September 27^th, 2004 (12:00am) - Midway Games Inc. today announced that Shadow Hearts: Covenant has shipped to retail outlets nationwide exclusively for the PlayStation 2. Shadow Hearts: Covenant is a deep, engaging RPG that is set in a fantastical world filled with ancient magic, mystical lore, unspeakable curses and a diabolical plot.

Taking place amidst the chaos of World War I six months after the original Shadow Hearts ended, Yuri and Karin embark on a grand journey to conquer a secret society that is taking advantage of the war to fulfill their evil ambitions. Yuri and Karin must test their powers and magic skills to combat terrifying creatures and conquer the evil that Rasputin’s malevolent society plans to unleash upon the world.

The epic adventure that fills 2 DVDs with over 40 hours of intense gameplay brings back its innovative combat system, The Judgment Ring, allowing players to wield the power necessary to fulfill their destiny. Players must combine split second timing and skillful combat strategy to master the Judgment Ring’s powerful and stackable attacks. The improved Judgment Ring allows players to choose which characters to bring to battle and features new team-based combo attacks and defensive formations. Also featured in Covenant is an inventive magic system where players must build skill sets, strategize gameplay moves, earn and cast spells with a team of complex characters, each with distinct personalities, attributes and magical abilities.