JANUARY 1999
RolePlayer'sRealm
ProReview
Brigandine
By Atlus
| Graphics | Sound | Control | Fun Factor |
Very disappointing, bare-bones graphics, from static still shots during conversations to the low-detail battlefields and characters who will work for pixels. If not for the impressive polygonal characters in battle scenes, we'd be talking SNES territory. |
We're definitely talking SNES territory: No character voices, very few sound effects, repetitive, bland, stereotypical "adventure" music. Brigandine doesn't sound bad, it's just very boring and below the PlayStation's standards. |
Considering how overly-complicated Brigandine is, its controls make everything accessible at a reasonable rate. On-screen help menus or even a teaching scenario would help, but you'll pick it all up very quickly. |
Long, drawn-out battles that hinge too much on dumb luck, static visuals and bland sound effects make Brigandine a thrill-a-month theme park ride for those with weak hearts. It's overly complicated, under-exciting and a plain ‘ol bore. |
| Strategic RPG
1 Player 5 Characters, 5 endings |
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||
Brigandine combines RPG elements with turn-based strategy: Risk meets Ogre Battle and Dragon Force. Despite tons of potential, the final sum is a game that's excruciatingly long and rarely exciting.
Brigantic Scope
In Brigandine, a continent's land is divided between several factions,
each of which has a few knights, or party leaders, and the ability to spawn
monsters who will fight under them. Your job is to conquer the land
through turn-based conflict.
Each turn has two parts: The "organize" section allows you to spawn monsters, move your warriors or send characters on quests (which may turn up mystical items or new allies), and the "attack" section lets you engage an enemy town on a battlefield that will seem very familiar to vets of The Unholy War.
Luck Sucks
Each battle is an epic tactical turn-based war that may encompass more
than 50 characters. Even some first-level characters may have 500
hit points, so these are long, drawn-out conflicts, and, unfortunately,
they're often decided on the dumb luck of a particular character missing
an attack or being paralyzed. So even after minute planning and a
nicely-executed strategy, you're underminded by chance.
Lazy Lore
The heart of Brigandine is a compelling strategy game that would succeed
if there were more flash and flare— but you'll find more of that on your
average Spice Girl. Bare- bones graphics and sound reek of laziness.
For example, every conversation and the results of quests are told through
static headshots and scrolling text— not exactly taking advantage of the
dynamic medium. The battlefields are scrunched and every monster
looks alike on the grid, although they're grossly different in battle.
This is especially troublesome because giant monsters inexplicably can't
attack small enemies and short land-dwellers are impotent against airborne
assailants— but you can't get an idea of what the match-up will be at a
glance.
Brigandine is a very disappointing product that squanders a lot of potential
with pure laziness. It's incredibly difficult to develop a passion
for characters who never move or speak and a game that never aspires.
Throw this one in the moat.
PROTIP: Take out your enemy's magic users as early as possible— they'll cause the most damage to your party.
PROTIP: Use spread attacks early to weaken all of your enemies. Then pound on the ones who are most affected.
PROTIP: Go for your enemy party's leader— once they're defeated, his minions will often retreat.
PROTIP: If the situation grows dire, don't be afraid to retreat and conserve your higher- level characters. Victory at too great a cost is defeat.
PROTIP: Centaurs and other monsters who can attack from range are a great resource— especially since their victims can't retaliate.
PROTIP: As with any tactical game, you'll want to defeat one enemy at a time— a near- dead griffon inflicts the same amount of damage as a fresh one!
PROTIP: Your character will usually say something to suggest a quest— don't send them on random tasks, or you may lose precious knights.
PROTIP: Make sure your character has an opponent of equal stature, or you'll miss with your attack and may take unanswered punishment.
Copyright © 1998 Infotainment World