Judge lest ye not be judged
hmmm...
IT'S A GREAT GAME.
It's not a very popular game and the ones who has played it loved it. Shadow hearts has its own distinc characteristics that makes it stand out from the rest of the RPGs sailing its way to north america (because we all know that games in Japan comes in DAILY!!!)
- the JUDGEMENT RING --> which is basically a ring that has hit areas and strike areas that you have to time properly and press x to to be able to perform physical damage. The judgement ring however not only rules over physical attack, but also almost everything in the game including using items and performing magic and special arts. (the ring actually has less impact on SH3 because in the previous games, you have to deal with the ring in some areas of the field map such as turning a valve)
- the LIBRARY --> this cool concept in the in-game menu records everything from distance walked overall, percentages on how well you hit the ring, monster encountered, NPCs encountered, max combo, etc..
- wacky CHARACTERS --> ever since SH1 - SH3 we have encountered wrestlers that are vampires that wears masks and has big objects as weapons (such as a mailbox), puppet maker (weapon=his puppets). This time around, they introduce a ninja that creates his weapons and attacks from what he witnesses (weapons= a cactus ninja blade, bus stop blade), then a vampire that has a calorie meter depending on what enemies she sucks blood from will either make her turn into her skinny self of curvy self.
- real life SETTINGS --> SH1 was set in Asia/Europe, SH2 was set mostly in Europe, and this time around, SH3 is set in North America. Not only are the settings recognizable, the events are also familiar such as WW1. Lastly, some NPCs are real people (such as Al Capone in SH3).
- interesting STORY --> the stories in SH1 and SH2 are right after the other but so far that I've played, the stories are not intertwined. However, you are kept in constant curiosity because you want to know who the mystery characters are and why the hell does he have that power (i still haven't found out yet).
OVERALL, it is a very good experience. Honestly, I started playing it AFTER i got my kingdom hearts 2 but since i started playing SH3, i haven't touched my KH2. (but it doesn't mean that KH2 is not good). Shadow Hearts: from the new world just caught my attention and it hasnt lost it yet.