Shadow Hearts: Covenant

Shadow Hearts: Covenant, also released as Shadow Hearts II, expanded and refined the original concept of the first game and is considered by many critics and fans to be the pinnacle of the series thanks to its balanced blend of a dark, historically grounded story with unexpectedly rich, self-deprecating humor and an exceptionally likeable cast of companions. The story is set during World War I and follows French soldier Karin Koenig, who sets out to avenge her family's death, and whose path crosses with Yuri Hyuga, the protagonist of the previous game, as together they confront occult forces influencing the course of a real historical conflict.

The combat system expanded the beloved Judgment Ring with new layers of complexity and introduced a so-called Sanity system, where excessive exposure to horror could temporarily afflict characters with madness and its own consequences, deepening the thematic connection between the mechanics and the story being told. Combat also worked with character positioning and combo attacks, so a well-timed chain of strikes from the whole party could crush an opponent in a single turn. Supporting characters, from a British gentleman vampire to a robotic companion, boasted deep personal backstories and humorously written interactions that gave the game an unmistakable character distinct from more serious competing JRPGs. The visuals and musical score both marked a noticeable step forward from the first game, with more detailed character models and a more orchestral-sounding score underscoring the European setting.

Shadow Hearts: Covenant is still remembered today as one of the best-written and most original Japanese RPGs of the entire PlayStation 2 generation, even though it too failed to break through to a wide audience, and the series went quiet after one further sequel. It is precisely the balance between serious historical drama and unrestrained grotesquerie that players still take away from it today.