This system keeps you on your toes and makes combat a little more skill based. Each of the game's characters has a unique special ability. Urm has an ability called fusion, which lets him transform into a monster. Though he is limited to only one type of monster at the outset of the game, he will eventually learn how to transform into a variety of monsters. Aris actually practices white magic and can cast healing and protection spells.
Special abilities consume what are called sanity points.
Sanity points work exactly like magic points in other RPGs and can be regenerated only with certain items. When a character's sanity points have been depleted, that character will lose his or her sanity and fly into a berserker rage, attacking characters at random for a period of time. Shadow Hearts may have the Final Fantasy flair, but the introduction of its own unique Judgement Ring system gives the game a unique twist. The game is scheduled for release this June in Japan. No North American and European release has been planned at the moment.