Langrisser I & II

Genre: Compilation / Turn-Based Strategy-RPG

Players: 1

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Review:

Langrisser I & II were originally released on the Sega Genesis in 1991 and 1994 respectively, with the original Langrisser I being released in Western territories as Warsong, and Langrisser II not getting a Western release at all. Both games have been remade multiple times over the years as they were brought to other platforms, with the latest remake seeing a release on multiple platforms including the Nintendo Switch in 2020. These games are Tactics-style Strategy-RPG games in the same vein as Fire Emblem, though the specifics of the gameplay have some distinct differences that set it apart.

Despite originally being released in the 16-bit era, the remake of these two Langrisser games helps to modernize them somewhat, with the sprite-based 2D graphics getting a high-definition redesign, as well as an updated anime-esque style (although players are free to select the old-fashioned anime style if they prefer). It’s still nothing particularly noteworthy by today’s standards, but it certainly looks a lot cleaner.

These updated visuals are joined by a remade soundtrack (although players can optionally choose to use the original soundtrack), and while it’s decent, it does at times feel out-of-place, especially when you have 80s-style electric guitar riffs playing over the game’s firmly medieval fantasy setting. It’s not bad, it’s just not always a great fit. This remake also includes voiced characters dubbed in Japanese, which I suppose adds to the charming anime-esque nature of the game. And while the story has been revised and updated numerous times since the games’ original releases… suffice it to say, you’re not likely to be playing this collection for that generic story.

No, the real meat of the game here is its gameplay, and in that respect both of these games are extremely similar, featuring the same sort of Strategy-RPG gameplay style of the Fire Emblem games, even down to a similar paper-rock-scissors weapon system. However, Langrisser sets itself apart with its own mercenary system. Before each battle, players can have each of their hero units summon mercenaries to fight with them, and these units gain additional bonuses based on the unit that summoned them, and also get healed by standing alongside that hero unit in battle. However, every one of these units costs money, so players may opt to summon fewer units to conserve their war chest if they think they can get the job done with less. This adds an extra element of strategy to the battle in a way that I don’t think I’ve seen in other games like this.

There’s another element to these games that I really enjoy, and that is that at any point during the game, players can opt to turn back the clock and go back to any prior chapter in the story, bringing with them their current characters’ money, items, and levels gained. However, doing so is a one-way trip, meaning that players going back to an earlier mission will have to replay the rest of the game from that point. As such, this feature acts as a more nuanced New Game+ that players can take advantage of at any time to grind for gear and levels, but players may find themselves hesitating to use it if that means replaying a particularly tough mission they only just barely managed to beat.

While there’s a lot that I like about this game, a few elements definitely frustrate me. First of all, almost all of the gameplay elements I just told you about are not conveyed through the course of playing the game yourself – you either have to find out on your own, or dig around in the game’s menus for its instruction manual. Suffice it to say, if you’re new to the game, you’ll want to read through this manual first.

More frustrating is that every level has some element of unpredictability to it that can completely mess you up and cause you to lose the mission through no fault of your own. This is caused by the fact that the game loves to summon enemies onto the map with no warning to the player, combined with some pretty terrible AI. Seemingly every mission has you fighting alongside ally characters you can’t control, and they frequently make boneheaded choices, such as civilians you need to protect running straight into a group of enemies ready to slaughter them. What’s more, by default even your own units can be moved by this stupid AI if you haven’t moved them yourself (though thankfully you can turn this feature off). Because of stuff like this, you’ll very likely find yourself replaying missions after losing them once to something you couldn’t have known to prepare for.

One other point of contention I have with this release – the price. While these two games did get a good makeover that puts them well ahead of their Sega Genesis original versions, they’re still far from impressive, and a package of two games from over 25 years ago for $50 is pretty steep. Oh, and don’t expect this game to make use of any of the Nintendo Switch’s unique features either (which is a shame, as touchscreen support would have been nice).

In the end, my biggest takeaway regarding Langrisser I & II is that it’s a shame that the dumb AI, some uneven game design, and poorly-conveyed game mechanics mar what is otherwise a fairly decent and somewhat unique Strategy-RPG here. As-is, this is still a decent pair of Strategy-RPG titles, though that comes with the caveat that players will enjoy them more if they do a few things first – read the in-game manual before starting, turn off automatic AI movement for your units, and be prepared for occasional frustration as the game surprises you with unexpected developments in combat and dumb ally AI. If you can manage that, you’ll find Langrisser I & II to be an enjoyable, albeit overpriced, entry in the Nintendo Switch library.

tl;dr – Langrisser I & II is a Compilation and Remake of two classic Strategy-RPGs originally released on the Sega Genesis, with gameplay similar to the Fire Emblem series, albeit with some unique mechanics of its own that set it apart. Unfortunately, some game design issues, dumb AI, and poorly-conveyed game mechanics make this collection less enjoyable than it could’ve been, and the $50 price tag seems a bit steep for two 25 year-old games. For genre fans, it’s still worth a look, but definitely know what you’re getting into before you get started.

Grade: C+

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