Brigandine: Grand Edition (2000). Play online

Summary

Brigandine: Grand Edition revamps the original with a surprising focus on multiplayer. Up to six friends can each rule a nation, and the previously hidden Esgares Empire finally gets playable status with its own anime‑styled cut scenes.

The battle system borrows Fire Emblem’s rock‑paper‑scissors element logic: red beats green, green beats blue, blue beats red, while white and black remain opposites. A tactical shortcut lets the attacker claim victory once a unit sits on the defender’s castle after about a dozen turns, speeding up late‑game pushes. New rune knights, classes, items and even monsters that can equip gear add depth to recruitment.

Visually the game swaps its 3D opening for an anime sequence, cuts the cumbersome 3D battle animations in favor of swift 2D action, and overhauls the soundtrack. Japanese voice talent—​including Sōichirō Hoshi, Mitsuaki Madono and Yuri Shiratori—brings the world to life, making the PlayStation version feel freshly polished for strategy fans.

Storyline

Brigandine: Grand Edition opens with Zemeckis, commander of Almekia’s army, being visited by the enigmatic Rune Knight Cador, known as the Death Knight. Convinced he’s been framed for treason, Zemeckis sparks a rebellion against King Henguist. The uprising quickly gathers other Rune Knights, allowing them to seize Almekia and rebrand it as the Esgares Empire. After Cador slays King Henguist, the king’s son Prince Lance escapes to Padstow with the loyal Rune Knights, igniting the larger Forsena war.
The Grand Edition expands the story by making the Esgares Empire a fully playable nation, complete with new plot cut‑scenes that flesh out its rise and the ensuing conflict. Players can now experience the empire’s perspective alongside the traditional factions, deepening the strategic narrative of the war‑torn continent.