With fantasy turn-based tactics games like the Fire Emblem series making a splash in the west over the past few years, it’s no surprise to see the return of Langrisser I & II, two games that share their DNA and roots with other beloved tactical RPGs. An updated visual design, a remastered soundtrack, and a few nifty gameplay tweaks have prepared these classic titles for a contemporary audience.

Langrisser I & II is a compilation of the first two Langrisser games, originally released on the Sega Megadrive in the early nineties. The games have been re-released and remade a number of times over the years, with varying commercial success and rare English translations. In recent years, a mobile game based on Langrisser has soared in popularity, making this a timely remake of the original games.

In this compilation you can play either Langrisser I or Langrisser II at any time, choosing from the main menu. Both games begin with a questionnaire that determines your main character’s starting stats and equipment. There’s not much of a story to be had here. While there is a narrative, it mostly serves as an excuse to pit you in various strategic scenarios. Voice-acting is provided in Japanese only, and the plots are simple and comfortingly trope-heavy. Langrisser I has you venturing across the land to recover a magic sword, while the second game is a little more complex with faction conflicts and TWO magic swords. The decisions you make while playing influence the outcome of the stories, especially in Langrisser II which lets you unleash your inner edgelord and join the Demon Tribe faction.

The battlegrounds of Langrisser are where you’ll be spending most of your time as you plot tactical routes to slaughter your enemies, hoard EXP, and save the day. Your main players are your Commander units who are named party members who can utilise their special abilities to inspire troops or cast spells. Each Commander begins the scenario with a troupe of Mercenaries, which are your ordinary battle units. These come in several different types with strengths and weaknesses. For example, flying units are weak to archers, while seafaring units get a bonus while battling in water. The positioning of Mercenaries in regard to their Commander matters as well, with troupes receiving stat buffs when close to their fearless leader.

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It’s in playing through missions back to back that Langrisser shows its age, for better and worse. While I can appreciate a game that teaches kinesthetically, I could have used more of an introduction into the game’s mechanics. Langrisser, like many classic JRPGs, throws you into a sea of menus and expects you to understand what all of its stats mean. A tutorial or an in-game guide would have gone a long way in helping me to enjoy the game sooner.

The amount of micromanagement required in levelling your Commanders became overwhelmingly cumbersome after I had assembled a large party, particularly because you can only accrue a finite amount of experience in each scenario, limiting grinding potential. I found myself replaying scenarios because I had accidentally allowed the wrong Commander to hog the experience.

However, the battles themselves are addicting and faithfully provide that classic “just one more turn” feeling. I enjoyed fiddling with the placement of my Mercenaries, and plotting out strategies to crush my foes. For this reason I recommend playing on Nintendo Switch, as the ability to play on the go is highly desirable compared to any potential visual improvements in the PlayStation 4 and PC versions.