Langrisser IV
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| Langrisser IV | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Career Soft |
| Publisher | Masaya |
| Series | Langrisser |
| Platforms | Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PlayStation Network |
| Release | Sega Saturn
|
| Genre | Tactical role-playing game |
| Mode | Single-player |
Langrisser IV[1] is a tactical role-playing game developed by Career Soft and released by Masaya Games for the Sega Saturn on August 1, 1997. It was later ported to the PlayStation on January 28, 1999. Langrisser IV is the sequel to Langrisser III, which has never been released outside Japan. There is a fan-translated English patch available for the PlayStation version.
Development on Langrisser IV began in October 1996 and ended on June 8, 1997, according to the in-game development diary.
Story
The story in Langrisser IV takes place 200 years after Langrisser II.
Two hundred years after Erwin has defeated Böser and sealed the two swords, Alhazard and Langrisser, in the Sage's Crystal, most people have forgotten about the legend and El Sallia has returned to its usual pattern of inter-kingdom feuding. In the western land of Yeless, a new darkness has begun.
An aged wizard, Gizlof, whose two main goals in life, immortality and world domination, already has the wheels of his great scheme in motion. Through a pact with the dark god, Gendrasil, and the knowledge obtained, he begins construction of a new piloted Guyframe unit as well as experiments on clones and modified humans. Before his ambitions can be realized, he needs a great magical source, the Sage's Crystal, which is housed in Gotahl Village where three adopted siblings of the Village Elder, Randius, Ricky and Rachel, are living a happy small-town life.
Unable to randomly attack a small defenseless town as a high-ranking government official, Gizlof devises an evil plan to double the tax on the village. Left with no options, the villagers decide to revolt and fall right into Gizlof's trap. Gizlof arrives with his army using the rebellion as an excuse to take the Sage's Crystal and wipe out the villagers. Next to the Sage's Crystal, he notices Rachel's great magical capability and decides to kidnap her for his experiments. Gizlof teleports away with the crystal and Rachel while leaving his army to finish the massacre.
Powerless to save their sister or father, Ricky and Randius flee the village and go on a journey to save their kidnapped sister from Gizlof's mansion. The journey leads them straight into a federation attack on the princesses and commodore of the Caconsis Kingdom, a half-cyborg man, as well as a sage named Jessica and "The Mysterious Mage, Faelart".
The fate of this tale all depends on the choices Randius makes in his campaign which can lead him down three different paths: Light (A), Chaos (B), or Independence (C).
Playable characters
- Randius: The adopted son of the Elder of Gotahl Village and the hero of the story. After Gizlof's attack on the village, Randius vows to put an end to Gizlof's ambitions of world domination. His actions will affect the future of the continent: for Light, Chaos, or for Independence. His character class growth is dependent on how the player answers the questionnaire at the start of the game. Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu.
- Ricky: Randius' foster brother and the true blood descendant of Gotahl's Village Elder. Like his adopted kin, he vows revenge against Gizlof. A ladies' man who is a big flirt with the female characters, his heart lies with the Princess Shelfaniel of Caconsis Kingdom. He has the potential to be a sea commander, land commander or magic commander. He is available on all paths, and a potential antagonist on the Chaos path. Voiced by: Hideo Ishikawa.
- Rachel: Foster sister of Randius, the adopted daughter of the Village Elder and also Randius' potential love interest. Rachel is captured by Gizlof immediately after he takes the Sage Crystal. After Randius rescues her, Rachel joins the party. Her next departure is decided on the actions of her brother Randius, as well as her fate. She has class potential for healing, summoning and attack spells. She departs during the Light and Independent paths and becomes an ally in the end of the Chaos path. She is a major antagonist in the Chaos and Independent stories, where she is further brainwashed by Gizlof. Voiced by: Yuko Sumitomo.
- McClaine: A wandering cyborg with a grudge against Gizlof for his evil experiments and for the death of his sister Mary. McClaine joins Randius after supporting him against a Federation ambush in the second scenario of the game. He is a battle veteran who advises Randius during battle situations. He has a tumultuous, somewhat comical relationship with Ricky. He has the potential for sea and land fighting classes. He is also available on all paths. Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya.
- Shelfaniel: One of the twin princesses of the Caconsis Kingdom. She was sent to the Federation as part of a peace treaty over the death of her brother. She is rescued by Randius and becomes his ally for the majority of the game. She is a quiet, gentle counterpart to her younger sister and a potential love interest and enemy for both Randius and Ricky. She is generally a magic-type user. She is available as an ally on the Light and Independent paths and an antagonist on the Chaos and Independent paths. Voiced by: Junko Iwao.
- Angelina: One of the twin princesses of the Caconsis Kingdom. She was sent to the Federation as part of a peace treaty over the death of her brother. She is rescued by Randius and becomes his ally for the majority of the game. She is a fierce tomboy counterpart to her sister Shelfaniel and a potential love interest for Randius. She has potential for air and horse classes. She is available as an ally on the Light and Independent paths and an antagonist on the Chaos path. Voiced by: Houko Kuwashima.
- Serena: A general of the Caconsis Kingdom and right-hand to Commodore Wiler, whom she has romantic feelings for. She is a battle hardened veteran with the potential for holy magic. She is a playable character on the Light path and an antagonist on the Chaos and Independent path. She is a potential love interest to Randius. Voiced by: Yōko Asada.
- Lanford: A famous young general of the Regenburg Federation. Born in aristocracy, he is a kind meritocratic leader who treats the lower class soldiers and officers like equals. Like Lance and Leon from past Langrisser games, he is a rival to the main character. He has potential for horse, air and ground class types. He is an ally in the Light and Independent paths and a major antagonist in the normal, Independent and Chaos paths. Voiced by: Kunihiko Yasui.
- Jessica: The immortal avatar of the Goddess Lushris who appears in every Langrisser installment. She is also localised as "Calais" in Warsong. Jessica conspires in the politics of the Yeless Continent to reclaim the Sage Crystal and protect the world from darkness. She is a playable character in the Light path and an antagonist in the Chaos path. She is generally a holy magic user. Voiced by: Ai Maeda.
- Listell: A demon general of Böser, the Prince of Darkness, and a love interest for Randius. She works with her master to reclaim Alhazard and take over the world. In a certain path, however, she changes her ways after meeting Randius and works with him to create a peaceful world with humans and demons coexisting. She has the potential for demon-type classes. She is an ally in the Chaos and Independent paths, and an antagonist in the Light path. Voiced by: Yukiko Manaka.
- Null: A taciturn demon general of Böser. Null works under Listell in all of the story paths. He seems to have feelings for her. He has the potential for demon-type classes. He is an antagonist in the Light path, and an ally in the Chaos and Independent paths. Voiced by: Jin Domon.
- Ivar: A mercenary who is allegedly a genius strategist in warfare. In reality, he is nothing more than a conman. His allegiance varies in the story, but he finally places his faith on Böser to save the world. He is only playable in the Chaos path, and is an antagonist on other paths. He is the only character with no hidden fifth classes in the game.