Koudelka (1999) (VG)

Director:

Hiroki Kikuta

Writer:

Hiroki Kikuta (scenario)

Release Date:

29 June 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror

Plot:

A psychic gypsy, a holy man, and another man bearing a gun enter an old monistary that had an ominous feeling coming from it...

Plot Keywords:

Role Playing | Sorcery | Video Game | Witchcraft

Cast

Vivianna Bateman	...	Koudelka Iasant (voice)
Michael Bradberry	...	Edward Plunkett (voice) (as Mickael Bradberry)
Scott Larson	...	James O'Flaherty (voice)
Sara Paxton	...	Charlotte (voice)
Gavin Carlton	...	Ogden Hartman (voice)
Denise White	...	Bessy Hartman (voice)
Rob Brownstein	...	Alias (voice)
Brian Kojac	...	Roger Bacon (voice)
Kim A. Weild	...	Elain Heyworth (voice) (as Kim Weild)
Keith Barry	...	Patrick Heyworth (voice)

Country:

Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:M

Company:

Sacnoth

Movie Connections:

Followed by Shadow Hearts II (2004) (VG)

some of the best written dialog in a game

I stumbled across this game while working at a game crazy in 200. i stole it on a whim since i had never heard of it before. it was one of the best things i ever lifted.

set in Wales of 1899, the game begins with an various riding scenes set to an operatic soundtrack, each shot taking it's time to help invoke a sense of isolation. as the game progresses, the main character, Koudelka Iasant, encounters a dieing Edward Plunkett in the abandoned nemeton abbey. saving his life, they continue to search the abbey, later meeting a catholic priest named James O'Flearty, who was sent to the abbey on order from the Vatican to retrieve a certain document that would cast the church in a bad light.

Graphics (7.0):though the graphics are more than a bit dated, for the time they were more than sufficient, and being primarily provendered, continue to be acceptable today. The polygonal characters and monsters don't hold up so well, however, there were some imaginative and nightmarish creature designs.

Sound (7.5): I had a love/hate relationship with the sound in the game. most of the tracks were terrific, but the battle music was repetitive and annoying. the voice acting was a mixed bag. koudelka sounded like a spoiled rich California girl one moment, and sounds perfect for the part the next moment. Edward probably had the most consistent performance, while i wanted to strangle the priest. but that OK, because that is the kind of character he is.

Gameplay (5.0): unfortunately, gameplay was the weakest point in this game. and that can be a killer to most people. it was a mix of survival horror and typical late 90's RPG formulas. it works, but it's dull.

Story/Script (10): this is were the game really shines. the story was killer. for being made in the time it was, i had a VERY mature storyline involving topics such a church related murder, child rape, and drug abuse. sure, nothing new now, but at the time, it was a forerunner. the characters in your party never really get along all too well, occasionally trying to kill each other. and the spoken dialog, despite being said by sub-par voice actors, was some of the best i ever heard in a game. more memorable lines per capita than many movies.

Though many people will not be able to get through the gameplay, i strongly suggest you persevere, as this game will pleasantly shock you over and over again. HIGHLY Recommended!!!!