Langrisser
Encyclopedia
The games are set in a world where there are only two known mega-continents: El Sallia and Yeless. With the exception of the fourth and fifth installments, all games are set exclusively on El Sallia, although references are sometimes made to the other continent. The series maintains a fantasy Germanic
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
setting, but draws on religious concepts like ditheism and sword worship for historical context.
Gameplay
Gameplay in the Langrisser series is similar to many other tactical role-playing gameTactical role-playing game
A tactical role-playing game is a type of video game which incorporates elements of traditional role-playing video games and strategy games. In Japan these games are known as , a designation which might seem peculiar to native English speakers...
s. The game is divided into Scenarios, each of which reveals a portion of the story through battle interaction. Langrisser set itself apart from other tactical RPGs in its time with larger-scale battles, where the player could control over thirty units at one time and fight against scores of enemies.
Battle system
At the outset of battle, military commanders are positioned on the game's map and units are hired. Combat always follows a system of turnsTurn-based strategy
A turn-based strategy game is a strategy game where players take turns when playing...
. In the first two games, any unit can be moved at any time during your turn, but each unit can only be moved once. In the last two games, a clock was introduced and units were moved in turn according to agility.
A unit's commander class dictates the radius of its command range. Units battling within this command range receive a bonus to their attack and defense due to proximity to the commander.
Commanders can recover life using a specific command depending on the game. In the first game the Treat Command will recover 3 health points. In later versions of the game the Treat Command is replaced by the Heal command which recovers 3 health points (HP) and 2 magic point
Magic point
Magic points are units of magical power that are used in many role-playing, computer role-playing and similar games as an expendable resource that is needed to pay for magic spells and other abilities, such as special attacks...
s. A commander’s troops recover by being positioned directly around the commander. Each will recover 3 HP at the start of a turn.
Units work on an affinity system. Fliers are strong to soldiers but weak to bowmen. Soldiers are strong to pikemen but weak to cavalry. Cavalry are strong to soldiers and weak to pikemen. Holy units are strong against demon units. Seafaring units get a tactical advantage when attacking from water.
The game engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
used in Langrisser III
Langrisser III
Langrisser III is the sequel to Langrisser II, released in a number of Asian countries but not in the west. It is the first 32-bit installment in the series.Langrisser III introduced a non-linear relationship system similar to dating sims...
is a considerable departure from the rest of the series, relying on mass battles between a commander's entire platoon against his enemy's.
Non-linearity
Since Der LangrisserLangrisser II
Langrisser II is the sequel to Warsong, and was never released outside Japan. Langrisser II was also remade on the Super Famicom by Masaya as Der Langrisser, which featured multiple paths through the game, greatly reduced difficulty, and improved graphics. A PC-FX port of the SNES version, Der...
, the series offered non-linear branching paths and multiple endings
Multiple endings
Multiple endings refer to a case in entertainment where the story could end in different ways, described as an alternate ending.-Literature:...
. The player's choices and actions in Der Langrisser affected which of four different paths they followed, either aligning
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
themselves with one of three different factions or fighting against all of them. Each of the four paths leads to a different ending and there are over 75 possible scenarios. Langrisser III introduced a relationship system similar to dating sim
Dating sim
Dating sims are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. They are also sometimes put under the category of neoromance. The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic...
s. Depending on the player's choices and actions, the feelings of the female allies will change towards the player character, who will end up with the female ally he is closest with.
Story
El Sallia, since time immemorial, has been influenced by the power of "gods". The evil gods were originally their own tribe, and over time one rose to power to dominate all the others. He was the dark god, ChaosChaos (cosmogony)
Chaos refers to the formless or void state preceding the creation of the universe or cosmos in the Greek creation myths, more specifically the initial "gap" created by the original separation of heaven and earth....
, worshiped by the devil tribe. Conversely, Lushiris, a goddess of light, was worshiped by the humans.
Each god has its own avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
to exercise its power in the human world and prepare for its coming. Chaos' avatar is Böser (german: "evil one"), a prince of darkness who is really the trapped soul of a damned human. Lushiris' avatar is Jessica, a magician. Each avatar has been entrusted with a sword that carries the weight of the gods’ powers. Böser is responsible for Alhazard, and Jessica is responsible for Langrisser. By choosing a champion for the swords in each era, they influence the world in an endless series of wars.
Langrisser itself is a copy of Alhazard made in ancient times and bound to the soul of Sieghart, the first king to rule Elthlead, later called Baldea, as a Descendant of Light.
The series is actually the extension of an older NCS strategy game series called Elthlead, which began in 1987. The first two games, Elthlead and The Crest of Gaia, focus on Sieghart's battles against Böser for the power of Gaia. The last game, Guyframe, is set in the distant future as a new hero, Elvin Lambert, rediscovers the powers lost in the ancient past. The Guyframe units his kingdom uses were first recreated by the Federation Court Magician Gizarof and dark god Gendrasil in Langrisser IV.
Games
Below is a complete list of released Langrisser games.- The Crest of Gaia (TurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
) - Langrisser ILangrisser IWarsong, known as ' in Japan, is a tactical role-playing game developed by Nihon Computer System . The first in the Langrisser series, it blended tactical warfare with RPG elements, similar to the Fire Emblem series...
(Mega Drive/Genesis, PCIBM PC compatibleIBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
) [USA title: Warsong] - Langrisser: The Descendants of LightLangrisser IWarsong, known as ' in Japan, is a tactical role-playing game developed by Nihon Computer System . The first in the Langrisser series, it blended tactical warfare with RPG elements, similar to the Fire Emblem series...
(NEC PC EngineTurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
CD) - Langrisser IILangrisser IILangrisser II is the sequel to Warsong, and was never released outside Japan. Langrisser II was also remade on the Super Famicom by Masaya as Der Langrisser, which featured multiple paths through the game, greatly reduced difficulty, and improved graphics. A PC-FX port of the SNES version, Der...
(Sega Mega Drive, PC) - Der LangrisserLangrisser IILangrisser II is the sequel to Warsong, and was never released outside Japan. Langrisser II was also remade on the Super Famicom by Masaya as Der Langrisser, which featured multiple paths through the game, greatly reduced difficulty, and improved graphics. A PC-FX port of the SNES version, Der...
(Super NESSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
) - Der Langrisser FXLangrisser IILangrisser II is the sequel to Warsong, and was never released outside Japan. Langrisser II was also remade on the Super Famicom by Masaya as Der Langrisser, which featured multiple paths through the game, greatly reduced difficulty, and improved graphics. A PC-FX port of the SNES version, Der...
(NEC PC-FXPC-FXThe is a video game console released in Japan on December 23, 1994 by NEC Corporation. It is the 32-bit successor to NEC's PC Engine ....
) - Langrisser IIILangrisser IIILangrisser III is the sequel to Langrisser II, released in a number of Asian countries but not in the west. It is the first 32-bit installment in the series.Langrisser III introduced a non-linear relationship system similar to dating sims...
(Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
, PS2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, PC) - Langrisser I & II (PlayStationPlayStationThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
) - Langrisser: Dramatic Edition (Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
) - Langrisser IVLangrisser IVLangrisser IV is the sequel to Langrisser III, and has never been released outside Japan.- Story :The story in Langrisser IV departs from the timeline of the first three games, but ties together with Langrisser V: The End of Legend.- See also :...
(Sega Saturn) - Langrisser V: The End of LegendLangrisser V: The End of LegendLangrisser V: The End of Legend is the sequel to Langrisser IV and the final installment of the main series. It has never been released outside Japan....
(Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
) - Langrisser IV & V: Final Edition (PlayStation)
- Langrisser Tribute (Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
) - Langrisser Millennium (Dreamcast, PC)
- Langrisser Millennium: The Last Century (Bandai Wonderswan)
Der Langrisser is a remake of Langrisser II with branching story paths. Langrisser: Dramatic Edition is a remake of Langrisser I and II, a port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
of Langrisser and Der Langrisser. Langrisser Tribute is a box set with all five games for the Sega Saturn.
Langrisser Millennium and Langrisser Millennium: The Last Century are not generally considered part of the Langrisser canon. They were not created by the same developers, and have no real connection to the rest of the series.
The Crest of Gaia is a prequel to the original Langrisser released for the TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
.
The only game in the series to be translated in English was Warsong (Langrisser I) for Sega Genesis. However, a complete English translation of Langrisser II was made by fans.
The PC titles have been released in Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
and Korean
Korean language
Korean is the official language of the country Korea, in both South and North. It is also one of the two official languages in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in People's Republic of China. There are about 78 million Korean speakers worldwide. In the 15th century, a national writing...
.
CareerSoft is currently responsible for developing Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
's Growlanser
Growlanser
is a series of tactical role-playing games with installments on the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. The series is set in a world that is being taken over by an ancient evil....
series.
External links
- The Clouds of El Sallia
- Hardcore Gaming 101: Langrisser - history of the Langrisser series at Hardcore Gaming 101.