I finished the prequal of both, Koudelka and the first Shadow Hearts.
SH1 is good but its graphics is very dated because it was meant for the PSX. It reminds me of some Chinese RPG I played on PC, the story very nice though and it's what kept me going and beaten it, it is a very serious and dark RPG.
I am now on my way through SH2, in disc 2 now. Too bad it continues the bad ending of the first gane.

Take SH1, polish its graphics and put in a better and improved battle system, a lot of humour and side quests, put in a lightier theme and you got SH2.
The graphics is upgraded a lot, everything is nice to look at, the cut scenes are fully voiced over and well acted although very silly sometimes. Yuri is as badass as ever, it is my favourite RPG now, coming close to beat FFX in my opinion.
Once I beat this, I am gonna take the third game that is going to be released in English at March.

Never heard of...
Blinded by the fame Final Fantasies eh?
