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Battle strategy and RPG combined............

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: April 13, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Ok, I'm 33 years old, and a girl, and I like battle games! Sometimes.

This is one of those games that works. The characters are interesting because you can choose the direction in which they develop. There are enough classes, that if you play wisely, you will have a real solid fighting force with many attack strategy possibilities.

Amazingly enough, there's even a story line to follow. :)

There are plenty of places to go and lots of secrets to find. The more secrets you uncover, the more battles you may fight, some of which are on interesting terrain with interesting problems to overcome if you intend to win.

The graphics are ok. Nothing fabulous here, except I really loved how all the places you go float in space. Why do they do that? I have no idea. It just looks neat.

This game is not overly difficult to play. You just have to do some planning. It's not rocket science, just a few hours of honest, game playing fun.

Shining Force +

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 12, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This Playstation classic uses the basics of strategic combat from such masterpieces as the Shining Force series, and adds new levels of realism, such as elevation, concealment, and facing.

Probably the worst thing about Vandal Hearts is that it is absolutely and perfectly linear. Unlike Shining Force, in Vandal Hearts you cannot replay any of the battles. You cannot egress at critical moments. There are no secret items or characters (save for the unimpressive hidden herbs and mushrooms you might accidentally find behind trees and under rocks). Vandal Hearts is an exercise in pure, unadulterated tactics, unspoiled by almost any semblance of role-playing. There are few types of weapons, and approximately two dozen of different sorts of items. Where this game succeeds is the selection of character classes and the number of possible strategies.

Just like in Shining Force, here you can promote your characters to better classes, although in Vandal Hearts you can do it twice: once at level 10 and a second time at level 20. Just like in Shining Force, some of your characters can have a choice of classes to which they can be promoted.

So where does this all come together? Just like in the mass battles in Suikoden, the classes follow a cyclical hierarchy: sword beats arrow beats air beats sword. This rock-paper-scissors element hadn't entered the strategy scene prior to Vandal Hearts. Naturally, there are also other, more popular conventions of precedence: opposing elements and the precedence of spells over physical defense will play a major role in the player's thinking.

Lastly, the graphics must be spoken of. Unfortunately, there isn't much to say: on the various zoom levels, the battlefield ranges from "hard to see" to "pixilated". The characters are hard to tell apart, especially when they stand in a group. The spell effects are functional at best. In other words, nothing a persistent gamer can't handle.

Vandal Hearts is a natural transition point from the early consoles to the Playstation and beyond. It is a good beginner's game, as well as an entertaining, if temporary diversion for a master gamer.

Vandal Hearts 1

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I recently purchased this game used from Funcoland. I loaded the disc into the Playstation and when I started playing, this was my immediate thought: "What a cheap rip of of Final Fantasy Tactics". First thoughts are not always right, I soon found out. This game's main focus was battles, with a bit of a lacking storyline, but that's ok. I am used to Final Fantasy ganes so it was something different for me. The job system was a little less involving then FFT, but was still a nice addition to the game. Downsides: Some incredibly hard battles, like the battle with Kane at the castle, for example. There is also no optional battles; you must fight and win every battle, and there are no random battles, thus no way to gain extra experience. This leaves the problem of being stuck at a low level at a battle that's impossible to win. Upsides: Nice battle system. A lot of characters join your party, and you don't have to hire them like in FFT. Also some pretty cool character classes. My favorites are: Sniper, Dragoon and Vandalier. TIP: If you buy this, N E V E R advance your archer to a hawk, always go for bowman.... Definitely buy this game if your a strategy game fan or liked FFT.

A Game That Gets It Right!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 02, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Around Christmas '99, I was told about this game from a dude in a Japanese Animation store in New York. He said: "If you really liked Tactics, you'll like Vandal Hearts. However, if you really loved Tactics, you might not like it as much." Well, I got it and beat it, and I think what he said was on the money.

This game actually has superior gameplay to Final Fantasy Tactics in terms of realism, size, difficulty and strategy requirements. True, you did lack the freedom, and the job system in Final Fantasy Tactics was far superior, but here strategy is required for more than survival and victory: sometimes you need to do something to the terrain itself. I loved that.

However, the graphics department was far less than impressive. The graphics were both ugly and used horribly. The first game to get the fully 3-D strategy deal right was Myth: The Fallen Lords for the PC, where it, just like this game, has 3-D terrain with sprites. However, on that game, when you moved around the sprites, they kept the swords on the same hand. That's right! While the camera spins around on this game, the character will go from being right-handed to left-handed! I wouldn't complain this much if its graphics worked like Final Fantasy Tactics', but this game plays like it has wonderful graphics, while the graphics are really just mediocre.

The sound department is okay, however. The music, while far from great, wasn't too bad. The compositions were several notches behind that of Final Fantasy Tactics (which quite possibly has the most powerful soundtrack ever), and so is the sound quality. However, the music still gets you into the mood right, and it won't put you to sleep. The sound effects are also pretty good, and sound rather real.

The story and character development are obviously pre-FFTactics. The characters are well developed and likable, but not as meaningful or emotional. Also, the plot is really good, but it's much shorter and won't play around with your emotions like Final Fantasy Tactics (that game was BRUTAL with your emotions). It has some original concepts, and some things I still haven't seen elsewhere since. While I would give this game a 3-star rating since I didn't like the story as much, I do have to consider that this game predates Tactics (by like 3 years), and as such, my opinion of this game is risen drastically.

All in all, Vandal Hearts is a very solid game that's clever and fun. It may be very weak in showing off technology, the makers clearly had a lot in mind, and that makes this game worth the money any day!

Vandal Hearts

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 16, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I first played Vandal Hearts when I borrowed it from a friend. I didn't know what to expect when I popped this in my PS but it wasn't this. The game has, to be honest, terrible graphics unless you're into the Super-NES thing. But if you're one of the people who loathe the Final Fantasy series for it's beauitful graphics than Vandal Heart's graphics will probably apeall to you. And if you're like me and like to have a choice in what and where you want to explore, who you want to talk to, and things like that then you'll most likely hate Vandal Hearts because all you is fight. The fighting engine, however, is probably the best I've seen in a long time. VH has a OK story that sometimes becomes hard to follow. If you're a hardcore RPG'er and you like oldschool graphics then I bet you'll like this.

One of the better Tactics Games

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: September 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Published before Final Fantasy Tactics, I didn't even know this tactics game existed until last month. An epic story, interesting combat, and enough content for one replay (hidden items on the maps). The story doesn't suffer from random encounters, the boards are challenging, often with twists unique to any tactics game, and the characters are diverse.

While short, it is high quality. I dropped a star for length (it could easily have had a few bonus boards), but otherwise this is one of the better tactics games I've played. The blood gusher from a defeated enemy earns the mature rating, and is sometimes very satisfying. While I wouldn't pay more than $30 for it (length is 20 hours tops), I do recommend it.

This game has the best battle action a game can have!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: November 17, 1999
Author: Amazon User

The battles in this game are so cool. Having members that have different ways to fight is awesome. There are knights, archers, wizards, priests,etc. Being able to move only a certain amount of spaces is great too. This has the best storyline and gameplay I've seen!

I Can't Believe I Waited So Long To Review!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: July 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is one of many that i am taking the liberty to review, that i have owned now for atleast five years. Vandal Hearts (VH) is a one of a kind game. Even though there is a second VH out, there is no link whatesoever in the two stories. If you get sucked into this story, don't expect anything after the end, because that's all your getting. That is really the only bad thing about this game, because everything else is great. I am now going to give you a low down on the game.

You are playing the character of a man named Ash. He is the head of a security force for a local governement. The game starts with you pretending to be merchants, taking goods across to another town, when your suddenly ambushed by cutthroat thieves. Little do they know, is that they were the ones ambushed. When you suddenly reveal yourselves and attack them first. From this point on in this game, the strorie becomes very interesting. Eventually your sent across the sea to discover the wherabouts of a missing person, and then to ancient tombs, and just about anywhere else you can imagine. Along the way you pick up allies that help you along the way.
The intersting thing about VH is the battling system, and the way you upgrade your units. First you start with a basic class. Like Archer, Knight, Sorcerer, Priest...etc. Then you can upgrade their classes once they hit a certain level. In this case, levels 10 and 20. The only person with a special job class is your hero Ash. Also he is the only person with the opportunity to upgrade three times, instead of two. The problem with this is that you have to unlock six differnet keys. One for each chapter, and then you have to hope that you can defeat all the enemies behind each of these "locked doors". If you can do that, be can upgrade to the ultimate class, The Vandaler! This class is godlike. You basically become damn near impossible to kill.
This game is wonderful and very intense. I suggest you order this from Amazon as soon as you can. This game is awesome and will make you very happy to have bought it. One of the main reasons for that is the replay value. It is very high. Higher than most games created by Konami. ENJOY!!!

No replay value?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: June 11, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Is that a joke? This game is fantastic and still fun today.

Basically it is like Shining Force 2 where you get people and can upgrade them. You get a choice for most of your characters and each game you can try different jobs to see what you like. This game has alot of memorable characters and pretty nice graphics. The story is also impressive and stays interesting. I've played it numerous times and still love it. Do I reccomend this game? Of course I do. Will you get your moneys worth when you buy it? Yea, you will...
5 stars!

Vandal Hearts

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: January 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Though not one of the longer strategy -RPG's out there (that honor would have to go to Disgaea, or the epitome of all strategy RPG's Final Fantasy Tactics), Vandal Hearts is one of the most overlooked games on the Sony Playstation. Starting out the game you are put in the role of Ash who along with his friends Diego and Clint fight off a group of bandits who are attacking them. This sets the games gameplay in place, with blood flying and a soundtrack that only the fine folks at konami could produce, one that still echoes in my head to this day. Although the graphics are quite dated by todays standards the gameplay elements of this game are where it truly shines. After leveling up at level 10 or level 20 you are given the option to upgrade your character, thus allowing you access to new moves and enhanced abilities. For example archers can continue along the bowman path, or can get rid of their bows in exchange for the ability to fly which becomes irreplaceable later on in the game. Someone elses review said that this game had little replay value, but I would have to disagree, having beaten this game on at least 4 different occasions. Clocking in at somewhere around 16-22 hours it is not a long game, but there are somewhere around 6 or 7 seven secret levels, which are really tough and require precise skills, but if accomplished correctly open up not only a slightly secret ending, but also the class of Vandalier for Ash, opening up every skill in the game for the main character, and making him basically a God among the other soldiers. The realtionship between Ash and Elena develops throughout the game very well and the ties of friendship are established between other members of your party, just like any great RPG. Konami was on one hell of a roll back in the day, releasing this game, Suikoden, Metal Gear Solid, and Castlevania: SOTN within a year or two of each other, signifying them as one of the premiere publishers during the original Playstations golden Age, and producing all of these A class titles. Definitely do not miss out on the chance to own this game, especially if you grew up with games like Shining Force. Not to be passed up.

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