Parents' Guide to Langrisser I & II

It's a safe bet that most gamers outside of Japan have probably never heard of Langrisser. Langrisser I & II gives gamers a new chance to check out the series that helped lay the foundation for the tactical RPG (role-playing game) genre. Both games have been updated with new, sharper visuals and a cleaner user interface. As an added bonus, purists can switch back to the original retro experience on the fly, though admittedly, that experience hasn't aged too well over the years. The game's already complex enough without trying to wrap your head around the added confusion and frustration of some old school game mechanics. Even the remastered versions of the games will take a lot of time and patience to learn, but with practice, you'll soon find how the setup allows for a wide range of strategic battle options.

While the first Langrisser game does a good job of laying the foundation for the series, and for the tactical RPG genre, it's Langrisser II that's the real gem in this collection. The game's plot has a crazy number of branches that can completely change the direction and scope of the story. Characters that were close friends one minute might be hunting you down the next, while bitter enemies become trusted friends. Thankfully, the remastered version of the game includes an option that allows players to replay key moments and change their decisions, allowing the game to follow one of its many alternate paths. By not locking players into their choices, it gives the freedom to experiment a bit more and explore the extra layers of what the game has to offer.