SHADOW HEARTS
Here you're a hero with a difference. You save a girl from evil forces and travel with her. In many respects the game is a mixture of Final Fantasy, Soul Reaver and Manga elements. As you progress, you find yourself in battle situations (turn based like FF). The strike system works by means of a disc with a beam that orbits once - you have various hit points to be activated during the 2-second rotation with the X button, or the attack fails. Throughhout the game you get to use multiple characters, each with a different strike pattern. Your Soul Energy takes the shape of Light, Dark, Fire, Water, Earth and Wind, altering after each fight. You collect potions, spells and other items can also be bought. Your character hears voices in his head as you push on - this is no regular guy, though - he can morph into 20 different creatures during battle, allowing special, more potent powers for each. The opponents include a range of monsters, spiders, freaks, dogs, bats and more. You find yourself encountering people and villages like the one filled with cannibals. A lot of text dialogue propels the semi-adult story (which even has a couple of pervy bits, albeit verbal only). Gory moments are not few, especially in the opening segment. The Eastern flavoured music adds to the mood.

3 / C
- PB