For those looking for a different sort of JRPG, Shadow Hearts is here to serve

User Rating: 9 | Shadow Hearts (PlayStation2 the Best) PS2
By Inditra | Review Date:
During the 9 months I worked at Gamestop, I think I picked up this game and put it on the shelves about a thousand times without ever actually looking at it. When I found out it was this little known but highly regarded JRPG, it had become something of a difficult to find title. If you find this somewhere and you have the money to spend, get this game, I cannot stress this enough.

Shadow Hearts follows in the tradition of games like Legend of Dragoon, in that it takes the traditional turn based system of the JRPG and adds something. In this case it's the Judgement Ring. When you choose your action, a flat circle with hit areas place around it. Yellow areas designate a hit and red designates a critical hit. Substitute green for yellow with magic spells. It's wonderful in that it adds a sense of challenge to the battles.

Your characters are elemental based, so you can bring in someone who specializes in an offensive element for an elemental boss. Yuri, your main character also fuses with demon souls who add a heavy trump card to your party.

I found the story a little weak, but it did keep my attention through the whole game. The dialogue is amazing. I have never laughed so hard at any game as I did with the exchanges between the characters.

Although difficult to find, Shadow Hearts is a great addition to any game collection and a must for any serious JRPG fan.

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