[PS2] Shadow Hearts: From the New World

So this is coming out next week, and I've been anticipating this the moment I beat SH:C. I've heard that XSEED has done an excellent job with the localization considering the pure zany-ness of the characters such as Mao, that is the giant cat. I wasn't all that impressed with WA4, but it seemed pretty standard anyways and this will probably be a true test as to whether or not XSEED can localize good or bad.

OPM had a demo of the game, but I really want to get into this fresh so I can enjoy it without being bored with whatever part the demo shows. Most of the voices are actually a little better than what I heard when they were first released, but some are still iffy to me, some samples can be heard on the official site. So far it's looking great, there is a review up on RPGFan but I'm afraid to read it because spoilers.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Needless to say, I'm really hyped about this. I can't wait for a European release, although I doubt it since Xseed is a relatively new localizer, and we haven't heard anything about WA4. I've also tried to stay far away from any information, except for the trailer that was posted months ago (with the awesome music). The soundtrack is promising already, I can't stop listening to the battle themes, especially Lady's Tears. The only thing I hope that this game is more challenging than Covenant, I didn't even die once in that game.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I can't wait for this. I love the first two games. Only played the first one once but i've played through the second one twice. I don't know when this is coming to Europem but i hope it is soon.

How ya doing, buddy?

As for Europe and Australia... I think we might still be waiting for quite a while! Unless XSEED is nice enough to release PAL and NTSC version at the same time~~ which I highly doubt

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

They seem to be very quickly moving away from the thematic elements that originally hooked me on the series: the dark themes from Koudelka and Shadow Hearts. This is somewhat disappointing, but I'm willing to overlook that, due to the fact that SH:C is one of the top three best PS2 games that I own, right up there with Star Ocean 3 and Suikoden 3. The fact is that Koudelka, Shadow Hearts, and Shadow Hearts: Covenant were all very different from each other, but they were all very strong games. I have avoided anything more than a couple of magazine scans for the new game, so pretty much everything except a few character designs will be a surprise to me. I'm highly anticipating its release next week, despite what appears to be a further removal from the darker theme that initially hooked me on the series.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Yeah, I think they're diluting the theme a little too much with all the zany characters. Mind you, I had no issues with a party consisting of a retarded gypsy, a gay pro-wrestler vampire, and a creepy pedophile puppetteer, but the juxtaposition did occasionally detract from the dark overall theme they were trying to present. The SH3 cast seems even more bizarre than before, which is just going to magnify that issue.

Oh well. Tycho of Penny Arcade says that you will once again be collecting gay porn for the homosexual shopkeepers, so the game still sounds like it'll be a lot of fun. :laugh: The cliched plot of SH2 drove me up the wall, but it's got enough flavor to bring me back for another look.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Covenant was hilarious because it had such zany characters, and for me at least it was actually refreshing to have some fun in a game, except for relying solely on dark and brooding characters. Covenant was one of the few games that I've played that made me laugh, especially Joachim's sidequest (the ultimate man thingie) aside from Disgaea.

FELIPE NO

Can't wait for this game (seems I can't wait for a lot of stuff lately...). SHC was one of the best RPGs I had played in awhile. Which was a surprise for me. I had enjoyed the first SH, but didn't expect them to improve the sequel that much.

I am going to miss Yuri quite a bit though. He was so cool.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I just hope XSEED doesn't mess anything up like the did in Wild Arms 4 when they left two monsters out and made it impossible to finish the monster book sidequest.

Most amazing jew boots

How do you omit two monsters if you're only changing the text?

Well, I take that back. They somehow broke Shining Force 2 when they brought that to the US too, making it so you couldn't open chests during battle. That's more than a little sloppy, though. Didn't any of the beta testers follow up all the side-quests and notice that?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Monkey King

How do you omit two monsters if you're only changing the text?

Well, I take that back. They somehow broke Shining Force 2 when they brought that to the US too, making it so you couldn't open chests during battle. That's more than a little sloppy, though. Didn't any of the beta testers follow up all the side-quests and notice that?

Wild Arms 4 was XSEED's first game. They didn't localize Shining Force 2.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Have this one preordered. Can't wait for it to get released. From what i have seen it looks like its going to be a good game.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Rei no Otaku

SHC was one of the best RPGs I had played in awhile. Which was a surprise for me. I had enjoyed the first SH, but didn't expect them to improve the sequel that much.

SH2 is much better than SH1? I'm playing 1, have 2 on the shelf, and am going to the store on the 7th to pick up 3. I think that SH1 surpasses FFVII and approaches FFVI quality, since I like the tight storyline and the humor. I cannot believe the humor in this game! I am very surprised that people don't mention it more. To me, it's not so much an RPG as a comedy with battles lol...

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by speculative

SH2 is much better than SH1? I'm playing 1, have 2 on the shelf, and am going to the store on the 7th to pick up 3. I think that SH1 surpasses FFVII and approaches FFVI quality, since I like the tight storyline and the humor. I cannot believe the humor in this game! I am very surprised that people don't mention it more. To me, it's not so much an RPG as a comedy with battles lol...

Basically, the Shadow Hearts series traded away its cool setting and the good horror-type stuff for better graphics and a much more enjoyable Judgment Ring, which is why people can enjoy the latter two more than the original.

Humor remains about the same, I'd think.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I see people talking about the humor (in SH2, at least) a lot more than anything else involving it.

FELIPE NO

I played the demo in the OPM release recently. I must admit, some of the atmosphere are just way too bright. Hell, the battle system has a couple added features to it (S-combo, double combo and whatever) that it seems a tad bit complex (I mean, SH2 has simple yet effective system of some sort). Still yet, I'm going to see how this stacks up since it is now threading new ground with basically some of the elements of the past and adding basically more humor to it.

Most amazing jew boots

Shadow Hearts' humour is just weird, but it can still be funn as hell. The best jokes are easily found in the optinal quests (like with old man Solomon or the gay wrestling championship, which still cracks me up everytime I think about it). Most people are disappointed that the sequels aren't as dark as the first game, but I'm okay with it, since horror isn't really what I'm looking for in an RPG. Although the first game had some of the coolest scenes, especially the first confrontation between Yuri and Bacon on the train.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I don't get why everyone praises SH1 for being 'dark'. It has it's moments, like the first scene Enkidu just mentioned, but a lot of it just didn't work for me. Don't get me wrong, I still like SH1 I just wonder why it get's all this praise for something it doesn't even do that well.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

SH1 is a lot more gory and gloomy than SH2... the Zhaoyang village scene, Li Li's scene, the orphanage scene, the Doll house, the bathroom scene, etc. The towns and cities from SH1 in general are a lot more depressing than those in SH2, and that really builds up the atmosphere for a successful story. I suppose that's why people praise SH1 for being more dark than SH2.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I don't see why they can't do both. You can have a dark game with humor in it. I will admit I prefer a darker setting, but SHC was by far the superior game. Everything from gameplay and graphics to the richness of the story, and the way they tied it back into the first game. Was just very well done.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Most people compared the first Shadow Hearts to the rpg's at the time of the release. The only ones for PS2 where, iirc, Dark Cloud and maybe FFX. Compared to those games, it was rather dark. In comparison to some of the older FF games, it looks a lot more like a Resident Evil or Silent Hill game, although it really isn't as dark as those games. It was one of the few RPG's that contained a lot of blood to my knowledge.

I was speaking idiomatically.

yay! coming out tomorrow.. im so ready to go pick it up. The demo was great, I know its not as great as the 2nd SH, but i should have fun. I just got done with Grandia III and Tales of Legendia.. need something to hold me over until Kingdom Hearts II

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Rei no Otaku

I don't see why they can't do both. You can have a dark game with humor in it. I will admit I prefer a darker setting, but SHC was by far the superior game. Everything from gameplay and graphics to the richness of the story, and the way they tied it back into the first game. Was just very well done.

Something can't really be dark and light at the same time.

Anyways, I am going to pick it up today. I'm moderately excited, which is about as excited as I get for game releases these day.

FELIPE NO

I remember reading somewhere that the developers said that this wasn't a true sequel to the franchise, but more like a side-story. Has anybody else heard about this?

I'm kind of glad. SH2 left on a nice cliffhanger and I wanted to see ...

Spoiler:

Maybe a different lead character until Yuri returns. Anastasia and Kurando in the lead for a few hours of the story would be an interesting starting point, with the whole Romanov murder thing.

The characters in From the New World look kind of interesting. I just want to see a cat roundhouse kick somebody in the face.

How ya doing, buddy?

I've played three or four hours on it so far and am enjoying it. It feels a lot like SH:C so far, which is good. I feel like there is only so much you can do with the same main character before it gets stale, and I'm guessing that is what the developers were thinking when they started working on From the New World. They're still using the Fusion form, just shifting it from the main character to another character, which I like, because I really like the Fusion stuff but it will be nice for it to not be as emphasized as before.

So far I've been pleasantly surprised with Johnny, as he isn't some annoying brat like I was half expecting, and Shania is pretty awesome, what with her dual wielding tomohawks.

Jam it back in, in the dark.