Vanguard Bandits Preview

A small group of rebels and a fearsome empire assume the forms of huge robotic warriors, and the two sides cross swords in Vanguard Bandits (formerly titled "Detonator Gauntlet"), a strategy RPG game (released last year in Japan as "Epica Stella") that helps round out Working Designs' 2000 lineup.

The conflict is set in "a world where mythology and technology are one." Huge robots are the dominant instruments of warfare in an otherwise medieval society. Against this backdrop, an idealistic young man named Bastion realizes his destiny to lead a rebellion against an empire thrown awry by the ambitions of a bloodthirsty general. While the theme of rebellion against an evil empire dates far, far back into RPG history, few plots set the stage for a massive conflict as effectively as this one does. Lending a little originality to the storyline is a certain degree of nonlinearity. Depending on your decisions and tactical skills, you arrive at one of five unique endings reached by traversing nearly 60 missions. If the game can also deliver in mission variety, it should boast enough replay value to rival the lengthy campaigns found in games like Tactics Ogre.

The rebel army moves to new locations on a simple 2D map, which allows you some choice of what area to enter next. Between battles, scenes and dialogue among the characters let the story unfold and help move you from fight to fight. The missions themselves are presented on a 3D isometric map that can be manipulated to show various angles of the battlefield, and the units are depicted as 2D sprites. As in other strategy games, the type and elevation of the terrain have a direct effect on combat, and missions present certain victory conditions to complete. The flow of the game seems solid, but it's nothing groundbreaking. Far more intriguing are the game's customization and combat system.

Each character's stats are broken up into several areas, such as power, speed, and dexterity. When a level of experience is gained, that character receives several points for you to distribute to the different categories as you see fit. Whether a character becomes a swift, dextrous warrior or a slowly plodding powerhouse is up to you. Additionally, the machines themselves can be upgraded and equipped with various medieval weaponry and shields. When two units are on adjacent squares, the aggressor can choose from different methods of attack, such as slash, thrust, or a special technique. Unlike in most strategy games, the defender has an equally wide range of options, which include evading, blocking, or selecting a method of counterattack. Of course, where there are swords there is usually sorcery, and many characters have the ability to wield magic. When the combat decisions are finalized, a quick load time brings up a 3D fight scene that briefly resembles a fighting game.

Strategy RPG fans have a lot to get exited about with Vanguard Bandits. While the graphics and sound may not be quite as polished as those in Final Fantasy Tactics, they are certainly adequate (plus there is an anime cutscene or two), and the gameplay shows a lot of promise, from what we've seen of it so far. Fans of extras will be interested to hear that a 3D viewer option that lets you examine the giant robots in all their polygonal glory may make it into the final game. Few details are known about the game's plot, so let's hope for some nice twists and another excellent translation from Working Designs. The game has been given a tentative release date of Winter '99.