Matrix Software’sBrigandine : The Legend of Runersia , subsequence to the 1998 religious cult classicBrigandine : The Legend of Forsena , is a secret plan of surprising profundity . It ’s not something that reinventsgrand strategygames or RPGs and its features and gameplay are not really all that different from its precursor . But the amount of detail , complexity and straight up intense play is enough to lead in an experience that showcases everything this literary genre get right when it ’s kindle on all cylinders . Considering the amount of perfervid making love that fans read and continue to show the originalBrigandine , it ’s not a stretchability to opine that something similar could happen withBrigandine : The Legend of Runersia .

Much like the original game , Brigandine : The Legend of Runersiastarts by acquaint players to the various nations within its phantasy world , specifically six of them . This title take stead in a completely different place setting than the former plot , with new characters , nations and motives . Nation natural selection bet on player predilection and how much they ’re into the playact aspect of the secret plan . Each body politic also has its own implicit in difficulties and unique storylines . This is just one area where the incredible depth of the game shines through and , depending on playstyle and actor interest in replays with unlike nations , Brigandine : The Legend of Runersiais something that could be play for 100 hours or more . The possibilities are most endless .

relate : Goosebumps Dead of Night Review

Arthur Morgan, V, and Link over a blurred Elden Ring Background

It also helps that the strategy organization inBrigandine : The Legend of Runersiais so open and flexile . Every turn has different phases : one for mix troop and mobilise teras using the game ’s complexmanasystem , and one for initiating attack on other nations if one so chooses . Players will need to organize their troops efficiently here , ensuring they have a higher combat rating than their opponent or at least a unfluctuating grip on the scrap scheme before they lunge into flak right off the at-bat . Like most things in the plot , it ’s a scheme organisation that ’s easy to check but hard to amply control , depending on difficulty pick .

When players do decide to attack an enemy nation , they ’ll be moved into a third person top - down map country , with hexagonal grids filling the mapping . Each participant ’s unit will concern a infinite and be allotted so many motility before their act ends . histrion can worry a single-valued function with several dissimilar squads or just one , depend on how equip the opposition is or if they ’re attacking or defending . squad are made up of human commanders and the soldiers are monsters that require come up and upkeep through mana . The battles themselves very much play out like something from a well - designed tactics plot and it ’s a nice comeback to theRisk - same board game quality of infest other rural area outposts or own one ’s own outposts and castle invaded .

All of this would be enough to meet up a game with enough content to last tons of hr , butBrigandine : The Legend of Runersiatakes it a dance step further and injects a full fluff tarradiddle into the plot . There aredialoguecutscenes that act out between enemy and friends likewise , and even random encounters where the player ’s chosen protagonist can recruit   air force officer into their army . Each character is fleshed out with personality and dimensions that shape who they are . These commanders and their flock can be sent on ( non - playable ) pursuance to earn exp and foregather equipment on their journey to capture every res publica and their powerful runes .

GTA 6 artwork of Jason and Lucia with guns on a pier.

There are way out , however , but most of them stem fromtranslationerrors . The story can be surd to follow sometimes just because the Japanese to English translations are not always handled the practiced fashion to make dialogue or instructions entirely clear . There are also times where vista of dialogue simply go on far too long , which can have the burden of leaving nothing up to the mental imagery . For those who care their roleplaying games to be dense with worldbuilding but light on non - player - make secret plan , this believably is n’t a game that will invoke to them . Each Carry Amelia Moore Nation has their account andBrigandine : The Legend of Runersiahas a sealed way it want to tell that account .

These are very minor complaints , because during the plot ’s dozens upon dozens of hours of offered gameplay , the balance between playfulness and frustration is very much tipped in favor of the former . Brigandine : The Legend of Runersiais a tightly made , complex and impenetrable strategyRPGthat is as addictive as it is boundlessly fun . Mega fans of the original will very much feel at home plate here with the game ’s embracing of its roots on a better designed game engine , even if it wo n’t do much to win over the critic who had a divisive response to that first game . But consider how fondlyBrigandine : The Legend of Forensais commemorate now , perhaps that wo n’t be an issue after all . Either way , Brigandine : The Legend of Runersiais a delightful experience that respects its audience enough to know that sometimes change is n’t necessary for tone to shine through .

Next : West of Dead Review

Oblivion Lelles shopkeeper with the docks of Anvil behind him

Brigandine : The Legend of Runersiais available on Nintendo Switch . Screen Rant was provided a Nintendo Switch copy for the purposes of this review .

Brigandine The Legend of Runersia cover

Brigandine The Legend of Runersia combat

Brigandine The Legend of Runersia map