Arcana Heart 3

Arcana Heart 3
European cover art
Developer(s)	Examu
Publisher(s)	Examu (arcade) Arc System Works (console, PC) NA: Aksys Games EU: NIS America (LOVE MAX!!!!! version)
Designer(s)	Sakuraitooru
Series	Arcana Heart
Platform(s)	Arcade PlayStation 3 Xbox 360
Release	Arcade JP: December 22, 2009 PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 JP: January 13, 2011 EU: August 19, 2011 NA: April 19, 2011 (PS3 only)
Genre(s)	2D Versus fighting
Mode(s)	Up to 2 players simultaneously
Cabinet	Upright
Arcade system	EX-BOARD Taito Type X2 (LOVE MAX!!!!!)

Arcana Heart 3 (Japanese: アルカナハート3, Hepburn: Arukana Hāto Surī) is a 2009 2D arcade fighting game developed by Examu (formerly Yuki Enterprise) and published by Arc System Works. It is the third entry in the Arcana Heart series, following the events of Arcana Heart 2.

The game went through location tests in Japan starting in late 2009, and was officially released on December 22, 2009. An official PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 version was later released on January 13, 2011. An American (PlayStation Network only) version was released on April 19, 2011 by Aksys Games^[1][2] and in Europe on August 19, 2011 by Zen United.

An update for the game, called Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! (Japanese: アルカナハート3 LOVE MAX!!!!!, Hepburn: Arukana Hāto Surī LOVE MAX!!!!!), with rebalanced gameplay new gameplay modes, was released in Japan on May 8, 2013 for Arcades, and later released for PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Windows.^[3][4] This was followed by Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX SIX STARS!!!!!, which was released in the winter of 2015.^[5]

Gameplay

Arcana Heart 3 continues the series' usage of Arcana, or celestial beings based on the characters from the Tarot. In addition to the 23 playable characters, the 23 Arcana each have their own unique powers, to augment the abilities of the girls.

The game adds a Force Gauge to the fight system. When completely filled, the Force Gauge allows the player to perform an Extend Force, a maneuver similar to the Arcana Burst from earlier games. The game also adds a "Simple Mode" which simplifies the control layout into a single button for each major function: one button for normal attacks, one button for special moves, one button for moves involving Arcana, and one button for the game's Homing Dash ability. The console versions have a fully voiced story mode and HD anime graphics for super moves. They also include training mode, score attack, and online play.

Plot

The game's setting takes place in a fictional, somewhat futuristic Japan combined with fantasy elements. In the previous game, Arcana Heart 2, a dimensional distortion occurred in the country's Kanto region, caused by the primordial being known as Angelia Avallone. This event came to be known as the "Great Kanto Incident." The international Holy Spirit Institutions suffered harshly after the "Great Kanto Incident," but restoration has begun and about two months have elapsed.

In this time, a family that had received technical assistance during the war in Europe created "The Drexler Institution" to resume its activities around the world. The Drexler Institution was hiding in Japan. Western Europe was devastated by the Office of the Holy Spirit led by Mildred who had since defected. The West Branch of the Holy Spirit Rosenberg Agency had to be completely reconstituted. Shortly thereafter, a large number of dimensional distortions were observed throughout Japan. "Drexler" was a little unusual and unnatural with its authority behind the scenes too. Japan embarked on a convergence of the Holy Office to gain control of the situation. They were looking closely into part of an area in Japan that educates several "Maidens". This newcomer given the ability of a "Maiden" had begun her activities from the branch in Rosenberg. With the authority acquired from Drexler, a major order had been given to sink the entirety of Japan after six days

Characters

Arcana Heart 3 released with a cast of 23 playable characters, with twenty returning from previous games in the series and three new playable characters (and corresponding Arcana).^[6] The LOVEMAX SIX STARS!!!!!! update introduced a fourth character on release. As part of a stretch goal of the Kickstarter campaign for the Steam release of LOVEMAX SIX STARS!!!!!!, a fifth new character was added.

Introduced in Arcana Heart 3

• Weiß (ヴァイス, Vaisu)

Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro^[7][8]

Weiß (ヴァイス, Vaisu) is the last and newest of the three main protagonists of the game, alongside Heart Aino and Petra Johanna Lagerkvist. She is a girl working in a secret company named "Valkyria", a branch of the Drexler Institute. She is sent to investigate the cause of the catastrophe that is happening around and to stand on one's own. Little is known about her. Her Arcana is Gottfried, the Arcana of Sword, an artificial Arcana called a Geist which takes its name from Gottfried Feder. Drexler has developed an armored Holy Spirit inspired by the Norse war god Tyr.^[9]

• Scharlachrot (シャルラッハロート, Sharurahharōto)

Voiced by: Yuki Matsuoka^[10]

Scharlachrot (シャルラッハロート, Sharurahharōto), the main antagonist of the game, is another one of the young girls trained by the Drexler Institute, much like Weiß. However, Scharlachrot stands against her in an extremely obsessive manner bordering on dependence. After the organization was taken down by Petra, Scharlachrot went missing. However, she reappears in order to oppose Weiß and the rest of the cast. She is the mid boss character of the game. Her Arcana is Baldur, the Arcana of Fang who is also a Geist. It shares its name with Baldur von Schirach. The Drexler Institute based Baldur on Fenrir, the massive wolf from Norse mythology.^[9]

• Eko (えこ, Eko)

Voiced by: Ayumi Tsuji^[11] (Eko)
Voiced by: Yoshimasa Hosoya^[12] (Kazu)

Eko (えこ) is a girl who has the unique ability to move energy into something so that it can move on its own, which she mainly focuses into drawings. She shares a mutually dependent relationship with her "brother," Kazu (かず, Kazu), which resembles a large child's drawing. Since Petra had destroyed some of these "protection organizations", not much was known of Eko after that. She does seem to want to find Petra so that they can draw and play together. Eko's Arcana is Saligrama, the Arcana of Luck, which resembles a spirit with a die inside.^[9]

• Ragnarok (ラグナロク, Ragunaroku)

Ragnarok (ラグナロク, Ragunaroku) is the final boss of the game. It is the ultimate creation of the Drexler Institute, a giant artificial Arcana created to resemble Gottfried. Due to its huge size, its powers were beyond the usual Arcana.

Introduced in Arcana Heart 3 LOVEMAX SIX STARS!!!!!!

• Minori Amanohara (天之原みのり, Amanohara Minori)

Voiced by: Yuri Yamaoka

Minori is a “Hybride”, a special Valkyrie who can dually wield the powers of the Arcana and the Geist (armored spirits developed at the Drexler Institute). She escaped the facility with the help of Petra. “Doing good deeds in secrecy” is her motto, so she uses her ability to defeat evil without being seen. The dragonhead-like armor on her arms are the Geist of Fafnir and Schwarz. Her Arcana is Ichor, the Arcana of Blood. It symbolizes the essence of life. The Mobius strip represents the reincarnation of all life and enhances all potentials to their maximum strength.^[13]

Release

Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!!

An update for the game, called Arcana Heart 3: LOVE MAX!!!!! (Japanese: アルカナハート3 LOVE MAX!!!!!, Hepburn: Arukana Hāto Surī LOVE MAX!!!!!), with rebalanced gameplay and survival and training modes added (previously, only available in consoles), was released in Japan on May 8, 2013 for Arcades.^[3][4] A home port of Arcana Heart 3 LOVE MAX!!!!! was released for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita on May 29, 2014.^[14] A version for Microsoft Windows was released worldwide on September 29, 2015.^[15]

Reception

On release, Famitsu scored both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game a 27 out of 40 each.^[17][18] Toshimichi Mori, an Arc System Works employee and designer of BlazBlue series, stated in an interview that over 50,000 units of the game have been shipped.^[19] Metacritic also gave the game a 6.4/10.^[20]

Play magazine said "the kiddy exterior masks a surprisingly complex game that rewards investment." GameSpot was that the game was "a fun fighter with a lot to offer". while the PlayStation Official Magazine said there was "a massively deep fighter hidden here".

The updated Arcana Heart 3: Love Max received a Famitsu score of 28/40 for both the Vita and PS3 platforms.^[21] Hardcore Gamer gave the Vita version of the game a 4/5.^[22]

References

External links

• Official Arcana Heart 3 website
• Official Arc System Works Arcana Heart 3 website
• Arcana Heart 3 Wiki