Vandal Hearts is a tactical RPG with elements of strategy, set in a medieval fantasy world, where swords and sorcery forged a grim place to live in.
The gameplay overall feels like a modified game of chess, where each piece has unique characteristics and the battlefield changes every time.
The plot is quite simple, so do not look for depth in the characters, but it is more than enough for this genre. The story is expertly woven into each mission and tactics must be adapted accordingly. In one battle you simply need to destroy all enemies, in another - to save a prisoner, whose cage is lowered into the lava after each turn, and in the next - to destroy magical artifacts without killing a single villager turned zombie.
Between battles, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the settlements. There you can replenish supplies in the local store, or listen to some gossip in a tavern. And in the dojo, if you reach a certain level, you can upgrade the class of one of the fighters.
The graphics are pleasing to the eye, the battle maps look like board game miniatures, and the characters are drawn with a unique style and excellent pixel art. It is especially pleasant to watch how enemies explode in a fountain of blood after a decisive blow.
Music in a medieval style nicely emphasizes the setting of the game, but it is unlikely that at least one of the tracks will find its way into your selection of soundtracks.
Significant flaws in Vandal Hearts are hard to find. Yes, sometimes it's hard to tell where your cursor is, especially when lots of characters pile up. It would also be nice to see more variety of weapons and armor, because 4-5 options for each character class for the entire game is rather poor.
In general, Vandal Hearts is quite addictive, it's a pity that the game is so short, but straight after completion I couldn't resist to replay it, this time collecting all the treasures and not losing a single hero on the battlefield.
The gameplay overall feels like a modified game of chess, where each piece has unique characteristics and the battlefield changes every time.
The plot is quite simple, so do not look for depth in the characters, but it is more than enough for this genre. The story is expertly woven into each mission and tactics must be adapted accordingly. In one battle you simply need to destroy all enemies, in another - to save a prisoner, whose cage is lowered into the lava after each turn, and in the next - to destroy magical artifacts without killing a single villager turned zombie.
Between battles, you will have the opportunity to visit one of the settlements. There you can replenish supplies in the local store, or listen to some gossip in a tavern. And in the dojo, if you reach a certain level, you can upgrade the class of one of the fighters.
The graphics are pleasing to the eye, the battle maps look like board game miniatures, and the characters are drawn with a unique style and excellent pixel art. It is especially pleasant to watch how enemies explode in a fountain of blood after a decisive blow.
Music in a medieval style nicely emphasizes the setting of the game, but it is unlikely that at least one of the tracks will find its way into your selection of soundtracks.
Significant flaws in Vandal Hearts are hard to find. Yes, sometimes it's hard to tell where your cursor is, especially when lots of characters pile up. It would also be nice to see more variety of weapons and armor, because 4-5 options for each character class for the entire game is rather poor.
In general, Vandal Hearts is quite addictive, it's a pity that the game is so short, but straight after completion I couldn't resist to replay it, this time collecting all the treasures and not losing a single hero on the battlefield.