Shadow Hearts is an outstanding game, and a cult classic in the truest sense of the word. This game was really hard to track down for a reasonable price, and seeing as the companies behind it are long defunct and the publishing rights lost to the ether, that scarcity will only get worse with time. I lucked out with this podcast and had an opportunity to play one of the most interesting JRPGs ever made. With a playfully macabre tone and atmosphere, likable cast of characters, and the simple satisfaction offered by the Judgment Ring system, Shadow Hearts is truly one-of-a-kind. The fact that these games may well be lost to history is truly lamentable.

Perhaps that's an unintended benefit of Retro Encounter: keeping the memory of these gems alive.

Even with its hackneyed and macabre premise, Shadow Hearts manages to be memorable by ultimately refusing to take itself seriously. Witty banter and entertaining exchanges are injected in all the right places and serve as a refreshing contrast to the game's dark and gruesome atmosphere. Monster designs are both horrific and ludicrous — except for Atman whose design is beyond nightmarish and will forever haunt me in my dreams. In addition to this, the Judgment Ring is one of the most innovative reinventions of the traditional turn-based battle mechanics. Not only does it make the combat system engaging, its variability demands pure concentration and feels incredibly satisfying once you've mastered it...with the Mind's Eye, that is.

When I revisited the world of Shadow Hearts, one of the things I was most eager about was to see whether or not my opinion of the game has changed since I first played it. And to my surprise, it has. I loved Shadow Hearts years ago but I'm in love with it even more now. By no means is Shadow Hearts perfect (Halley's "I hate you. I hate you." is one of many glaring imperfections in the game) but it possesses an undeniable charm and provides a riveting twist to both conventional horror and RPG elements.

I can endlessly gush about this game and turn this write-up into a full-blown review, but instead, here's a wonderful review Kyle Miller wrote several years ago that expresses many of the sentiments I have with this game.

All in all, Shadow Hearts is well worth experiencing if not for the story, then definitely for Sea Mama's one-of-a-kind voice acting.

And speaking of Sea Mama...

SPLISH, SPLOOSH, SPLAT, everyone.

It's the little touches that make Shadow Hearts memorable, playing it for the first time or revisiting it after years, thus securing its place among my personal favorite PS2 RPGs. Something about the way Yuri's stance changes when fusing in the second half of the game (where he's no longer in pain), for example, really drives me to pay attention and invest in the characters and, in turn, the story. Even the item descriptions are intriguing! I found none of that was really lost playing it for a second time, even if this run was bare-bones and I aimed for the bad ending because I want to replay Shadow Hearts: Covenant. It is still well worth your time, even if you don't delve into too many of the sidequests; those are the frosting on an already delicious cake. I was happy to travel with Yuri and Co. again, through the good (humorous) and bad (creepy) times.

Now, if only I could find a way to work Margarete-style air support into my daily life, because life is hard, I would love the items I need to just drop from the sky, and..."I could use some help here."

The Shadow Hearts series ran the course of the PS2 generation (yeah, yeah, I know, what about Koudelka?), and while all three titles have been well-received, the first game still qualifies as a 'diamond in the rough'. Resembling more of a "high-tier PlayStation" title, Shadow Hearts made its debut with simple graphics, minimal (yet overacted) voice work, a linear story, and relativelystandard gameplay of running to a town and hunting down monsters that inhabit nearby ruins.

And I love it!

Shadow Hearts uses a real world setting based on a pseudo-historical 20th century Earth where anything in the realms of magic and monsters is possible. Taking full advantage of this bygone but familiar era, we immediately understand the game's "lore" and history as we are literally connected to the game's world. Add to that the glitzy appeal of making a daring rescue on board a steam engine train, or meeting the man who murdered your father in Shanghai, or exorcising demons in Prague, and Shadow Hearts knows how to keeps things interesting in your cross country adventure. In addition to that, as an RPG-horror hybrid, the game also knows how to work its atmosphere with the rich use of sepia tones and some creepy scenery along with some of the most interesting enemy designs I've ever seen (the game's "Seraphim" boss is both unique and unsettling). Shadow Hearts is not without some localization quirks, but some of the bizarre dialogue and character exchanges add a surprising amount of levity to otherwise ominous locations and situations. The popular Judgement Ring battle system keeps players on their toes, while the game's battle theme prioritizes a 'rhythm-over-melody' approach to suit the flow of combat; and numerous cities and sidequests keep you entertained while you explore both Asian and European continents the game is set within.

I played Shadow Hearts for the first time a few years ago, so I have no rose-tinted goggles. Still, I just adore this game. If you can appreciate a retro title, look past some muddy graphics and slightly archaic design choices, there's honestly so much to love.