I put this together so people can play on expert mode on their first playthrough. To be clear Expect mode (the hardest difficulty mode) does require a clear save to exist to be able to play it, but you don't have to NG+ from that save. You just need to have the save file.
1: Start the game, and change some setting on the title screen so that a system save happens.
2: Place save file in C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\My Games\VisionsofMana\Steam\76561197960270388\Saved\SaveGames
Tips for the start of the game:
- Yes the enemys really do that much damage, but if you die you can retry a fight.
- That girl has a healing spell, and shes invincible, so you can stall the prologue combats for free healing.
- You can reflect the enemy rock spell by attacking it for a ton of damage.
- You start the game with some healing items, press left/right D-Pad to access the items menu.
- The prologue ends with a 3 chain battle, maybe save a healing item for that. Although your healer is still there.
- Enemys in this game seem to not have any hitstun at all, so don't do long combos.