Vandal Hearts #BestOfSaturn

2021-05-26Peter Malek3 Comments

CategoriesSpotlight

Recently translated to English (2020), Vandal Hearts is an isometric, turn-based strategy RPG. Take control of the valiant Ash Lambert and company and lead the resistance against Ishtarian rule… only, not all is as it seems. An early PlayStation game, Konami brought this over to Saturn in late 1997, along with additional content (new battles, music, spells, items). It’s like Shining Force, Lite.

Vandal Hearts. Produced and published by Konami, and released exclusively in Japan in 1997. Translated to English with other graphical improvements by Paul Met, Stardust Crusaders et al. in 2020.

The opening battle. Ash’s party handily dispatches Zoot Gach’s feeble force, and contemplates the scurrilous leader’s fate.

In between battles, the game takes on a visual novel flair – still screens and text options. Hence the comparison to Shining Force, Lite.
Treasure chests are sometimes found on battlefields.


About the author

Peter Malek

A Saturn fan since the beginning, Peter plays Saturn almost exclusively. For Peter, Saturn represents a moment in time where 2D games were at their best, 3D was just rising, and fascinating gaming 'firsts' were commonplace.  There are very few Saturn games that Peter cannot find some enjoyment in!
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Readers Comments (3)

  1. Júlio Martins 2021-05-30 @ 09:57

    Text boxes with half-transparency and not mesh? I’m almost shocked! They didn’t have that kindness with Symphony of the Night.

    Reply
    • Adam Gallagher 2021-05-30 @ 23:34

      Recently picked up a reproduction copy of this with the English patch, really looking forward to getting into this one after wanting to play it for a long time!

      So grateful for the guys translating these lost classics for gamers today!

      Reply
  2. Júlio Martins 2021-06-03 @ 02:29

    How does the Saturn port compares with the Playstation version?

    Reply

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