History VideoGame / VandalHearts

''Flames of Judgment'' ditched the Dual Turn system, brought back the first game's varied mission objectives, and introduced a somewhat [[Franchise/TheElderScrolls Elder Scrolls]]-like character advancement system, where characters' stats improved automatically based on their actions. The story follows a young priest named Tobias Martin, who eventually becomes [[spoiler: TheMessiah]], as he battles a WellIntentionedExtremist for the fate of his country.

* PoorMansSubstitute: The second game will sell you replica of the famed Vandal Hearts, called V-Harts (notice the lack of "e"). If it wasn't for the fact that it carries a somewhat useful Skill, calling it a JokeWeapon doesn't even begin to describe it.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic: The collapse of [[spoiler:Nigran Cathedral]], with symbolism helpfully pointed out by Baron Pratau.

* TerribleTrio: In ''Vandal Hearts II'', Ladorak and Agatha each have a group of three enforcers. Ladorak's trio is led by Commander Jacob and includes the brawny Lieutenant Jamir and the agile Lieutenant Manon[[note]] Jacob and Jamir are seen leading the destruction of the village in the game's prologue[[/note]]; Agatha's trio is led by Doom the Thunder and includes Godeau the Grief and the ironically-named Thorpe the Gorgeous.

* DemonicPossession: In the final act of ''Vandal Hearts II'', [[spoiler:Godard takes over the body of [[EmptyShell King Franz]], and reveals that he has been jumping from body to body for centuries.]]

* EmptyShell: In ''Vandal Hearts II'', King Franz has become this by the time the party find him thanks to his mother's brainwashing spell. His eyes are closed in his character portrait and his dialogue is limited to "..." (except when he is ordered to speak by his "programmers") until [[spoiler:Godard possesses his body near the end of the game. It is not until the epilogue that Franz, though only in spirit form, finally speaks and acts for himself.]]

* DemonicallyPossessed: In the final act of ''Vandal Hearts II'', [[spoiler:Godard takes over the body of [[EmptyShell King Franz]], and reveals that he has been jumping from body to body for centuries.]]

* EmptyShell: In ''Vandal Hearts II'', King Franz has become this by the time the party find him thanks to his mother's brainwashing spell. His eyes are closed in his character portrait and his dialogue is limited to "..." (except when he is ordered to speak by his "programmers") until [[spoiler:Godard possesses his body near the end of the game. It is not until the epilogue that Franz finally speaks and acts for himself.]]

** How cynical is the second game? It opens with a scene of RapePillageBurn, no survivors. The entire game can basically be summed up as NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: The RPG.

* [[HiddenBackupPrince Hidden Backup Princess]]: In ''Vandal Hearts II'', the country of Natra is torn apart by a war of succession between the families of Julius and Lagore, the sons of King Zekras. However, Adele is revealed to be Zekras' illegitimate daughter (Graud, whom she believed was her father, simply married her mother while she was pregnant) and enters contention for the throne in the game's final act. [[spoiler: In the game's best ending, with Lagore's son Franz dead and Julius' son Nicola in exile, she becomes sole ruler of Natra.]]

* EloquentInMyNativeTongue: Vlad from ''Vandal Hearts II'' [[YouNoTakeCandle speaks like a caveman,]] but as he explains, that's just because he's not from around there.

* PuppetKing: King Franz in ''Vandal Hearts II'' is an almost literal puppet; his mother saw his talents as king as a threat to her own agenda and brainwashed him into a mindless automaton who only speaks or acts on command. When Franz disappears during the fracture of Agatha's alliance with Cardinal Ladorak, both Agatha and Ladorak find new puppet kings in Gregor and Nicola, respectively.

** Highlights include leading governments, marrying sweethearts, becoming important political figures, following ambitions all the way to...having an Archbishop of near unrivalled magical power working in a bakery, and her only rival for such powers working on a stamp collection. Granted though, he's old.

** And the first Archbishop? Took the job so she can be near her LoveInterest.
** The second was quite a bit pessimistic, as is the whole universe. Your mentor-like figure and politician ended up assassinated, and one of your party members disappear to WalkTheEarth. Others do get a more fitting end as your FunnyForeigner of a friend eventually led the rebellion that freed his land, and the resident lecher ironically marries his SlapSlapKiss, controlling girlfriend.
* YearInsideHourOutside: ''Vandal Hearts I'' - After spending one day in a parallel universe, Ash and his friends return to find three years have passed in their time. And Zohar said they're lucky, they could've ended up in A THOUSAND YEARS IN THE FUTURE.

** In ''Vandal Hearts II,'' [[spoiler: [[BlackWidow Queen Agatha]]]] finally opens up and shows caring and compassion... [[spoiler: just before her child poisons and stabs her to death for everything she's done up to that point.]] Meanwhile, her former ally, [[spoiler:Cardinal Ladorak]], gets in over his head when he accepts [[spoiler:Godard's]] help in furthering his agenda; [[spoiler:he is forced to watch as his ward, Jacob, is brainwashed into a mindless killing machine, and is burned to death when he tries to help Joshua and co. bring down Godard.]]

* EscortMission: ''Flames of Judgment'' has you protecting [[spoiler: Connor]] during his RoaringRampageOfRevenge, and later protecting King Everett (twice). Thankfully, the former is a capable fighter, and the latter's usually pretty smart about letting you protect him. [[LeeroyJenkins Usually.]]
** One in the original has you escort your party's mage's past self around a narrow stone path that can be raised or dropped into the sea at will so she can open an ancient shrine which is protected by the same ancient guardians who later serve the Big Bad. It...almost makes sense in context.

* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil: In the first game, Zohar questions the protagonists' righteous quest, asking if it rather isn't self righteous instead, and if they are certain what they are doing will make the world a better place and not just mess it up even more.
** Much later in the same game, it turns out that [[SinisterMinister Hel Spites]], who's been setting himself up as the BigBad, has been trying to attain [[TheEmpire Imperial]] WorldDomination for the [[WellIntentionedExtremist safety of the people]]. Having seen the civilian populace getting caught in the crossfire between the former goverment's soldiers and the rebels, he decided to put an end to war, [[HeWhoFightsMonsters no matter the cost]]... Moments after this revelation, he is [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness mercilessly slaughtered]] by [[TheManBehindTheMan Dolf Crowley]] [[EvilerThanThou in order for him to further]] [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt his own ends]].

* LickingTheBlade: Certain enemies do this before each attack.
** Most notably the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Mad Soldiers]] from the 2nd chapter of the first game.

** The final boss of [=VH=] II has two forms which are both this; you fight his human form earlier.

* PlotlineDeath: Early in ''Vandal Hearts II,'' a villain hypnotizes [[spoiler: kindly old Lord Kossimo]] into attacking the protagonist, prompting the player to kill him in self-defense. Even though (1) you can avoid his attacks indefinitely, (2) [[GameplayAndStorySegregation you have access to a spell]] that can freeze him in his tracks without hurting him, and (3) you should be able to just leave the room (you jump out a window in the very next cutscene), the game [[ButThouMust won't let you advance]] until you kill him.

* PuppetKing: King Franz in ''Vandal Hearts II'' is an almost literal puppet; his mother saw his talents as king as a threat to her own agenda and brainwashed him into a mindless automaton who only speaks or acts on command. When Franz disappears during the fracture of Agatha's alliance with Cardinal Ladorak, both Agatha and Ladorak find new puppet monarchs in Gregor and Nicola, respectively.

** In ''Vandal Hearts II,'' [[spoiler: [[BlackWidow Queen Agatha]]]] finally opens up and shows caring and compassion... [[spoiler: just before her child poisons and stabs her to death for everything she's done up to that point.]]

** [[spoiler:Goddard]] is the Messiah of the Kudur Cult, who, by dint of being a cult, are bad.

* DownerEnding: Probably the worst ending in Vandal Hearts II where [[spoiler: all of Joshua's childhood friends die, and he eventually ends up becoming a bitter and jaded man who founds a totalitarian empire that rules for 300 years before finally collapsing.]]

* TraintopBattle: ''Vandal Hearts I'' includes one of these near the end, complete with the obligatory de-coupling train cars. In ''Vandal Hearts II,'' the protagonists pull a TrainJob, although most of the action takes place on the ground once the train has already stopped.
** Much later in the second game however, you get intercepted by none other than Manon, second-in-command of East Natran Spec Ops. At that time, you are on a train. So does she, with a collapsible bridge that attaches to your train.

* UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans: In ''Vandal Hearts I,'' Hel Spites wants to bring about peace through forced unification. In ''Flames of Judgment,'' Dumas believes that his experiments will [[spoiler: force the coming of TheMessiah.]]

* WellIntentionedExtremist: [[spoiler:Daldren Gray]] in ''Flames of Judgment'' wants to wipe out a rival country in a quick, brutal campaign — because if he doesn't [[spoiler: conquer their fields, his country will starve.]]

* CorruptChurch: Played straight in ''Vandal Hearts II.''
** Though one of the few genre staples missing from the original. The nearest we got to mention of religion is the 'Holy Asha Dynasty' from the ancient past and that Huxley and Sara can become Bishops and Archbishops.

-->'''Kira''': ''[[PrepareToDie Suck on this, brigand!]]''
-->'''Ash''': ''What bravery!''
-->'''Enemy Bat''': ''* block* ''

* FaceHeelTurn: Yuri in ''Vandal Hearts II''. [[spoiler: This is later [[HeelFaceTurn reversed]] if you have the [[SwordofPlotAdvancement Vandal Heart]].]]

* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Liana Talbot]] in ''Flames of Judgment,'' who was an [[spoiler: assistant MadScientist before becoming a childrens' teacher at a religious charity.]] If you read all the [[AllThereInTheManual journal entries,]] it's even implied that [[spoiler: she helped kill Tobias' mother.]]
** [[spoiler: Kira]] becomes this on defecting back to you.

* DepravedHomosexual: Mohosa in ''Vandal Hearts II''.
* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler: Clive Beckett]] in ''Vandal Hearts I'' is mortally wounded, gives a DeathbedConfession, and appears to expire (complete with [[ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals sad, mournful rain]]), but a line of dialogue afterwards reads, "We may yet save him!" and a later line says, [[spoiler: "Clive's]] going to be okay!" Given that he's never seen again after his "death," one wonders if the writers just felt sorry for him and slipped those lines in when no one was looking.

* DisposableWoman: In ''Flames of Judgment,'' [[spoiler: Eleanor]] doesn't make it through her first scene.

* TheDragon - Kane Spites in ''Vandal Hearts I''.

* GuideDangIt: Obtaining the multiple endings in ''Vandal Hearts II''.
** As well as all the keys and prisms in the first game.
** And the fabled ''Gradius Sword'' from ''Vandal Hearts 2''. It has only been obtained through sheer chance or use of a gameshark.

* HappyFunBall: The Evil Doll in [=VH=] II.

* SequelHook: At the conclusion of ''Vandal Hearts II's'' ideal ending, ''Vandal Hearts I's'' protagonist appears to lead the second game's protagonist on [[HereWeGoAgain another adventure.]]

----

** Much later in the same game, it turns out that [[SinisterMinister Hel Spites]], who's been setting himself up as the BigBad, has been trying to attain [[TheEmpire Imperial]] WorldDomination for the [[WellIntentionedExtremist safety of the people]]. Having seen the civilian populace getting caught in the crossfire between the former goverment's soldiers and the rebels, he decided to put an end to war, [[HeWhoFightsMonsters no matter the cost]]... Moments after this revelation, he is [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness mercilessly slaughtered]] by [[TheManBehindTheMan Dolf Crowley]] in order for him to further [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt his own ends]].

* TacticalRockPaperScissors: In the first game: [[MasterSwordsman Knights]], [[WeakButSkilled Monks]] and [[MightyGlacier Armors]] beats [[TheArcher Archers]], the Archers beats [[FlyingBrick Airmen]], and Airmen beats Knights and Monks. [[TheMedic Priests]] and [[SquishyWizard Mages]] beats Armors, but lose to Knights and Monks. Oh, and the secret [[GameBreaker Vandalier]] class whoops any- and everything that moves.

''Flames of Judgment'' ditched the Dual Turn system, brought back the first game's varied mission objectives, and introduced a somewhat [[TheElderScrolls Elder Scrolls]]-like character advancement system, where characters' stats improved automatically based on their actions. The story follows a young priest named Tobias Martin, who eventually becomes [[spoiler: TheMessiah]], as he battles a WellIntentionedExtremist for the fate of his country.

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Adele]] in ''Vandal Hearts II,'' unless the player does everything it takes to prevent it from happening. Namely, reunite all four childhood friends: Adele, Yuri, Clive, and yourself. Getting Clive to survive simply means choosing the right dialogue option. Getting Yuri to survive requires [[GuideDangIt finding the Vandal Hearts]]

** Justified. With stuff.

* TheAtoner: [[spoiler:Liana Talbot]] in ''Flames of Judgment,'' who was an [[spoiler: assistant MadScientist before becoming a childrens' teacher at a religious charity.]] If you read all the [[AllThereInTheManual journal entries,]] it's even implied that [[spoiler: she helped kill Tobias' mother.]]
** [[spoiler: Kira]] becomes this on defecting back to you.
* TheDragon - Kane Spites in ''Vandal Hearts I''.
* TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil: In the first game, Zohar questions the protagonists' righteous quest, asking if it rather isn't self righteous instead, and if they are certain what they are doing will make the world a better place and not just mess it up even more.
** Much later in the same game, it turns out that [[SinisterMinister Hel Spites]], who's been setting himself up as the BigBad, has been trying to attain [[TheEmpire Imperial]] WorldDomination for the [[WellIntentionedExtremist safety of the people]]. Having seen the civilian populace getting caught in the crossfire between the former goverment's soldiers and the rebels, he decided to put an end to war, [[HeWhoFightsMonsters no matter the cost]]... Moments after this revelation, he is [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness mercilessly slaughtered]] by [[TheManBehindTheMan Dolf Crowley]] in order for him to further [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt his own ends]].
* TheJuggernaut: The enemy "Juggernaut". Attack them in the back; they die on one hit, attack them from anywhere else; you're basically asking for a major ass whoopin'.
** Dallas, from the first game, also qualifies.
* ThePoorMansSubstitute: The second game will sell you replica of the famed Vandal Hearts, called V-Harts (notice the lack of "e"). If it wasn't for the fact that it carries a somewhat useful Skill, calling it a JokeWeapon doesn't even begin to describe it.

* DealWithTheDevil: [[spoiler: [[CompleteMonster Kane Spites]] trades his soul in order to exact revenge on Ash, transforming into a bloodthirsty monster.]]

* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Hel Spites, though he's actually not so bad once you know that [[WellIntentionedExtremist he's got good intentions]]. [[CompleteMonster Kane Spites]], on the other hand...

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Adele]] in ''Vandal Hearts II,'' unless the player does everything it takes to prevent it from happening.

* InUniverseGameClock: In ''Vandal Hearts II,'' the in-game date and time of day advance with every move the player makes across the world map.

* NoDoubtTheYearsHaveChangedMe: In ''Vandal Hearts II,'' Joshua encounters Nikolai on the street years after their previous meeting. In that time, Nikolai's gone from a proactive, politically-charged warrior to a self-pitying drunkard. Also, [[spoiler: Joshua's stepsister has become a prostitute. [[CrapsackWorld Yeah.]]]]

* VendorTrash: Several items in the first and second games exist only to be sold.
** Though in the first game selling some means you can't get one of the Trial Keys to obtain the Vandalier calss.