Shadow Hearts: From the New World

From the New World is filled with hilarious moments and memorable characters. Series fans will forgive the rough spots, even as newcomers mourn what might've been.

Best known for the revolutionary judgment ring combat system, this game continues with a well-paced story for a refreshingly different RPG.

But with a core battle system that keeps you involved every step of the way and a suitably compelling narrative, there can be little doubt that Shadow Hearts: From The New World is a unique and compelling RPG.

A splendid adventure, but it's also one that never steps out of the comfort zone. [Aug 2007, p.112]

The battle system is entertaining, and the emphasis on the Judgment Ring ensures that things never get too monotonous. But despite being filled with loads of quirky characters and scenarios, the overall plot doesn't come together like one would hope, and the frustrations of a high encounter rate and unclear design don’t help to rectify the situation.

While it doesn't take the series into any new frontiers, either in terms of naughty content or gameplay, it's still one of the most unusual and entertaining RPGs on the PS2 market. It's not a whole new world, but it is a fairly cool one.

Whether it's the story or the gameplay that carries you through the third Shadow Hearts, you won't be wowed by the presentation.

Our eyes have been spoiled by the Playstation 3 and recent Playstation 2 games so there was just no way we could put up with the tiny screens and horrible visuals. [Issue#153, p.83]

Instead, it's a competent but ultimately trivial experience that's only memorable as the weird RPG with Al Capone in it. [Jun 2006, p.92]

Even though you might feel short-changed by this visually basic follow-up, charm and adventurous character design count for more than you might think. [June 2006, p.128]

I'm very sad to see that the developers have lost the magic that the first Shadow Hearts had. It's clear that they've nailed the technical half of the formula (and have had it down for a while now), but half a game is still half a game— I would have preferred that they spend less time tweaking something that wasn't broken and instead focus on the intellectual side.

You’d need to have a cold heart indeed not to enjoy a game where you get to see a giant cat using Drunken Master kung fu to break Al Capone out of Alcatraz. [June 2007, p.91]

The failure to pen an emotional and captivating storyline, alongside some bizarre character designs, have alienated what made Shadow Hearts such a joy to play.