Shadow Hearts - worth bothering with?

[Champloo]

Heard great things about this series, and I like the setting, but the first has been pretty slow to start. I'm a few hours in, reached the first major city, and just jumped down into the sewer area (I hate sewer areas in games!) and it's been a bit of a chore so far.

Is it worth playing further, or can I jump straight into the 2nd/3rd without bothering with the first?

And, how long is it? More than 30 odd hours and I don't think I have the patience.



(Hope this is the best place to post. There's no first play thread for it.)

[toythatkills]

I played the first one for about 20 hours, got bored, and stopped. I seem to recall getting to an area with loads of nigh-on invincible enemies and I just lost patience. I can't think of any other RPG I've done that with, I generally play on at that point just to get it done!

The second one, though, is excellent. It's amusing, has some great characters, and the battle system is the one thing from the first game that has something.

Haven't played the third yet, I really should do.

[Champloo]

I'll probably leave the first then. Shuold have asked in the original post, but does the story continue into the second?

[Profit]

Side-story starts in the PS1 game Koudelka (set in Wales).

[fuse]

My friend started out the series recently, and having only played 2 & 3 I was keen to recommend 2, but when she got around to it (after having finished 1 and loving it) she didn't like it as much in comparison.

The story in 2 continues from one of the endings of 1, yeah. 3 I wouldn't touch with a barge pole.

[SuperBeatBoy]

I own them all. I thought Shadow Hearts 1 was the best imo, as it was a huge breath of fresh air when it first came out. Really atmospheric and dark story. You should check out Shadow Hearts 1 first anyway as the sequel is a continuation.

Koudelka is a good game, its set before the events of the first shadow hearts and some events from Koudelka are referenced in it.

The 3rd game is an all new story set in america.

[Champloo]

Well I got a bit further with the first and it's picking up. The dialogue is good, despite the iffy translation, but the battles still feel like a real chore to me. I'd also heard the script was genuinely funny but I'm not really seeing it - it seems to take itself seriously.

I'll see how much further I get.

[NeoDragoN]

I loved and finished the first game, i love the combat on it, great story and characters too. 2nd one was also great had that same feel, same sort of quirky characters and settings, loved this too.

The 3rd game i didn't play a lot they changed the setting alot and it just didn't grip me, but definately play through the 1st 2.