Langrisser I & II Review: The First Remake of Many?

By JT

Player(s): 1
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Developed by Chara-ani, and published by NIS America, Langrisser I & II is a remake of the original games released in 1991 on the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis in the U.S.). The first of the series was also translated and released on the Sega Genesis in the U.S. as Warsong. Once the series officially ended with the final release in 1998, aptly-titled Langrisser V: The End of Legend, there was work on a spiritual successor known as Growlanser, which was released in 1999. The Growlanser series of games ended in 2011, with Wayfarer of Time released on the PSP. Langrisser and Growlanser have gone silent since then, with only a few ports here and there, plus a mobile game released in 2018. Here we are today, talking about a possible return for the Langrisser series as a whole. Maybe a resurgence in the Growlanser series as well? Let's dive into the Langrisser I & II remake to see if this is worth that effort!

Both games are generally the same and ask questions that determine stats, almost like a dice roll. At the end of it, you're allowed to change your stats by answering those questions again and again, until you're comfortable with your stat changes. You're also presented with a Class Tree that allows you to upgrade your class via Class Points (CP). Each level up gives that character 5 CP to use however you wish, along with some CP given at the end of battle dependant on one character walking away with the most eliminations. When choosing a class, it's safe to note that the same class tier will be halved from the previous tiers' Points used. You can also equip various passive skills to give you slight stat boosts during battle, sometimes at the cost of other stats.

Langrisser I: The Story – Langrisser is a legendary sword said to grant its wielder unlimited power, which is a plot many may be familiar with. The royal family of Baldea has sworn to protect it, until the Dalsis Empire decided to invade. The main character, Ledin, has narrowly escaped with his life, and vows to return to Baldea to take back Langrisser. His father, the king, wasn't so lucky.

Langrisser II: The Story – Centuries have passed since the War of the Sacred Sword, and intense violence has struck all across the land. You begin as a young traveler, Elwin, accompanied by a mage by the name of Hein, when you choose to spend the night at an inn in Hein's home town. Soldiers have been dispatched to Salrath, the town you've stayed the night in, looking for a young girl by the name of Liana. Elwin chooses to go try to save the young girl from the army sent by the Rayguard Empire, without hesitation.

While it's refreshing to see the first game of the series having your main character be royalty instead of just a drifter, the same cannot be said about the second game. Although, Langrisser II feels like a more challenging and complete game, even with it not being a direct sequel. Both games have so many great aspects about themselves. The first game leads you up to the epic battles, while the second game would rather begin strong and make you say to yourself "what just happened?!" Both Langrisser I & II give you a good story, with varying degrees of personality shown within each character. Some characters can be very one-dimensional though.

Most campaigns can be won by simply being stronger than your opponent, but sometimes efficiency and strategy is needed. Scenarios can and do change, but most of it is still defeating the enemy somehow. This means campaigns can range from easy to a little time-consuming. Sometimes demons spawn with no warning and can make moves against your main enemy's commander. Mercenaries can be hired for disposal, but the player must be weary of the cost. Some can equate to thousands of gold, which may or may not be just as profitable in the long run. This forces the player to really think about what they want to go in with.

There can also be a lot of time spent grinding levels, grabbing treasures on the map, or placing every single mercenary on stand by. Carelessness sometimes got the better of me and I lost my main character in battle (always results in Game Over). There are some difficulties as the story goes on, but it just takes some level grind. The A.I. opponent can be incredibly dumb at times too, with many commanders committing suicide just to land a hit. Those same enemy commanders may also attack a nearby grunt instead of one of your own HP-critical commanders.

No words can describe a personal love for the original artist involved with this series. Satoshi Urushihara, aka "the master of breasts," is probably best known for his work on the Langrisser and Growlanser series of games. His work has followed throughout various different avenues of work, whether it be anime, manga, or even American TV shows. There is a distinct style to the way he draws characters, often with hard focus on color, clothing, and hair. There is also something to be said about Nagi Ryou, best known for his artwork on the Ar Tonelico series. His artwork is also showcased throughout Langrisser, giving each character a modern look to them. Which option does one choose? Classic or Modern?

As a fan of Satoshi's work, both Modern and Classic are good updated versions of Langrisser I & II. Actually, both artists do a wonderful job in capturing their characters' respective personality traits through facial expression alone. The only nitpick, if there had to be one (not having to do with the artists in the least), is the fact there is mostly only two characters on screen at any given time. This leads to the background sometimes standing out more than it should. If there are only two small characters on screen, with multiple people talking, it just feels like wasted space.

There is now voice acting in this game, which sounds so good, even if it's only in Japanese. The ability to swap between the classic and modern music, character art, and maps at whim feels very original to modern remakes and remasters. The transition between the modes is smooth, allowing the showcase of both works throughout the entirety of the game. Having not played the original Sega Mega Drive for more than what was needed for this review, classic felt good. I wanted that same feeling I had been given from the Growlanser series, and I want to say that I had got it. There are a few things that felt should have been updated further or added upon.

Both Langrisser games have the same exact weapons in-shop and after each battle. The shop being pretty lackluster, giving you a lot of useless stuff that you might only be upgrading one battle later, if at all. There are gold sparkles on every map to indicate either gold or a piece of equipment, which can yield something more powerful than those in the shop. Good thing there is the option to go back to a particular break in the story to snag any treasures missed using the Story Tree. You retain your gold, experience, and items collected within the level, but you have to start the entire string of chapters over again. So, if you want to go to chapter 4 or 5 after finishing a later chapter, you have to continue again from there. Aside from that, you can grind gold and experience while you climb your way back up the ladder.

​Langrisser I & II can net 25+ hours for each story, but due to multiple routes, total playtime can easily turn into hundreds of hours. With the price being $49.99, this game offers good value for both retro and modern gamers alike. There is no shortage of praise for the work that had gone into this game. From the art style to the sound track, and all the care that went into characters being brought to life from the original games. It's nice to see an old friend again, still creating art.

For More On Langrisser I & II, please visit:
https://nisamerica.com/langrisser-1-2/

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Story: B+
Gameplay: A-
Art/Graphics: A
Music/Sound Quality: A
Value: B

Overall: A-

Pros:
+ Storylines are engaging.
+ Lengthy first playthrough, on top of other routes taken.
+ Captures the artwork of two artists, and they're beautiful.
+ Each piece of musical score was very well done.
+ Ability to switch between a classic and modern style of game is a major plus!
+ You get what you pay for, or perhaps even more!

Cons:
- Lack of weapons, armor, and accessories.
- Same story as is told with many RPGs.
- More time-consuming than it is difficult.

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A review copy of this game was provided to us by the publisher. This in no way reflects on the above review or our final rating.