Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is an interesting game. A sequel to a PS1 classic, the game is perhaps one of the most refreshing takes on the strategy RPG genre and one that shows there is a lot more that can still be done in a type of game that is thought to be played out. Players will have to conquer a continent that is divided into six nations, each with an array of of castles, which sounds simple enough, but then the game shows what it really can do.
The castles play a big role in the game as they are where you use mana points to bring in monsters to use alongside the heroes in battle. You need to properly portion out the units per hero before fights, as each hero has a limit on how many units they can command, relative tot heir command ratings. Weaker monsters can be summoned easier, and more powerful monsters will use up more mana, but both are key to victory due to what each monster brings to the fight. Fighting is done on a hex-based grid and is around protecting your leaders to ensure their units stay on the field, while targeting the enemy leaders.
Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia has a deep and complex tactical system, and the RPG elements are handled superbly is superbly, with a variety of option, classes and skills to choose from and levelling up must be managed well. Battles have to be thought out well, because you will be attacked on all fronts and cannot leave an area undefended. There will be responses to your attacks, and your attention will be drawn away from one objective to another very quickly, and keeping track of resources in key. You will sometimes struggle to pull off a victory, while other times will see you defeat enemies with ease. The battles will be long and drawn out though, so be aware of this before starting, and be aware you may lose track and get overwhelmed.
The game has an amazing story, which I will not spoil here, but the narrative is compelling and deep and makes you want to engage the story more. This is helped by the gorgeous visuals and music that help create a rich experience that players will love. There is a ton of replay value as well, as there are so many heroes to choose from that to see everything is not that simple. Add to that, the different difficulty settings that allow you to test yourself more intensely, and you have a game that any Strategy RPG fan would salivate over.
Bottom line, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is a surprisingly deep game that won me over and made me appreciate the fact that the genre still has much to offer and many surprises left in store. I highly recommend checking this out.
