my favorite, though SH1 was probably one of the most captivating RPGs i've ever played. I really loved the spooky overtones and the music was fantastic, as was the music in 2.

This was the first real RPG for the PS2 that really caught my attention upon playing it (yes, i played 2 before 1...simply because my friend picked up 2 eventhough I told him to buy 1) and i can honestly say that you really don't even have to play 1 to enjoy it. You'd miss out on this and that, but overall Covenent is a fantastic game in itself.

The battle system with the judgement ring is great, innovative, easy and challenging at the same time, and has great customization options. The crests is a great magic system, though i've always been more of a fan of person specific magics where it is in some way innate rather then learned.

Aside from all things battle, I really enjoyed the storyline. Mixing fictitious elements with an actual historical timeframe, with largely memorable characters (at least I think). It was especially interesting to see the evolution of [spoiler]Kato[/spoiler] between SH1 and SH2, as the differences in his character are quite noticeable. To really get the full enjoyment out of it though, if you are interested in the series itself rather than just one game, whether it's before or after you should really play 1. Everything considered (I won't go into it now since there would be too many spoiler tags), I am definitly more for a [spoiler]Yuri and Alice[/spoiler] relationship then I am for a [spoiler]Yuri and Karen. Eventhough I absolutely love Karen, and she's one of my favorite female RPG characters ever.[/spoiler]

On a sidenote, Phenom. SMT: Nocturne specifically happens to be one of my favorite RPGs ever to come out of Atlus or the PS2 period. The DDS games were great, but I got a special place in my heart for SMT:N. Nothing beat coaxing demons to join your party and constantly fusing new ones to see who your next favorites are going to be. [/FONT]

[Sandy]

[quote name='BKstyles][FONT=Tahoma]. Everything considered (I won't go into it now since there would be too many spoiler tags), I am definitly more for a [spoiler]Yuri and Alice[/spoiler] relationship then I am for a [spoiler]Yuri and Karen. Eventhough I absolutely love Karen, and she's one of my favorite female RPG characters ever.[/spoiler'][/FONT][/quote]

Ahem. If you have played through SH: Covenant, you should know that [spoiler]Karin is Yuri's mother, "Anne", due to a timewarp. That makes the whole pairing kinda gross...[/spoiler] XP

[TheResplendent]

[quote name='Sandy]Ahem. If you have played through SH: Covenant, you should know that [spoiler]Karin is Yuri's mother, "Anne", due to a timewarp. That makes the whole pairing kinda gross...[/spoiler'] XP[/quote]

[font=tahoma]While I agree with that statement, how things can be understood from that point on is debatable actually. But more importantly, if it is true that doesn't change the fact that at one point in time [spoiler]Karin could have loved Yuri and because of the paradox of time travel, that would have simply been an occurence of the past, or the future if you will. When transported back, it is as if she starts over with the closest she can get without being able to see Yuri again...as hinted in the park scene while Karin and Yuri are speaking, Yuri mentions that he was named possibly after his mother's first love[/spoiler].

In essence, [spoiler]the pairing seems gross. But it's hard to really judge it like that when considering that in THEIR time, Karin and Yuri were close to one another in age (in fact, Karin is younger then Yuri), and the ending was the end of a series of events that began a new life for Karin with Yuri in her heart for the future she paved with his father, leading to the eventual birth[/spoiler].

Their potential relationship [spoiler]through blood doesn't mean that Karin's feelings for Yuri were fake, or forgotten.[/spoiler] [/font]

[Magus]

[QUOTE=Sandy]I don't think this is spoilerrific issue, as it concerns the gameplay and not the story.

You have to visit the Graveyard and consume souls (the points you get from killing monsters) to the different altars to obtain the fusions. When you have them, you can consume more souls to the fusions in the main menu to level them up. I'm surprised you couldn't figure this one out by yourself...
[/QUOTE]
So I'm a little slow. :animesmil I knew I could level up the fusions, but didn't know I needed a monster count to get more fusions. It was probably stated during the tutorial, and I just didn't pay attention to it. About the spoiler-ish stuff. My fault, it's a habit.

[quote name='BKstyles']On a sidenote, Phenom. SMT: Nocturne specifically happens to be one of my favorite RPGs ever to come out of Atlus or the PS2 period. The DDS games were great, but I got a special place in my heart for SMT:N. Nothing beat coaxing demons to join your party and constantly fusing new ones to see who your next favorites are going to be. [/quote]
I wouldn't know. Every site that I go to that sells games don't sell either game of that series or they want entirely too much for them. ($70 for Nocturne....) And I don't even bother trying to find them in stores, atleast not here in Detroit anyway. If there was ever a RPG that I really wanted, it was SMT. Either one of them would suffice.

[Kenshin DX]

SH Covanant is a fantastic game. The original was meh... It had horribe graphics , some really bad plot moments(the Li Li story) and some pretty lame characters. I also hate the Berserk system but it's much more mangable in Covanant. SH was a seriously flawed game but it's sequel fixes a lot of it's predescors problems. The combo system adds another layer of startegy. My only complaint is the story isnt as dark as the origina but the graphics, voice acting, and much better battle system more than make up for it. I love the games sense of humor and as BK said Yuri is the defintion of cool. I recomed this game to all RPG fans and the original only if you are extremely patient.