When I first started collecting back in the mid-2000s, I picked this up in a big lot. I remember popping it in and being instantly hooked, as an introduction to strategy RPGs, I couldn't have asked for anything better 👍
Thank you for this! While I'm not the biggest gamer in the world, this one has always held a soft spot for me and I'm so glad to hear that someone out there agrees with me. I've often listed it in my top 5 and get such funny looks from people who have never even heard of it. Such a great underrated treasure of a game!
I've become smitten recently with tactical JRPGs after beginning FF Tactics on my PS1 this past New Year's Day, and I'm very grateful you reminded me of this title, Bransfield. I have no experience with the genre prior to FF Tactics, but I'm glad to know I could reasonably consider this for my next entry to experience. I love your content, my friend.
That's kind of unfortunate, in a way. FFT is such a great SRPG that others will tend to pale in comparison. Though that's changing now, recently I've been seeing a bunch of indie FFT-inspired srpgs in production. Arcadian Atlas, The Simple Balance, Dusk Tactics, Crimson Tactics, Dungeon Drafters, and I'm sure a bunch I can't even remember If you need to scratch that itch now, I can recommend Voidspire Tactics/Alvora Tactics/ Horizon's Gate (three srpgs in a row from the same dev, it gets more refined with Horizon's Gate being very very good with lots of user-created mods). Also Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark and obviously Tactics Ogre. A little further removed but still pretty good are Fae Tactics, Crown Trick, and Wildermyth
@@Thatonedude917 Thank you for the suggestions! Admittedly I sort of already expect to be disappointed with whatever comes next, haha. But bearing that in mind will help temper my expectations, I think. Tactics Ogre in particular is one I have my eye on. I appreciate the more recent titles too. Thank you again :)
I might be biased because vandal hearts is one of the first video games I ever played, but I really liked this game and still amuse myself with it every so often. For what it is, it's a great game. I recommend it.
i absolutely remember playing this game as a kid! i was horrible at all tactical games back then, so i don't think i ever beat it, but this was seriously a great nostalgia trip to stumble across!
@@draloalo I'm British. So many of the great JRPGs on the console were not released in Europe. Final Fantasy Tactics, Xenogeaes, Parasite Eve, Persona 1 and 2, Lunar etc etc.
I played this and Suikoden last year just like I did back in 1997 (or whenever it was). I had a great time. I used a guide to make sure I didn’t miss the hidden items as I don’t have time for multiple playthroughs these days. I had a great time and I much prefer this to Fire Emblem. I haven’t got around to playing the sequel yet (or Suikoden 2), but from what I’ve read Vandal Hearts 2 isn’t as good as the first game.
I played through this for my fourth time recently. Last time I got the Vandalier for the first time. Took some extra hours but made the last chapter a breeze.
So much pixelated blood! 😜With the little blade of grass scene, that does happen a few times in Final Fantasy Tactics. Memory may have combined the two on you, haha. Always happy to see more love for Vandal Hearts out there!
I really appreciate Lords of the Realm 1/2 for this very reason. While I know modern Paradox games offer infinitely more depth and strategy, sometimes I just want to conquer England in a couple hours.
Tactical RPG's have never been my biggest genre, but what I see here looks interesting enough that I'd be into it. Also, quite fine satire you had there. Funny AND relatable ;)
Final Fantasy tactics had a scene where the main character plays a blade of grass... maybe that's what you were thinking of? Incidentally, FFT was my first ground-based RPG and I had my mind similarly blown. Almost one to one, I was blown away by a lot of these same elements, seeing them for the first time.
Impressive, I wasn't deep into Konami JRPGs, beside of Suikoden and Vandal Hearts 1 should be my cup of tea but Final Fantasy Tactics is my holy grail on that topic🤔
Throughly enjoyed this bud, and Vandal Hearts found a place in my heart not long after FFVII opened my eyes to the wonderful world of JRPGs. The opening theme, ooft, that opening theme gets me right in the nostalgia every time I fire it up. And as for the second gane, you have to admit the first time you experience simultaneous enemy movement you got taken by surprise (well that's my memory anyway).
Yeah it's definitely a surprise, and you can see why they did it to try and mix things up. But it's so easy to exploit it rendered the whole thing pointless.
I judge you as 100% correct. Wonderful game. Wonderful minimal TRPG, good for newcomers to the genre. Doesn't get nearly enough credit considering its English release (Mar/Jun 97) predates English releases of both Final Fantasy Tactics (Jan 98) and Tactics Ogre (May 98).
I’m struggling to find a game similar to Vandel Hearts. Grew up playing it and I wish I could download it onto my PS5 but that’s not the case. If anyone has some suggestions as to which games are similar (tactics, leveling, story) to Vandel Hearts please let me know 😭
That Brexit remark and the charm leading up to it got you my like and subscribe. Playing this again on my phone and I've fallen in love again. I didn't remember the writing being quite as good as it is and the gameplay is a great laugh.
My feelings exactly, owned all 3 games upon release back then, I'm actually playing through the first one again now on an emulator which is how I stumbled upon this great vid
