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Rating: 
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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.
Rating: 
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I'm glad I bought Arcana Heart for PS2. Cute anime intro, all-girl cast of fighters (11 in all), an interesting combo system (a little of Marvel vs Capcom and King of Fighters.) Atlus brought this to the US thankfully. Original game by EXAMU Inc./AQI.
Highly recommended if you love 2-D fighting games with fluid "hand-drawn" animation.
Rating: -
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.
Rating: 
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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.
Rating: -
To keep things from spiraling out of control word count wise, I'll just say that this is a great fighter with a very mature combat engine and wonderful art. The control scheme is not simple, but it is tweaked to make most of the fireball and uppercut type moves easier on the thumbs. You are entering the same kind of movements ie: | \ - + A , but they come off easier and with little frustration. This said any fighter fan worth his salt will be throwing out combos from the impressive move list in no time at all. Also, the stiff AI will draw you into epic back and forth fights that will really grab you. Top this off with a boss that hearkens back to the days of KOF94' and Art of Fighting... tough as nails. Real fighter fans will appreciate that.
The other part of the game naturally is the art. The ladies are essentially a review of every anime/moe female stereotype possible. There are maids, animal-girls, serious girls, free-sprited girls, younger girls, gothic girls, demon girls and robot girls. I for one love it. Sure it's exploitative of the male psyche, but I happen to have a male psyche so I don't mind. (mind... get it? HAR!)
Put these two together and you have a great package for good money. It's not a Soul Calibur with tons of unlockables, it's for people who like to brawl basically. Also it should be said the story is fun if not terribly good, so if you want great fiction try the library. Even with these small flaws, it's an easy five star production. Why don't you thank Atlus for having the good sense to bring the game to the States and BUY it!
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