Shadow Hearts

The **Shadow Hearts** series is the spiritual predecessor to Penny Blood, featuring many thematic and mechanical choices that have influenced its development and style.

## Series Overview

The series is noted for its dark, morbid setting of fantastical, but grotesque monsters against the backdrop of a real world Earth, and events in history, often encountering actual historical figures and aiding, or fighting against them.

Creatures and influences from Lovecraftian fiction are also present, as well as drawing upon a wealth of mythological creatures, and local folktales.

### Koudelka

While commonly known as the Shadow Hearts series, the first actual game in the series is **Koudelka** - a tactical horror RPG developed for the Playstation One.

It was concieved by former Squaresoft Composer, Hiroki Kikuta, best known for his work on the "*Mana*" series, who had grown tired of the juvenile nature of JRPGs and wished to make something for a more mature audience.

*Koudelka* followed the story of the eponymous Koudelka, a psychic Romani woman who had been drawn to an ancient monastery on the Welsh coast in 1898. Aided by a roguish wanderer, a haughty bishop, and a 500 year old Warlock, she battled horrific monstrosities, vengeful ghosts, and a man who had commited unspeakable acts in the name of love.

While it underperformed in sales, its dark sensibilities, story, themes, and impressive technical achievements in mocap, made it a cult classic that would lay the groundwork for what would become the Shadow Hearts games.

### Shadow Hearts

The Art Director for *Koudelka*, Matsuzo Itakura, better known as Matsuzo Machida, would helm *Shadow Hearts*, using the atmosphere and dark style of *Koudelka* as influence, while also expanding its narrative to the wider world. This "spin-off sequel" was released for the Playstation 2, but had the misfortune of releasing just one week before Squaresoft's *Final Fantasy X*.

*Shadow Hearts* followed the story of Yuri Hyuga - a young man with the power to transform into fusion monsters. In 1913, on the course of his worldly travels he rescues a young woman, possessed of incredible magical powers, who is being sought after by various malign factions who wish to use her power to their own ends. In protecting her, he travels the world battling monsters, and meeting with odd individuals who join him in protecting her against powerful warlocks and the Japanese army.

Its greatest addition mechanically was the "Judgement Ring" system - a spinning dial upon which attacks, magic and other actions could be missed, or made more powerful if the players' timing was right.

*Shadow Hearts* also saw artist, Miyako Kato take up the role of character designer, while composer Yoshitaka Hirota helped score its unique soundscape.

### Shadow Hearts: Covenant

While selling better than *Koudelka*, *Shadow Hearts* lay in the shadow of bigger releases, becoming yet another cult classic, although there was a strong desire to produce a superior sequel.

*Shadow Hearts: Covenant* (or *Shadow Hearts II*, as it was released in Japan) was a direct sequel to the aftermath of *Shadow Hearts*, and once again followed Yuri, this time as he attempted to rid himself of a debilitating curse. In the course of his quest, he must foil the activities of a secret society attempting to shape world events to their own advantage - in the misdst of the slaughter of the Great War.

Long regarded as the highlight of the series, *Shadow Hearts: Covenant* was a mild success, and improved significantly on its presentation and mechanical depth. It would later receive a Director's Cut, *Shadow Hearts II DX* featuring more content, although it would never make it out of Japan.

### Shadow Hearts: From the New World

As the previous installments had focussed on events in Europe and Asia, *Shadow Hearts: From the New World* was instead concentrated on events in the Americas - a setting that had previously not been explored in the series.

While *Shadow Hearts: From the New World* references events that happen in *Shadow Hearts: Covenant*, it is technically a side-story featuring a brand new cast.

In 1929, boy detective, Johnny Garland, is investigating the disappearance of a man, before stumbling upon a plot to open a gateway to another dimension of negative energy, and allow its malignant powers to seep into the world - its herald, a strange mute woman and her serial killer bodyguard. Joined by an usual rag-tag team, he seeks to put a stop to this, and also uncover some truths about his own history.

A prequel to the first *Shadow Hearts* was planned as the "official" *Shadow Hearts III*, and Matsuzo Machida had been approached several times and was eager to make it. However, due to internal issues at "ARUZE" (later "Universal Entertainment"), the project was cancelled.

## Penny Blood Allusions to Shadow Hearts

As a spiritual successor to *Shadow Hearts*, Penny Blood has made several allusions and indirect references to the previous series.

* The main character, Matthew, has the ability to fuse into other beasts. A power he inherited from his father - Yuri Hyuga can fuse into beasts. A power he inherited from his father.
* Matthew is a detective in the 1920s - Johnny Garland is a New York-based detective working in 1929.
* Malice, the accumulated energy from negative emotions, has the power to warp and transform people into beasts - Malice with the same name and power is integral to the *Shadow Hearts* series.
* Matthew can visit his own internal spiritual world based on a macabre fairground carnival, to unlock new fusions - Yuri can visit his own internal spirutal world based on a graveyard to unlock new fusions.
* Inside Matthew's soul lurks "Atam", a manifestation of darkness who works through subordinates, and has the power to curse people - Inside Yuri's soul lurks Atman, a manifestation of darkness who works through subordinates, The Four Masks, and has the power to curse people.
* In both series characters may lose Sanity Points in battle, and go Berserk.
* A timing based attack mode, the "Psycho Sigil", a combo and double combo system, and a stock guage - Shadow Hearts uses the "Judgement Ring" - a timing based attack mode, as well as a Combo System, and Stock Gauge.
* Luca's wolf form is a direct reference to the wolf, Blanca, from *Shadow Hearts: Covenant*, with whom he shares an almost identical appearance.

## External Links

* Official Japanese Website
* Shadow Hearts Wiki
* Shadow Hearts Subreddit