(LAST UPDATE: 3/11/2010)
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Developer(s): Examu
Publisher(s): AQ Interactive (JP), Atlus (NA)
Designer(s): Sakuraitooru
Platform(s): Arcade,
Playstation 2
Release Date(s): December
22nd 2006 (
Arcade), October 11th 2007
( PS2), April 8th 2008
(
PS2)
Characters:
Heart
Aino, Saki Tsuzura, Kamui
Tokinomiya,
Konoha, Maori
Kasuga, Mei-Fang, Lilica
Felchenerow, Lieselotte Achenbach,
Yoriko
Yasuzumi, Kira Daidohji, Fiona
Mayfield, Mildred Avalonne
Related
Games: Arcana Heart 2, Arcana
Heart 2: Suggoi!, Arcana
Heart 3
Review: Arcana Heart is a 2D arcade fighting game featuring an original all-female cast (each a variation of the moe Anime-Girl archetype). After choosing a character the player chooses an "elemental alignment" which determines the character's extra special moves. In mid-April of 2007, a patch was released for Arcana Heart called "Arcana Heart FULL". The patch fixed a variety of issues, toning-down overly-powerful characters and "buffing up" weaker characters.
Graphically, Arcana Heart is a good looking 2D fighter. The "anime-like" animation isn't the smoothest we've seen in a 2D fighting game, but it's smooth where it counts for the most part. Some of the girls' stances look awkward at times, and have some sort of strange "shrinking" effect in certain places; but the sprites, while in action, look pretty awesome most of the time! And to re-iterate, only "some" of the stances look awkward; others (most) look great! Stages are really huge (for 2D) and have really "open" feel to them. Backgrounds are nicely detailed and even have alternate appearances during certain special moves, a nice touch. The sound effects are satisfying for the most part, and a lot of the music is quite catchy, honestly.
As far as
gameplay goes; there's a bit of a learning curve; but overall, it's a simple
and solid combat system... and it's pretty fun too. I certainly haven't
put the time in to "master" the system like I have in other games, but
I do see potential. Characters have your basic weak, medium, and strong
attacks; and one button is used for dashing in various directions; to start
an air combo; or use "extra" special moves... It's actually not
as complicated as it sounds. 
There are of course, alternate priority attacks, tons of special moves;
and flashy super moves! Arcana Heart does seem to borrow a few elements
from the Guilty Gear X series, and at times, feels
very much like Sammy's 2D fighting series, due to the fact that anyone
can air dash back and forward. Personally, I prefer Arcana Heart's air
combo system over Guilty Gear's... A lot of the moves also seem to hurt
more than the Guilty Gear series (ouch factor). As far as character designs
though, Guilty Gear takes the cake... but I have come to enjoy a few of
Arcana Hearts designs.
It's bad enough
that this is an ALL FEMALE fighting game... Hey, don't get me wrong,
there's nothing wrong with girl fighters; but male characters actually
would have been welcomed here. Then again, it might be "wrong" to see male
characters beating up on teenage/pre-teen girls... 
Yup, all the girls of Arcana Heart are indeed "underage"... With the exception
of maybe Mei-Fang (doesn't state her age), none of them are even close
to 18. It's hilarious, and at the same time; a bit wrong. I actually
think Arcana Heart may be directed more toward the female fighting
gamers out there, or towards those who enjoy hentai... It's pretty
obvious actually. The art of this game definitely has a "hentai tone."
Alright, I
gotta say it... It might be hard to find someone to play Arcana Heart
with if you're a "cool guy" like me. 
Your friends might think you're a bit weird (or perverted) for playing
this game on any sort of regular basis, but overall; it's not a bad 2D
fighting game by any means. Great animation & graphics, fun & solid
gameplay, and yet another fine example that 2D fighting games are far
from dead. Arcana Heart 2 released in Japanese
arcades in early 2008, and I've yet to try it out, but it looks to be even
better than the original!
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Closing
Comment: An all female character roster for a fighting game is quite
bold... Even bolder that most of these girls are underage. At first glance I pretty
much had no interest in this game due to the "cutesy anime girls
theme," but I had to try it out (buy it), low expectations and all.
Well, it does remind me a lot of the Guilty Gear X series and very surprisingly,
I actually like the overall gameplay a bit better than the Guilty Gear
X series! There are a few things, however, that I don't like about the
gameplay; the first one being that I "suddenly" cant use certain attacks,
and I also don't like how easy it is to break out of an air combo. Ohh
and what a crappy and cheap boss... 
This "crappy/cheap boss syndrome" in new fighting games really needs to stop.
I've been
playing the game on and off, of course I haven't come close to mastering
the system yet; or even mastering a single character... Playing the AI
isn't bad, but unfortunately, I can't find anyone who wants to play this
game with me... For example: My friend Jet3000 tried it for 5 minutes and
said "He's done with this game." 
I guess when compared to other
"favorite" 2D fighters, of course most of us would still rather
play Street Fighter III: Third Strike
or Marvel VS Capcom 2 for example... There's just
no topping the fun factor of those 2D fighters that set the
bar a long long time ago. Arcana Heart is likely not a fighting
game I'll ever get "serious" about, but there's definitely something
I like about this game and is a cool and different 2D fighter to check out if
you haven't. ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
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