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PAX Gamers - Shadow Hearts: Covenant Review | Playstation 2
Shadow Hearts: Covenant Review
Posted
Feb 10, 2006 05:56 pm
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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.
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.
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.
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.
