History VideoGame / ShadowHearts1

''Shadow Hearts'' is the first game in the [[VideoGame/ShadowHearts eponymous series]] of {{Eastern RPG}}s. The game was released in 2001 for UsefulNotes/Playstation2. The game was followed by direct sequel, called ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant''.

* BittersweetEnding: The game ends with the world saved, but [[spoiler:Alice dies to Four Mask's curse]]. The ending credits also confirm that UsefulNotes/TheGreatWar begins shorly after.

%%** Alice's solo fight against Olga in your second visit to Prague. Alice is a WhiteMagicianGirl.

Set in 1913, the game follows Yuri Volte Hyuga, a badass, yet [[IdiotHero stupid]] IneffectualLoner with a [[SpiritAdvisor mysterious voice]] in his head. Following its advice, Yuri saves a young girl named Alice, who wields the power of WhiteMagic, and is sought after for it by the bad guys. Yuri takes it on himself to protect Alice, and to stop schemes of a warlock, who tries to use her power for himself.

* AlternateWorldMap: Well, not world, but rather region. During the TimeSkip the party travels from Asia to Europe, which serves as a new world map.

* BittersweetEnding: The game ends with the world saved, but [[spoiler:Alice dies to Four Mask curse]]. Ending credits also confirm that UsefulNotes/TheGreatWar begins shorly after.
* {{Bookends}}: The game begins and ends with a train ride. Train is also a place where [[spoiler:Yuri first meets Alice, and loses her]].

** PlayedForDrama in [[spoiler:Alice's fight against Atman. If she loses the battle, it means that she succumbs to the Four Mask curse and will eventually die. And there's no one to help her, making the battle [[HopelessBossFight unwinnable]] in normal playthrough]]. However, if the player completes the sidequest, this trope is averted, and [[spoiler:Yuri comes to her aid and saves her, leading to the good ending]].

** Shanghai briefly turns into one when it's overrun by Japanese army.

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: After some CharacterDevelopment Alice declares that she is not afraid anymore. This, however, doesn't affect her SP or panicked battle quotes at all.

* InterfaceSpoiler: When in Europe part [[spoiler:Alice goes to Rouen by herself]], the {{Big Bad}}'s profile updates, spoiling a very large plot twist shortly before the cutscene where you're supposed to learn it.
* LovecraftLite: The game revolves around a couple of insane warlocks who try to summon otherwordly abominations to destroy the world. In the end, however, these plans are foiled by the same people they tortured to acieve their goals, and all otherwordly abominations get their asses handed to them.
* MinimalisticCoverArt: Japanese cover art shows the game's logo over the Judgement Ring - and that's it.

** Cherubim, met in the Cave Temple, guards Zhuzhen's best weapon, and is basically a bigger, meaner version of Seraphim, with '''2,5''' times more HP, and the dreaded HPToOne "!!!" spell. Oh, and magic ''heals'' it.

* TimeSkip: About halfway through the game the story skips six months forward, which allows characters to travel to Europe in plausible time.

* VillainHasAPoint: [[spoiler:Cardinal Albert Simon]], the Big Bad of the game, wants to wipe out humanity and restart civilisation because of the brutal repression of human elites. The party doesn't even disagree with him about the repression, but still fights him because of the loss of innocent lives. [[spoiler:The sequel reveals that his actions in the previous game were a misguided attempt to another, even worse villain.]]
-->'''[[spoiler:Albert Simon]]''': ''Only an illusion of peace exists in the superficial calm of our lives. In fact, the blood and tears of the poor are sacrificed daily by a handful of elite power-mongers. No matter how far science and technology advance, repression will never cease. We’re only human. Whenever the calls for revolution turn into concrete action, instigators are met by the full resistance of the elite, who stop at nothing to keep their power.''

* TheVoice: The voice in Yuri's head guides him through the events of the game. If he falls out of line, it punishes him with a severe headache. Later the voice is revealed to be [[spoiler:Koudelka, imprisoned by Albert Simon]]. It's implied that Yuri is susceptible to the voice due to his fusion powers.

** It is made clear the reclusive Father Hans Doyle knows something about Alice's father, but he is killed by Olga before he can say anything. Upon looking through Doyle's belongings, Alice finds a photo of him with Albert Simon, who Alice's father went to see before Bacon ambushed and killed him and who owned the mansion Jack bought before going insane - revealing that the elusive witness of the mysteries, Cardinal Albert Simon [[spoiler:is none other than "Roger Bacon" himself]].

** Alice's solo fight agains Olga in your second visit to Prague. Alice is a WhiteMagicianGirl, so this fight is generally regarded as a huge DifficultySpike.

** Keith's fight against the Golden Bat in his sidequest. He must deal 1500 HP worth of damage in five turns, before the Bat kills him on sixth.

* InterfaceSpoiler:
** You can check the weapon shop in Bistriz and find here a new weapon type (namely, swords), before you get the party member who can use them.
** When in Europe part [[spoiler:Alice goes to Rouen by herself]], the {{Big Bad}}'s profile updates, spoiling a very large plot twist shortly before the cutscene where you're supposed to learn it.

* PermanentlyMissableContent: Forgot to do something in Asia? Well, after the TimeSkip it's gone forever. {{Justified}}, because the party can't go back in any reasonable amount of time.

** The final fusion soul, [[spoiler:Seraphic Radiance]]. It has two forms, namely [[spoiler:Ben Hyuga, Yuri's father, who then fuses into Seraphic Radiance proper]]. The boss hits like a truck, and in the second phase gauns an attack that heals it. Naturally, it's [[DuelBoss fought with Yuri alone]].

* BittersweetEnding: The game ends with the world saved, but [[spoiler:Alice dies to Four Mask curse]].

* TheVoice: The voice in Yuri's head guides him through the events of the game. If he falls out of line, it punishes him with a severe headache. Later the voice is revealed to be [[spoiler:Koudelka, imprisoned by Albert Simon]]. It's implied that Yuri is susceptible to the voice due to his fusion powers.

** Zhaoyang Village is a village full of cannibals, that turn into cat demons. TheVoice actually warns that party of it, but Yuri and Alice walk into it on purpose. All villagers here are described as {{Gonk}}s, and the local shrine is full of bones, so the warning wasn't even that necessary.

* HPToOne: Spells "!!!", used by Fox Face, and "Nine Springs", used by the FinalBoss.

** When in Europe part [[spoiler:Alice goes to Rouen by herself]], the {{Big Bad}}'s profile updates, spoiling a very large plot twist shortly before the cutscene where you learn it.

* MinimalisticCoverArt: Japanese cover art shows the game's logo over the Judgement ring - and that's it.