Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia Review - A Surprisingly Complex Strategy RPG

[Nergal]

 

 

Matrix Software's Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia, sequel to the 1998 cult classic Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena, is a game of surprising depth. It's not something that reinvents grand strategy games or RPGs and its features and gameplay are not really all that different from its predecessor. But the amount of detail, complexity and straight up intense fun is enough to result in an experience that showcases everything this genre gets right when it's firing on all cylinders. Considering the amount of fervent love that fans showed and continue to show the original Brigandine, it's not a stretch to imagine that something similar could happen with Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia.

Much like the original game, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia starts by introducing players to the various nations within its fantasy world, specifically six of them. This title takes place in a completely different setting than the former game, with new characters, nations and motives. Nation selection depends on player preference and how much they're into the roleplaying aspect of the game. Each nation also has its own inherent difficulties and unique storylines. This is just one area where the incredible depth of the game shines through and, depending on playstyle and player interest in replays with different nations, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is something that could be played for 100 hours or more. The possibilities are nearly endless.

It also helps that the strategy system in Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is so open and flexible. Every turn has different phases: one for shuffling troops and summoning monsters using the game's complex mana system, and one for initiating attacks on other nations if one so chooses. Players will want to organize their troops efficiently here, ensuring they have a higher combat rating than their opponent or at least a firm grasp on the combat system before they lunge into attacks right off the bat. Like most things in the game, it's a strategy system that's easy to learn but hard to fully master, depending on difficulty choice.


When players do decide to attack an enemy nation, they'll be moved into a third person top-down map area, with hexagonal grids filling the map. Each player's unit will occupy a space and be allotted so many moves before their turn ends. Players can occupy a map with several different squads or just one, depending on how equipped the enemy is or if they're attacking or defending. Squads are made up of human commanders and the soldiers are monsters that require summoning and upkeep through mana. The battles themselves very much play out like something from a well-designed tactics game and it's a nice counter to the Risk-like board game quality of invading other countries outposts or having one's own outposts and castles invaded.