Vandal Hearts

"Very underrated game that deserves some recognition"

Intro: I am writing this review in 2002 and I still think this game is pretty darn good. Vandal Hearts is a great game that should be in every true RPG fans collection. It has many great qualities and things that make it worthy to play.

Gameplay: The gameplay is very interactive and fun during battles. Outside battles, there isn’t really any gameplay. The battles are very similar to FFT and Tactics Ogre. It doesn't have job points like FFT does, but I didn't think that was a big deal. You control a massive group of character as you move them around tons of 3D environments. Different characters use different weapons and are better at different things. You have archers, healers, knights, mages, and warriors. They change classes through out the game, but basically stay the same just gaining different skills and changing clothes. Besides battles you just move from place to place on a map and when you select a place that will trigger an event. Overall, I thought it was very good though. (9/10)

Plot: The plot was confusing at first, but really came together at the end and was very easy to follow and understand. You begin the game with Ash and you learn that he is a security force working for the government. Soon you will meet Kane and it gets a little confusing from there, but you will understand it soon so don't get frustrated. As the story progresses you learn a lot about the characters and it becomes a pretty involved game. (7/10)

Graphics: The graphics aren't that great, but remember this game was made in 97. I thought the graphics were fine. They’re perfect for this game and you get used to them very fast and they look fine. The opening videos to each chapter of the game was very good looking and really helped bring to plot along. The only thing that bothered me about the graphics was the moving background when you are inside a building. It was a little annoying and gives the player the affect that you are rotating. Besides that its pretty good. (7/10)

Music: I thought the music in the game was pretty good. I really like the way during battles the music changed according to whose turn it was in battle whether it was the enemy's turn or the player's turn. Both of those tunes were great which made the battles that much better. The music outside the battles was good enough to keep the game flowing. Nothing spectacular, but it was fine. (7/10)

Replayability: This game is a short at about fifteen hours and is pretty linear. It offers a couple different job classes you can make different characters, which raises it's replayability. Since it is short it wouldn’t be that big of a deal to play it again considering the entertainment this game gives you for the short time you play it. (6/10)

Conclusion: A great game that is very worth playing. Now a day you can get it for under fifteen dollars, so I recommend you all go get it. I wouldn't really rent it because you could probably buy it for around ten bucks, which is how much two rentals would cost and that is probably what you would need to beat it unless you got a lot of free time for a week straight. Overall, I score this game an eight because it offers a great battle system and involving story. (8/10)

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 04/24/02, Updated 04/24/02