/vr/ - Retro Games

interesting mechanic, but it basically just makes you attack units that have already moved
the enemies also have rather exploitable AIs

>>8323513
the simultaneous turns system is novel, but in practice it's aggravating since it involves too much guesswork. even worse when you realize that the AI is cheating which you can easily test in an emulator. I can't even remember the story. you'd be better off just playing the first, which in my opinion can stand alongside FFT and Tactics Ogre. that said I think it's actually closer to the Fire Emblem series rather than those two.

>>8323513
FF tactics sucks dick and it's baby's '''''''''''''''SRPG''''''''''''

>>8323513
Few people know about this, but, shockingly, Vandal Hearts II's story is easily on par with Yasumi Matsuno's best scripts. Moreso, although the VH/VH2 composer, Hiroshi Tamawari, practically stopped composing in the 90s, these two games' soundtracks are on par with Sakimoto at his absolute best.

I implore anyone who likes Yasumi Matsuno (Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, Crimson Shroud) and composer Hitoshi Sakimoto (same games as well as, say, Radiant Silvergun and Gradius V) to look into Vandal Hearts. Good job making this thread, OP.

Here are a few examples of music from VH1 and VH2. I encourage FFT, TO, and generally Matsuno and Sakimoto fans to give this stuff a listen and the games a look. Listen to the whole thing--the pieces develop and get better and better as they progress.

VH2's opening theme:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWa_ozofb4E

"Destiny and Will" from VH2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-N2dmJS2ME

VH1 ending theme (timestamp):
https://youtu.be/l7gZoxFKtOg?t=3697

>>8323520
I'd say VH1 looks better and is more fun to play, but VH2 has by far the best story and, incidentally, soundtrack. VH1's story is pretty ordinary. It's VH2 that actually truly rises to the level of LUCT and FFT.

>>8323527
FFT is probably the biggest game from the guy who created the whole subgenre, you know.

>>8323530
>Vandal Hearts II's story is easily on par with Yasumi Matsuno's best scripts.
>>8323537
>VH2 has by far the best story

The game starts with an pillage that has actual RAPE and indiscriminate cold blood murder, it really shows what it's came for.

I loved the first one but couldn't start with the second for some reason. I think the art style and story put me off.

This reminds me that I still need to play Vandal Hearts 1. Previews of it looked awesome to me as a kid, but by the time I got a PS2 that could play it, I had forgotten the game existed.

>>8324587
>The game starts with an pillage that has actual RAPE and indiscriminate cold blood murder, it really shows what it's came for.
Well, VH2's opening is similar to the one in Let Us Cling Together. Vandal Hearts, especially the second game, was very obviously inspired by Tactics Ogre specifically. And in terms of story and music, my opinion is that they managed to actually pull it off in the second game.

My understanding is that vandal Hearts 1-2 are simple RPGs with simple mechanics. Units just level up and you can't customize that much. The only difference is that they can move around. Is this true?

>>8324772
A bunch of games start with some village being pillaged (or have some scene with it), but it's always a PG13 version of it, the village burning down from the distance, some vanilla killings here and there.
VH2 goes to town, no holding back.

>>8324779
The 1st one is like a Shining Force clone mechanically speaking, that's why i like at the time.
Dunno about the 2nd one.

>>8324783
The reason I like Tactics Ogre and FFT is because of how much freedom you're given to customize your units.

There's a classic turn hack

https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/5400/

Would it be dumb to skip over to VH2 before playing VH1? VH2 looks like the far more gripping game but I still would be interested in VH1 and don't want it to feel unplayable after playing VH2.

SOSTEGARIA

>>8324912
It would be dumb either way because VH is excellent.

>>8323538
And it sucks. Tactics Ogre also sucks, by the way.