Shadow Hearts sequel gets a US release @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on April 30, 2004

News: Midway steps away from bloody fighting games for a minute to publish a bloody Japanese RPG.

Shadow Hearts, Midway's unique, but flawed, RPG from 2001 has had a sequel out in Japan for some time now. Now Midway is bringing Shadow Hearts II to the US just like it's predecessor.

Renamed Shadow Hearts: Covenant for it's American release, Shadow Hearts II takes place a little overа a year after the first game. Our long jacket clad hero Yuri has become embroiled in mysticismаduring World War I with his friends Gepetto and Kallen. Like the start of the first game, Yuri has been attacked by a powerful sorceror, this time named Nicholas. Nicholas has cursed Yuri and weakened his morphing powers to enable the cult he leads to take over the world.

"We are very excited to be bringing a role-playing adventure of this magnitude to theаAmerican market," said Matt Broughton, International Marketing Director, Midway. "Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a massive RPG experience, with considerable production value. Gamers can expect a two-DVD extravaganza, with quality, story-driven gameplay throughout."

The best part of the original Shadow Hearts, the Judgment Ring, will return in Shadow Hearts: Covenant. It's purpose works the same as it did before: "The Judgment Ring is used whenever you use a spell, attack a monster, use an item or take part in a game of chance. An indicator sweeps around the ring and if you stop it on the colored areas, you score a hit. On the edges of the colored areas are brighter areas that if you stop it on them you score even bigger hits. If you miss the colored areas though, you miss." This time, the Judgment Ring will be enhanced to allow team based combos and defensive formations.

I'm sure Shadow Hearts: Covenant will feature the same unique storyline andаfeelаof the original. I haven't read much about the sequel, but if it can pull all of it's pieces together better than the first game, we might really have an amazing RPG on our hands. Midway has a Fall release date planned, we'll let you know when anything else breaks.