Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia (REVIEW)

Somewhere between Dungeons & Dragons, Shin Megami Tensei, and Romance of the 3 Kingdoms lies Happinet's "Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia". This campaign rich turn-based tactical RPG experience fought between conquering rune knights, their respective nations, and their armies of monsters within the realm of Runersia will have you planning strategic invasions per season as you build up your army to be a formidable force worthy of finding out the secrets of the land, and in turn harnessing it's power through absolute control.

Gameplay in "Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia" can be enjoyed via the story campaign, and through a challenge mode unlocked after said campaign is completed. At base level the game acts as a command and conquer kind of RPG with a table-top style presentation. It is an affair governed by seasons that lasts through two phases including a organization phase, and an attack phase. When in the attack phase the perspective changes from a map of nation states with stats, and namesakes with which you can send troops out to a honeycomb board where placing the rune knights alongside their army of monsters and before their enemies is the key to victory.

Noting the landscape, and how it coincides with each class of monster or rune knight is imperative as you make your move in that it can be either advantageous or put you at risk of receiving extra damage when your turn is up. Land, swamp, air, and mountainous areas will give monsters, and rune knights of certain classes vantage points if placed well. You'll also have to mind monster/knight skills, magic spells, movement, and mana pool. The latter of which dictates how many monsters a rune knight can have in their party. The mana itself as well as party members' health points must also be expertly managed lest you fail. While that all might sound familiar the game does have it's exclusive takes on things. Exclusive to this game is the ability to chain party effectiveness, and damage by utilizing a system known as ZoC, or "Zone of Control". A system that marks part of the honeycombed grid with chain symbols indicating that placing a party member there can be of benefit. By surrounding foes you'll be able to take full advantage of the ZoC. The end goal in each turn based battle is ultimately to defeat all of your enemy's monsters as well as the enemy themselves. In turn conquering and claiming new nations which will in turn house your rune knights, and their monster armies. As you do so you'll be earning yourself some EXP, and leveling up your armies.

Along with the season based skirmishes comes intermittent quest runs in which you can send out troops during the organization phase to either earn EXP, or fight for gear as well as new monsters and rune knights. Collected monsters, and rune knights alike can be upgraded according to class, and in doing so will learn new skills, and spells that will help them in battle. Monsters, and rune knights that are able to be upgraded, and have met stat based requirements will feature a "UP" indicator on the upper right corner of their card image. Building, and leveling up your rune knights and their party of monsters will, in the end, be how you win the more intense battles within the campaign, and challenge modes.

Visually, and aesthetically "Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia" is a game that looks a lot like a table-top RPG. Though it does have some artwork for monsters, and party members that seem to be inspired by older Squaresoft RPGs. The art is sort of anime in appearance with 3D mini-models decorating the honeycomb grid that is the battlefield. That, and the class upgrade cards. For what it is it is a decent looking game with rich gameplay. It is deeply strategic, and with easily accessible drop down, and pop-up menus it makes doing what needs to be done more about troop micro-management than sifting through a laundry list of tedious commands to get you through. It does feature an ease of access menu system that will be hard to get lost in.

The Verdict ...

Brigandine is a competent addition to the growing Asian RPG library, and fits well on the Nintendo Switch. It features an attractive art style which is it's shining achievement. Functionally it is easy to get into beyond the tutorials which shows the players how to effectively command their armies, and conquer the lands of Runersia. With two modes of play you get a hefty amount of content with replay value to boot. It's priced properly for what it is, and will appeal mostly to SRPG, and table top RPG fans, especially fans who love the style of art associated with this title. I personally enjoyed it, and believe you will too, but only if this type of game is your cup of tea. While I compared it Romance of the 3 Kingdoms it is less involved than such a game, but does have some deep strategy components to fool around with.