r/JRPG • u/reevestussi • 1d ago
Discussion Any Shadow Hearts fans here? Shame the series will most likely never return
Since Expedition 33 reignited and brought back timing based combat system, the closest series which came to my mind was Shadow Hearts with the Judgment Wheel system
For JRPG fans from the PS2 era, how many here played Shadow Hearts? Most consider Shadow Hearts 2 to be the best one (which I agree and is still one my favorite RPGs to this day)
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u/Interesting-Bird1103 1d ago
Koudelka is also really great (same universe)
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u/reevestussi 1d ago
That's right, I totally forgot about Koudelka haha, it's essentially Shadow Hearts Zero/the prequel.
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u/Jon__Snuh 1d ago
I love the story, cutscenes, and voice acting in Koudelka, but man I can’t get over how slow the gameplay is. Just because I love the shadow hearts games so much, I felt I had to beat Koudelka at least one time. So I did, and I’m glad I did, but I won’t be playing it in full ever again.
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u/Typical_Thought_6049 1d ago
Kodelka is borderline unplayable, I supposed in a emulator at four times combat speed it can be tolerable.
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u/NuxFuriosa 1d ago
These games are the best! Would kill for a rerelease of some sort. Sadly the rights seem to be in limbo.
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u/ellyriahighwind 1d ago
At this point, I just want them to be on the Playstation Store so I don't have to dust off my PS2 and find my memory cards. 😭
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u/Avarria587 1d ago
I enjoyed it back in the day. I miss it a great deal and wish it had continued. We need more darker themed JRPGs.
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u/reevestussi 1d ago
For sure, the mood and atmosphere of Shadow Hearts 1 is still unmatched.
While SH2 was an improvement in pretty much all aspects, it was noticeably less dark compared to SH1
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u/AspiringAdonis 1d ago
The feeling of that first village was spooky as hell when I was a kid. Such a great series
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u/Meerasette 1d ago
Thisss. Shadow Hearts 1 will always be my favourite in the series and was an incredible experience back on the ps2.
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u/Forward-Seesaw-1688 1d ago
Especially in the AAA sphere, that genre is kinda monopolized by SMT nowadays
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u/-ToPimpAButterfree- 1d ago
My favorite part of the series was Joachim randomly grabbing objects lying around and using them as weapons
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u/looney1023 13h ago
My favorite is the modern day skyscraper that's been passed down through his family, which is inhabited by tiny people.
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u/reevestussi 1d ago
Also forgot to add, since Midway handled the translation for Shadow Hearts 1&2 but are no longer around (WB Games bought most of their properties), rights to the translation script is probably stuck in limbo/contract entanglement.
From the New World is better since that was one of the first games XSEED worked/translated since they started up the company
Though the biggest barrier is probably the current rights holder (UIG) as they're not involved with games development anymore. The last game they made was for the DS and most likely shifted their entire company focus to Pachinko, entertainment and resort development
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u/Joewoof 1d ago
They just renewed the Shadow Hearts trademark a few years back, in 2022, so at least they might be looking for a 3rd party to do a remaster, or at worst, a terrible mobile spin-off like what Capcom did with Breath of Fire 6.
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u/reevestussi 1d ago
That's encouraging to know and a sliver of hope that UIG still "remembers" the series.
On the other hand, Japanese companies renew trademarks all the time but don't really do much with their franchises so who knows
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u/ManlyBoltzmann 1d ago
Legend of Dragoon is another older example of the timing based combat.
Haven't played this, but I know my best friend played it on college and loved the first one at least.
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u/J-MaL 1d ago
Legend of dragoon is amazing, if not remake I think a prequel of the dragon campaign could work.
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u/ManlyBoltzmann 1d ago
Agreed. I love that game (though I wish it didn't have so many bugs lol). I've gone back to it a few times over the years.
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u/sirsilvaesilva 1d ago
Geez, I always thought about a prequel like this. It would be a new entry with a amazing plot about that characters, revitalizing the franchise
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u/woodallswollf 1d ago
Really wish they come to the psn store. Couldn’t beat them when I was a kid. Definitely on my bucket list to beat
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u/Vegetable-Charge-837 1d ago
Hey Penny Blood might still happen. Let's keep hope alive! The first one was my favorite, Albert Simon is a personal favorite villain.
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u/reevestussi 1d ago
A huge bummer Penny Blood still doesn't have a publisher to back the project, at this rate I don't think it's ever coming out
Really hoping the project can be salvaged/saved somehow
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u/Yarzeda2024 1d ago
I'm 99.999% sure I'm never getting a return on my Kickstarter investment.
Penny blood is one of the main reasons I've stopped backing things on Kickstarter. About 90% of the things I've backed on KS have come out, but that last 10% rankles. I'd rather buy something than the promise of something. Besides, I'm not made of money. As much as I would love to support someone's dreams, I can't afford to throw all of my money down a wishing well.
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u/Negative-Squirrel81 1d ago
I mean, that is what Kickstarter is supposed to be. You're funding things you want to exist, but there's always a chance it fails.
People need to stop looking at it as a system for pre-ordering dope games.
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u/Yarzeda2024 1d ago
I'm not making the case against Kickstarter.
I'm making the case for why I am the kind of person who no longer uses Kickstarter.
What someone else does with their time and money is none of my business.
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u/Andrassa 1d ago
Absolutely. Over thirteen or so years I’ve backed various KickStarters, only two of the five games I’ve backed ended up releasing. The others had demos but they ended up being limited time. Hell one game I backed was over a decade ago at this point and still no beta.
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u/Tothoro 1d ago
The whole double Kickstarter thing was weird too. I backed it for Penny Blood and Armed Fantasia just seemed like a neat bonus (I don't have any nostalgia for Wild Arms). But it looks like if either of them comes out it's going to be AF. :/
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u/Vykrom 1d ago
This was my problem as well. At the very least, there should not have been a poll, asking which half you're Kickstarting for.. I'm not really sure why everyone had so much nostalgia for Wild Arms and not Shadow Hearts, but the fact that it was made public that 90% of the people were backing Armed Fantasia and didn't care about Penny Blood was super shitty. If you do a double Kickstarter, then everyone is just funding both. No need for favoritism in that scenario
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u/Vegetable-Charge-837 1d ago
I'm going to keep the hope alive. I thought we'd never get another Toxic Avenger movie, but here we are almost twenty five years later!
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u/PewPew_McPewster 1d ago
Wasn't there a Penny Blood roguelike spinoff that came out late last year?
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u/Forward-Seesaw-1688 1d ago
Anything that hasn’t come out but has spinoffs, a planned show, or some shit like that is a red flag to me now.
Blame Mighty No 9 which planned all of the above plus a 3DS port only to never do SHIT lmfao
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u/PewPew_McPewster 1d ago edited 1d ago
On the one hand, I agree with you, but on the other hand, Bloodstained adopted that strategy effectively to pump out both Classicvania AND Igavania. Bloodstained really is what Mighty No. 9 wanted to be.
I think the red flag is when spinoff media built like a 90s franchise, with the unnecessarily indulgent animated series and the comic. If you're pumping out videogames, you're pumping out videogames; nothing beats that. Eiyuuden also had a Metroidvania pre-spinoff, right?
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u/Vykrom 1d ago
It's not a Metroidvania, but it is a fantastic side-scrolling action RPG. And it's WAY more fun and charming than it has any right to be. Lots of people even like it more than Hundred Heroes lol...
I love Eiyuden Chronicles Rising~
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u/reevestussi 1d ago
Second this, I actually found Eiyuden Rising to be a more polished experience than Eiyuden Hundred Heroes and a pretty fun action RPG
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u/reevestussi 1d ago
Yep Penny Blood Hellbound
The full version was released on Steam last year after being in Early Access for a while
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u/Icaras01 1d ago
I liked the series, but was sad that it slowly got more goofy as the series went along, I kinda like the Gothic feel of Koudela/Shadow Hearts 1 more than the comedy of Covenant/FTNW. I've never finished the 3rd game, so one day I do plan to revisit the series and fully play all four games (Koudelka included)
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u/Mean-Interaction8018 1d ago
The shadow hearts trilogy, dark cloud and rogue galaxy are my favs rpgs on ps2!
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u/Scizzoman 1d ago
I literally just finished Covenant last week (and SH1 and Koudelka earlier this year). I'll get to From the New World sooner or later.
Covenant is definitely the best one, and one of the better PS2 RPGs I've played. It's in the top ten at least. I felt the story was kind of all over the place in the second disk, but the gameplay is consistently great (I'm a sucker for turn-based games where you can do sick juggle combos on enemies) and a lot of the comedy is funny.
Yuri surprisingly become one of my favourite protagonists over the course of the two games, even though I thought he was insufferable at the start of SH1.
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u/Andrassa 1d ago
I will agree that the second disc does have pacing and tone issues. It ends up feeling more like the first game tone wise and even with some of the colour palette choices.
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u/asianwaste 1d ago edited 1d ago
I am not sure how far the series would have gone after 2/Covenant. From the New World was sort of a letdown. Though, tying the lineage of Harmonixers to native Americans opens a lot of windows. I am not sure how they would have done WW2. It's hard to not do mysticism in that era and not involve Nazi's but at the same time you don't want wacky nazi's like many SH antagonists sometimes tend to be. I'm afraid to have them open that Pandora's box but at the same time I can't look away.
Edit: Going with Johnny Garland was such an odd choice when they set themselves up for a far more appropriate protagonist that would organically return the story back to its roots.
Bringing back Halley as an American protagonist would have made a lot more sense. He could have easily been everything Johnny Garland was plus it would have looped the story back to Koudelka's life.
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u/VitharrGaming 1d ago
Literally playing through the first one now. About 16 hours in. It's my first time playing the series, I missed out back in the day.
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u/RedditDetector 1d ago
The first Shadow Hearts made such an impression that I still fondly remember it now over 20 years later.
I can't remember for sure if I played the next two, but possibly not. I know I'd never heard of Koudelka until long after. If I ever get time, it's something I'd love to revisit/experience, despite being aged at this point. I still have my PS2.
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u/GeorgeBG93 1d ago
Shadow Hearts 1 was my first ever JRPG when I was 9. It made me discover and fall in love with the genre. This series holds a special place in my heart.
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u/kryptomanik 1d ago
They can't even get Penny Blood a publisher, that's how dire everything is
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u/CarlosPenaJr 1d ago
Well, if my avatar isn't already a give away, yeah, I do love the 1st two games, the 3rd one was fine.
Back in the days that I used to do cosplay (hell, its almodt 20 years now XD), I did Yuri's cosplay in his 1st version, and I still own the important parts of the cosplay, like the necklace and the coat (I THINK that I still got the red shirt too) and a funny thing is, the main belt, since it was a normal one, I still use it in everyday life, hell, its a pretty sturd one to hold it even now XD
Here's a photo from the necklace
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u/SuperbSpiderFace 1d ago
I’m trying to get my PS1 working again to play through Koudelka before playing through these games again. I never played From the New World. Heard negative things. Covenant was awesome.
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u/J-MaL 1d ago
I legit had no idea there was a series! I borrowed my friends ps2 back in the day and I finished the first shadow hearts! I had no idea there was 2 more games afterwards!
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u/Scumbag-McGee 1d ago
I got SH2 during a time where I'd look for obscure games and order them from ebay or similar; absolutely loved it, had a very unique style to it and was great fun to play. I tried SH1 after it though and found it tough to go through, don't think I ever finished it. Then I went for SH3 and, again, just wasn't a fan of it. I want to try Koudelka at some point but I'm a bit wary about the combat in it.
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u/Obi1Kentucky 1d ago
Shadow Hearts Covenant is my favorite ps2 game and top 5 jrpgs. Absolutely love that game and this series. It’s a shame the company went under.
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u/Will-Isley 1d ago
Covenant will always be one of my childhood sweethearts in gaming.
This series really deserved to thrive and grow
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u/Veropom 1d ago
Love the Shadow Hearts series! Had to push through to finish From the New World, but I got it done. Genuinely, I feel like all three games have some of the most intriguing and unique osts in gaming. Yoshitaka Hirota had a vision, that's for sure.
I also just love games that are set in an alternate version of our world with real-life places represented. How often do you get to visit Chichen Itza in a game??
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u/Andrassa 1d ago
It’s my favourite game series. Shame that when Midway dissolved the rights got split up so much it’s impossible to track who owns what parts. We only know the composer still owns the music rights.
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u/Zwordsman 1d ago
Such a fantastic series. Very good. Worth playing if anyone ever gets it. I TRULY miss the gothic horror magitech mixture.
Be really great if they ever got to re-release. OR at least make more games in the same theme and the unique control scheme.
Honestly I just wish they'd make more old style games (much easier and faster than most modern). I love the visual styles and the unique mechanics
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u/kevinmusto 1d ago
I'm developing a Koudelka/Shadow Hearts-inspired game called Evil Origin
You can try out the demo on Steam
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u/lohengrinning 1d ago
This project has a lot of potential. Where is the best place to follow development, and do you have an idea of when it will be complete?
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u/kevinmusto 1d ago
Thank you!
I post about it on my personal Twitter and Bluesky (@kevineliomusto)
You can also wishlist the game on Steam
It will release in 2026 (but definitely not Q1)
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u/Bootleg64DD 1d ago
Not all game series needs 10, 20 games, 4 is enough. What we do need is a remaster for all 4 games
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u/sexual_lemonade 1d ago
Have I played them? No. Have I watched numerous hour long breakdowns of them and therefore love them? Yes.
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u/BetSubject6704 1d ago
I never got to play these games. I remember seeing the cover and thinking it looked cool when I was a kid back when it was fairly new, I didn’t play RPGs back then other than Pokemon and my parents rarely bought me games
I remember trying to play the first one on an emulator probably 10-15 years ago but it kept crashing within the first 10 minutes. I should try it out again sometime.
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u/Lisa4414 1d ago
I loved the 2nd one so much. Easily one of my top 5 JRPGs from the golden age (ps1/ps2) The 3rd…was fine.
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u/axman414 1d ago
The 1st one I remember renting from blockbuster. Was hooked. Still one of my favorite RPG
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u/Misragoth 1d ago
Beat the first last year and played the demo for the 3rd over and over in high school. Finally have all three, but my ps2 isn't working anymore
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u/Karroth1 1d ago
wait, thats a series, i only played from the new world, and its a great rpg aside from the weird characters, well, time to get the other 2. welllast odyssee also has timing based combat,
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u/strife189 1d ago
The series was (ignore the 3) was so under appreciated how good it was. 2 was peak in the series, sad it didn’t get to keep improving.
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u/A5D5TRYR 1d ago
Loved them. The original was my favorite. The feel and the story were so good. Covenant made the combat more interesting but the story got a little stale for me towards the end.
The music in the first one was also amazing.
Never got around to playing the third one though I meant to.
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u/TomImp67 1d ago
Never played the 1st, but played Covenant and New World.
New World didn't come close to making me feel the way I did with Covenant.
I know the company is no more, but would love to see someone step up and release a new one. Hell, I'd be good with these being remastered.
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u/Pharsti01 1d ago
Absolutely love the first two games. Replay them from time to time.
The third one is rubbish though.
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u/TheCapedMoose 1d ago
I mean there's that Penny Blood kickstarter that absolutely, definitely, 100%, no way its NOT getting made!
Shadow Hearts was the first RPG series I found, started, and loved all on my own (I had a lot of good recommendations as a kid...). The opening to "To the New World" still gives me the shivers everytime I hear it. Plus all the vampires are cool and all, but combining Kung Fu with dual pistols?! The creators were on some GOOD SHIT!
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u/rdreyar1 1d ago
I really liked the first, didn't like the second because of how they screw over the mc of the first, and I'm not sure about the third
Is the third as good as the first?
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u/WeissMage 1d ago
My favourite series with Koudelka too. Can’t say I enjoyed the 3rd one as much but the music was amazing as always
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u/Genestah 1d ago
I love Shadow Hearts. Specially Covenant.
I finished all 3.
I hope they'll get a remake, or at least a remaster.
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u/Empty_Sea9 1d ago
Huge fan. This was the first RPG that surpassed Final Fantasy (in my very young eyes). Shame there hasn’t been a remaster. I imagine the rights holders doesn’t care.
Penny Blood was supposed to be the spiritual successor but it got tied up in legal matters I believe, and it’s in limbo as well.
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u/EmperorKiva33 1d ago
Forever grateful that i randomly stumbled upon it 20 some years ago. Covenant is still my top 2 rpg of all time.
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u/page8879 1d ago
(mild spoiler in comment) I love all these games, it'd be a take my money immediately if they remastered, honestly Sh1 and shC have some really sad moments, i'm not usually bothered by trAGic twists. but the character building in the game is pretty epic IMO. the roger bacon reveal was super cool too
Edit you may like the legend of dragoon if you havent tried it. It's another game I liked a lot, Love E33 too.
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u/II_Noxus_II 1d ago
I absolutely love the Shadow Hearts series. I often think about it and wish it got the treatment it deserves. It's one of the best JRPG series ever. Shadow Hearts 2 is still one of my favourite games. It's really sad that it's basically abandoned only because Aruze disbanded Nautilus and haven't bothered to revive the series. They're crazy not to realise it's potential.
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u/Meerasette 1d ago
Yesss! I know Covenant has the funner battle system and a lot of quality improvements, but I still love Shadow Hearts 1 the most.
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u/Correct_Refuse4910 1d ago
I think there is a chance it makes a comeback at least in a collection, because the creator is making an spiritual successor with Penny Blood, the same way Konami launched Suikoden 1&2 after it's creator announced Eiyuuden Chronicles.
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u/Greasey_Pirate 1d ago
When I was a kid I bought shadow hearts because it sounded like kingdom hearts and that was as far as my child brain linked things. All I remember is it NOT being ANYTHING that didn’t cause nightmares hahaha.
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u/Creative_Tip_488 1d ago
I absolutely love this trilogy! I'm really hoping for Penny Blood to be released. Hopefully,the Shadow Hearts Trilogy will be remastered/remade one day.
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u/1upaquarius 1d ago
I miss the Ps2 RPG era so much. Shadow hearts was a wonderful unexpected buy and Covenant is definitely my fav.
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u/NettoSaito 1d ago
Sadly the creator’s follow up has been delayed in development with no progress…. Hoping it doesn’t get canceled
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u/Odd_Bumblebee_3631 1d ago
Why you forgetting Koudelka the game that started it all. Now thats a great game.
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u/Grayswandir2 1d ago
I’m replaying through SH1 right now on stream, and I’m loving every bit of the nostalgia trip. It’s been so long that I don’t remember most of the major plot points. I just got Keith and I totally didn’t remember the castle. Great games.
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u/focus_freikugel 1d ago
I actually bought and started playing through Shadow Hearts last week. I just defeated the first boss in the Bistritz "arc" and so far the game is genuinely amazing. Really excited to beat it and play the sequels too. Would be amazing to get some Remaster in the future, but it's unfortunately very unlikely.
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u/lavender_days_ 1d ago
A Shadow Hearts post!! The first game I ever finished myself (SH 1) when I was younger. Still remember killing the last boss even though the entire plot and details are lost now to the abyss of memory. It's an understatement to say I've been desperate for a re-release to PC for years.
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u/Flat-Application2272 1d ago
The first two Shadow Hearts games are some of my favorite games ever.
The first one has some of the best pacing in a JRPG since Chrono Trigger. The sequel has one of the most fun combat/loadout mechanics ever, as well as one of the best intro cinematics I've ever seen (not necessarily in CG quality, but definitely concerning cinematography).
I've tried the third one twice, but I've never been able to finish it. I just don't care enough about the cast and story.
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u/unga_bunga_mage 1d ago
There was supposed to be a spiritual successor called Pennyblood. But publishers won't touch it with a 10 feet pole.
Man, I'd tell ya. If I was a billionaire, I'd fund it in a heartbeat.
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u/AffectionatePie9725 1d ago
I've only played covenant and I really like it. I need to finish it. I get busy with life and I get uninspired to pick up where I left off.
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u/xenogears2 1d ago
Loved the first two. Im flabbergasted no one wants to publish Penny Blood. Seems like a great JRPG. I hope it will have random encounters.
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u/KainFourteh 17h ago
Loved it.
It was such a breath of fresh air with it's combat system, demon fusion and dark story. The soundtrack was great as well.
The 3rd wasn't so great, and went too far into the zany humour direction from what was a fairly serious story from the first two.
One of my most wanted games for a remaster, that and .hack quadrilogy.
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u/PewPew_McPewster 1d ago
As a kid I played Covenant and laughed at the gags and also spent hours angling the camera on the Character Menu so that when I played Karin's lunge animation I could see her panties.
I think they were bright blue? Good times.
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u/Zachass2 1d ago
Talking about Shadow Hearts and not mentioning Koudelka is a crime, considering the story relevance. It is a genuinely good game on its own merits even if it quite different to the trilogy. Making a Magic character, a physical character and a tanky character is my usual get up for that.
I would rank them 2>1>3. I still really liked 3. The collecting of various currencies like the Coins for Mao and all the photos kind of dragged battles for me though. That and it went a bit too far with the comedy. Still a good story and setting, and overall enjoyable battle system outside the collecting of those things.
1 probably has the best atmosphere, but 2 improved some of the more tedious stuff like Malice, and SP decay was less noticeable.
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u/Terra_Knyte_64 1d ago
If I’m being honest, E33 reminded me a lot of the Mario RPGs. Timing based dodges and parries, action commands for attacks, new abilities tied to special equipment found in the world (pictos and the badge system), and unlocking new overworld abilities to access new parts of the world.
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u/geniusgfx 1d ago
Never played the game. Loved the artwork on the first cover. Used to see it in magazines growing up. I desperately wanted the game but never had a chance to get it.
Might try now tho. I owe it to my younger self
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u/tacticalcraptical 1d ago
I have been a fan since the early days. I love the games.
I am a weirdo likes SH3 best, not by much, Covenant is great but I just love the bigger lean into the silliness of SH3 and the refined battle system. And also because Frank > Joachim
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u/fersur 1d ago
Me, am a big fan of the series. So sad, no one in my circle play them. When we are talking about JRPG, it is always Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, or Tales of series.
Then again, how would Shadow Hearts lore continue?
The ending of SH 2 is a circle.
So it is either time skip ... or Shadow Hearts in the past ...
I would prefer we have another turn-based dark fantasy like Shadow-Hearts.
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u/AnnoyedGrunt31 1d ago
SH is my favorite series of all followed by Trails. Covenant is an absolute masterpiece.
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u/MrPopzicle-Supercard 1d ago
Favorite series of all time, the judgement ring is the most satisfying combat mechanic I’ve ever learned
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u/self_erase 1d ago
I love that series, found a copy of the first and second game a long time ago before they were going for hundreds online, beat both. I know everyone says New World is a stinker but I want to play it anyway.
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u/AspiringAdonis 1d ago
All these comments saying you played it recently, are we talking actual PS2 or emulator? I have tried so many times to emulate it, but apparently I’m not smart enough to figure out the BIOS issue.
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u/AbroadNo1914 1d ago edited 1d ago
I remember the og devs had a kickstarter for a spiritual successor. It was called Penny Blood. But, i think they had kickstarter issues so game didnt get made
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u/GolantheRoseKing 1d ago
I still go back and play these games from time to time. They are insanely good.
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u/General_Snack 1d ago
I need to play these I want to badly but trying to get em is almost impossible.
I think I’ll need to try nefarious methods.
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u/cathoderituals 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yup, and still have my PS2 originals, plus Koudelka. They're all cool, but Covenant is up there among the classsics. I don't think we'll ever see a remaster or remake though, the rights seem a bit of a mess.
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u/SuperDeluxeSenpai 1d ago
Thanks for sharing something I never knew about. :) I am watching some gameplay as we speak.
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u/madg0dsrage0n 1d ago
Ive played New World a handful of times and loved it. Frank is my favorite RPG character of all time lmao!
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u/Cheeseburgerguy2077 1d ago
Huge shadow hearts fan my wife had posters and art of it in our apartment
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u/YorickofJest 1d ago
I played SH: Covenant when I was 14 or 15, and I vaguely remember something happening in the game that had me diving for the power button in panic cause my Dad was walking through the room. I have no memory of what it was specifically, but I know it was that game.
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u/Barnacle_at 1d ago
It's one of my favorite series of all time. Very fond of it, and one I will always sorely miss.
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u/Typical_Thought_6049 1d ago
I loved Shadow Heart 1 and 3 and never will play Covenant... I must play Convenant now, I just been spoiled about the ending while looking at the wiki to confirm something. I was wrong Convenant forgive me! That ending is my trope, I am sucker for that kind of twist.
Anyway From New World is such a underrated game I loved the setting, loved the characters, loved the mechanics. It was one of the most memorable PS2 games to me.
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u/Jaded-Sheep 1d ago
The original developer is doing a new series which is much like Shadow Hearts, it's called Penny Blood and went through crowd funding.
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u/bbpirate06 1d ago
I've only played and beaten the 3rd game since it's kinda separate from the other two and I used to play the demo over and over that I got from Playstation Magazine back in the day. I keep needing to play the first two, but there are just so many great JPRGs out there for me to finally get through. I realize the 3rd game is kinda a black sheep in the fandom, but that only gets me more excited since I really enjoyed FTNW and supposedly, the other two are much better.
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u/Taelyesin 1d ago
I really liked 1 and 2, 3 was so-so story-wise but it did have great gameplay and music too.
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u/kurisu_1974 1d ago
Huge fan, second game is still one of my all time favourites. Played Lost Odyssey a couple of years ago to try and fill the void but it was nowhere as good.
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u/arstin 1d ago
Oh boy, do I hate rhythm games.
But I powered through all of these games. They were awesome.
They were the reason I gave Expedition 33 a chance - but I ended up disappointed with that. Too much rhythm game, and a setting and art that was very cool, but I thought the reveal and explanation was a dud. Did I mention too much rhythm game? I'd play for an hour and 45 minutes of that hour was just pushing buttons at the right time. Game would probably be 8 hours long with traditional jrpg combat.
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u/Heavy_Choice_1577 1d ago
1 and 2 are a masterpiece, itd be awesome if they redid the first 2 and made it into one game somehow since they are direct sequels. is it just me or are direct sequels pretty rare in jrpgs? actually having a hard time thinking of another (thats not a gaiden/side story type sequel)
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u/Felix_Malum 23h ago
I love this series so much.
Shame the spiritual successor Penny Blood is stuck in limbo.
I would absolutely love a remastered set of the PS2 games with QoL improvements. Why by those for full price even.
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u/Acrobatic_Ebb_920 22h ago
The first 2 are among my favorite games of all time. The fact that the series is dead really hurts.
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u/QuinSanguine 21h ago
It's a shame, those were THE rpgs for horror fans. These days people don't even realize horror games can be rpgs because most hyped up horror games just try to be like SH2 or RE4.
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u/Greedy_Winner822 21h ago
This series was a surprise to me back in the day when the games came out. I had no idea I could get into the era for the setting but man they did such a good job with it. I really enjoyed these games especially 2.
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u/looney1023 13h ago
All three are fantastic. Covenant is my favorite game of all time.
Always delighted to see this series get a mention
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u/tejanite 12h ago
From the New World is both my first game of the franchise and my first ps2 game.
I got softlocked from being way underleved one time and dipped, but managed to finish the game year later.
Still one of the best experience I had of gaming. I hope I'd be able to play the game again in newer console
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u/DiaryYuriev 11h ago
I'd love to see a remake so I can try the series properly. I played From The New World back in on PS2 when i was a kid.
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u/Zinikir 11h ago
I’m currently replaying the first Shadow Hearts after about 20 years. Once I finish, I plan to replay the second and third as well.
The tone and atmosphere still feel fresh and unique, and I love that. However, I’m not so sure about how well it has aged in other aspects. The plot is quite clumsy, and the combat is very, very simple, with very little depth and some inconsistencies in the damage done by abilities and normal attacks that don’t make any sense. Some might say ‘things of the time,’ but back then there were already games like FF10, SMT3, or Grandia 2 or 3 with much deeper combat.
In fact, I remember that SH2 was a very high-quality jump, so I’m eager to start once I finish the first one, to see if I remember correctly or if it’s just pure nostalgia.
I’m in a phase of revisiting classic series that are no longer with us. After the three Shadow Hearts, I plan to do the same with the two Baten Kaitos and the three Grandia games (I might also do the same with Wild Arms, but we’ll see; I might take a break and play something more current in between). These are all games I haven’t played in about twenty years, and I’m interested to see how I would evaluate them from today’s perspective.
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u/unluckyjason1 1d ago
Covenant is one of my favorite games of all time. I can't really think of another game that is simultaneously so fucking funny and sad. Masterpiece.