History YMMV / VandalHearts

* OnceOriginalNowOverdone: ''Vandal Hearts I'' plot and script were also solid and above average for a translation from Japanese at the time, though by today's standards it would be rather [[ClicheStorm predictable]]. The gameplay was also good for its time, having a clearly defined system wherein each class type was alotted its own "position" within an army, and the level design meant that each time the game was replayed, it could still be challenging.

* GameBreaker: [[GuideDangIt By "examining" many random spaces on specific levels, figuring out what you're supposed to do with them, and completing a few bonus levels,]] you can turn Ash Lambert into a Vandelier...and subsequently make him the most broken character ''ever'' in the history of [=RPGs=]. [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer That is not an exaggeration.]] As a Vandelier, Ash has all spells in the entire game, enemy spells included, the highest attack and defence values, no natural weakness, and it blocks all attacks from the front and most attacks from the sides. It can one-shot ''every enemy'' it encounters except for the final boss, and that includes the final boss's second form. It even has the unique ability to "cast" items as spells... except they all cost zero MP, essentially giving him infinite health, MP and so much more, giving the impression that the devs rewarded the players with a DebugMode. The only downside is that [[LetsPlay/WhoIsThisGit Ash looks like a chicken.]]

* SoOKItsAverage: ''Flames of Judgment'' is seen as an average game to fans of the first two games, due to its cartoonish art style that resembles a mobile game, dumbed down gameplay when compared to the first game, and a far weaker story and characters when compared to the second game.

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

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: ''Vandal Hearts I'' plot and script were also solid and above average for a translation from Japanese at the time, though by today's standards it would be rather [[ClicheStorm predictable]]. The gameplay was also good for its time, having a clearly defined system wherein each class type was alotted its own "position" within an army, and the level design meant that each time the game was replayed, it could still be challenging.

* TierInducedScrappy: Two character classes from the first ''Vandal Hearts'' are particularly unpopular with most players.
** The armour classes have huge attack and defence, but their terrible movement means they'll never keep up with your sword wielders and flyers. Plus, they're incredibly weak to magic which becomes increasingly prevalent as the game continues.
** And the monk classes, which for the enemies mean a durable and annoying foe with no exploitable weaknesses. For you it means taking one of your few spellcasters, giving them mediocre stats all round in a game based on specific class roles and a poor selection of spells.

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: ''Vandal Hearts II'' was criticised by some reviewers for being so relentless dark, grim and ugly. As mentioned under SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism, the entire game is far, ''far'' on the cynical end of the spectrum, quite possibly the single most dark and mature game on the entire Playstation. Almost every antagonist is a monster such as pedophiliac sodomite Warden Mohosa; the game opens with a scene of RapePillageAndBurn without skimping on any of the three; Joshua isn't so much framed for murder as forced to actually murder [[spoiler:Lord Kossimo]] in self-defence, is never really cleared and following the TimeSkip he's been forced into banditry; at one point you find your adopted sister forced into prostitution with your childhood friend and her lover forced to act as her pimp; [[spoiler:in every ending except the [[GoldenEnding best one]] your love interest either commits suicide or joins your enemies and you have to kill her; unless you get the Vandeal Heart your other childhood friend goes insane and [[ShootTheDog you have to kill him]], and in the ''worst'' ending where pretty much everyone dies [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain Joshua becomes a tyrannical emperor and ends up being murdered by a member of his own family in his old age]]]]. Almost the entire game is, quite bluntly, ''depressing.'' Not helping matters is its predecessor leaning much more idealistic on the side, which can make its sequel seem unnecessarily dark in comparison.

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: In ''I'', you are fighting against TheEmpire led by Hel Spites, later usurped by Dolf Crowley. Dolf's actions, in addition of [[TheDragon his right-hand man Xeno's]], can be brutal and destructive, but they don't spend too much time to antagonize your party and Dolf does have his own legitimate FreudianExcuse. Hel is also actually a WellIntentionedExtremist that got killed too prematurely after the times he plot behind the scenes and only making a direct confrontation with your party exactly once. His son, Kane, despite his other minor redeeming qualities, is the one who confront you most of the time, showcases his own brutality and sadism, and if he's not ruining innocent lives, he uses his time to antagonize and insult Ash for sheer pettiness and envy. Guess which one is more hateable by the fans. [[spoiler:Kane!]]

* TooBleakStoppedCaring: ''Vandal Hearts II'' was criticised by some reviewers for being so relentless dark, grim and ugly. As mentioned under SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism, the entire game is far, ''far'' on the cynical end of the spectrum, quite possibly the single most dark and mature game on the entire Playstation. Almost every antagonist is a monster such as pedophiliac sodomite Warden Mohosa; the game opens with a scene of RapePillageAndBurn without skimping on any of the three; Joshua isn't so much framed for murder as forced to actually murder [[spoiler:Lord Kossimo]] in self-defence, is never really cleared and following the TimeSkip he's been forced into banditry; at one point you find your adopted sister forced into prostitution with your childhood friend and her lover forced to act as her pimp; [[spoiler:in every ending except the [[GoldenEnding best one]] your love interest either commits suicide or joins your enemies and you have to kill her; unless you get the Vandeal Heart your other childhood friend goes insane and [[ShootTheDog you have to kill him]], and in the ''worst'' ending where pretty much everyone dies [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain Joshua becomes a tyrannical emperor and ends up being murdered by a member of his own family in his old age]]]]. Almost the entire game is, quite bluntly, ''depressing.''

* ThatOneBoss: The first game has the Black Knight Kane, the first boss of the final chapter. Unless you unlocked the secret Vandalier class, expect to have trouble with his Plasma Wave spell, which deals heavy magical damage to every party member on the map. Not to mention that he stands next to an MP recovering panel, and there's still some imperial troops guarding him.

* GameBreaker: [[GuideDangIt By "examining" many random spaces on specific levels, figuring out what you're supposed to do with them, and completing a few bonus levels,]] you can turn Ash Lambert into a Vandelier...and subsequently make him the most broken character ''ever'' in the history of [=RPGs=]. [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer That is not an exaggeration.]]
** As a Vandelier, Ash has all spells in the entire game, enemy spells included, the highest attack and defence values, no natural weakness, and it blocks all attacks from the front and most attacks from the sides. It can one-shot ''every enemy'' it encounters except for the final boss, and that includes the final boss's second form. It even has the unique ability to "cast" items as spells... except they all cost zero MP, essentially giving him infinite health, MP and so much more, giving the impression that the devs rewarded the players with a DebugMode. The only downside is that [[LetsPlay/WhoIsThisGit Ash looks like a chicken.]]

* MagnificentBastard: Two from the first game:
** Dolf. There is hardly a single character in the entire game that wouldn't have been better off without his meddling schemes.
** Zohar Abu Sa'id. He managed to escape the time warp pocket dimension and lay his wayward (read: psychotic power hungry) former apprentice to rest. With really cool magic.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy: ''Vandal Hearts II'' was criticised by some reviewers for being so relentless dark, grim and ugly. As mentioned under SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism, the entire game is far, ''far'' on the cynical end of the spectrum, quite possibly the single most dark and mature game on the entire Playstation. Almost every antagonist is a monster such as pedophiliac sodomite Warden Mohosa; the game opens with a scene of RapePillageAndBurn without skimping on any of the three; Joshua isn't so much framed for murder as forced to actually murder [[spoiler:Lord Kossimo]] in self-defence, is never really cleared and following the TimeSkip he's been forced into banditry; at one point you find your adopted sister forced into prostitution with your childhood friend and her lover forced to act as her pimp; [[spoiler:in every ending except the [[GoldenEnding best one]] your love interest either commits suicide or joins your enemies and you have to kill her; unless you get the Vandeal Heart your other childhood friend goes insane and [[ShootTheDog you have to kill him]], and in the ''worst'' ending where pretty much everyone dies [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain Joshua becomes a tyrannical emperor and ends up being murdered by a member of his own family in his old age]]]]. Almost the entire game is, quite bluntly, ''depressing.''
* GameBreaker: [[GuideDangIt By "examining" many random spaces on specific levels, figuring out what you're supposed to do with them, and completing a few bonus levels,]] you can turn Ash Lambert into a Vandelier...and subsequently make him the most broken character ''ever'' in the history of RPGs. [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer That is not an exaggeration.]]