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Arcana Heart 3

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Arcana Heart 3
European cover art
DeveloperExamu
Publishers
DirectorKazuma Hayashi
ProducerKoji Takaya
ArtistHirotaka Akaga
WriterTohru Sakurai[1]
ComposerMotoharu Yoshihira
SeriesArcana Heart
PlatformsArcade, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: December 22, 2009
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
  • JP: January 13, 2011
  • EU: August 19, 2011
PlayStation 3
  • NA: April 19, 2011
GenreFighting
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemeX-Board

Arcana Heart 3[a] is a 2009 fighting game developed by Examu. It is the third game in the Arcana Heart series and a sequel to Arcana Heart 2. Players choose both a fighter and an Arcana, a spirit that modifies the fighter's abilities and supplies additional attacks.

Examu released the game in Japanese arcades on December 22, 2009.[2] Arc System Works published PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions in Japan in January 2011. Aksys Games released the PlayStation 3 version in North America through PlayStation Network on April 19, 2011, and PQube released both console versions in Europe on August 19.[3]

The arcade revision Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!![b] followed in May 2013, adding balance changes and game modes. It was later ported to PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and Microsoft Windows.[4][5] A second revision, Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars!!!!!![c], debuted in arcades in December 2014 and on Windows in December 2017.[6]

The Windows update Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars Xtend!!!!!![d] was released in April 2021. An enhanced arcade version, shortened to Arcana Heart 3 Xtend, was released worldwide for exA-Arcadia hardware in December 2023.[7]

Gameplay

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Arcade version screenshot showcasing a match between Eko and Maori Kasuga.

Arcana Heart 3 is a two-dimensional fighting game. After choosing a fighter, the player selects an Arcana, a spirit associated with a tarot archetype. Each Arcana changes the fighter's attributes and grants a distinct set of special moves, allowing different combinations of characters and abilities.[8]

Combat uses three attack buttons, an Arcana button, and a homing button. The homing mechanic lets fighters rapidly pursue opponents and cancel attacks into aerial movement. Arcana and Force gauges govern defensive techniques, powerful attacks, and Extend Force, a temporary enhanced state. A simplified control option assigns major functions to individual buttons. The console versions add a fully voiced story mode, training and score-attack modes, and online multiplayer.

Synopsis

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Arcana Heart 3 is set in a fantastical version of Japan two months after the "Great Kanto Incident" depicted in Arcana Heart 2. Although reconstruction has begun, the disaster has weakened the international organizations that monitor elemental phenomena and protect the country.

When dimensional distortions begin appearing across Japan, the Drexler Institute—an organization that creates artificial Arcana—emerges from hiding. Drexler intends to use its influence over Japan's elemental authorities to sink the country within six days. The playable "Maidens", young women able to communicate with Arcana, investigate the distortions and attempt to prevent the plan.

Characters

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The original release has 23 playable characters: 20 returning from the first two games and three newcomers—Weiß (ヴァイス, Vaisu), Eko (えこ, Eko), and Scharlachrot (シャルラッハロート, Sharurahharōto). Each newcomer is paired with a new Arcana. Ragnarok, a giant artificial Arcana created by the Drexler Institute, serves as the final boss.[9]

Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! adds Minori Amanohara (天之原みのり, Amanohara Minori), bringing the playable roster to 24. The Kickstarter campaign for the Windows version funded two further characters, Pistrix (ピストリクス, Pisutorikusu) and Dark Heart (ダークハート, Dāku Hāto), who were added in Xtend.[10] The 2023 arcade edition contains 26 playable characters and 25 selectable Arcana.[7]

Release

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Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!!

[edit]
Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!!
DeveloperExamu
Publishers
  • JP: Arc System Works
  • NA: Aksys Games
  • EU: NIS America
  • WW: Arc System Works (Windows)
PlatformsArcade, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: May 8, 2013
PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
  • JP: May 29, 2014
  • NA: September 23, 2014
  • EU: November 20, 2014
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: September 29, 2015
Mode
Arcade systemTaito Type X2

Love Max!!!!! rebalanced the game and brought the survival and training modes from the console versions to arcades. It was released in Japanese arcades on May 8, 2013.[4][5] Arc System Works released PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita ports in Japan on May 29, 2014.[11] Aksys Games released the ports in North America that September, followed by NIS America in Europe in November. The Windows version was released worldwide on September 29, 2015.[12]

Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars!!!!!!

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Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! was released in Japanese arcades on December 4, 2014. It includes further balance changes and adds Minori Amanohara as a playable character. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, the Windows version was released worldwide on December 12, 2017.[10][13]

Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars Xtend!!!!!!

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Love Max Six Stars Xtend!!!!!! was released as a Windows update on April 29, 2021. It incorporates additional balance changes and adds Pistrix and Dark Heart, characters funded through the earlier Kickstarter campaign.[10][14]

ExA-Arcadia developed and published an enhanced arcade edition titled Arcana Heart 3 Xtend. Released worldwide on December 15, 2023, it features revised graphics, two-frame input latency, new story material, and support for English and Japanese.[15][7]

Reception

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Famitsu scored both Japanese console versions 27 out of 40.[17][18] GameSpot's Heidi Kemps gave the game 7 out of 10. She praised the homing system, the range of character-and-Arcana combinations, and the online play, while criticizing its limited single-player appeal and aspects of its presentation.[8]

By March 2011, more than 50,000 copies of the console versions had been shipped.[19]

Love Max!!!!! received a Famitsu score of 28 out of 40 on both PlayStation 3 and Vita.[20] Marcus Estrada of Hardcore Gamer gave the Vita version 4 out of 5, commending the depth of its combat systems and the amount of content.[21]

Notes

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  1. ↑ Japanese: アルカナハート3, Hepburn: Arukana Hāto Surī
  2. ↑ Japanese: アルカナハート3 LOVE MAX!!!!!, Hepburn: Arukana Hāto Surī Love Max!!!!!
  3. ↑ Japanese: アルカナハート3 LOVE MAX SIX STARS!!!!!!, Hepburn: Arukana Hāto Surī Love Max Six Stars!!!!!!
  4. ↑ Japanese: アルカナハート3 LOVE MAX SIX STARS XTEND!!!!!!, Hepburn: Arukana Hāto Surī Love Max Six Stars Xtend!!!!!!

References

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  1. ↑ "Arcana Heart Writer Tohru Sakurai Passes Away". Anime News Network. May 15, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Arcana Heart 3 releases". MobyGames. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Arcana Heart 3 – Release Details". GameFAQs. Fandom. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "アルカナハート3 LOVE MAX!!!!!". Examu. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Arcana Heart 3 Love Max Adds New Moves Like The Arcana Eclipse". Siliconera. May 8, 2013. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  6. ↑ James, Thomas (October 16, 2014). "Arcana Heart 3: Love Max Six Stars announced". Gematsu. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "Arcana Heart 3 Xtend Available Now!". exA-Arcadia. December 15, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 Kemps, Heidi (July 6, 2011). "Arcana Heart 3 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Arcana Heart 3 official website". Examu. Archived from the original on January 7, 2010. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  10. 1 2 3 "Arcana Heart 3 Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! – 2D fighting game". Kickstarter. Examu. July 5, 2017. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  11. ↑ "アルカナハート3 Love Max!!!!!". Arc System Works (in Japanese). Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Arcana Heart 3 Love Max!!!!! Coming to Steam". Siliconera. September 9, 2015. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Arcana Heart 3 Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! Xtend". Steam. Valve. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Downloadable content for Arcana Heart 3 Love Max Six Stars!!!!!! Xtend". Steam. Valve. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  15. ↑ "The ultimate version of Arcana Heart 3 comes to exA-Arcadia in Arcana Heart 3 Xtend by Team Arcana". exA-Arcadia. February 10, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Arcana Heart 3". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  17. ↑ New Game Cross Review – アルカナハート3 (PS3). Famitsu. No. 1153. p. 38. January 20, 2011.
  18. ↑ New Game Cross Review – アルカナハート3 (Xbox 360). Famitsu. No. 1153. p. 38. January 20, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Arc System Works Interview". Play. March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1328". Gematsu. May 20, 2014. Archived from the original on May 21, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
  21. ↑ Estrada, Marcus (September 22, 2014). "Review: Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!!". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on September 26, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
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Arcana Heart 3 Love Max!!!!!
  • "North American". Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) and European official websites
Arcana Heart 3 Love Max Six Stars!!!!!!
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