A Game That Is Underrated

It doesn’t get anymore underrated than Shadow Hearts II or Shadow Hearts: Covenant in the West. It was a sleeper hit in 2004 at least in my opinion with better hair physics and graphics that rivaled that of Final Fantasy X. Again. In my opinion. I’m sorry but everytime you moved Karin, her hair would bounce and move, and in CGI scenes it would move with anytime she moved.

The music of the game has been one of my favorite OSTs in years. It’s something I will always go back and listen to. Especially with the track Ladder to Heaven which wasn’t out on the main OST and had to be put on a special sounds soundtrack along with music from Shadow Hearts: From the New World. Not to mention that the berserk distortions of the battle themes are kind of a mindfuck if you think about it.

The battle system was also unique with the Judgement Ring. You got a ring and had to hit a number of areas in order to attack or use magic. If you got perfects on each area you hit harder. Combine that with third keys which spins the ring three times faster, it made it a challenge. On top of the Solomon Trials which gave you different stipulations that you had to beat.

It’s a game you don’t see too many people talking about or playing these days. It’s always nice to meet people who have played it. Because I can talk your ear off when it comes to Shadow Hearts II. It deserves the same amount of recognition that Final Fantasy X received.

It’s a shame that Nautilus went under some time after Shadow Hearts: From the New World came out and that Azure fully committed to being a pachinko machine company. Had they stuck around we probably would have had a Shadow Hearts 4 and 5 by now. I just hope that when Pennyblood comes out that it can live up to the magic that was Shadow Hearts II.