Vandal Hearts

"A great strategy RPG that will appeal to everyone"

This was the first turned based strategy game I've ever played. While I think it's sequel has surpassed it, Vandal Hearts is still an awesome game. If your a first time player trying to get into strategy RPG's, look no further than here. This is a great game for beginners to the genre, and still a great game for genre veterans.

The story revolves around protagonist Ash Lambert. Him and his group of friends are engulfed in a conspiracy of corrupt people and war. The story is pretty good, with likeable characters. However, It's story is nowhere near as good as Vandal Hearts II's.

The great gameplay is what shines here. I can't recommend a strategy RPG that is easier to play than this one. It's very fun, and very very addicting. I faked my way out of school for two days because I was so addicted to this game. You have a group of about 3-10 guys on a battlefield, while your opponent has about the same amount. The object is either to kill off all your foes or complete a certain objective (ex. get your characters to the other side). Each turn, you move your guys along the battlefield and choose what actions you want them to do. They can attack, use magic, use an item, etc. The game is standard turned based fare, but with a very user friendly engine. This game is great for beginners, and great for veterans to just have fun with. Also, when you eliminate your enemy, the explode into a fountain of blood. I have no idea why they took that cool little effect out of the second Vandal Hearts.

As the game plays out, after each battle, you usually go into a town. Here, you can shop for items, get new assignments at your headquarters, talk to people in the tavern, or go to the dojo. The way the dojo works is that when your character reaches 10 levels, you can take him to the dojo and have him learn new abilities. This is another cool feature they took out of the second Vandal Hearts.

However, while the game is excellent, it does have it's flaws. One being that it's a bit short. The game will take you 20 hours most, while it's sequel will take you about 60 hours. Another thing is that you can't replay battles, which often makes it hard to level up your guys. Those are my only two gripes, because otherwise, the game is irresistible.

The graphics are good, the sprites look good, and even look better here then they do in VH2.

The music is also pretty good, with each score adding to the mood of the game well.

That's all for this review. Vandal Hearts is an excellent strategy game that will appeal to beginners and veterans of the genre. It's very cheap too, you can easily find this for under 15 bucks.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/13/01, Updated 08/13/01