Arcana Heart

This game first appeared in arcades, if im not wrong, reached Singapore arcades around the last quarter of 2006. I was on my usual trip for some Guilty Gear XX when i saw this moelicious fighting game. Of course there were also lots of guys playing and waiting to play, fanboys or otakus i believe.

I did get to try, a few months later when the hype around it dropped a little. I totally got owned on the first round by computer. I managed to improve quite a lot now, but i only know how to use Hearto-chan. Unlike GGXX, the combo system is hard to master. I can only do a few that i have “mastered” through youtube lol.

This game has a storyline, but im too lazy to talk more about it ^^.

There are 4 main systems in this game: Homing, Homing Cancel, Guard Cancel and Arcana Action. There are 3 bars of Homing Gauge for u to use, replenishes through time. Press the “D” (Arcana button) to use them.

Homing

Its sort of like a sudden dash into your enemy. Uses up 1 bar.

Homing Cancel

Used for chaining Combos. Just like Roman cancel of GGXX. Lets you do another hit right after the previous move’s animation finishes. This is the hardest part of this game. I always tend to dash to somewhere else instead of the opponent.

Guard Cancel

When guarding, hit forward + D to do a guarding dash towards your opponent. Picture taken at Douby Ghaut ZoneX ^^.

Arcana Action

There are 2 uses for your partner: Arcana. When you feel that your opponent gonna do a omgwtf long combo on you, hit the “A B & C” button simultaneously to break free. Does not come cheap too, uses up 3 bars. Then you will be in an “Arcana Force” mode, depending on which Arcana u choose. Example, your opponent will be poisoned if you land a hit on her if your Arcana is Devil Moore. The mode will be exited either by the time limit or you use the special attack called Arcana Blaze. Another use of Arcana is just another normal move with the use of “semi-circle + D”.

Characters

This game satisfies your fetish/preference with many types of moe elements. Theres the Miko, lolita, gakkou mizugi, megane witch, bloomers and girls with swords.

My favourite character is Daidouji Kira. Im not a lolicon but i admit i have a fetish for school swimsuits. Not really into big oppai characters.

【出演声優】
愛乃はぁと(Hearto) – 高橋美佳子 (also did Caro in Nanoha Strikers)
廿楽冴姫(Saki) – 志村由美 (Kanaria in Rozen Maiden: Träumend)
朱鷺宮神依(Kamui) – 平田宏美 (Riku Mikumo in Venus Versus Virus)
このは(Konoha) – 吉田真弓 (Himeji in Himawari!)
春日舞織(Maori) – 土谷麻貴
美凰(Mei-Fang) – 滝田樹里
リリカ・フェルフネロフ(Lilica) – 仁後真耶子 (Shindou Ayumi in Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~)
リーゼロッテ・アッヒェンバッハ(Lieselotte) – 本多陽子
安栖頼子(Yoriko) – 伊月ゆい (Mizukoshi Moe in D.C. ～ダ・カーポ～)
大道寺きら(Kira) – 綱掛裕美
フィオナ・メイフィールド(Fiona) – 山本麻里安 (Okushiro Irori in Gosyusho-sama Ninomiya-kun)
ミルドレッド・アヴァロン(Mildred) – 菊地由起子

As this game is targeted mostly for otakus/fanboys, they have released quite a few merchandise.

Arcana Heart Drama CD. Hope they will come up with an anime.

Arcana Heart Original Soundtrack

Visual Guidebook

Tele-cards

Rami Cards

Fan-made compilation: HeartFull Beat! -ハートフルビート！by ALiCE’S EMOTION. Available at your nearest pirate websites.

Hearto-chan figure!!!!

PS2 version. Do get it!

Lastly, a bit of fan service.