So this the end (or some might say demise) of the Shadow Hearts series.
Most of what people complain about is true. The plot is barely existent, there are almost none of the horror elements left and the characters are paper thin (except for Ricardo maybe and I might make an argument that Shania at least IS a character compared to anyone else).
However, it's still a Shadow Hearts game. The combat is fun, building your team with the different characters is still super wonky and exciting and this time around the boss fights are really well designed and might make you work around certain strategies or mechanics. And the dungeons are still nice. So playing this is really cool.
It's just sad, that the horror and history are gone. Some of the locations could work quite well for horror actually, like the secret underground lab at Arkham university, Alcatraz prison, the ship graveyard, old native American temples and the deserted, quasi haunted manor where Johnny grew up in. The Lovecraft elements could have also worked really well, to create some atmosphere.
Instead, especially in the first half, the game goes rather for rollercoaster ride approach through the Americas, than a concentrated plot that is interested in building atmosphere or working some twists or revelations.
The plot suffers for this too, as there is not much happening for a big part of it, except for the VERY random party to chase after the antagonists for more than half the game.
(Then there is also the rather unpleasant depiction of native Americans and how sexualized Shania and her fusions are. I mean Shadow Hearts has always had sexy designs, but yikes. Although I do think her fusion look cool in a way)
When you look at it however, the themes of Shadow Hearts, are still there.
Johnny and Shania both have to overcome their trauma and their loss of loved ones. It just too bad theat everything is so bare bones. I know the game had difficulties in development so I wouldn't wonder if just a lot of stuff was cut, it's just too bad, that this was the lasting outing from the series.
This game still has a special place in my heart however. The imagery, visuals and places still invoke a lot of creativity, the combat is fun and so are the dungeons and when you except that this is not as deep or thrilling as the other games, than you might still have a good time. It is still another Shadow Hearts game, a series that went away way to fast and that I dearly miss.
Most of what people complain about is true. The plot is barely existent, there are almost none of the horror elements left and the characters are paper thin (except for Ricardo maybe and I might make an argument that Shania at least IS a character compared to anyone else).
However, it's still a Shadow Hearts game. The combat is fun, building your team with the different characters is still super wonky and exciting and this time around the boss fights are really well designed and might make you work around certain strategies or mechanics. And the dungeons are still nice. So playing this is really cool.
It's just sad, that the horror and history are gone. Some of the locations could work quite well for horror actually, like the secret underground lab at Arkham university, Alcatraz prison, the ship graveyard, old native American temples and the deserted, quasi haunted manor where Johnny grew up in. The Lovecraft elements could have also worked really well, to create some atmosphere.
Instead, especially in the first half, the game goes rather for rollercoaster ride approach through the Americas, than a concentrated plot that is interested in building atmosphere or working some twists or revelations.
The plot suffers for this too, as there is not much happening for a big part of it, except for the VERY random party to chase after the antagonists for more than half the game.
(Then there is also the rather unpleasant depiction of native Americans and how sexualized Shania and her fusions are. I mean Shadow Hearts has always had sexy designs, but yikes. Although I do think her fusion look cool in a way)
When you look at it however, the themes of Shadow Hearts, are still there.
Johnny and Shania both have to overcome their trauma and their loss of loved ones. It just too bad theat everything is so bare bones. I know the game had difficulties in development so I wouldn't wonder if just a lot of stuff was cut, it's just too bad, that this was the lasting outing from the series.
This game still has a special place in my heart however. The imagery, visuals and places still invoke a lot of creativity, the combat is fun and so are the dungeons and when you except that this is not as deep or thrilling as the other games, than you might still have a good time. It is still another Shadow Hearts game, a series that went away way to fast and that I dearly miss.