10 Video Games Released At The Wrong Time
9. Shadow Hearts
JRPGs really need to stop going head to head with Final Fantasy.
Following on from Resonance of Fate, Shadow Hearts is another pretty decent game which was all but annihilated under the supreme power of Final Fantasy. It did have one advantage though; the instalment it was competing with, X, is generally thought of as one of the series’ lesser lights.
In a just world, those players seeking battle mechanics, developed casts and a well-told story would have bought Shadow Hearts. Conversely, those seeking a core RPG experience with complex level-up systems and an in-depth inventory would have bought Final Fantasy.
Of course, players who wanted all of that probably should’ve just played Final Fantasy VII again anyway.
In any case, it’s not a just world most of the time and even though Shadow Hearts trounced the competition in some key areas, the name brand won out and a subpar Final Fantasy X won out.
It didn’t help that the voice acting and graphics, two things marketing for a lesser known game heavily relies upon, were pretty ropey too. A shame, but one Shadow Hearts seemed to bring on itself.