Vandal Hearts II Game Sample - Playstation
27Vandal Hearts II ~Heavenly Gate~...you might've heard a lot more about the first game and third game than you will about the second game. VH has a bit of an odd history with me, as it was actually the first game I played when I first came to own my own Playstation (of course, like a lot of people, I played games like Battle Arena Toshinden and Tekken first, with my experience being presented to me by kiosks in places like Toys "R" Us and such). I ended up loving VHI, and for the longest time, I had heard of a sequel (this was before VHIII came out), but never tracked down a copy...I was missing out, big time, because VHII is very different from VHI...for me, that is an excellent thing and both are enjoyable games.
At first, I did not warm up to VHII --- it is VERY different from VHI...pretty much a completely different game. Not just in gameplay, but the look and feel of the game is different. The character sprites didn't bother me; they felt pretty similar to VH1, but one thing that got me right away was the character artwork for their portraits. They are "super realistic", which threw me off. The more cartoony/anime look of the characters in VH1 drew me in more, since I grew up with cartoons and anime, after all. Once I got past that though, I was able to experience a game that possesses some decent dialogue (though typical war and conspiracy stuff is afoot...) and a strategy experience that even now, I can't really say I have played anything quite like it. VHII is DEFINITELY a "thinking man's/woman's" game. It is really grounded in strategy. Features in other strategy games that you may not even use, like checking your opponent's movement radius or skills, are essential in VHII...for some, that can be laborious, tedious, and frustrating. However, I have played strategy games for years and they are one of my top favorite genres...it was refreshing.
You see, VHII has a very unique approach to combat, unlike most other strategy games...it is something you either love or hate. There is no "Player or Enemy Phase" and speed doesn't necessarily indicate who moves first (though it does serve a purpose). However, you DO move in a sort of "Phase Style" --- meaning, you can move any units you want, regardless of speed, because there is no "turn order". VHII has a sort of "dual movement" system! When you move a unit, the CPU moves a unit and you both move "at the same time" --- it is easier to understand when watching it in action.
Basically speaking, you literally must PREDICT which unit the CPU will move, where they will move, and how they will attack, based on their skill set, terrain advantage, etc....whenever you move a unit and make that unit perform an action. That sounds daunting, doesn't it? I mean, they can move ANY UNIT, just like you, if you use a spell, for example, you basically must move your unit and cast the spell in the area that you THINK the CPU will be at. It sounds crazy...but in my opinion, it is actually a stroke of GENIUS. It works...it REALLY WORKS, but only if "you do" too. The system was implemented excellently, and because damage from enemies can be really high, you really need to think about how you move your characters. If you aren't careful, you can get a unit killed in two hits. Naturally, there are a crapload of options and strategies you can deploy, but even with high powered attacks like "Brawler", you can't just get cocky...
The difficulty is "just right" for me and it feels like I am a real tactician playing this game (and some others)...I don't get that feeling unfortunately from some other games, like Hoshigami, where I can just powerup one unit with "trash obliterating" magic and solo battles, once I know how to get stronger. Even in this video, I use the "decoy" strategy, putting a unit into the danger zone intentionally, and healing him to keep him alive while getting the enemies where I want them for the kill (and my healing actions occur first, due to higher agility).
VHII has multiple endings, some neat spells and special effects, serviceable music and loads of weapons and armor and such...speaking on weapons and armor real quick, that's another interesting aspect to VHII --- there are no classes. Armor and weapons have various skills and you can equip anyone with anything and form your team however you like. For example, I have a mage, Maria, with a pretty strong knife, not because she is a melee fighter, but I use her "MP Slash" skill to finish enemies off to keep her safe, but to restore her MP to cast more punishing spells! As such, she is a hybrid unit of mine. VHII has several endings, so there is also replayability and there is even a special "Gradius" (Yes...referring to THAT Gradius) sword that allows you to summon a ship from Gradius to the battlefield...however, no one I talk to knows how to acquire that sword normally...though it can be obtained via a cheat device. VHII is a fine strategy game, once you learn the system. I definitely recommend it.