From the Toysit archive
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
A dark fantasy journey with menu choices and the Judgment Ring, accompanied by an original travelers’ story wheel.
The play at a glance
A journey shaped by choices and timing
Shadow Hearts: Covenant combines a traveling party, supernatural encounters and the circular Judgment Ring. The retained artwork places a red-haired figure against overlapping symbols and clock-like shapes, suggesting the mysterious mood of this PlayStation 2 role-playing game. Its fictional version of early twentieth-century Europe belongs to a fantasy story.
Before using a slim PS2: compare its adaptor with the CPSC recall identifiers. If it matches, stop using it and follow the notice’s Sony replacement instructions. This concerns certain power adaptors, not this game.
Plan a move, then time it
Battle begins with a choice from an action menu. Attacks, items, special abilities and defensive decisions offer different ways to respond. The Judgment Ring then adds a timing step: a moving cursor passes through marked areas, and the button press helps determine the result. Its diagram makes the contrast clear between a broad hit area and the narrower strike area.
Combo arrangements let party members connect their attacks. The booklet describes moving a character next to another to begin that sequence, then succeeding at the relevant ring steps. Choosing an action and carrying it out become two parts of the same decision.
This is a Teen-rated game with dark supernatural material. Its use of historical names and places does not make its plot a factual history lesson.
Try a travelers’ appointment wheel
Draw a circle on paper and divide it into four places: a library, bridge, inn and station. Give your traveler a simple errand, such as returning a borrowed book or delivering an invitation. This is an original story-making activity with no game timing rules.
- Choose a place by pointing a pencil toward one quarter of the circle.
- Write a two-sentence encounter there. Who is waiting, and what small mystery do they introduce?
- Add a recurring symbol, such as a blue feather or a crescent-shaped stamp, to every scene.
- Visit two more places. Decide whether the repeated symbol is a clue, a coincidence or the traveler’s own signature.
A partner can write the next encounter while you draw the setting. Finish with an ordinary explanation or a fantastical one, then compare how the ending changes the meaning of the earlier scenes.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Role-playing game sequel for Playstation 2 requires RPG combat strategy planning and timing skill
In August 2004, Midway Games announced its official pre-order campaign for Shadow Hearts: Covenant, the sequel to the critically acclaimed role-playing game in 2001. Consumers can now pre-order Covenant from selected retailers and receive a copy of the original Shadow Hearts for free, while supplies last. Scheduled to ship on September 27, 2004 exclusively for PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a deep, engaging RPG set in a fantastical world filled with mystical lore and a dark plot.
Amidst the chaos of a world over a year after the original Shadow Hearts ended, Yuri and Karin embark on an epic journey testing their power and skills to combat terrifying creatures and conquer the plans that Rasputin wants to unleash upon the world.
The epic adventure that fills 2 DVDs with over 40 hours of intense gameplay brings back its innovative combat system, The Judgment Ring, allowing players to wield the power necessary to fulfill their destiny. Players must combine split second timing and skillful combat strategy to master the Judgment Ring's powerful and stackable attacks. The improved Judgment Ring allows players to choose which characters to bring to battle and features new team-based combo attacks and defensive formations.
Shadow Hearts is a series of role-playing video games that blend historical and fantastical elements to create an immersive storytelling experience. Known for its dark atmosphere and unique "Judgment Ring" battle system, the game offers players a departure from the more traditional, often cheerful settings of other RPGs. Set in various periods and locations, such as World War I-era Europe and Asia, the series incorporates real historical events and figures while adding its own supernatural twists. The characters often deal with complex emotional and ethical issues, making it appealing for players who enjoy more mature and intricate narratives. Overall, Shadow Hearts has garnered a dedicated fanbase that appreciates its deep storytelling, innovative gameplay mechanics, and hauntingly beautiful art and music.
Sources and editorial notes
The matching Midway US PS2 booklet supports the menu, combo and Judgment Ring description. ESRB lists Teen with Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes and Violence. The earlier preorder offer, scheduled ship date and over-40-hours claim are historical marketing, not present offers or measured playtime. The image’s exact character identity is not assigned here. No physical testing is claimed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Midway US PS2 Covenant instruction booklet — Publisher scan; selected story, controls, battle and Judgment Ring pages reviewed, especially printed pages 8–10.
- ESRB: Shadow Hearts Covenant — Exact PlayStation 2 rating and content descriptors.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
- CPSC: certain slim PS2 AC adaptors — Conditional hardware owner check; this is not a recall of the software. Match the notice’s model, date and serial identifiers.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.