Shadow Hearts 2: Covenant

This would be one of the best RPGs I've played... if my disc would stop hanging in cutscenes! I have to skip 1 in 3 cutscenes because it hangs, so I only have a brief idea of the story.

Anyway, at least the best point in the game wasn't affected. What else could I be referring to other than the Judgement Ring System? Unlike other RPGs where you select a command and rely on luck for criticals and misses, this game allows you to pre-determine the result of your action by pressing 'X' in specific areas.

In other words, it's a definite 'Miss" if you don't hit the area, a normal hit in an orange or blue area, and a high-damage hit in a red area. Simple, addictive and bloody tough to master. If you ever decide to increase the size or number of areas, you'll have to practice again to make sure you hit the red area.

Another point I like about this game is that it throws in some nice humour despite the supposedly dark and serious atmosphere. I mean, read the following script of a pre-boss battle.

Boss: How do you like my tour of hell?
Yuri: You're a lousy guide.
Boss: Well then, allow me to show you what hell really looks like.
Anastasia: (whispering) I wonder how he floats like that...
Joachim: It'd be pretty cool if we could do that.
Anastasia: Yeah!
Boss: Stop that chatting! I'm going to send all of you to hell!
Lucia: It must be that pillow he's sitting on.
Joachim: You think so?
Lucia: I'm sure of it!
Boss: Any last words before I send you all through the gates of hell?
Yuri: Just one thing. Where did you get that pillow?
Boss: (Seriously pissed) GRAAAGH!!
Boss fight ensues.

There were other things too. Like that Arabian wrestler guy and the two pondan item sellers and also that Ring Soul (he's a flame with two rings circulating around it) who keeps complaining about his wife and kids... and how Yuri never shows him any respect.

Yuri is also afraid of ghosts and spirits even though he can fuse with souls to turn into powerful monsters.

I think, out of the whole party, Karin was the only one who kept serious throughout the whole story.

Let's see. Yuri taunts his opponents (intentionally or not) in funny ways. Joachim is a nice person but tends to excessively boasts his warrior's spirit and manliness. Anastasia always gets Joachim in trouble. Geppetto adds on to Yuri's humour occasionally. Blanca is a wolf who keeps getting into trouble with other wolves even though he did nothing. Lucia keeps saying pessimistic things that makes the party just feel down. Ah, yes! There's Kurando! He's been pretty serious... but he only appeared in disc 2 and so far has no actual importance to the story once you settle problems in Japan.

Well, I seem to have talked a little too much. That will be all for today, Jeeves. Yes, my butler is typing this. Since when did I have a butler? Well, why don't you think for yourself?