7 . o ee a ab EAR. ‘1 {= 2 a a ire} ' co) WN => ; i) i Cc 7gy ' Poa 7Q My skillis active, but | can't use it! Why not!? Q How do | operva treasure chest? Q | loaded a game for the first time in ages but | can’t remember where | was in the story. Q Every time + take a shot at an enemy, the unit ends up moving and my attack misses!Help! A Some skills need a spacific level of MP. or EP before you-can use-them. A unit's MP and.EP "are decided by the type of body armor, so you need to’Select a body armor that. suits the skill you want to-use. For example, if you want to — use Skills that require MP, try,a Robe type armor. < - A Use the Unlock skill. You'll have ta.find out for, yourself which weapon is set with Unlock. A Review Story Digest undey Infor jon in the World Map menu. By the way, ry/World © Getting Started Using the Controtler’. 2.0.2.0... ee 3 | ! mtyreces , Events Leadifig Up tothe EStablishment of “i Foar Gre: Game Plow mem eteae ; a ads : Affairs under this dates its content City ¢ according, to the game situation, so check it out Commands: . ig nd Seg 9 Ss eee iT eee a, once ima while! Units and Classes .., A Second-guessing the enemy's next move is Type of Eqaipment criticalin dual turn battles. Enemies have a w ~~ tendency to follow these behavioral patterns. - | €APOMS veers si... Gboat Te 1. The enemy taggets opponents with low HPs» , a wine. : fe . fomization anging an 2, ‘The enemy prefers to attack fg, Battle Systens echanging Techaiqaes) . rather than the front, and-4rom the back rather.than the side. boat the Characters, =*3, The enemy prefors to attack trom } ground level. shar ( Remember that it's also important to follow im the enemy's Movements and attack range Mp closely. ia.L2 BUTTON 2 BUTTON hh. ; 11 BUTTON. 1 BUTTON R DIRECTIONAL BUTTONS Rael : 4 : — SELECT BUTTON ; eso ‘© aaron POWER MOICATOR [ eC] oren our START BUTTON. owen surrox — sceover } : ‘GoNAROLLER PORT. r i ‘CoVTROLLER PORT ¢ ‘ANALOG MODE SWITCH ceunicnanere ote Mae wi ED SL (sovecaonnoun Pts) Set up your PlayStation® game console according to the instructions in its instruction Manual. Make'sure the power is off before insane or removing a compact disc. Insert the VANDAL-HEARTS®°uI disc and close the disc cover. Insert a game controller and turn-on the PlayStation game console. Follow on-screen instructions to start a game. Sin Memory Cards es % To save game settings and progress, insert a Memory Card into Memory Card slot 1 or slot 2 of the PlayStation game console before:starting He Yous can joad your saved aun from the same card,ar-from. any Memory Card con ining previously saved pea HeAIa® I.games. For more information on saving and loading, see page ba controller that looks like unctions on a regulag same as those on an =~~ =« > say Within the Battie Map eg SS a « : Directional buttens Move map and window cursors: 5 rs . as, @ button . Gontirm / Talk. - te <= ue cue ae ng a Naaae tie We of ee pom a aven of it For highs ToveqienkorT ie Gods and used ‘ts celestial powers to build an empty. paradise. There they ee Due = See Lees t ees for. Nighrspeed ores prey squandered theif days in the pursuit of decadent pleasures and sinful ways and é Cursor. r s lived their livesshowever.their desires led them. : huey * Sei Or NOOR UN aa a eigaaee od was natiobe mocked. oooh oteat Mandghips f the land to Ged the. | aj ~ . ‘ oo ‘od was not to.be mocked. He sent great hardshi ye away the + A button. ... Press whéh the [A button = guidance) mark is displayed. evil and bestowed on-Nirvath the Divine a sacred sword, forged’ with miraculous = ‘on the lower tight of the screen to, display a detailed expla- powers. God bid him save the handful of i people who had preserved piety in * ; nation of the cursored location, Z their hearts. —- es Rotate field of view to left/right. 7 Aided by the power of the sacred sword, Nirvaff'led the blessed few to unspoiled 7. Tilt field of view to.above/belows ~ = aie er ee ue _ ord, a he last a Paes ers used, bao ise: fcc jattered int a thousand pieces. Scattered throughout the world, eactt piece is 2 Press to view player's units in flashing blue, enemy fo said to have become the first of every weapon known to mankind. . = units in flashing red. ; £ . fe loetivae i Following the journey, Nirvath led-his people in conquering regional clans and Safest Biot = Ghichalne attath Fangeof Nie engines. building a nation that became the giant Nirvada Church State claiming dominion * = - Sy om Z \ ‘over all of the Rognant Continent. Under the bagner of the Nirvadia Church State World Map/City % ie J - and its founder St. Nirvatty, the continent knew nothing but peace for age after age. Directional buttons”. ». . Move the window cursor. =~ . . = > Mi — However, soon after-the Holy-Year 300, the Staie-found its authority threatened by .@ button Confirm button. ‘ repeated attacks from infidel forces and the.swelling-ranks of saboteur monks. ‘What the State lost, regional lairds and great seigneurs gained in the form of greater autonomy and ambition. Small-Scale territorial skirmishes became commonplace. Eventually, this bred a climate.leading to"regional strife inthe Great Theological Polemic, A-strife which in turn, irethe Holy Year 425.A.S.,-escalated into.a war that raged through the entire continent of Rogitant. ~A button . > Press: when the [& button = guidance] marks displayed - _on the lower right of the screen to display a detailed expla- = © nation regarding thé"¢ontentof the cursored location. . Start button 2.5... 5. of Call up the main commands (in the World Map). 3 = nesi’ The player advances through the game by basically repeating tree modes - World Map, City & Village, and Battle Map. (Event Sequences. are frequently inserted according to the progress of the game.) The World Map = Equip weapons,and armor. * Move across the-Rognant *Save/Load = ‘ ile Continent by following Exchange in weapon skil access points Free Battle The war, which was to later my male “The War ot ele ee ae signing of the peace treaty of Fergatha, approved by Pope Lopeth IV. Under ohn ie ji 7 the treaty, sorfié thirty. regions were recognized as#ntlependent sovereign { eS . ce sears fee penis ible sony og" ome Bate states, effectively dismantling the Nirvadia Church State. In the generations 4 * Gather information: cane : the tavern {quant that followed, these infant states opted for-limited reunification again and + ftis poséible to voluntarily again through wamand sovereign marriages, thus Ushering in the current ra emmah “ enter cleared’battle maps in. of four great powers (Kingdom of Natra, The Church State of Nirvadia, 7 order to search for items or to ; Republic of Vernantze, and Zora-Archeo Twin Empire). eae eeeEvent Seqaences —__ insert a Memory Card into-either Memory Card Slot 1 or 2 on your PlayStation game console, ~ —s ad 4 f - Open MAIN COMMAND in the World Map and RECORDS, Save: The Memory Card requires two blocks for a single saved game. {A single Memory Card can save seven game positions.) : ; : Load: Continue the game from a previously saved position. Saved games The Title screen is displayed after the Kofiami logo-screen..Press the Start button to can be-opened from both the Main Menu and the World Map. The bring up the Main Menu. Load screen is also displayed-at the time of Game Over. New Game: ~ Start a new game from the beginning . a > = = : Continue: | Continue frm a previously saved game. ( Warning: Ending the Game eS eee Se Sg Option: Adjustvarious game settings. —* t} ‘ . 4 o. eee = The correct procedure whet @nding the game is to open-the disc cover, ™ wait for the disc-to Stop moving, and'then turn OFF the power: The disc will continue to turn if theypower is switched OFF first, and may become pes scratehed during removal. a = ie i Note: It.is also possible'to enter the Option mode from the'World Map by pressing the X button. ~THE WORLD MP: DETAILS OF PreeaGe hike C LDS = = “ = . : =e < s, i This is the complete map of the Ragnant Continent, the sité of your adventures. The | present location or your character is indicated by a pawn-shaped cursor. The different routes are connected-within the movable range, and movement can bevaffected by ; Specifying a location with the feather cursorethe number of rOUtes increases as the = player advances, andethe range of possible movement within the cot it grows larger. | Select your desired location and press the @ button to travel there. Blue Circle - City Shops, taverns and other buildings cai _ be found here: = =i reen circle Free Battle Map im... This area can Red Circle - Compulsory Event Point |.) _ An’eveptwill take place here. Battleis: always a possibility, and it would be wise to come here prepared 3 ‘ f r Status*” Check the detailed status of a Unit: ~ - % Fs EK ~ Pare Pe Warehouse: Check possessions. eo oe — Petts | ‘one ere a ee Story Digest: Review previous events and gain clues on where to go next. = pe IS Save: = Savé and load games Paris:@boat Units ke . ~~ os ° ar | . ; We." ‘A unit refersto a single character, including the player's Equip: Equip the unit withyweapons, ody: = ss ~____~ | (character, friendly companions, and enemy characters. armor and items. _-— z Your unit becomes capable of fighting when itis * ; equipped with-weapons apo armor. Unequipped units cannot fight. Only the hame of the main character (Joshua) can be configured by the player. Move To: ~ Move'through the city. “Transfer: Take the skill in a particular weapon : — and exchangevt with or transfer it to = __ another weapon (see page 17). Status: __ Check the detailed status of a unit. @boat Classes | “Check possessions. ~~ ¥ Sieclasses— Fire, Ice, inder, Wind, Holy and Darkness - exist in the Vandal-Hearts® II “A x - i Depart: Exit City. v Universe. Classes apply to weapons and body armor, but not to the characters - ee - = — . themselves. When equipment is exchanged, classes change accordingly. » Wy fe at : . s 8) bout the City rd ‘ ’ In the city the player can engage in activities act’, ot buying and selling items in the shop, and gathering information-in the tavern. == = _ i s = | . Shop: Sell weapons, bod) armor and items. i — Since the range of merchandise — increases as the game progresses, it = ~! >» In each of the above sets, the two classes are considered natural enemies and have an | ea is a good idea to stop by frogytime _- opposing relationship. This.relationship does not influence any class otherthan the , totime. : : opposing magic class. Sin¢e these repelling relatfonships Gogg fitute a rute. common to 5 . many things including Units, weapons, skillsand body armor, the player is ‘advised to { 3 Tavern: _ Listen to the townspeople's,gonver- ea remember them. The a each unit can be checked by viewi ti y ofr ‘ ‘ 3) ing the character's satigas. You'ma\ \orOSS SOI ~ magic class in the Status screen (see page 23). - so valuable ‘fora in! : S = eas ~~TUPE, OF EQUIPMENT | | KONAMI is offering EL ELA MUA ELLAThe type of weapon determines a unit’s attack capability; a single weapon can be held inveither the it thesight hand, or one in each. Some weet need to be Held with both hands. The following parameters can.change depending on place which weapon is equipped: ATK, HP (shield type only), AGI, Luck, MV, Weight, “= — < postage Some weapéts are accompanied by a magic class. A direct attack using a weapon here . with a magic class résults ina Ae attack accompanied by a image attack, i - Example: Attacking with a Meghido Blade results in a Fire Class There are nine: of weapons, ea its own characteristics. A weapon can be set with skills, Perne cad number of skilis with awa can be set ae from, ey we weapon, tt Aa ofa if A skill arose co ae unit grows stronger, and the-selection of.available weapons also increases. Iote™Eery weapon | "Nas one anaes the-beginning. 5 = - KONAMI OF AMERICA, INC. Swont Bs Shield Type Tye Short-range weapon.” ‘Short-range weapon. F-0. BOX 318 (Uses skills that (Has HP fecovery ADDISON, IL 60101-0318 > require EP) value in ‘evasion rate from an gnemy attack Bow Type Dagger Type Long-range weapon. ‘Shortsrange weapon. oe 2 > Throw, tye" ‘Want Type z Axe Type Long-range weapon. ‘Short-range weapon. on mae wa (Aisosuses skills of a Toquire EP) — ‘magic ‘type that require MP.)apeinenmatcaneulracgulont (EXCHQNGING TECHNIQUES) Techniques internalized in salen: 90 be ransferred to or exchanged with othér weapon's. Technique exchanges can’be made at-any time from the World Mapeorthe City screen, and the player can create an original weay iccording to taste by combining favorite techniques. However, there is a limit to the number of techniques that can be set into. a given weapon, ahd-no more than the speci- fied number of techniques can be set. This timit varies from weapon to weapon. ~ ; oa “ > = - —< Be we “Techniques” refers to various skills"afid magic available for'use by a specific Weapon, i Techniques are naturally preset into weapons,”but a technique that is purchased ata) shop for a weapon is in an inactive state and cannot be used,until its proficiency polgts | (SP) are at 100%. Once this level is achieved, the technique will become available ft use. The proficiency’ points for a give technique can be earned by equipping a weapon | with the desired technique and performing actions in the Battle Map. ii * Tectiniques can take the form of Skill, which requires EP over a minimum level, or Magic; which uses up MP. when used. Depending on the type of ene dae, care is, ; needed in adjusting the equipment so that its conditions of use are fulfilled. -~ - ~— Fa = + Alarge number of techniques are present in this game. Techniques come ina varie et k = ——_— . . ety-of differentypes and their effects also vary, such as attack magic, healing a . : -* magic, and attack-aiding magic. = z y ‘Weapons Ovaned Sa > Select the unitto provide the transfer, then sele a unit to transfer techniques to. A list of skills currently possessed by both unit's earns are an ae aus | 998 Cisplayed; target the desired technique withthe — - ia cursor and perform the exchangé. Depending Of» . > = a the type or class of the Megan ais. an exchange. r - My may not be possible. In such cases, an X mark & > indicated in réd will be displayed, = —- cee - ne = = Pe: - ¥ = eh > = wor aBattle Basics . * Once the player enters the Battle Map, = conditions for'victory and defeat‘are displayed. The stage*is-eleared if the victory condition for that map iS*met, and thé game is over:if the defeat condition for that map is met. - Selecting Weapons Only techniques for weapons of the same type: may be exchanged. Inactive techniques wit proficiency points (SP) of less than 100%,.or ~ Skills set into weapons of dissimilar types, _ cannot be exchanged. An X mark indicated in ~ red willbe displayed when mo exchange can take place. _ * The default placement positions for the units may be modified at the start of the bate. Changes.can.be made withimthe spevified range. Select a unit With the @ button, and “*" press the @ button again atthe unit’s new, desired pesition. Prass the Start button to’exit this screen and enter the battle! * This game usés a special battle format. Whi n the player moves a single unit, the CPU (enemy force) simultaneously moves a unit. The bat involves forecasting the opponent's next move’ one move at a time, much like"chess._ Z arty o @boat Batting : : When both the player and the CPU attempt to move into the same spot, the two parties end up clashing, or “butting,” once the moves are complete. In the case of butting, the-unit with the lighter weight is bumped out and his move is cariteled. se Search for Skill by Weapon Type This function displays. currently. possessed techniques, categorized by weapon type, mak- ing it easier to find your favorite techniques © for exchange purposes. Only skills for the.” same weapon type may be exchanged. i Search for Skill by Magic Class r This function displays currently possessed” techniques; categorized by magic type-- Techniques belonging to opposing classes _ may not be exchanged. An X mark indicated in red Will be displayed when-no exchange can" take place. © eam= = Example Using a Single Unit te sy 1. Whe player thinks about which unit ta move.-At the same time, the CPU (the enemy force) calculates which unit to move. At this. time, neither side is aware of thee -other's plans. mS < ~ E - = 2 “ss 2. The CPU (the enemy fore) determines what’ commands to Give to which unit..(The player is not aware of the decisions) 3. The player enters his or her commands: “a Move: 4. The screen splits; both the player unit and the enemy.unit. move at tlie same time. S A \ : Action: * - 4 5 5. The Act command for the unit with the faster AGI (the speed of the unit) is activated, QI ae Attack: 6. The Act Command for the unit'with the slower AGI is activated. ‘ = ¥ = All of the above constitute single phase. When all units have gone through one phase-each,-ane turn is said te-have bes completed. When one force has agreater number of units, the [Ea units remaining on that side will each perform their actions one [#Siiemtus » _atatime. After Sualy unit has completed’their phase, th : Beh, next turn is commenced, Commands are dispatched to_ ) every unit once again, and this process is repeated until = cither the victory condition or the defeat condition Is met. = thea MAX.) The HP and the MP are at MAX level at the beginning of the battle. The.enemy is defeated by usin Move, Action, Attack antec single unit cannot perform more than.one unit's action commands can roughly be divided into Move and-Action. It's possible to Action after making a Move, but not possible to Move_after an Action. "Select to move the unit. Specity within the- ~ increasethe amount of. « Battie Commands ~ Using weapons to attack enemy units will increase the level of the EP meter a Phackin Cy f ul \ im ig unit. (The-starting level at the beginning of the battle is half of * This game is’a battle simulation that employs the dual turn system (see pages 19- 4 20 for more), where the Units are moved one by one. po a commands such as. » ion during one turn. A flashing movable range: -_— Select to makerthe unit perform a specific action such as Attack, Tech, Item Kt and so on. Specify a target within the flashing range. ow Select to perform physical attacks. Specify the bert ty) right or left-hand weapon before attacking; the distance and levels encompassed by the attack differs from weapon to weapon. The hit percentage and damage rate is the highest for attacks aimed at the back ofthe unit, tofowed by the side, with attacks tothe front being the. least-effective. Attacks inflicted from a higher ~ elevation to a unit at a lower elevation will also “ damage inflicted. However, when the enemy is’ f } equipped with a.shield, his attack evasion rate is-higher for attacks aimed ts toward the side “ PU holding the shield.i < . . Es Tech: ‘Select to use a skill set into a weapon. Select from among skills currently usable. Some skills will require a minimum level of.MP or EB: Skills: | » marked with * automaticalty*take effect solely by virtue of being set into the weaponyand therefore cannot be selected here. 5} 5 ae Snes A unit becomes stronger by ‘Gaining parece in battle, | The Status screen for each unit displays the following detailed information, 4 - Name: Tiename of the unit. (A unit with a HELP. . neal -tag'after its name is a guest unit that appears during the course of the ~ story. Guest tits cannot grow, and their equipment cannot be'modified.) i . ee ~ The level Of the unit. The unit,moves up to the next level once EXP mM reaches 100. (The maximum: value for HP, MP, EP, AGI, DEX and Luck = rises with gach level increase). 7 | The strength resefve of the unit. When HP is drained to zere-from battle ~ s@amage, the unit is removed from the field. eo “ie The magic power of the unit. Magic skills, when used, consume a "i specific amount of MP, The MP meter is at a maximum at the start of the | battle, and goes'down each time magic is used. <7 The morale, or the will to fight, of the unit. Some skills-cannot be used | y unless the EP has reached a certain minimum level. The meter is at half "1 of nein at the start of th6 battle, and goes up with each weapon VE « attack. WEE oe Item: ~ Sélect to use an item. There‘are a variety. of items available, including potions to aid HP recovery. This command is not displayed when the unit has no items... wf. - Wait: Select to-end the action command without doing anything. < Status; Select to display'the Status screen for the unit (see page 23). Battle Sapport Effect =~} When you laufich a physical attack in the Battle Map, the presence of a friendly unit immediately neighboring the target enemy unit increases your attack power due to support effect. The support effect is heightened with each additional friendly unit in a neighboring spot. The mobility of the unit. This is the distanee the unit can move in a © single turn during a battle. ~ The attack power of the weapon held in the thhits right hand The attack power ofthe weapon-held in the unit's left hand. ~ t =< About the Battie Main Command Window: Press the @ buttoff’on the landscape when there are no-units present to \ display the commands Zoom, Ally, Enemy, Overall Map, Status, Option, { Objective, and Turn End. ~ ~_—* } i 7. _— SoMDEX: j Luck: Weight: The luck of the unit. THIS*Value affects the rate’at which critical hits appear.) The weight of the unit. This value has an effect when butting takes place | 3 (see page 26 for more information). = Magic Def: The unit's ability to resist magic from each of the Fire, Ice, Thunder, Wind, Holy, and Darkness classes..A “©” indicates the unit's resistance to that class while-an “X” shows vulnerability; “-" marks an unrelated class. Land Cost: ‘The cost incurred in moving through a particular terrain. The higher the _number, the more difficult the terrain is to.walk through. — The cost incurred in climbing up to higher levels. The higher the number, the more difficult the level difference is to clear. Be.aware that there is a limit to the amount of level difference that can be cleared. No cost is incurred in moving down levels. Note: Press the A button while (a, button=guidanee] is displayed on the tower right of |, the screen to display a detailed explanation about the content of the cursored location. | 4 - | “1 Ht. Cost: it { boat the HP, MP and EP Limits 3 HP (physical reserve), MP (magic powér) and EP (‘norale) timits refer to the maximum level of each that a given unit can call forth. . - Example 1: A unit with an HP-timit of 150 equipped with 200 worth of HP has an HP of 150. By Example 2: A ult with an’ HP-ffit of 150 equipped with 100 worth of HI has an HP of 100. - = = c "AG: The agility of the unit. This value has-an effect on attack-hitrateas © nal well as the yal turn attacking order (see page 19-20 for eh z more information). e r i The dexterity of the unit. This value affects thesévasion rate from an attack.’ __Joshaa - the Main Character (age 20) \ A farmer's son in-the village of Polata, a _ forgotten corner of the Natra Kingdom, he |? _ Was orphaned early in his life and reared by f ‘his uncle Kordif, the village mayor. Owint to the progressive ideas on education held “by Kossimo, the previous laird, Joshua w up alongside Adele, a scion of the Ss .... aristocracy, as her childhood companion. However, with the arrival of adolescence, he started to have romantic feelings for her. At | the same time, the dawning tion » Of their different stations-in life now ge ' proves disconcerting to him. | j Ma - “* kn) The chatelaine of the Housé'of Byron; laird of + ; 2 ; the Polata village. Though she has genuine ~ \S ‘ feelings for her chilldhood friend Joshua, -her decisive and outspoken nature, irritated by Joshua's mixed signals, often lands them into — heated quarrels... = =oe - z- 7,5 = . . ; Clive (age ay =e Jacob (age 25) = See One of Joshua's S - 2 ee x ' The leader of the elite band of Knights Protector (also known as childhood compan= pat ‘the Blood Knights), Cardinal ' ions’and:the son of © y Casdinat Ladortis (age 47 fa thé localtavern A Ladorak’s eyes, ears, and iron fists. hina keeper. Anoted” ~Amember of the Holy~ _ ; Jacob's loyalty to the Cardinal, his ee} prankster with a Order. sent from the- ) Savior from an unhappy past, is 7 , Nicvadia Church State, his plan is to take advantage of, ~ the disorder sown by the ” Kingdom's civil-unrests and mastermind Natra’s reunifi- cation with the Church / State. On the strength of ~ absolute, as is his indifference to “the-acts of terror he carries out to © : fulfill the Cardinal's goals... = practical, action-ori- ented take on life, be isafriendy . extrovert with a aro ee ~ ' as it that his heat A on. Se gatha the Qacen Mother (age 33) that accomplishment, make aa bid for theThrone of =f A veritable Black © i ‘Nirwath—the Popehood - ae ® Widow, she plotted | with Ladorak to bring | about the previous king's untimely _ demise in order to i place her child on the |, throne and the true | © power over Natra-in her own hands. ~* 7 ~ of Nirvadia. Nicola (age 24). ~ Z A traveling swordsman with an air of mystery, he wins the trust of Joshua and others with 4 his ascetic yet sensible //#7) ways. However, heis (/ >} 3” 9 Awan Y= “Joshua's foster _ sister. A sweet and S. iakoverted girl. She ” Gari (agé2) ~ ‘One of Joshua's childhood =) companions and a boy of, fare intelleehskngwn witely as a prodigy. Though frail not what he seams. » has feelings for Na ' 3 and mostly passive; he also” é ‘ dostua iat oy {" y ’ < shows himself a highly ; yeyond sisterly i capaole observer with an < ~ regard. eye for detecting the true —— ature of things. - - St pepe eT 5 aah i; * : e =