Shadow Hearts

For the series, see Shadow Hearts (series). For the album by Caliban, see Shadow Hearts (album).
Shadow Hearts
Developer(s) Sacnoth
Publisher(s)
Designer(s) Izumi Hamamoto
Artist(s) Miyako Kato
Writer(s) Matsuzo Itakura
Composer(s) Yoshitaka Hirota
Yasunori Mitsuda
Series Shadow Hearts
Platform(s) PlayStation 2
Release date(s)
  • JP June 28, 2001
  • NA December 12, 2001
  • PAL March 29, 2002
Genre(s) Role-playing video game
Mode(s) Single-player

Shadow Hearts (シャドウハーツ Shadōhātsu) is a role-playing video game developed by Sacnoth and published by Aruze Corp in Japan and in the United States and Europe by Midway in 2001. It is the first official game in the Shadow Hearts series and is the sequel to Koudelka. Shadow Hearts follows the adventures of Yuri Hyuga, a Harmonixer guided by a mysterious voice in his head. He finds himself thrown into the conflicts prior to World War I where he must save the world and the woman he loves from destruction.

Gameplay

With a linear storyline, random encounters, turn-based battles, and traditional elements such as hit points and magic points, Shadow Hearts plays similarly to other console RPGs. The Judgment Ring, designed to incorporate an element of chance in various outcomes based on the player's skill, is unique to the genre. There are also side-quests and an option for an additional playthrough (or New Game Plus) with the previous game's data saved to allow for completion of the monster library, to attain further collectible items or equipment, and for a statistical side-by-side comparison of the first playthrough.

Environment/world map/submap

The player maneuvers a 3D character in the submap, a 2D pre-rendered background representing the environment. Many items are found in the submap, typically in the form of chests, while others are marked with a shining dot. There are also items noticeable only when the player is directly in front of them.[1] To change locations in Shadow Hearts, the player can choose from a world map. The world map is a stylized map of Europe and China with locations indicated by dots.[2]

Battle

Shadow Hearts uses a turn-based battle system where the player chooses actions from a menu. The list of actions include many basic commands such as Attack, Items, and Escape.[3] Enemies are encountered randomly and are not visible in the submap. Battle commences in a 3D environment modeled after a section of the current location. The characters and enemies stay in their respective positions and only move from their position when executing an attack. The characters are controlled by the player and the enemies are controlled by the CPU.

The party is made up of three characters and can be changed, with the exception of Yuri, by speaking with the NPC Meiyuan.[4] Characters can be positioned either in the back row or front row. The back row is suited for characters with lower physical defense and attack while the front row is suited for characters with higher physical defense and attack.[5] Another aspect of the battle is the character's base statistics. There are the traditional Hit Points (HP) and Magic Points (MP) plus the new Sanity Points (SP). Like many other RPGs, the character's HP will decrease every time they receive damage and their MP decreases when a skill is used. SP decreases every turn and dictate how long a character can last in a battle before they become 'mentally unstable'. When SP decreases to zero, the character automatically goes into a state of Berserk and the player will lose control of that character. At the end of every battle all the character’s SP is replenished. Each character gains HP, MP, and SP every time they gain a level and there are many items which help restore lost HP, MP, and SP. There are also items which alleviate status ailments as well as revival items.[6]

Judgment Ring

The Judgment Ring is a unique element in Shadow Hearts and is used in many aspects of the game including battles, minigames, and even shopping. The success of the characters actions is dependent on the outcome of the Judgment Ring. Essentially, the Judgment Ring is a circle with different colored segments and a rotating needle which is stopped by the player's input. When an action is chosen, the Judgment Ring is presented on the screen. Players then have to watch the rotating needle carefully as it rotates and hit the colored segments.[7]

Judgment Ring Segments[8]
Segment Color Description
Hit Area Yellow
Green
Blue
Orange
Red
Hitting these segments in a Physical Attack will do damage to an enemy. If using an Item, the item will be used successfully. The same can be said about the rings in Shopping and Minigames. In some cases this appears in a few Special Abilities where the effect is always at maximum, for example Alice’s White Magic Ability, Arc.
Critical Area Red These are located at the end of a Hit Area or a Modulation Area. These are very small in size and when hit, extra damage is done or the effect of an item is raised.
Modulation Area White to Blue These only appear in Special Abilities or Items. By hitting closer to the end or blue, the amount of damage or effect of an item is increased.
Step Area Green These must be hit in order for the Special Ability to be successful.

Special Abilities

Every character in Shadow Hearts has their own unique special abilities. These abilities include offensive, restorative and supportive spells. Every character, except for Yuri, will gain their abilities as they gain experience and level up. Yuri, on the other hand, must acquire his Fusions by collecting Soul Energy.[12]

Malice

Malice in Shadow Hearts is the vengeance of the enemies that the party has killed. Malice accumulates every time the player finishes a battle. Most enemies give one point of malice while bosses give higher amounts.[13] Yuri possesses an accessory called a Talisman that can display how much malice has accumulated. It changes color from Dark Blue (lowest) to Red (maximum). Once it has reached the maximum, the door to the dark side opens and the Grim Reaper is summoned to the real world.[14] The Grim Reaper manifests itself as the one Yuri fears the most.[15] Once this occurs, the party will randomly encounter the Grim Reaper forcing Yuri to fight him alone.

To clear the malice the player must go into the Graveyard in Yuri’s mental realm. Once inside, there are four masks (Sword, Grail, Staff, and Gold) that will allow the player to fight a monster to clear the malice. This monster is a manifestation of the accumulated malice. Depending on the amount of malice, the monster will be different.[16]

Shopping

Shopping in Shadow Hearts is similar to most RPGs. The player can buy items or equipment using the in-game currency, Cash. The element that sets shopping in Shadow Hearts apart from other games is the use of the Judgment Ring. Throughout the course of the game, the player can collect certain Guild Cards to attain different ranks. Once the player has a card, they are automatically given an option to get a discount when buying or a price rise when selling. By collecting different guild cards, the player can receive different privileges.

Once the player chooses to receive a discount a ring with three Hit Areas is presented. To be successful, all three hit areas must be hit. Depending on the item being bought or sold, the size of the hit areas and the speed of the needle changes. When the player aims for higher discount or price raise rates, they must complete individual rings for each level.[17]

Characters

Playable Characters

Non Playable Characters

Plot

Shadow Hearts takes place in an alternate reality of the real world in the year 1913. The major areas that are visited include many real locations in China and Europe.

Shadow Hearts starts in late 1913 on a branch of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in Manchuria. The game begins with Yuri hearing a voice in his head telling him to rescue a girl named Alice Elliot, whose priest father was recently murdered in a most brutal fashion in Rouen, France. After a British gentleman by the name of Roger Bacon attempts to abduct Alice from the Imperial Japanese Army himself, Yuri saves her, and starts a quest through China, and eventually Europe, to discover Alice's importance, Bacon's intent, the identity of the mysterious voice, and his own relevance.

Throughout their journey in China they meet Master Liu Zhuzhen, an adept. They also meet Margarete Gertude Zelle, an American spy who is trying to hinder the Japanese invasion of Shanghai. Along the journey they discover that Dehuai, a warlock, is behind all of the demonic happenings that they have encountered so far. Dehuai reveals his plans - to perform the Demon Gate Invocation to summon the Seraphic Radiance, a powerful entity to destroy Japan. He kidnaps Alice for this and the group faces him off at Kuihai Tower. The group manages to defeat Dehuai but is unable to stop the summoning of the Seraphic Radiance. In the end, Yuri and the group are separated.

The second part of the journey takes part in Europe. Alice and the gang continue on their search for Yuri. They are eventually reunited while meeting new friends along the way which includes, Halley, the son of Koudelka and Keith Valentine, a vampire. A shocking truth is revealed as they continue the journey - the man who named himself Roger Bacon is actually Albert Simon, a disciple of the real Roger Bacon. They also discover that Albert's true intention is to raise the Neameeto Float, which is a beacon capable of drawing God to Earth so that it can cleanse the world. He was originally attempting to capture Alice to raise the float, but then changes tack and captures Koudelka instead, and raises the float with her power. The group is teleported to the float by Roger Bacon, and they fight their way through it to find Albert at the pinnacle, where they engage him in battle. He repents for his misdeeds and uses the last of his power to send Yuri and company to intercept God before it can reach Earth. The group manages to destroy God and the world is saved.

Endings

There are two endings: the "good" and the "bad" ending. The good ending occurs when Yuri fights alongside Alice in his mental realm, the Graveyard, and defeats Atman, the protector of the Four Masks. The "bad" ending occurs when Alice fights an impossible battle against Atman and "dies" in the dream.

The difference between the two endings is only seen when the game credits are rolling after one has completed the game. Alice and Yuri are seen sleeping on a train back to her hometown, Zurich. In the good ending, Alice wakes up on the train after a while. In the bad ending, Alice does not wake up since she has sacrificed her soul to Atman to protect Yuri's life. Shadow Hearts' sequel, Shadow Hearts: Covenant, dictates that the bad ending of this game is canon. However, at the end of the sequel, Yuri is sent back to the beginning of this game, and it is implied that on the second iteration of the story, the good ending will be canon.

Development

The brainchild of Matsuzo Itakura (art director of Koudelka), who succeeded Hiroki Kikuta as the president of Sacnoth. It marks the introduction of the "Judgment Ring" system as well as Sanity Points. The localization from Japanese to English was done by Jeremy Blaustein who also directed the voice recording.

The development team were ex-members of Squaresoft.[48]

Audio

Shadow Hearts only features vocals during certain cut scenes and full motion videos. Most of the game consists of written dialogue accompanied by emoticons to display emotions or reactions. In the North American and PAL versions, some of the battle cries for spells and item use remain in their original Japanese.

Voice Cast

English

The Voice Cast in the North American and PAL versions of the game are as follows:

Japanese

The voice Cast in the original Japanese version of the game are as follows:

Soundtrack

The original soundtrack of Shadow Hearts was released as two compact discs under the name of Shadow Hearts Original Soundtracks Plus1 by Scitron in Japan on July 18, 2001. It was composed and arranged by Yoshitaka Hirota and Yasunori Mitsuda and recorded at TwinTail Studios. While this was Hirota's first major video game music compositional work, Mitsuda is a veteran video game music composer having previously worked on Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross and Xenogears.

The OST packaging was a small hardcover book with the CDs contained in cardboard sleeves serving as the first and last pages. The soundtrack was later re-released on January 19, 2005 in a regular plastic CD case and having an altered cover.

The ending theme, titled Ending Theme ~ Shadow Hearts, was composed by Hirota and the lyrics were written by James H. Woan. It features vocals by Hiroko Kasahara and Kyoko Kishikawa.[49]

The 'plus1' in the OST title refers to a bonus track titled Bonus Track ~ true voice. The track was composed by Hirota with lyrics written by Kishikawa who also performed the song.

Reception

Reviews were somewhat mixed, some gave the game a low score claiming that it lacked originality, while others praised it for being original and innovative.[50] Game Rankings has Shadow Hearts at 76.2%.[51] Metacritic rates Shadow Hearts at 73/100.[52]

References

  1. Keith Valentin, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Midway. System (Submap), Operation (Talking and Examining, Picking Up Objects, Opening Treasure Chests).
  2. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. System (World Map).
  3. Keith Valentin, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Midway. Battle (How To Fight).
  4. Keith Valentin, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Midway. System (Party Formation).
  5. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Battle (Front/Back Row).
  6. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Battle (HP/MP, SP, Berserk).
  7. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. System (Judgment Ring).
  8. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Battle (How To Fight, Critical Areas, Step Areas, Modulation Areas), Command (Attacks).
  9. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Battle (Judgment Ring/Attack), Command (Attacks).
  10. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Battle (Judgment Ring/Special Skill).
  11. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Battle (Judgment Ring/Item).
  12. Keith Valentin, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Midway. System (Soul Energy, Malice).
  13. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. System (Malice).
  14. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. System (Malice, Grim Reaper, Talisman).
  15. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Manual. p. 16.
  16. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. System (Clearing Out Malice). |Don't forget that Keith Valentin is a 400-year-old vampire |
  17. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. System (Shopping, Discount/Raise Price).
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Characters". Shadow Hearts Official Website (in Japanese). Aruze Corp. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  19. Hyuga: Winter’s much harsher here on the continent than in Katsuragi, where you were born. | Keith Valentin | and Keith Valentin(e)Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  20. 1 2 Rude Hero: You ain’t getting away, pops! Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  21. 1 2 3 Rude Hero: Hey! Girl! Don’t just lie there like a dead fish! Get up! Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  22. Alice: Yuri… do you regret it? I mean, coming this far. / Yuri: Regret? Haha! What’re you talking about! No way! You know, until I met you, I was living the life of a loser. I’m confident about what I’m doing now. I know that I’m needed. My power of fusion, which I thought was so terrible… is what allows me to protect you. Sometimes, I even think such stupid things like, boy, is this happiness? Ha ha ha! I sound stupid! Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  23. Yuri: My father worked hard to protect this world! I’m not letting a deluded scheme take it all away! Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  24. 1 2 3 Shadow Hearts Game Manual. Midway. 2001. p. 13.
  25. Yuri: My mother gave her life protecting me from the monsters. But when I looked into her eyes a moment before she died, it ignited in me the blood of my father that had been laying dormant. A fire ignited in me, and my emotions exploded like a hurricane. Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  26. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Command (Special Skill/Fusion).
  27. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Command (Special Skill/White Magic).
  28. 1 2 3 Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Manual. p. 14.
  29. 1 2 3 Zhuzhen: I first met Hyuga fifteen years ago, here in Shanghai. Hyuga was a special assassin sent to China when the Japanese Army realized Dehuai was up to no good. We spent much time tracking Dehuai. Finally we learned what the Demon’s Gate Invocation was. We hit Dehuai’s stronghold, the Kuihai Tower, and finally defeated him. Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  30. Yuri: Who’s that with you? An elder munchkin? / Quack Oracle: Well, well. Still people here, eh? Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  31. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Command (Special Skill/Yin and Yang).
  32. Alluring Spy: This is Malkovich. I’ve placed the bomb in the South Manchurian Railway depot, as scheduled. We blow up those cars, and the Japanese Army’ll be stuck here for at least two months! Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  33. Yuri: …Ugh. H-hey now… What’s with the big boom alla sudden… Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  34. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Command (Special Skill/Secret Weapon).
  35. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Command (Special Skill/Ritual).
  36. 1 2 Keith: Wow! It’s really an amazing power! And it’s the same power your mother had. / Halley: I’m sorry… I can’t control my power very well…Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway. |Keith Valentin|
  37. 1 2 Halley: My mother told me that too, that she and I are people just like anyone else. It's just that, when we were born, God gave us some powers that are a little different. That's not the way those guys saw it. The Friar Knights of the Inquisition decided from the start that my mother was a witch, and they locked her up in a mental hospital. Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  38. Jack: Do you really wish to know? All right, then, I’ll tell you. I shall become a master of life and death, transplanting the soul of the dead into a living vessel. Never again shall we feel the pain of losing those dear to us: they shall glow with ever-lasting life! Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  39. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Help Menu. Command (Special Skill/ESP).
  40. Roger: O-of course I do! I wouldn’t forget that strange girl… Koudelka Iasant, correct? Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  41. Alice: You know Cardinal Simon? / Roger: Yes. I know him well. He was a student of mine.Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  42. Kawashima: Major Tsuji… After your exploits in Changchun, did you ever suspect you’d captured a monster? Hmph. If soldiers of the Imperial Army can’t bring in one little girl, they don’t deserve to live. Sigh. I was so looking forward to bringing a worthy souvenir back to Tokyo for father. What a waste.Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  43. Kawashima: Place troops in Fengtian and surrounding cities! Heh. We must use this chance to crush all the vile little termites that have infested our Utopia. / Fujii: Yes, ma’am! / Kawashima: This is getting interesting… Just as I suspected, it seems the girl possesses incredible powers. Now I see why that wizened old demon in Shanghai was so hell-bent. Heh! Beware, old man… As the hawk in flight snatches its prey away from the wolf on the ground, I mean to have that girl!Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  44. Kawashima: I want you two to dispose of the man who just left this room. Make it look like a traffic accident.Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  45. Kutsugi: She failed to report many key details, and moved ahead without approval from the Capital. That doesn’t sound like treason to you?Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  46. Bacon: Well, yes, that is one correct answer. But her true value does not lie in such a mundane dimension. She is necessary to my goal of bringing forth a new Eden. She is the beacon to an approaching god. If Alice is the Key of Light, embodying positive magic, then she is the Key of Darkness. Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  47. Koudelka: There’s nothing to worry about. You’re protected by a greater spirit. A spirit so strong that even Albert fears… Look deep inside yourself. You’ll know who that soul belongs to. Sacnoth (2001-12-11). Shadow Hearts. PlayStation 2. Midway.
  48. http://www.gamespot.com/articles/shadow-hearts-hands-on/1100-2712016/
  49. Midway, ed. (2001). Shadow Hearts Game Manual. p. 25.
  50. "Shadow Hearts for PlayStation 2 (2001) MobyRank". MobyGames. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  51. "Shadow Hearts for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
  52. "Shadow Hearts for PlayStation 2". MetaCritic. Retrieved May 29, 2012.

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