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Arcana Heart features beautifully rendered 2D graphics and a lot of personality.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: April 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Arcana Heart won't revive the 2d fighter, but it is a nice addition to a market that hasn't seen any new faces in quite some time.

The characters are beautifully rendered and have a lot of personality. Each player has unique fighting abilities. For instance, one character uses a ghoulish staff that she can put into the ground and resurface further in the fighting stage. Another character is surrounded by a mass of water that she can morph into various forms. Arcana Heart's odd style resembles the Dark Stalker and Guilty Gear series.

Arcana Heart isn't completely innocent when it comes to exploitation, but it is nowhere near as bad as the Dead or Alive series.

My biggest complaint would be the speed in which the characters fight. Arcana Heart is in serious need of a turbo mode. Speaking of modes, Arcana Heart is limited only to a story, arcade, and vs mode. A minor gripe would be hat the music is very generic.

If you are a 2d fighting fan, I would say pick up Arcana Heart. Just don't expect a fresh experience.

A nice fighting game with an all-female cast for those who like catfights

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I would've scored this higher if I were more than a casual fan of fighting games. As such, I don't know much about the complexities of canceling one move into another to extend a chain of hits or chasing an opponent into the air for an air combo or what moves work best in building an infinite combo. I just like to have fun. Fair warning, this game WILL give your thumbs a workout (I got blisters and my thumb was sore for a few days) and the last boss is the definition of cheap, so be ready for a lot of do-overs, cursing and urges to throw your controller at the TV.

The cast of characters is fairly standard with a starting lineup of 11 playable characters, plus the choice of Arcanas, or guardian spirits, before the match can allow for different play styles and new moves. I've only played with 2 characters so far, and only managed to beat it with one after a lot of frustration, so if you really like fighting games or are a fan of the Guilty Gear series and want something else to play in the meanwhile you'll probably get a kick out of this game. Anyone else, I'd advise a rental first to see if this is your speed.

A cute, interesting fighter, great for anime lovers.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: April 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I am so extremely pleased that Atlus picked up Arcana Heart for US release. I wanted to play it so much that earlier this year I was looking at prices for import PS2s. Imagine my excitement to see it sitting on a shelf at a game store a week ago. I really did NOT think this type of game would be a candidate for localization, but it's great that it was.

Why didn't I think it would be? Well, the game's very obviously aimed at anime fans, chiefly male. It's funny that people have alleged that a male would be "gay" for playing this game, because the cute female characters are meant to attract a male audience. All the girls have popular "moe" characteristics. "Moe" basically means a huge interest, love, or fetish for a thing or a particular characteristic- there are, for example, people who are very, very interested trains, and for those people, trains would be moe. But chiefly the word is used to describe anime and video game characters. You can consider anything moe, but some of the larger ones are things like glasses-wearing girl (meganekko), maid, catgirl (nekomimi), tsundere (someone with a distant or argumentative personality but who is actually loving), and so forth. All of these and many more are represented in Arcana Heart. You'll see everything represented from swimsuits to priestesses to gothic lolita.

There is, of course, a LOT of fanservice, but for the most part it's nothing very racy. A lot of the "sex appeal" comes from these moe characteristics being present rather than nudity. Even if you're not interested in any sexual aspect, you can appreciate the characters for being what they are- REALLY cute and lovable. When I play it, I'm exclaming, "Awwww!" every few minutes, because the girls are so darn adorable.

The graphics are great, both the 2D battles and the anime-style cutscene illustrations. This game is super pleasing on the eye in every aspect. The battle graphics are fluid and have a fresh, bright quality and the stages have lots of life and detail. The music is pretty nice, too, and the girls have the cutest voices.

There is a story mode, and each character has her own little storyline comprised of dialogs with the other characters. The stories I've played through so far have been nothing earthshaking and they don't have much plot, but they are very cute, amusing, and full of pretty pictures, so I'm not complaining. They also demonstrate the relationships between various characters, which is always nice.

As for gameplay, it's pretty good- not revolutionary, but fun. There are 11 playable girls and 11 usable arcanas. Each girl, of course, has her own "Maiden" moves. Lieselotte, for example, fights with a possessed doll which she can keep inside her briefcase for stronger physical hits, or whom she can release to move around and fight on its own. The priestess Maori can call in her sisters during battle for attacks. The different arcanas each have a specific element and grant you some moves and various special powers- one allows you to use lightning strikes, another enables you to poison your foe, and so forth. Aerial combat is a prominent feature of this game. You can go EXTREMELY high into the air, higher than any fighter I've ever played, and many attacks still work in the air.

Like most fighting games, you have a Super Meter in order to store up a "Super" and use special attacks. You can save up to 9 Supers, and using a Maiden or Arcana special attack will drain 1 Super. You also have a Homing Meter, which looks like three smaller meters. Certain abilities allow you to home in upon your opponent, and using one of these will take away one bar from the Homing Meter. They refill over the course of the battle.

Another thing you can do is call upon your Arcana, called the Arcana Force. This will refill your Homing Meter instantly but it will also drain your Super Meter constantly. The more Supers you have saved up, the longer an Arcana Force will last. While an Arcana Force is active, you'll get different abilities based upon the Arcana you are using. If you use Dieu Mort, for example, the Arcana of Poison, your physical attacks will poison the enemy during an Arcana Force. Finally, there is one special attack called the Arcana Blaze you can only do during an Arcana Force, and it is very powerful, but it will drain your Super Meter back to zero.

This is not a game that leads itself to button mashing, and you do have to strategize. It's slower paced than other fighting games, but you REALLY have to make use of that time. You have to become familiar with a character's moves and come up with tactics. It's a process of trial and error and it can be frustrating but as you become familiar with a character it isn't so hard. My biggest complaint is probably that, to me at least, combos don't feel very fluid and can be tough to pull off. I love combos, so this is sort of a bummer for me. It's not so bad, though, and I still get tons of enjoyment out of the game.

Based on my minor gameplay gripes, lack of revolutionary content, and the fact that it's just not a game that's for everyone, I give it a 4 rather than a 5. But if you enjoy 2D fighters and love the anime aesthetic as much as I do, it's definitely a worthy addition to your collection. The characters are cute, quirky, varied, and engaging; they really make the game an experience. So for fun, I give it a 5/5.

Pretty darn entertaining

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 09, 2008
Author: Amazon User

In an era where you really don't -see- many 2D fighting games, it's great to see a well put together package like this getting localized.

While it's not a member of a well known franchise, Arcana Heart is a well balanced, well put together game with a wide variety of characters - even if they -are- all funny looking teenage moe-stereotype girls. The gameplay is fast paced and agressive without being spazzy, and the depth of options is significant without being overwhelming.

The single player mode is good for some fun (Though the final boss is SNK-style cheap) but like all fighting games, it really shines in two player play.

Still, if you're a fan of 2D fighters, this one competes favorably even against the more famous entries in the genre.

Surprisingly good 2-D fighter

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: May 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Atlus' Arcana Heart is for truly devoted fans of the 2-D fighter and it shows. Featuring an all female fighting roster, Arcana Heart features a surprisingly deep fighting system and an interesting, obviosuly anime-inspired art design to boot. The animation is fluid and looks very good, the storyline and characters are quirky, and the Japanese flair overall is ever-present as well, although there are some issues to be found the deeper you get in the game. For starters, some may find the loading time to be a little on the long side, while others may have a hard time getting into Arcana Heart's play style and unique fighting mechanics. Make no mistake that Arcana Heart is not meant for the mainstream fighting gamer, but for hardcore fans of the 2-D fighting genre that don't mind an anime flavor. If that sounds like your thing, you'll have a blast with Arcana Heart, and the budget price tag certainly doesn't hurt things either.

Fun Game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 16, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Arcana Hearts is a little more than another old-school 2d fighter. Button mashing will get you killed (quickly), and the learning curve can be a little sharp. Overall, this is a fun game, and recommended for any one familiar with the Guilty Gear series, though it's not quite as frantic or fast paced. Good starter/warmup, though.

good game, not for everyone

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Arcana Hearts is a good fighting game. Superficially, it may seem weird with the all girl cast but do not let that fool you into thinking it has little value.
Graphics - 8/10 A bright and colorful game, solid framerate and smooth character motions. Character design is not the best I have seen in a fighting game, but graphically, its as good looking as a guilty gear game, which means it looks way better than any streetfighter game.

Audio - 6.5/10 Don't know what you were expecting in this category, music is forgettable, sound effects are well done, I think very few fighting games have good music.

Gameplay - 7/10 The speed of the game is a little slower than I expected it to be, I suppose much like Guilty Gear, but the battles themselves are a lot of fun. The character moves vary from limited to expansive for various characters and depending on who you choose to play with the gameplay can get repetitive or remain dynamic. Definitely a lot of innovative features that set it apart from other games, or at least copied from really good ones.

Overall - 7/10 Not for everyone, but if you like fighting games with features not found in other games, give this a try.

the fighter for non figher fans

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 20, 2008
Author: Amazon User

people not into fighting games looking for something laid back and just fun to play should give this one a shot. not hard to get into just pick up and play. Good graphics and sound effects make arcana heart that much better. Cute characters and great voice acting are some of the highlights.

Game for only the anime fans

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: June 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game doesn't really stand out in the sea of fighting games as far as game play. What make this stand out is that, and I hate to say it, its a novelty game for anime fans to have to play for a good 15 - 30 mins. I am not a hardcore gamer, and if I were, I would give this game a lower rating. Being the anime fan that I am, I love the all female cast in this game. Only pick up this game if you are just want to play this game, beat it and then trade it in, or buying it to be part of your anime collection of video games.

Don't be a band wagon yokol. If you love 2D fighters purchase this game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 25 / 30
Date: April 15, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is a fighter that likely has caused more controversy than God Of War and San Andreas. You'd think an all girl 2D fighter with very few vulgarities would not be a big deal to our sensibilities. After all we watched boobies bounce in rumble roses and noone raised a stink. We watched panty shots and string thongs in DOA beach volley ball and like-wise everyone gave "yays!" across the board. Arcana Heart doesn't exploit its' characters as sex objects though admittedly Mildred and the android china doll Mei Fang have the usual voluptuous assets.

To be honest Arcana Heart is no more controversial than what you'll see in a campy Saturday morning cartoon or on an episode of Sailor Moon/Inuyasha. You have 11 selectable cute girls who have all befriended elemental spirits called Arcana. When I say cute here I commonly mean "adorable" instead of sexy hawt. There is a difference between those distinctions. The goals of each heroine are somewhat unique but they all must face Mildred Avalon, a callous angel ice queen that is willing to bring about Armageddon just so she can become an Arch angel. As expected her goal to merge our world with the elemental world would result in billions of lost lives. Only you (Heart) and your entourage of friends can stop her. Sound like cutesy general audience anime fan fare? Well that's just it. For the most part it is. Yes there are suggestive themes but even Naruto and Pokemon have suggestive themes. Come to think of it He Man and Thunder Cats had suggestive themes too.

Anyway back to that later. Though by story line each girl has an Arcana they specifically befriended you can equip each fighter with any of the 11 Arcana you want. This has limitless potential for a lot of possible power up combinations as each Arcana interacts with every girl a bit differently. Arcana do various things. Some can for example speed you up , slow time, entangle enemies in vines, drop boulders on the heads of your foes, rush at enemies for a brief cameo summon attack, or give you bonuses that will effect your jumping, falling, defense, and recovery time. These are very basic examples mind you. There's a lot more to it.

The only critique I have is things feel slow and floaty. Yes you can dash forward in the air and double jump or even run across the ground, however when not doing these actions you are not fluid in the least bit. Also do not expect matches to end as quick as they do in King of fighters or Street fighter alpha 3 max. Arcana Heart heavily emphasizes patient games of cat and mouse. Button mashing will not get you that far even on the easiest possible difficulty. Picture Guilty Gear XX if it was not as cheap and running at half its' normal speed and you end up with this game.

However before you lament remember some of these faults are a blessing in disguise. This is a fighter that encourages you to use your noggin. It is a fair fighter in which everyone stands on an equal playing field. In most brawlers corner trapping and knowing each fighter's special moves will get gamers by on cheapness alone. Not so with Arcana Heart.

So what of the characters? Yes there are not many here. Only 12, and that is including Mildred who is the boss. However though these characters proudly wear cutesy anime cliches on their sleeves they all have more personality, more soul, and more originality than most of the fem fatale fighter girls already out there. Heart is the sweet innocent cheer leader girl that cares for both friends and enemies alike. Saki is a wealthy daughter to a businessman who regrets not saving her best friend Fiona. Kamui is the typical quick blade drawing samurai girl in a black uniform cliché yet there is much more to her than that. Konaha is a cute part dog ninja girl. Lilica is a kind hearted yet trouble making part demon girl prankster on roller blades. There is also Yoriko a meek and shy witch whose polymorphed staff is actually a demon lord, and Lieselotte, a gothic lolita from Germany that carries the soul of her sister in a possessed doll. I'd go on but you get the point. These girls radiate with personality and on top of that their sprites are so life-like they out-shine Guilty Gear XX and even Street Fighter III third strike. Perhaps seeing the moving mouths and blinking expressive eyes of pixilated cuties will go unnoticed to some but if you ever loved and admired 2D sprite work you'll realize the artists and programmers working on Arcana Heart pulled off something incredible.

As far as the sound goes this is a sore spot with many people that own the game. However I found the music for each stage matched up pretty well to create the intended mood. There are not many tracks but the ones that are here shine.

With so much going for it you may still ask why many will log onto topic threads just to heckle it. The equation is simple.

First you create a fighting game about young girls and elemental spirits . You add good characters, a decent plot, and great fighting physics.

Secondly you release it to the masses. As you know individuals are smart but masses never are. Two camps of ignorant slack jawed yokols arise. The first camp chortles that this game is for pedophiles and the second camp of inbred idiots draws the conclusion if you like a fighter with only girls in it you must be gay. (Not that homosexuality IS necessarily a bad thing. But homophobic beer swilling frat boys feel threatened by anything that is different.) Though the game is a "fighter" and not a hentai sex game the yokols are convinced it must be the fusion of satanic energies with underage horny school girls. Yes, seems like they protest too much. After all they were the first people to throw accusations and see Arcana Heart from that twisted perspective. Another words these yokols were the first people to perceive the cute girls in Arcana heart in a sexual manner. The rest of us on the other hand were just excited we were getting another great 2D brawler from Atlus that had a deeper element to it through the Arcana system.

Case and point. There have been cartoons and games using young girls as characters since the early 80's. Before that we had Alice in wonder land and Nancy drew. Just because said properties focus around young girl heroes and villains does that mean if you are a guy that enjoys them you're out surfing for underage jail bait? No. It doesn't.

As with the above mentioned intellectual properties Arcana Heart is fun with a good story line and a likable cast. In any cohesive series THAT is what keeps people of any age hooked. I know a lot of adults for example that read Harry Potter and they're on average normal people that simply have their inner children still alive . Many adults like putting themselves in the roles of younger characters just because it makes them feel young again themselves.

In closing my point is if you are a 2D fighter fan you should at least try Arcana Heart. Have a back-bone. Don't join the ignorant torch bearers on the fence just because you are afraid your masculinity or maturity will be questioned. If people are going to judge you over the fact you play this game they are in need of professional psychological help. You have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

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