Weekly sleeper hit recommendation

Okay, okay, I've actually got a game from a different genre this week. It's Strategy RPG time, baby! I'm still sticking with the PSX for the time being, though, because the price on all of these games are nice and cheap.

Anyways, this week's winner is Vandal Hearts! Think of Shining Force, and then imagine if that game actually required some real strategy, and you're pretty close.

Unlike, say, FF Tactics, this game is pretty light on customization. You can chose different classes for each character, but once you chose, it can't be changed. So instead of switching up your party each battle to gain an advantage, you are forced to make a balanced team that can deal with a balanced attack.

Leveling is *not* an option in this game - each battle is scripted. What does this mean? Instead of beefing up your characters like most other SRPGs, victory in this game relies almost exclusively on strategy. Character placement is crucial, and seeking favorable match ups between character classes is absolutely necessary for success. For once, something in the Shining Force vein of SRPGs requires more than attacking the enemies from behind or gaining a few levels to overpower the opposition...

The story and translation are also very well done. The characters are believable, and the writers (thankfully) never get carried away with far-fetched plot twists.

Well, that's it! If you're looking for a good SRPG, Vandal Hearts can be found in most used game stores and on eBay for 20 dollars or less.

My recommendation this week is: Sports Jam for the DC.

This game, put out by Agetec and done by none other than WOW Entertainment, takes the dramatic and fun parts of many major sports and wraps them up in a whirlwind tour of mini games.

There are home run contests, endurance bike races, field goal kick offs, pong-style hockey face-offs, soccer score matches, and a host of others.

Whether you are a sports fan or not, this game is surprisingly fun. WIth bright graphics and colors, and a simple control scheme, anybody can pick up and play it.

This would be a great party game if it could have worked in a 4 player mode, but alas, it only supports two players; still, this is a game worth checking out, sports fan or not. And at $20, this game is affordable as well.

Hey Goracke,
Which Vandal Hearts are we talking about? I played #2 and it was so freakin hard. Plus is was way harder then tactics.

Anways my recommendation is:

PS2
Twisted Metal Black

This game has been out for quite awhile but it was one of the best. The characters are so well explained and so deep that you hate not to love them. The acting is great as well. Check out sweettooths story. Its wicked kool. The game plays like TM 1 & 2. Real fun.

PS
Suikoden II

108 characters, collect them all....... so fucking hard though. The game otherwise is real fun. 6 fighters at one time and the combination moves are pretty gay but who cares, the magic rulez!


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great suggestion.
vandal hearts is one of my all time favorites
for the playstation.
my suggestion for the week is
Earthbound
known as mother 2 in japan
its a very fun rpg that has a light feel too it.
and doesnt revel in complicated long drawn out
stories like other rpgs.
its a supernes one so its kinda harder to find.
which is a common thing with all rpgs for that time.
and greg.
as for sports jam.
if you ever play the naomi one you ll hate
going back to the DC one with load times and all
still cool as fuck though.
i like the golf minigame even though i kinda suck at it.

Oh man if you thought #2 was easy then #1 for me must be freggin hard. Thanks for the info, I like a good challenge so I think I'll pick it up somewhere.

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Actually, I thought Suikoden (1) was a pretty easy game. Very easy, actually. Suikoden 2 is easy, but it's difficult to collect all 108 guys and Clive's quest is impossible without either speeding through the game, ruining it, or using a hex editor on you card (neither of which i've tried..and lo and behold i didnt see shit).