Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is a wonderfully crafted grid-based strategy game with plenty of planning needed. Some battles will be tough, but winning is rewarding every time. There are times when you'll be frustrated by your units missing attacks while the enemy beats you down, but that just forces you to adapt.

It's been over 20 years but there's finally a sequel to the fantastic PS1 strategy RPG Brigandine so pick a side and let's go to war.

Like a JRPG version of "Risk", Brigandine is strange yet compelling tactical game.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia might sound like an epic name for a series debut, but this Switch exclusive is actually a sequel to a game originally released in 1998 for the original Playstation. I’d be lying if I told you I played this game back in the day. Even some of our most well-versed strategy and RPG specialists at WayTooManyGames had never even heard of the franchise before, but I ended up finding out that those few who have actually played the game, love it to this day.

Grand strategy titles are fun, but when it comes to the tedious micromanaging that comes with such titles like Nobunaga’s Ambition and others of the genre, it can be a bit of a drag especially when it comes to the importance of economics. Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia takes away the economic micromanaging elements we might be used to and focuses more on the combat. With more of a focus on strategic maneuvering and tactical gameplay, I found a game that I was able to adequately play and not feel like I was scratching my head in confusion most of the time.

Though a bit thin on content, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia offers a solid tactical experience with in-depth mechanics that hardocre and casual fans alike may enjoy.

Brigandine debuted over two decades ago on the original PlayStation, and only now is it getting a sequel. It may seem like an unlikely candidate for revival, but Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia comes at a time when the strategy/RPG genre is getting renewed attention – partially thanks to Fire Emblem’s success. For those who want something in that vein, this certainly scratches a similar itch. Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia personalizes the strategy/RPG experience by letting you recruit and get to know your combatants in side stories. Watching your team grow in strength and invading new ...

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia offers deep tactics gameplay but the overall execution falls short of greatness.

Even with a new developer in charge, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia builds upon the previous game with a lengthy campaign that has a ton of replayability, though players may feel pretty overwhelmed at first due to the complex gameplay.

A Strategic Favorite Looks for new Fervor in the West

At the end of the day, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is a good addition to a genre that is gaining in popularity. While it may lack the accessibility or even the swifter pace of other titles, it still manages to deliver a strategy roleplaying experience that is largely good on all fronts, supported by six distinct kingdoms and storylines. As long as you can accept that it might feel repetitive in a long game, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is an experience worth trying out.

I would spend minutes reading through conversations and cutscenes, falling in love with characters and the lore of each nation and tribe. I wanted more and you do get that from playing the game and progressing through the seasons. But sitting through half-hour to 45 minutes battles just isn’t worth it.