Vandal Hearts (1997 Video Game) User Reviews

Pretty good strategy RPG from Konomi.

[Aaron1375 · 8/10 · 20 May 2022]

I played this game back in the day and have played it just recently and it is a pretty fun RPG game. It is not very long; however, as there are several RPG games on older systems that last longer, but still it is kind of nice to be done with a game in under 20 hours considering all the games these days that can take 100 plus hours! This one is very similar to other strategy RPG games like Fire Emblem and Shining Force with a slight difference in class upgrading, but this is how I generally like my strategy RPG games so no complaints there.

The.story, a land is rife with tension as there is civil unrest as Hel tries to rule the land. Ash Lambert must go out trying to find a missing general and soon has a very imposing force that must rid the land of evil and a weapon known as the flames of judgement.

The game play is one where you can go to a store, talk in a bar and upgrade your character and then head into a battle which is usually preceded and followed by a cut scene. The combat has you and your opponent alternating turns as your forces duke it out, though at times you have to complete the mission in a certain number of turns or deal with stipulations. When you lose a person they just leave the battlefield and come back during the next battle, unlike Fire Emblem where they are dead forever! There is a pretty sizable force under your control and you do not have to worry about substituting as you carry the same party into every battle.

So a very fun game, could be longer, but hey, it does not overstay its welcome I guess. It is pretty easy to power up your team and certain characters you can pick which class they change into. The ending is a bit of a downer, but I suspect there may be another ending as there are things you can give to the guy who upgrades you and he will teleport you to another world to do a battle, but I only found one of the items. I may look up and see if I can get a better ending one day as the game is a very fun strategy RPG.

Simple but addictive

[zaozabot · 9/10 · 17 February 2023]

Vandal Hearts is a tactical RPG with elements of strategy, set in a medieval fantasy world, where swords and sorcery forged a grim place to live in.

The gameplay overall feels like a modified game of chess, where each piece has unique characteristics and the battlefield changes every time.

The plot is quite simple, so do not look for depth in the characters, but it is more than enough for this genre. The story is expertly woven into each mission and tactics must be adapted accordingly. In one battle you simply need to destroy all enemies, in another - to save a prisoner, whose cage is lowered into the lava after each turn, and in the next - to destroy magical artifacts without killing a single villager turned zombie.

Between battles, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the settlements. There you can replenish supplies in the local store, or listen to some gossip in a tavern. And in the dojo, if you reach a certain level, you can upgrade the class of one of the fighters.

The graphics are pleasing to the eye, the battle maps look like board game miniatures, and the characters are drawn with a unique style and excellent pixel art. It is especially pleasant to watch how enemies explode in a fountain of blood after a decisive blow.

Music in a medieval style nicely emphasizes the setting of the game, but it is unlikely that at least one of the tracks will find its way into your selection of soundtracks.

Significant flaws in Vandal Hearts are hard to find. Yes, sometimes it's hard to tell where your cursor is, especially when lots of characters pile up. It would also be nice to see more variety of weapons and armor, because 4-5 options for each character class for the entire game is rather poor.

In general, Vandal Hearts is quite addictive, it's a pity that the game is so short, but straight after completion I couldn't resist to replay it, this time collecting all the treasures and not losing a single hero on the battlefield.

An Absolute Classic

[thdudeabides · 10/10 · 11 February 2020]

Outstanding. Immersive. Exceptional development. Longevity. These are some of the qualities this game has. This is turn-based strategy at its finest; the pinnacle of all games in the turn-based RPG genre.

The gameplay is outstanding. The story is immersive. The characters are extremely well developed. And the game has unbelievable longevity. Ash Lambert is the son of a traitor. But he and his companions could be the country's only hope in restoring peace. Every ally and enemy you meet along your journey has a story to tell. Every one of your allies has different qualities and it is up to you how they are developed. There are so many different paths to glory that once you have finished the game, you will most certainly want to play through it again to uncover every secret, understand every aspect of the story, follow a different path to enlightenment, challenge yourself in different ways but most of all, to simply embark on the journey again. It really is a beautifully simple yet epic tale that is eloquently told.

So if you have never played this game before, it is not too late. You definitely do not want to miss this.