Shadow Hearts: Covenant
| Shadow Hearts: Covenant | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Original title | シ ャ ド ウ ハ ー ツ II | ||
| Studio |
 nautilus
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| Publisher |
Aruze Midway
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| Erstveröffent- lichung |
February 19, 2004 September 27, 2004 March 11, 2005  |
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| platform | PlayStation 2 | ||
| genre | role playing game | ||
| Subject | Fantasy | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| control | DualShock 2 | ||
| medium | DVD-ROM | ||
| language | Japanese , English with German subtitles | ||
| Age rating |
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Shadow Hearts: Covenant (OT: Japanese シ ャ ド ウ ハ ー ツ II , Shadō Hātsu Tsū ) is a turn-based role-playing game from the video game developer Nautilus (formerly Sacnoth) and a direct sequel to Shadow Hearts , as well as the third part of the series of the same name . The game is also known as Shadow Hearts II , which is used in the game itself. The name Shadow Hearts: Covenant was only used for American packaging and advertising.
The story begins two years after the events of Shadow Hearts midst of the First World War . The heroes are in a global conspiracy to gradually demons , the Russian Tsar involved -House and the Japanese empire. Knowledge of the first part is helpful, but not a prerequisite. The game was delivered on two DVDs and has a playing time of over 40 hours.
The release of Shadow Hearts: Covenant caused significantly more attention than that of its predecessor. The game was named PS2 Game of the Year 2004 by the game portal IGN Entertainment .
Gameplay
A time-based action principle was introduced here. Here, in the battle screen, near the game character appears a so-called Wheel of Fortune , are marked on the multiple zones for misses, hits and perfect results. A pointer begins to turn, which must be stopped on one of the narrow hit zones by pressing a button. If this fails, the figure cannot take any action. The ring of fate can be individually adjusted using items to make it easier (wider hit zones) or more effective (narrower hit zones).
Compared to the first part, the ring of fate has been slightly improved and the combat system has been greatly expanded. The player can carry out combinations between the attack types standard , hard hit , high angle and precipitation . Depending on the physical characteristics of the opponent, a sequence with the correct hit classes must be selected, otherwise a combo breakthrough will occur.
An example: A standard hit simply pushes back an opponent with a successful attack. Hence, almost any other hit class can follow in a combo. However, if a high-angle strike is made on an opponent who is still on the ground after a knockdown attack, the strike will most likely miss the opponent.
Another element of the new combat mechanic is the introduction of the heraldic magic system, in which characters can be equipped with different coats of arms that allow the use of different spells. During the game the player collects more coats of arms and gets access to more powerful spells. The coats of arms can also be inserted into an item called Solomon's Key. Correctly positioned, further sayings for certain coats of arms are unlocked. Most of the coats of arms derive their names from various demons from various mythologies.
In addition to Yuri's fusion ability, which allows him to transform into various elemental monsters, there are seven other characters in the game that have their own personal skills.
Here is a list:
- Karin König - She has the Swordcraft skill. Here Karin can learn various attacks by finding ten pieces from Richard Wagner's opera Der Ring des Nibelungen in play.
- Gepetto - a puppeteer. Together with his child-sized doll Cornelia, he supports the main character in battle. He has the puppet ability . By collecting special cards in the game, the so-called ripper cards , new doll clothes for Cornelia can be purchased from costume maker Pierre Magimel. With every new dress his doll can learn a new magical special attack.
- Blanca - A wolf who takes part in a wolf tournament and fights against several wolves in the game world. After each victory he gets a new magical wolf attack or one of the attacks is improved.
- Joachim Valentine - After you find your master, the great Gama , in England , you can duel with him on several occasions. With every victory he gets new special attacks or improvements that are known as muscle arts .
- Lucia - The beautiful Lucia is versed in aromatherapy and can use tarot cards . This leads to the fact that she mixes different oils in combat and thus creates effects. The tarot cards, which can only be used once per fight, also have an effect.
- Princess Anastasia - She is the daughter of the Russian Imperial Romanov family (see Anastasia Nikolajewna Romanowa ). Her passion is photography. She has the snapshot and the album ability. She photographs opponents and this means that you can see their life bar. In addition, she gets additional special attacks with certain snapshots.
- Kurando Inugami - He has the Swordcraft and Demon Morph attacks (similar to Yuri's Fusion). The first fusion must be defeated in a cemetery in Japan in order for it to merge. There is another one, but it is not relevant to the story.
action
The small village of Domremy bravely resists the German advance at the beginning of the First World War. It seems to have the help of a "demon" protecting the city. Lieutenant Karin King of the German army and Nicolai Conrad, an Inquisitor of the Vatican received the order to find a way to exorcise the demon. However, it turns out that the demon is actually the Harmonixer Yuri from the first part of "Shadow Hearts". The situation is starting to change drastically. Yuri and Karin are soon embroiled in a conspiracy over secret societies, the Russian tsarist family, the Japanese foreign minister, the magical Emigre Manuscript and various other parties. In addition to the principle of the wheel of fortune, it is clearly the hauntingly staged, complex and always surprising storyline that creates the pull of the game. However, a central part of the gaming experience is also humor. Again and again absurdities and parodic interludes show that the game does not take itself too seriously.
Dubbing
These are the speakers for the English version of the game:
- Joey Capps - Yuri Volte Hyuga
- Georgette Rose - Alice Elliot / Ouka
- Kari Wahlgren - Karin Koenig / Carla
- Bob Papenbrook - Rasputin
- Ardwight Chamberlain - Nicolas 'Nicolai' Conrad
- Jamieson Price - Special Agent Kato
- Jennifer Sekiguchi - Princess Anastasia Romanov
- Amos Nandy - Gepetto / Roger Bacon / Naniwa
- George C. Cole - Joachim Valentine / Albert Simon
- Todd Hodges (alias; real name Richard Cansino) - Lenny Curtis (Rene Curtis,) / Kurando Inugami / Blanca (Blanca only in the wolf fight cutscenes)
success
The game was named PS2 Game of the Year 2004 by the game portal IGN Entertainment.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b http://rpgvault.ign.com/articles/578/578465p3.html ( Memento from April 3, 2010 in the Internet Archive )