The best RPG on PS2.
Story: 10/10
Plot- in my opinion, the undisputed most important category in judging an RPG. Shadow Hearts: Covenant does not disappoint. I’m not about to reveal any major plot events, but I’ll let you know that if you played the first game, it ties beautifully into the story of the first. The character development is stunning, and the script is a nice break from the plain and ordinary. The writers utilized both comedy and drama fantastically in the dialogue, forming on of the best video screenplays I’ve ever been privileged to get to play out. There are mainstream characters, odd characters, and then of course the random civilians.
Ever found it boring to walk around and talk to people, and not know their name, their purpose, or personality? Did it ever bug you that passerby’s always seem to be just passerby’s, designed to either award your character with an item or have some other effect in the plot, and otherwise they’re just a plank slate person with no redeeming qualities toward the feel of the story? Well, Shadow Hearts: Covenant says “Au Revoir” to boring civilian NPC, in exchange for characters that really feel real. First off, in their names (yes, they all have names) they are given little titles. For instance: “Sentimental Lucie”, “Common Decency Nicole”, “Gilbert, the Handful”, and “Short-tempered Emmanuelle”, to name a few. Then, in combinations with amazingly written dialogue, never before have random passerby’s felt so alive. I would continue, but, well, I couldn’t stop raving about the sheer excellence of the plot and screenplay.
Gameplay: 10/10
If you’ve played Shadow Hearts (the first one), and liked the battle system, you’ll be pleased to here they kept a very similar version. They just made it better. With the addition of combos, crest magic, etc. it’s the same old great Shadow Hearts battle system, just an improved version. Movement wise, no problem here, you can’t move overly close to walls and such in tunnels, caves, etc. but otherwise quite good. The camera however, is brilliant. This is the kind of camera follow Final Fantasy creators have always been trying to achieve, but never have they pulled it off quite like this. It’s smooth, precise, and lets you see everything you need to see. Brilliance.
Graphics: 9/10
If anyone tells you that Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a great game, but is lacking in graphics quality smack um’. Shadow Hearts: Covenant beautifully portrays the era and mood, with just the right color and detail that could easily bring a “Wow” to your lips. Now, I don’t disagree there is room for improvement in this category- the angles on characters are occasionally quite jagged, and… well, really that’s only minor complaint I have with the superb graphics in this game. Those of you who still enjoy games like “Chrono Trigger” (almost all of us, I’d say) and don’t mind the fact that the graphics are outdated definitely have nothing to complain out here. Hell, if you have played the most graphically advanced next-gen game, you’d still find these graphics far beyond acceptable.
Music: 8/10
Not perfect, but it fits. The battle music can get a bit tedious, but otherwise nothing really wrong here. Though considering the overall lack of music played at more than a barely audible volume, I can’t really give it a 10 or even a 9. This is one category that Shadow Hearts: Covenant lags in- one that Final Fantasy and other such high budget games shine in. You can’t be perfect at everything.
Voice Acting and Sound Effects: 10/10
Sure, the music may not have been perfect, but really, there aren’t many games with such great voice acting and effects. Everyone’s voice fits their character quite well, and emotional as well as comical or sardonic scenes are spoke with brilliance. Sound effects wise, anything from a minute little footstep to a loud slash, Shadow Hearts has got it covered.
If all those reasons weren’t enough for you to race to your local game store 5 minutes before it closes (check your clock!), then I suppose I’ll just have to give you one final reprise. Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a-ma-zing. Hear it? A-ma-zing. Considering I’ve been comparing this game to the Final Fantasy series throughout this review, perhaps I’ll make a note of something. Take, Final Fantasy X. Personally, I thought it was a good game, but two things ruined it: the sphere grid, and a constant feeling of “When is this going to get good?” Sure, the CG scenes were pretty, but it just didn’t feel like I was, well getting anywhere, to start at least. Perhaps Shadow Hearts: Covenant’s biggest draw is how it feels so smooth. It’s like you’re living the life of the main characters, and you don’t realize how amazing it is until you pull your eyes away from the screen and feel just how in depth one’s experience in a video game can be. I haven’t felt so in tune with a game in quite a while. Go buy it, or rent it if you don’t believe me. Then you’ll see that you just wasted $5 on a game you should’ve already knew was unbelievable, and find yourself pushed toward the game store, your wallet bereaved of $50 and your mind in the world of Shadow Hearts.
9.8 out of 10.