Vanguard Bandits

"Good? Yes. It could be better, though."

Vanguard Bandits is a mecha based environment, but it takes place in a fantasy world. This idea is not unique, as some Anime, such as Escaflowne. It's a strategy RPG, which basically means: Cutscene, battle, cutscene, battle, cutscene, choice, battle, etc. It's fun addictive, and it has three storylines and five endings. (One of them is a load of crapola, though.) It's a nice game overall.

The graphics are, at first glance, nothing to stare at. During cutscenes and on the playing field, they're not so great. However, when you initiate attack, it goes into a highly detailed 3D mode. The mecha (called ATACs, how original) are all well designed and rendered. The 3D mode in battles is really awesome. All the attacks, from sword slashes to fireballs, all look cool. Also, if you decide to counter and fail, you'll see you mecha move its sword, but get cut off!

The battle system is really cool. Before battle, you can switch around ATACs, weapons, stones (which grant various abilities, I'll explain them later) and amulets (which raise certain stats). Then, you're on a playing field divided into blocks a la Final Fantasy Tactics. You then get one of your ATACs highlighted, and then decide to move, attack, or use a support skill. Support skills do things like heal, temorarily raise stats, or effect the enemy in a minor way (like making them change direction). These effect your two gauges, FP and AP. AP determines how much you can do in one turn. Moving, attacking, and using support skills all take AP. FP comes from attacking or counterattacking. When you reach 100 FP, you become defenseless for one turn. After every turn, your FP is subtracted by your remaining AP, so you have to balance your agression to your limits. Certain attacks take a buttload of FP but very little AP, while some can drain almost all your AP, but take up relatively little FP. The effectiveness and chance to hit of the attacks are determines by how many allies are around you and your opponent, and which direction your enemy is facing. Attacking from behind is always the best, since they can't defend against attacks from behind. When you're attacked, you have the options of avoid, defend, attack back, or counter. Avoiding is just that, avoiding. You see the persentage that you'll get hit, and then you'll either take full damage, or no damage. Defend lessens the damage but dramatically increases your chance of being hit, although (in rare cases or totally inacurate attacks) it can still miss. Attacking delivers an attack of your opponent, but increases your chance to be hit. Counter can only be done if your opponent is attacking from the front. You take no damage and deliver some to your enemy. Note, all these counterattacks take up FP, so you can get full FP even when it's not your turn. One of the most usefull strategies is to attempt to get your opponents FP gauge full by doing attacks where his only option will be to use a great deal of his FP. The elemental stones grant ATACs various abilities that must be used strategicly. Like, wind has nice ranged and knock-down attacks, probably the most useful overall, fire is deadly, but inacurate, earth can give healing, etc. Some ATACs, the most powerful kinds,like the Ultragunner, Sylpheed, Roaring Lion, Torredore, etc have fixed weapons and stones that cannot be changed.

The story goes like this: You're Bastion, a young man traveling with your father to train to fight the Imperial Army. Then a series of events undergo that send your life out of control...jeez, this kind of sounds familliar. However, you get to choose the main course of events. Will you become involved with the Kingdom Army and lead it to true victory? Or you befriend the Imperial Princess and join her underground group to end the war? there are three main storylines, and one can only be accessed after you have completed the other two. Thus, it does offer quite a bit of replay value. The story is well written and some of the characters, like Andrew, Cecilia, Sadira, and Bastion are cool. Some, like Alden, Ziera, Dionne, and Devlin are pretty interesting, and some, like Reyna, Franco, Halak, and Ione are just there in the background.

This game is not for everyone, although some may like it. Some things I thought would be cool? How about an unlockable two-player mode where you are given a set amount of points, and you can buy ATACs you've seen, equip them, and fight? That would have been a nice mini-gamish thing. Also, can I say, Water Elemental stones? It has a few useful support moves, and some very weak two-square range attacks. Water Stones could have been much more useful, but are almost useless when compared to fire and wind.

This is a good game overall. 8/10.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/22/00, Updated 09/22/00