| |
| Albert Simon | |
| Game | Shadow Hearts |
| Kana | |
| Romaji | |
Voice actor(s) 
|
Daisuke Gōri |
Voice actor(s) 
|
*?? (SH1)
|
| Age | Unknown - At least 700 years old. |
| Eye color | Grey |
| Hair color | Grey |
| Home | London |
| Weapon(s) | Magic |
| Special Arts | Soul Pact |
| Element | Dark |
Albert Simon was the main villain in Shadow Hearts, and appeared in Shadow Hearts: Covenant as a spirit within Yuri's soul. During the first game, he posed as the legendary magician Roger Bacon, who had been his mentor. In the second game, he explains his plot to destroy the world was an (albeit misguided) attempt to stop the group known as Sapientes Gladio, and helps Yuri form a bond with the fusion demon, Amon.
Info
First entry (in the guise of Roger Bacon):
"A British warlock who uses powerful magic. He is calm, collected, and calls himself Roger Bacon. If that's true, he's the legendary alchemist, but..."
Second entry:
"He calls himself by his master's name, the legendary alchemist Roger Bacon, and attemps to bring new order to this world. He has the knowledge to do so."
Covenant entry:
"Magician who, in a previous adventure, tried to destroy the world. He was stopped by Yuri, but his true enemy has always been Rasputin, the mad monk."
Personality
Charming, intelligent, and suave, Cardinal Albert Simon personifies the notion of a dapper gentleman. He’s a well learned individual, the kind of man who uses his vast knowledge of the world for nefarious means. Albert is a very thought out fellow, the kind of man who never blindly leads himself into battle without a solid plan. He’s also a manipulative bastard who seems to care very little for others despite his good intentions.
In short, Albert Simon is the perfect villain for a hotheaded youth like Yuri. He’s Yuri’s polar opposite from everything from his stately manner of speech, to his stylish suits. Albert also boasts more patience than his heroic counterpart, usually seeming to have the patience of a saint even when his schemes go haywire. Albert is also very cunning especially considering he managed to use Dehuai to activate the Valorization. Albert isn’t the kind of fellow who dirties his hands, in fact he let’s his underlings do the work. He allows the minor villains like Dehuai, Arcane Olga and others deal with the heroes directly while he works behind the scenes to fulfill his goal for destruction.
Albert’s frigid and aloof nature is complimented greatly by the cruelty that Albert possesses. However, there are times when he’s depicted as a comic relief within the story. His charming demeanor sometimes takes a detour when he’s shocked or appalled by the scene before him. One such example of that is his surprise to see Alice’s Pendant halting his fierce attack on Yuri during the first few minutes of the game.
Bio
Past Life
Seven-hundred years ago during the time of the Crusades, Albert Simon was once a devouted pupil of the famous alchemist, Roger Bacon. Roger quoted that Albert was the best of all his students, all thanks to his ingenious understanding of Law, Philosophy, Science, Astronomy, and Alchemy. Albert was ahead of his time, a king amongst paupers who came from a meager low-classed background. It was a combination of his lowly birth and his vast intelligence that caused Albert to question the clash between the rich and the poor.
During an age where nobility alone wields power, Albert began to find fault with the Vatican for allowing such wickedness to befall upon the common man. Albert believed that all men were created equal under the eyes of God, but his fellow peers thought otherwise. He rejected the belief that a person’s place was judged by their birth, a controversial belief during such rigid times. Roger tried his best to convince Albert from confessing his ideals to the Vatican, but his pleas were ignored. Albert soon confronted the Vatican upon their wrongdoings, only to be branded a ‘heretic’ by the very Church he served under.
700 years ago, Albert Simon
Tossed away to rot within the dungeons by the Inquisition, Albert was tortured for years prior to his release. Losing faith in the world he saw before, Albert remerged a new man, a man hardened by the hatred he felt. It was then that the former priest began to divulge himself in the Dark Arts for the sake of revenge. Eventually madness claimed Albert once a fiendish plot began to unravel from the Vatican’s walls. With an secret organization called the Sapientes Gladio plotting to taking over the world through black magic, Albert figured that the only way he could save the world is by destroying it.
Koudelka
Even though he never made an appearance, he was the man who told Patrick of the Emigre Manuscript and then stole it for him to use the books rituals to bring his wife Elaine back to life.
Shadow Hearts
Cardinal Albert Simon
After being released from jail by the Vatican, he understood that there was no hope for the world to live in harmony and everyone treated as equals. He believed that the world's only fate was to be destroyed since he only saw corruption in the eye's of humans. His first plan was to use the power of the Seraphic Radiance to bring the world to an end, which led him to kidnap Alice Elliot for her mystical powers, but Alice's father saw through this and tried to protect her as much as he could until he could only save her by sacrificing his own life. Then he let Dehuai take the spotlight, knowing that once he fails he can take over the ritual.
However, he was unable to do so, since the Seraphic Radiance was too powerful and Yuri absorbed the Se
Albert Simon's Library page
raphic Radiance into his soul. Therefore, he then began to use his other alternative. Using the power of Koudelka to raise The Float and summon God to destroy the world. Nevertheless, after his defeat when he transforms into the Messiah he then admits that maybe the world could be saved from corruption by the likes of Yuri and Alice.
With his last power, he sends them to the God's Throne to face the Other-God.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant
It is revealed in Shadow Hearts Covenant that his attempt to destroy the world was a misguided attempt to stop Rasputin. He, along with Jovis Abraham, founded Sapientes Gladio. They took in Rasputin as a disciple and taught him many things, one of which was the will power to make a soul pact with the king of demons, Asmodeus. Rasputin had become too strong and Albert had abandoned Jovis to seek another way to defeat Rasputin.
Yuri encounters Albert residing in his soul in his memories of Katsuragi Forest. They reminisce and Yuri follows in his footsteps and attempts to defeat Rasputin.
If you spoke to the fat man in Florence after at least visiting the Vessel once, Tiffauges Castle will appear on the map. Yuri once again encounters Albert in front of the Great Mirror. It is here that Albert made his soul pact with Amon. Albert then states that the world today is still corrupt, and challenges Yuri once more so that Yuri will be able to gain a power that even surpasses Amon. Yuri succeeds and gains the power of Neo Amon.
Gallery
Trivia
- In Albert Simon's concept art he is shown holding a cane but never makes a really appearance in the Shadow Hearts and Shadow Hearts Covenant.
- The name Albert comes from Old German High Words that means "noble" or "bright" which fits him due to his attire as a English gentleman and his vast knowledge he has acquired. Simon was also the the original name of the apostle Peter and there was also the Samaritan sorcerer "Simon Magus" who was converted by Saint Peter.
