Shadow Hearts Review

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(More customer reviews)Midway is publishing an RPG? Surprisingly enough, yes, and it happens to be a well-translated adaptation of a fine Japanese RPG. Featuring a dark, macabre story and premise, memorable characters, as well as some of the finest music compositions yet heard on the PS2, it is not an RPG to be missed by any fan of the genre.
This game was created by ex-Squaresoft members who left Squaare and created a development company called Sacnoth. Much like Monolithsoft, developers of the upcoming prequel to Xenogears, Xenosaga, Sacnoth members were sick of creating yet more Final Fantasy related games and wanted to do something different. And something different Shadow Hearts certainly is.
The game features a Square-esque polish, so it is solid in its presentation and has excellent character and plot development. Unlike Square's recent Final Fantasy games, however, you end up playing more than watching.
Pros:
Dark, unique story and good character development
Excellent dialog breathes life into the characters
Beautiful and haunting musical score.
Cons:
Graphics are dated (true gamers realize the unimportance of pretty graphics)
Battle system a little too simple.
So please, put down Final Fantasy X and pick this game up. FFX will be there tomorrow, however, this game may not. This is because it will most likely be overlooked due to FFX's early release date. Don't let that happen, you'll be missing out on one of the best RPG's to come our way in quite a while.

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Product Description:
A hero with a mysterious past. A young girl holding the key to world domination. A villain who will stop at nothing to unlock the path to unlimited power. Prepare to experience an RPG unlike any other. Welcome to the world of Shadow Hearts.

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Arc the Lad Twilight of the Spirits Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been interested in this game recently, and I finally gave in and bought it.It is well worth every penny.I have been a major RPG fan for years, and this one is high on my list now.I think the most powerful and recommendable part about this game is its story.It is a story that is TRULY epic.I remember thinking to myself at one point that the plot twists in this game seem more like something from Shakespeare or mythology than the standard, run of the mill RPG.The issues of racism, hate, and prejudice are all handled so well in this game, and it makes the characters much more interesting than just powerful heroes.The story is also very seldomly predictable.I like this a lot because some recent RPGs have been so easy to predict, like FFX.With a couple of thoughts, about 90% of the storyline could be foreseen after reaching only about the half-way point of the game.I think that this RPG does not fall to this error at all.
Also, I really like the battle system in this game.It is really similar to FF Tactics.The style is move around and attack.It keeps the turn based style a lot more interesting than usual.It is a definitely refreshing change.
I also loved the music and graphics in this game.It is completely stunning.
The only drawback is that there are no side-quests (unless you want to fight in arenas to unlock secret characters, which there are two of), but the story runs so smoothly that they really aren't necessary.
I hope that many of you will buy this game and enjoy it as I have.

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Product Description:
In Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirit, you'll set off on a quest that decides who controls the planet of Deimos -- the humans or the demons!

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Wild Arms Alter Code F Review

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(More customer reviews)Well after nearly ten months of Agetec's delaying since February, we finally have this awesome remake of the original Wild Arms that started, and for some rekindled, our love of the wild west. I guess I have to say this was worth the wait. This game is beyond words. Everything you remember from Rudy, Jack and Cece's adventure in 1997 is back with incredible sound, graphics, music and battle system. Even better are Rudy and Co.'s abilities, which have been finely tuned for more features.

Storywise, this remake covers the original WA in its entirety without skipping any finer points. Also, tons of sidequests have been added (including the return of the Millenium Puzzles we all loved so much from WA3) along with the original's sidequests. Rudy and his friends have been given a serious anime makeover and let me tell you, the visuals are stunning. All of WA's music has been seriously revamped for this game and once again, Michiko Naruke does not disappoint. I'd swear that girl must have lived in the times of cowboys and six-shooters to make this kind of music.

The new features are quite a plus. Rudy and his friends no longer have equipment but rather only skills. If you remember WA3 and its Skill System, this will be instantly familiar to you. Of course, there are differences, such as acquiring several levels of the same skill to completely master them (for example you need to have all versions of Silver Harp to block Sleep 100%, meaning you need to collect Silver Harps 1 to 4). The battle system's newest highlight is the Bonus Rate, which uses a multiplier system similar to WA3's to increase EXP. Once again, it's different from WA3, so heads up on this one because it's a bit more complex this time (you don't get a bonus for skills activating anymore). Also, battles are oriented in very interesting style that mixes WA1 with WA3: during regular battles, you run around like you did in WA3, but during boss fights, you stay in the traditional WA1 party formation.

The characters: Rudy, Jack and Cece are now joined by people you will remember from the first game to assist them in combat: Dr. Emma, Calamity Jane and her butler Magdalen, along with others. The battle system utilizes the same Swap Out system from WA2 since you can end up with six people. Their abilities have been tweaked a bit:

Rudy's ARMS: Rudy uses his Hand Cannon ARM as his regular weapon now and can upgrade its parameters at ARMS parlors (much like in WA3). Although, be careful here since similar to WA3, Rudy can only upgrade 15 times and if you want to reset a parameter, you won't get your money back. He doesn't get new ARMS from treasure chests either, but rather cartridges that he can add to his cannon to fire off awesome attacks. Also, Rudy has to defend to restock his ammo which also copies from WA3. On a final note, Rudy doesn't have to restock his ammo for his special cartridges at an ARMS parlor, he only needs to rest to refill those.

Jack's Fast Draws: Jack has a lot less MP than he did in WA1 to use his draws. Not to mention, he has to use the draws to level them up and reduce the MP cost instead of using Secret Signs to reduce it. Because his draws are expensive and there are no more Magic Carrots for refilling MP, you will be spending a lot of time building them up.

Cece's Crest Magic: Traditionally, nothing much has changed here except a few spells have had their ranges tweaked to affect the whole party rather than cast on one ally at a time. Cece's newest feature is that she can regain MP every time she bops an enemy with her wand.

One thing to note is that everyone only has one Force power (their unique original one except for Cece whose Mystic ability has been passed on to Calamity Jane) and only Cece can summon Guardians now. The visuals on the Guardians are jawdropping to say the least though and of course the elemental gems are back as well.

With this game, you are looking at a merge of elements and gameplay factors from the previous three Wild Arms games set into the remake of the original WA, resulting in a huge and addicting game that certainly beats out the earlier months of poor RPGs (such as Suikoden 4 and Radiata Stories).

I HIGHLY recommend this to all fans and followers of Wild Arms. This game will keep you busy believe me. You should definitely get this game, especially since we are all eagerly awaiting the U.S. version of Wild Arms 4th Detonator.

Although beware gamers, due to the rather poor job that was done on the game (many bugs and such), it has been discontinued in the U.S. Hopefully, you can all find a copy.

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Product Description:
In 1997, Sony wowed the Playstation RPG masses with Wild Arms which featured an involving storyline, affable characters and slick battle techniques. While the game itself was great, the graphics were..less so. Sony revisits the original Wild Arms with a remake which redoes the entire game with shiny graphical sheen and updated game play.In addition to the three original characters - Cecila the pri

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Tales of the Abyss Review

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(More customer reviews)While the Tales series isn't nearly as big as other series (namely Final Fantasy), it's still a particularly fun and satisfying game to play.For one, the Tales series has always been able to bring about fantastic gameplay and expansive worlds.While the stories sometimes seem generic they're brilliantly told with fantastic characters.Tales of the Abyss is the latest in the series and needless to say, if you liked Tales of Legendia or even the far superior (and arguably best) Tales of Symphonia, you'll more than likely enjoy this game.

Tales of the Abyss follows Luke Von Fabre.A spoiled rich kid who is busy trying to regain his memories.He was kidnapped seven years ago and can't remember a thing from before then.He's cooped up in a manor, though, and is restricted from leaving.During a training session with his master Van, someone breaks into the manor and attempts to kill him.When Luke steps up to defend his master, the two are suddenly teleported to a different location.It would be pretty basic... if you didn't meet such entertaining characters along the way.Just the same, the dialog is really clever, witty and full of humor.Simply put, you'll have a ball with these characters as they go off and save the world. It overall makes what would've been a generic story very interesting. Not only that, but there are several plot twists.Many of which you won't see coming.

Needless to say it's pretty standard stuff that you'd find yourself getting into some battles.It is, after all, an RPG.Tales of the Abyss has the best battle system in the entire series.It's far more expansive and free.

Battles are pretty much free roam.It's much faster and more intense than turn based combat.At first it's pretty simple stuff.You control one character while the AI controls the other three.Usually in a game when the AI controls the characters it's not a good thing.In the Tales of the Abyss, it's not only a good thing, but easy to tweak with as well.You can change the settings if need be to the point where characters won't waste their tech points so fast, or maybe you want them to focus primarily on attacking all together.Either way, the AI works rather well for this game.

While in battle you can use artes.These are your characters special attacks and techs.You can also string them together all you want as you get further in the game.Characters have their own unique artes, and they have quite a bit of them.This makes battling rather fun.Another great aspect of Tales of the Abyss is that up to four people can play by using a multi-tap.

The game is not an easy game, however.Many boss battles are a pain and even some normal battles can throw you for a loop.Even if you feel you're not being challenged enough, you can change the difficulty level whenever you want.Upon completing the game once even more difficulty levels are unlocked.

Everything about the battle system is pretty simple stuff.There is first the field of fonons.Fonons are the elemental factors at work.When a character cast a spell of a certain fonon a field will appear where the spell struck.Characters can then use these field of fonons for certain artes to perform a much more devastating attack.

There are also Capacity Cores for your characters.You can equip them to certain artes and abilities go to work.For example, you can power up an arte, or make it cost less MP.Some will even allow you to steal or make the effects of certain status artes last longer.

Perhaps the best part about Tales of the Abyss is that it's overall a huge game.Almost everywhere you go is filled with secrets.The main quest alone will keep you busy for hours.Even when it comes to secrets, you'll have to play through the game a second time to unearth them all.This easily makes the game over 100 hours long in and of itself.Tales of the Abyss is filled with as many secrets as any Final Fantasy game.

The voice acting is fantastic.It's lively, full of heart.Even the moments where it's not to the best of it's abilities, the voice acting is good.A lot of the music in Tales of the Abyss is forgettable.Battle themes are really good and catchy, but on the field there's nothing you'll be humming any time soon.

I wish I could tell you the graphics were absolutely fantastic.They're not, unfortunately.Many of the environments are vague.When playing on an HD television the games rougher edges really come out.For a late generation PS2 RPG, Tales of the Abyss is just not pretty to look at.The load times between battles are also very annoying.

At the very least, however, Tales of the Abyss is an exciting RPG filled with secrets, side quests, and tons of likeable characters.Any RPGer would be proud to have it.

The Good

+The characters really bring the story to life.The story itself is basic, but with these characters it become interesting
+The battle system is fast and addictive with lots of interesting aspects
+Great voice acting
+Great dialog and sense of humor

The Bad

-Horrendous Load times
-Some of the graphics could use a touch up
-Battle themes are good, but the rest of the soundtrack is forgettable

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Product Description:
In Tales Of The Abyss, you'll enter the life of Luke fon Fabre, sole heir to a family of aristocrats. He was kidnapped seven years ago, and the shock left him with no memories of his life before. For his own protection since his return, he has been confined to a quiet, boring life within the family's residence, learning little of the world beyond the palace walls. Luke is suddenly thrust into the outside world, caught in the workings of the Order of Lorelei, keepers of the prophecy known as the Score. No longer in the shelter of the palace, Luke must get along in the confusing and often hostile world. He knows nothing about those who might be his friends, or those who already are his enemies.

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Digimon World Data Squad Review

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(More customer reviews)I would love to have given this game a higher rating, I really would have.The graphics are actually pretty good and consistent with the style, the character design is well-done, the digievolution system is detailed (if a little frustrating at times), the skill and ability system is a lot of fun, the storyline is interesting, and renamon is in it (which is a plus in my book).

My only gripe: the voice acting.While it's not an issue with every character (a few of them are actually well done), the voices of Marcus and Agumon are just so grating and poorly done that I have to knock off one star.The other voice actors perform alright, with the rare good voice performance.Unfortunately, you hear Marcus and Agumon talk more than anyone else in the game.Why weren't the best talents reserved for the main character and his digimon?If any of the characters are going to outright suck, it should be the minor ones!

My recommendation: mute your tv and pretend it's one of the older digimon games with no VO.True, you miss out on the background music, while not astounding it's not outright terrible either.You can also provide your own BGM with an MP3 player.

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Product Description:
Masaru Daimon is both a smart 14 year old and an undefeated street fighter, but he does not fight with his fists alone. As a member of the secretive Digital Accident Tactics Squad - DATS, Masaru and his team are investigating the disappearance of numerous kids. During the course of the investigation, the Seven Demon Kings arrive in the world, wreaking havoc across the planet. As Masaru, it is up to you to find the missing kids and defeat the deadly Seven Demon Kings and their evil minions. Team up with a large variety of Digimon to battle evil and solve complex puzzles together. As you and your Digimon partners increase in skill and find new items, your Digimon can be upgraded through leveling up and Digivolution. Control over 140 Digimon and evolve them to be powerful enough to save the world!

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Star Ocean Till the End of Time Review

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(More customer reviews)Star Ocean is finally here, the game that we've been waiting for and an RPG that sparks a lot of interest in ways unimaginable.Surprisingly enough, the game is fairly addictive with the themes of a good RPG right off the bat, a good story, loveable characters and a grand battle system.

Star Ocean is a more science fiction like RPG.To put it simple, if you like RPGs and Star Trek, I don't need to tell you to get this game, chances are you'll already have it.

Star Ocean begins with Fayt, a boy staying at a hotel resort with his parents and childhood friend Sophia.Everything is going nice and well until the resort is suddenly attacked by starships.Fayt and company end up having to evacuate the resort but ultimately Fayt is separated from those he loves.Now he is stranded on an unknown planet to fend for himself and find his friends.It starts off nice and simple but as the game goes on the story developes more and becomes a bit more complex than it sounds.

Star Ocean is a little different from the traditional RPG.It eliminates random battles and instead you can see all the enemies running around on the field.Each time you touch an enemy you initiate combat and this is where Star Ocean is the most interesting.The other interesting tid-bit is that its all real time battle, and free roaming.When in battle you can run around as one of three characters freely either dodging attacks or blocking them. This makes the game more fun than it actually sounds.

In battle, each character has a "Fury" gauge.When at 100% the character can attack swiftly without fail, and block certain attacks.The more "fury" you have the more success you'll have in combat.If your characters fury guage reaches 0 then they can't attack.Luckily, the fury gauge fills up very fast when you stand still.You're also not limited to just one character.You can switch from one character to another any time you wish.

Each character also gets "Symbology" which is Star Ocean's form of magic.The magic is diverse in terms of how much there is and what they do (stun enemies, deal wide areas of damage etc.).Some skills cost more than others but its an RPG I'm sure you knew this.

Battles are fun but the game is a challenge.Especially bosses which can be unforgiving at times.It's easy to pick up the battle system, but it could take a moment to master.Dungeons are also overly populated with enemies.This wouldn't be so bad if the dungeons weren't so big, and if the number of items you could carry weren't so limited.

Star Ocean also has an "inventors" system.Each character, playable and non-playable, create inventions based on what they're best at.Some characters are best at cooking and make several different foods.Others are good at smithing and create useful weapons.When an item is "invented" it becomes available to buy.Some characters will create some pretty useless things but it makes the game bigger.

Star Ocean also features a system in which the characters have a hidden attribute as to how much they like you.Depending on the decisions you make will alter what the characters think of you and will also give you a different ending.

The game looks beautiful.Not quite as good looking as previous PS2 games before it, but those who liked the look and feel of Xenosaga will feel right at home.The games graphics look a little anime style with the big eyes and the multitudes of hair.The game is simply gorgeous.

The game also sounds really good.The voice acting is top-notch for a video game and the character voices go along quite well at times.The overall music isn't bad but takes a while to get used to.Not quite as deep as other games but it suits the situation just fine.

The game has A LOT of dialogue and the cutscenes are long but luckily you can skim though most of it without having to listen to each character word for word.If you read faster than the characters actually speak you might want to just turn off the talking all together.You can also skip cutscenes, but at least the game isn't as drowned out in dialogue as several other games out there (Xenosaga anyone?).

Star Ocean is a pretty good game overall.It has a few small problems but as far as games go, it stand above many out there.If you're an avid RPGer you might want to get this game and try it out.

The Good
+Beautiful Graphics
+Voices are pretty well done
+Battling is more interactive and fun
+Good music
+Good storyline
+The game will keep you busy for a while

The Bad
-Dungeons are ridiculously huge
-A lot of talking, making the story pace a little slow
-Most of the gameplay is spent leveling up your characters as opposed to actually advancing the storyline

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Product Description:
Four hundred years have passed since the climatic battle with the Ten Wise Men from Star Ocean: The Second Story.The year is now SD 772.Humans and aliens co-exist some in more advanced societies than others.The Pangalactic Federation continues to research the cosmos is an ongoing quest for power.Meanwhile the young Earthling Fayt Leingod is taking a well-deserved vacation on the resort planet of Hyda with his family and childhood friend Sophia Esteed.Their dreamly holiday turns into a nightmare when Hyda is attacked by an unknown military space force.In the heat of the attack Fayt is seperated from Sophia and his family and begins an emotional quest into the unknown to find his loved ones.Format: PS2 Genre:ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating:T - Teen UPC:662248903095 Manufacturer No:90309

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