The Let's Play Archive

Shadow Hearts: Covenant

by The Dark Id

Part 18: Episode XVIII: Wino ~Redux~



Episode XVIII: Wino ~REDUX~


Music: Old Smudged Map ~ Europe




Did you know there is a Wine Cellar in France? I mean, of course, you knew that. But were you aware back in 1915 there was just the one? It's true! Shadow Hearts: Covenant wouldn't stretch the historical truth. In any event, we're going there now to rescue those kidnapped orphans. With hope, this time they won't turn out to practice necromancy, soul transfusions or be boiled down into bio-mass to resurrect anyone.


Music: In Darkness of a Labyrinth ~ Dungeon




For this segment of the game, Joachim is now team leader for the dungeon. The only thing this changed is Joachim must be in the active party. Other than that, I find his run cycle very funny. He looks like he shat his pants but is just going to have to make due since he's in a hurry... for Justice!



Observe! Anyway, after we walk a short trek into this region we find...



Where are the children?! Don't try to get in our way!




Music: Vicious 1915 ~ Battle in Europe




Diplomacy has failed! They will, in fact, be getting in our way. This rabble is the same Thugs and Fat Thugs we saw back in Le Havre. They didn't stand a chance against the party when an old puppeteer with a weird Lolita magic doll was our fourth companion.



Now that it has been replaced by a vampire luchador wrestler on the current roster...?


Music: Result ~ Victory




<flexes> Master! A man's road is a hard one!



Yeah... It doesn't improve their chances...

Last few bars of Joachim's Theme then silence.





Why don't you just morph yourself?
I do it all the time. It's VERY useful...
<looks at Yuri> I already told you. Yuma has my mask.



What's that got to do with anything?
Tsk tsk.



A hero has to have one or two weak points, you know. Nobody loves a perfect superhero.
Nobody would like a super man!



.....
Your brains are enough of a weak point, if you ask me.
Your fashion sense ain't far behind for that matter.


Music: In Darkness of a Labyrinth ~ Dungeon




Nobody asked you, Yuri. You don't have to be such of a dick. Joachim is living his best life.





I, however, am not. Having a bad time of it lately if I'm being real. And this dungeon is not helping? It is a very dull series of corridors like this...



...Broken up by side rooms to the west or east like this. And of course...


Music: Vicious 1915 ~ Battle in Europe






Random battles are plentiful. It's just the Thug and Fat Thug jobbers in this first segment. If they get a chance to attack mistakes have been made. These guys may as well be Level 1 rats in a tutorial dungeon.


Music: In Darkness of a Labyrinth ~ Dungeon




Beyond that, the side rooms are stacks of boxes the party needs to navigate. At the far end, we find...





Treasure chests with some loot such as another Bhodi Bracelet. We'll put this one on Blanca since he is taking over for Gepetto as a support unit for this dungeon.





On the way out there is also a Seal of Wisdom. I haven't mentioned it yet but Seals still work as they did in Shadow Hearts 1. You can use them in the inventory for +1 or in Battle for +2 and +3 if you hit the Judgment Ring Hit Area. I used all of these off-screen in battles for maximum effect. Definitely didn't save scum because this is a dumb system and the stat boost REALLY doesn't add up much at all worth writing home about; much like they didn't in the first game. Oh boy, we may do two more HP of damage or even GAIN two total HP.



Anyhow, there are a few corridors of wine cellars before...



You're right. ...This atmosphere is aromatic, spicy and pungent, a medium-bodied atmosphere with a crisp finish...



What the hell are you talking about?!
REALLY?! That was a good bit and NOTHING from you all? Tch. Buncha philistines, sheesh.
<grumbles>
Alice would have laughed at that one...

<shakes head> Let's just be careful, that's all.





The only change in atmosphere here are some very rudimentary puzzles. Or... switch flipping, more accurately. That counts as a puzzle, right?



But before that, the heady, crisp bouquet of more loot beckons in a small hidden alcove.



I'm not too keen on eating the moon. What is it a nut that tastes like cheese? Gross either way. But it is the next tier upgrade of the MP restorative items. It recovers 100 MP a pop. A little overkill considering our current MP levels. But that will not always be the case.



Beyond that, as mentioned earlier, there's a mindboggling puzzle to unlock this door at the back of the cluttered sideroom. I hope you can keep up with the detailed instructions ahead.





Right next to the door, no more than about five feet is a mysterious panel. This turns out to be a switch of some sorts. If Joachim can muster the intelligence to pull this from off to the on position well... brace yourselves!



The door opens! I know. I was shocked as you likely were the first time I solved this one. A ladder also lowers to allow quick access out of this room. But details.



If we head into the door, we find what they meant by the atmosphere of the dungeon changing.


Music: Vicious 1915 ~ Battle in Europe




There are new monsters to battle, of course. Pest control in the latter parts of this wine cellar is not up to code as all the attacking creatures are of the giant insect variety.



The omnipresent giant roaches that have appeared in every game in the series thus far make their triumphant return. This time they are going by the name Gregor. If only we had some apples to wing at this thing. This is a Dark Element enemy with 32 HP.



There are also Roach Queens here which... I honestly cannot tell the difference between it and a Gregor. It just happens to have twice as much HP. Though we will be convicted of regicide by the roach kingdom for slaying it, all the same. Dark Element with 53 HP.



Finally, there are centipedes. The hardiest of the pest trio of the cellar, with a respectable 62 HP. They're also most annoying of three since their attacks inflict Poison. Fire Elemental enemy, if that matters.


Music: In Darkness of a Labyrinth ~ Dungeon




Continuing further into the labyrinthine booze basement, there's another Lottery Ticket just down a side corridor. Unlike the first Shadow Hearts, Lottery Tickets seem to be a bit more divided between ones that are just freebies in chests and ones that are point and click adventure game level pixel hunts. I'm OK with more of the former, personally.





More dungeon crawling awaits. But with it, more treasure!



efficacious [ ef-i-key-shuh s ]
adjective
1. capable of having the desired result or effect; effective as a means, measure, remedy, etc.:

Ah. It's "effective" if you want to be a smart-sounding douchebag. Either way, much like the Mana Seed this is the next tier of HP healing items with a 150 HP restorative on use.





Other loot in the cellar includes this little trinket. The description is rather vague, but this prevents the Mental Break status effect from being inflicted (the one that is basically poison but for MP instead of HP.) Also, a 1+ Special Defense as a very small added bonus. We'll slap that on Blanca since he has taken over for Gepetto on healing duty.





We are closing in on the conclusion of the dungeon, evident by the fact there is a save point and a more ominous than normal set of double doors at the far end. But there is one more particularly important treasure we want to nab before we go rescue those orphan. We have to have our priorities, after all.





Flipping a switch at the western part of this room will unlock a path on the opposite eastern side. Trotting in here and ransacking the joint will net us...





A new magic crest -- Raum. This gives the ability to imbue characters with Dark Elemental affinity for a fight and a somewhat decent Dark element magic spell. Unfortunately, it has a fairly hefty 5 DCP and... we're not fighting any White elemental enemies in the near future. So we'll just tuck this one away for a rainy day.



That is just about everything we can do in the Wine Cellar for this visit at least so let's kick open these doors and get to rescuing some children, eh?



Within we discover the Mayor, Cole and a pair of out of control evil anime boobs.



Barf.
(He just muttered the word barf for no reason.)




I am unconscious.
(He just said out loud he was unconscious. These boys need to go back to the remedial league if this is how they're going to sell their bumps.)



Music: Veronica Vera ~ Her Majesty, The Queen




Well, we may as well get this over with. What's cracking, Veronica? What's up with the child abduction? That's not how you get ahead selling yourself as evil.



Big brother!!



Ho ho ho ho! I knew you fools would show up sooner or later.
Wh-Who are you?!
Another weirdo. Watch out. She's probably about to drop the monster of the week here and then run off.



I have been tricked and defeated. Ugh.
Barf!






<whips the air>


Music: Suffocation ~ Grim Atmosphere




<chuckles>



<points at Veronica> You with the silly outfit! How dare you take my family!



<performs sentai hero poses> I, Joachim, will make you pay for your crimes! Ah!



......
<briefly gets pissed> Silly outfit, huh!?



<regains composure and smiles> My name is Veronica, if you must know.
<whips the air> But the time for talk is over!



Joachim adopts a fighting stance and...



YAAH!



UGH! ARGH!!



By gawd! She's killed him! It's a real slobber knocker!



Joachim!!
Big brother!!



......
...What is he doing?
He's overselling this too much. He's losing the crowd, man...





Yuma manages to free herself from her binds. She immediately takes off her head ornament. But what's this? MOTHER OF GOD is that the Grand Papillion's mask?! Is she tagging him in?!

Music: ENDS



...Huh?



...No, for real. Am I missing something?



Lord have mercy! Joachim has damn well near been broken in half! He's struggling just to make the tag.






Music: Grand Papillon!! ~ Pro Wrestler




<looks around bewildered> Wh-what's going on?!
Who started that music? Where is it even coming from?!



Champion of Truth and Justice...



Grand Papillon! Ready to fight all evildoers!



...Huh?
Yeah, he's just like that. You gotta roll with it or he'll just keep posing and flexing.
Don't help the villain!
Whatever, man. This showboating promo is going on too long.




And with that, Veronica gets pissed and accepts this bout. Tune in next time for top billing match of the show - Veronica vs Grand Papillon!






Video: Episode 18 Highlight Reel
(You should click every video with Joachim being on his bullshit.)









Wine Cellar Concept Art - Yep... that sure is a cellar for wine.