Nidaime|Erokage-sama
11-14-2004, 01:40 AM
Got a game that you don't think people know about, but really should pick it up? Drop it here, I'll even start.
SHADOW HEARTS: COVENANT
System: PS2
Genre: RPG
Location: Europe/Asia/Japan
Time: 1915 (Pre-WWII)
Background: Germany's dominance is starting to show, and a small city in England is giving it problems. Every time a small platoon is sent in, they get wiped out, fleeing on account of a "Demon". Seeing no other choice, a german Colonel sends for a Cardinal of the Vatican, to purge the city of their demon. As it turns out, Cardinal Nicholai requires the help of an Exorcism artifact, the "Mistletoe". After returning to Domremy (The small city), Nicholai and a Lt. Colonel enter the church. The Lt. Colonel, named Karin, finds that Nicholai is actually from a secret society, here to KILL the demon, who isn't a demon, in reality, but a breed of human known as a "Harmonixer", or someone who can fuse with Monsters. After easily dispatching of Nicholai, the Cardinal somehow slipped the Mistletoe onto the Harmonixer, Yuri, and he's hit with the "Curse of the Mistletoe", which steals his fusion abilities! Somehow, he's saved by the Lt. Colonel and a Puppeteer named Gepetto, and his journey to save the world from the secret society begins!
Story: 9
The story was amazing amazing amazing. However, it loses a point because anyone who DIDN'T play the first game will miss a lot. This story is an actual continuation, and the way it mixes the two stories is truly amazing. Plenty of side-quests for each player lets you dive deeper and deeper into who they are, which only enhances the game.
Graphics: 8
The game was a little darker than what most RPGers might be used to with Final Fantasy being such an up-beat, bright game. But the game has a few glitches (i.e. Fans going through the holders hand), but other than that, it's amazing. The FMV's, as well, as something to behold, especially right before the end of the first disc...good god.
Music: 10
This game is touted as having one of the best original soundtracks. No annoying continuation music (Such as alarms going beserk until you beat the dungeon.). Original compositions from Yoshitaka Hirota and Kenji Ota are beautiful, and at times I've left the game running while in the Forest of Wind to listen to the music.
Replayability: 3
There is nothing, save Black Cotton Panties, which halve SP damage, that you can get from having finshed game saved data. Unless you missed EVERYTHING about the side-quests, this game is pretty straight forward, one time through.
Violence: 9
They don't hide the violence in this. From a character grabbing another characters face and breaking it to kill him, while his body dangles helplessly, to the LEAD CHARACTER stomping a sick, helpless old man's face in, literally, in front of his grand kids, while screaming at him to rot in hell. Stabbing, shooting, slicing and stomping..this game at times made me go, "They allow that?"
Comedy: 10
This game will have you rolling in your seat. From the "Great Gama" to a little girl always beating up a pro-wrestler after he dumbfoundedly repeats, "Bite me." out-loud...ha ha...good stuff. If you manage to gaze past all the dark, demonic refrences, such as Amon and Asmodeus, you'll find comic gold. Like the Mazimell Brothers, who sell items, are ALWAYS somewhere in the dungeon. When you ask them how the hell they got there, (For example, when transported to another realm to engage a boss, they are there, on a path off to the side), they always admonish you, and tell you that you have to buy things...and it doesn't help that both of them are very, very, very, very homosexual. You have to collect cards of half-naked men to get Pierre to help you >.<
All in all, this game is amazing for a good run through while I wait for FFXII to come out. I highly recommend this game, as Blockbuster doesn't get enough late fees from me keeping this game 11 days late...*sigh* It's very enthralling, check it out.
SHADOW HEARTS: COVENANT
System: PS2
Genre: RPG
Location: Europe/Asia/Japan
Time: 1915 (Pre-WWII)
Background: Germany's dominance is starting to show, and a small city in England is giving it problems. Every time a small platoon is sent in, they get wiped out, fleeing on account of a "Demon". Seeing no other choice, a german Colonel sends for a Cardinal of the Vatican, to purge the city of their demon. As it turns out, Cardinal Nicholai requires the help of an Exorcism artifact, the "Mistletoe". After returning to Domremy (The small city), Nicholai and a Lt. Colonel enter the church. The Lt. Colonel, named Karin, finds that Nicholai is actually from a secret society, here to KILL the demon, who isn't a demon, in reality, but a breed of human known as a "Harmonixer", or someone who can fuse with Monsters. After easily dispatching of Nicholai, the Cardinal somehow slipped the Mistletoe onto the Harmonixer, Yuri, and he's hit with the "Curse of the Mistletoe", which steals his fusion abilities! Somehow, he's saved by the Lt. Colonel and a Puppeteer named Gepetto, and his journey to save the world from the secret society begins!
Story: 9
The story was amazing amazing amazing. However, it loses a point because anyone who DIDN'T play the first game will miss a lot. This story is an actual continuation, and the way it mixes the two stories is truly amazing. Plenty of side-quests for each player lets you dive deeper and deeper into who they are, which only enhances the game.
Graphics: 8
The game was a little darker than what most RPGers might be used to with Final Fantasy being such an up-beat, bright game. But the game has a few glitches (i.e. Fans going through the holders hand), but other than that, it's amazing. The FMV's, as well, as something to behold, especially right before the end of the first disc...good god.
Music: 10
This game is touted as having one of the best original soundtracks. No annoying continuation music (Such as alarms going beserk until you beat the dungeon.). Original compositions from Yoshitaka Hirota and Kenji Ota are beautiful, and at times I've left the game running while in the Forest of Wind to listen to the music.
Replayability: 3
There is nothing, save Black Cotton Panties, which halve SP damage, that you can get from having finshed game saved data. Unless you missed EVERYTHING about the side-quests, this game is pretty straight forward, one time through.
Violence: 9
They don't hide the violence in this. From a character grabbing another characters face and breaking it to kill him, while his body dangles helplessly, to the LEAD CHARACTER stomping a sick, helpless old man's face in, literally, in front of his grand kids, while screaming at him to rot in hell. Stabbing, shooting, slicing and stomping..this game at times made me go, "They allow that?"
Comedy: 10
This game will have you rolling in your seat. From the "Great Gama" to a little girl always beating up a pro-wrestler after he dumbfoundedly repeats, "Bite me." out-loud...ha ha...good stuff. If you manage to gaze past all the dark, demonic refrences, such as Amon and Asmodeus, you'll find comic gold. Like the Mazimell Brothers, who sell items, are ALWAYS somewhere in the dungeon. When you ask them how the hell they got there, (For example, when transported to another realm to engage a boss, they are there, on a path off to the side), they always admonish you, and tell you that you have to buy things...and it doesn't help that both of them are very, very, very, very homosexual. You have to collect cards of half-naked men to get Pierre to help you >.<
All in all, this game is amazing for a good run through while I wait for FFXII to come out. I highly recommend this game, as Blockbuster doesn't get enough late fees from me keeping this game 11 days late...*sigh* It's very enthralling, check it out.