Vandal Hearts_RIP_AKIRA

Name: Vandal Hearts
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo
Release Date: March 27, 1997
ESRB: M (Mature)

Vandal Hearts (ヴァンダルハーツ is a Japanese turn-based tactical role-playing video game by Konami, developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo for the PlayStation and by Konami Computer Entertainment Nagoya for the Sega Saturn. The PlayStation version was distributed in Japan, North America, and Europe. The Saturn version was never released outside of Japan. There was also a Microsoft Windows version developed and released exclusively in South Korea.

It was among the first console role-playing games to be released for the 32-bit systems. It was one of the earliest tactical role-playing games to be released in North America, and garnered a small cult following. The game proved popular enough to spawn a sequel, Vandal Hearts II, also for the PlayStation. A prequel, Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment was created for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

Story

Thousands of years ago, the holy man known to history as Toroah the Messiah traveled far and wide across the continent of Sostegaria, spreading his teachings throughout the land. After his death, his descendants and heirs assumed absolute political power over the region, forming the basis of the Holy Ashah Dynasty and ruling through a combination of religious doctrine and military power for millennia. The kings and queens of the Holy Ashah Dynasty, however, did not always rule wisely or justly, and, as time passed, the citizenry began to resent the power of their leaders.

Fifteen years ago, this growing discontent found its ultimate expression in the person of Arris the Sage, who united the disparate anti-royal factions throughout Sostegaria and shaped them into a powerful guerrilla army. Under the cunning leadership of Arris, this Liberation Army managed to outwit and outmaneuver the Royal Army, and finally smashed through to the palace of the Ashah Dynasty itself, and burnt it to the ground.

With the monarchy dissolved, the rebels establish a ruling council founded on the principles of democracy and popular sovereignty. From the ashes of the Holy Ashah Empire emerges the Republic of Ishtaria. The leaders of the revolution naturally assumed leadership positions within the new republic: all, that is, except for Arris himself, who suddenly disappeared and has not been seen of, nor heard of, ever since.

Today, the fledgling republic is in increasingly dire straits: the autocratic Minister of Defense, Hel Spites, and his elite anti-terrorism squad, the Crimson Guard, are using ever-increasing force to stamp out the last vestiges of resistance to Ishtarian rule, while they allow outlaws to roam the countryside and pirates to sail the seas. Meanwhile, Ash Lambert and his colleagues at the third battalion of the Ishtarian Security Forces begin to suspect a conspiracy at the highest levels of government. Ash's attempts to draw attention to the situation, though, only draw the ire of the conspirators themselves, leaving only Ash and his allies to foil their plans and restore order to the nation.

After the credits, an extra cutscene is available that shows Eleni hearing Ash's ocarina theme while claiming "he" has come back; hinting he is still alive or has returned to Ishtaria.