A can’t miss title

Langrisser 1 & 2
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends
Nintendo Switch

THERE are undoubtedly those who will remember a promising tactics game by the name of Warsong. Released for the Sega Genesis, Warsong blended Japanese-role-playing-game mechanics with turn-based strategy gameplay, asking its players to not merely take control of several mighty heroes, but also direct whole armies into battle. At the time, the unique twist to the genre enabled it to stand out; it was able to use its much larger sense of scale to its advantage. Unlike other contemporary titles, it didn’t just compel characters to fight; it likewise required players to manage troop composition, take care of commander levels, and watch their overall positioning on the battlefield to win the day.

Warsong was fun and innovative. Perhaps because it was also ahead of its time, it never really received a sequel — except in Japan, where it would continue to flourish well into the 1990s, under the banner of Langrisser, its original name. Meanwhile, diehard supporters in the West tried to keep it alive via fan-made patches. It would take until 2018 for an official English release to appear, first in the form of the mobile game Langrisser by Zilong, and now, after nearly 30 years of silence, the release of Langrisser I & II for the Nintendo Switch, the Sony PlayStation 4, and the personal computer.

In Langrisser I & II, players are thrust into one of two stories available to play through: that of Ledin, prince of the kingdom of Baldea, and that of Elwin, his successor and Descendant of Light. In both stories, players must make good use of their wits to survive what trials await them. From roadside ambushes to desperate siege defenses, players must employ their commanders, the troops they have, and the terrain they fight on to outwit and outlast the forces of darkness.

As a remaster, Langrisser I & II features an updated story with modern English translations, updated art, new assets, and minor balance changes. That said, it promises to hew as close as possible to the original experience, and the effort to stay true to its roots shows. Plot points across both stories run as their predecessors did, and while they’re undoubtedly uncomplicated, they don’t take away from the gameplay. More than anything else, the capacity to finally play these classic games on a modern system more than outweighs any general clunkiness that show up on occasion.

From the very instant control is given, Langrisser I and II expect players to handle its simple but effective combat systems with surprising deftness. From defeating enemy bosses to facilitating daring escapes, missions are linear in their design, but never feel frustrating to go through, mostly because of the game’s huge sense of scale; players don’t just control named heroes, but also bring into battle hired mercenaries to serve as frontline soldiers in combat. As a result, players are free to choose from a multitude of strategies to achieve their objectives, with character experimentation feeling encouraged rather than stifled.

Backstopped by a robust progression system, where characters can level up, become stronger, and hire better, flashier mercenaries, Langrisser I and II’s gameplay has the makings of a compelling, if forthright, strategy RPG — one that’s able to provide players the right amount of challenge to keep their interest. And if that’s not enough, the myriad branching paths more than give it a ton of replay value; the divergent routes add new commanders to play with, new scenes and dialogues to uncover, and new endings to unlock.

In fact, if there’s any real negative to Langrisser I & II, it’s the time it took for it to finally make its way to eighth-generation platforms. Other franchises in the genre, among them Fire Emblem and Valkyria Chronicles, have the remake option down pat, modernizing audio-visual presentations and adding new and interesting mechanics to the formula that initially helped them stand out in an already crowded space. Compared to these series, Langrisser I & II might be behind in the curve, but the mere fact that it’s still able to give an immersive experience despite its somewhat dated game design attests to how fleshed out its original mechanics were, and how timeless its gameplay remains.

All in all, Langrisser I & II is a brilliant remaster of two decades-old games. And it’s outstanding on either the Switch or the PS4. Beautifully remastered with little to no technical missteps, it boasts of excellent Japanese voiceovers and English translations, not to mention controls with nary a lag. And, for good measure, NIS America gives players the choice of retaining the original audio-visual presentation, or opting for the updated one, featuring new character designs and track arrangements. As with any remaster, it may be inherently unwieldy at times. Nonetheless, those steeped in RPG strategy will find it a can’t-miss title that will have them staying around a while — a long, long while.

THE GOOD:

• Solid SRPG gameplay with good balance between strong

characters and capable soldiers

• Branching paths and multiple endings to unlock

• Two unique and interesting stories to play through

• High replay value

THE BAD

• Can feel a bit clunky and simple compared to more

modern titles

• Lacks handholding

• Inadequate explanations on mechanics

RATING: 9/10

POSTSCRIPT: There’s a game made for gamers and there’s a game made for everyone. Bubble Bobble 4 Friends brings back the fun spirit of the 1986 blockbuster arcade in a game designed to appeal to anyone and everyone, young and old alike.

Dormant for almost two decades (save for small blips on mobile gaming platforms and re-releases of the old Nintendo Entertainment System and Family Computer ports), Bubble Bobble was last spotted in videogame consoles in 2009 as the downloadable Bubble Bobble Plus on the Wii (also known as BB Neo on the Microsoft Xbox). With the 2019/2020 release of Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, its latest sequel, Bubble Bobble reaches into the future via the Nintendo Switch.

Taito’s classic two-button masher is still the standard for this reinvention of the Bubble Bobble franchise. As the gameplay goes, the player character is a bubble-blowing dragon that shoots bubbles from his mouth, traps enemies in them, and eliminates them by hitting them with his head or feet. Doing so singly or in combos produces scores relative to the number of enemies eliminated off the screen. Maneuvering through obstacles adds difficulty to the game as the plump but agile lizard character can jump, duck, and crawl under platforms; he can also use bubbles as makeshift landing spots to propel himself to suspended locations. A successful mopping operation clears the level and produces fruit bonuses for added points in the game. A battle with a major Boss comes after clearing 10 stages at a time and helps you acquire new fighting skills. These skills, such as amazing thunder bubbles that wipe out enemies in one broad stroke, are almost necessary in the latter, progressively difficult levels.

Note that while there are only 50 unique levels in Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, a hard mode is available for the accomplished gamer. Finishing all 50 levels successfully and winning all Boss Battles unlock this hard mode where one can re-play all 50 with a maddeningly higher level of difficulty.

Casual gamers who opt for fun and some distraction would be glad to know that the quest of the dragon siblings Bub and Bob never really end in Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, for failing to clear a level three times does not automatically end the game. Players may continue to play with a feature called “invincibility,” allowing less than adept participants to progress through the game without cost to his/her enjoyment.

As an added bonus, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends contains the original arcade version, a throwback to the 1980s when the retro Bubble Bobble hit the fledgling gaming community by storm.

Played in co-op mode, up to four players can participate in the fun frenzy, but all players will have to share just eight lives. Online play is not available, which is disappointing, but local play is engrossing enough. However, there is no competition between and among players, a feature that would have undoubtably extended the game’s playability and repetition.

While Bubble Bobble’s gameplay has always been its main attraction, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends also boasts of improved graphics, an enjoyable soundtrack, and fast turnovers with no discernible drops in framerates. On screen, the action moves very smoothly and reflex responses to these actions are almost instantaneous. Games can be quick and rewarding, or challenging and infuriating; either way, it is always fun.

All told, Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is perfect for having fun, either alone or with friends and family. By sticking to what it does best, Bubble Bobble maintains its playability throughout the decades, thus proving that there is no need to reinvent the wheel, not when the wheel rolls well into the future.

THE GOOD:

• familiar but still engrossing

• two-button controls make this appropriate for all ages

• co-op play is fun

• great visuals and music

• gameplay is smooth

THE BAD:

• no competition

• 50 levels isn’t quite enough

• unlockable skills are less desirable than old game’s power-ups

• absent online play

RATING: 8/10

THE LAST WORD: Mall closures on this side of the world have gamers dismayed, what with the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons just around the corner. As the first release of the extremely popular series on the Switch, it has been hotly anticipated, with the rate of preorders among the highest locally in recent memory. Unfortunately, those who did so in order to ensure that they get a physical copy in anticipation of a shortage of supply are instead compelled to wait until the shops reopen. In the meantime, they have no choice but to buy a digital copy from the Nintendo eShop to tide them over. That said, they’re safe and sound at home, and, from the game’s release on March 20, engrossed with it while in community quarantine. In the end, there can be no substitute for good health.