Langrisser IV
Langrisser IV: The Art of The Swords War is the sequel to Langrisser III, and has never been released outside Japan. There is a fan-translated English patch available for the Playstation version.
Story
The story in Langrisser IV takes place directly after Langrisser II.
Two hundred years after Elwin defeated Böser and sealed Alhazard and Langrisser in the Sage's Crystal, El Sallia had returned to its usual pattern of inter-kingdom feuding. But in the western land of Yeless, a new darkness had begun.
A now aged wizard, Gizlof, already had the wheels of his great scheme in motion. Through a pact with the dark god, Gendrasil, he obtained the Sage's Crystal from the heavens. With the dark god's knowledge, he began construction of a new piloted Guyframe unit. But before his ambitions could be realized, he needed a certain young priestess.
Flash ahead to Gotahl Village, a border town in Federation territory. Three adopted siblings of the Village Elder, Landius, Ricky and Rachel, were used to the peace of small town life. One night, that peace was shattered. Gizlof arrived into town to kidnap Rachel in the night, leaving his son Cruger to murder their father and wipe out the villagers.
Ricky and Landius's flight from the village led them straight into a federation attack on the princesses and commodore of the Caconsis Kingdom who helped them save their sister. But Gizlof's plans would not be so easily thwarted. And there were more than political forces at work behind the scenes heralded by the arrival of a sage named Jessica and "The Mysterious Mage, Faelart"...
The fate of this tale all depends on the choices Landius makes in his campaign against the Federation and demonkind.
Playable Characters
- Landius: The adopted son of the Elder of Gotahl Village and the hero of the story. After Gizlof's attack on the village, Landius 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 you answer the questionnaire at the start of the game.
- Ricky: Landius' foster brother. Like his adopted kin, he vows revenge against Gizlof. A ladies' man who's 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's available on all paths. A potential antagonist on Chaos path.
- Rachel: Foster sister of Landius and his potential love interest. Rachel is captured by Gizlof immediately after he takes the Sage Crystal. After Landius rescues her, Rachel joins the party. Her next departure is decided on the actions of her brother Landius, as well as her fate. She has class potential for healing, summoning and attack spells. Departs during the Light and Independent paths and ally to the end of Chaos path. She's a major antagonist in the Chaos and Independent stories, where she is further brainwashed by Gizlof.
- McClaine: A wandering cyborg with a grudge against Gizlof for his evil experiments and for the death of his sister Mary. McClaine joins Landius after supporting him against a Federation ambush in the second scenario of the game. A battle veteran who advises Landius during battle situations. He has a tumultuous, somewhat comical relationship with Ricky. He has the potential for sea and land fighting classes. Also available on all paths.
- 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 Landius and becomes his ally for the majority of the game. A quiet, gentle counterpart to her younger sister and a potential love interest and enemy for both Landius and Ricky. She is generally a magic user type. Available as an ally on the Light and Independent paths and an antagonist on the Chaos and Independent paths.
- 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 Landius and becomes his ally for the majority of the game. A fierce tomboy counterpart to her sister Shelfaniel and a potential love interest for Landius. She has potential for air and horse classes. Available as an ally on the Light and Independent paths and an antagonist on the Chaos path.
- Selene: A general of the Caconsis Kingdom and right-hand to Commodore Wiler, whom she has romantic feelings for. A battle hardened veteran with the potential for holy magic. She is a playable character on the Light path and an antagonist on Chaos and Independent path. A potential love interest to Landius.
- Lanford: A famous young general of the Regenburg Federation. Born in aristocracy, he is a a kind meritocratic leader who treats the lower class soldiers and officers like equals. Like his predecessors 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. Ally in Light and Independent paths and a major antagonist in the normal, Independent and Chaos paths.
- Jessica: The immortal avatar of the Goddess Lushris who appears in every Langrisser installment. 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. Generally a holy magic user.
- Listell: A demon general of Böser, the Prince of Darkness, and a love interest for Landius. She works with her master to reclaim Alhazard and take over the world. In a certain path, however, she changes her ways after meeting Landius and works with him to create a peaceful world with humans and demons coexisting. She has the potential for demon-type classes. Ally in Chaos and Independent paths, antagonist in Light path.
- 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. Antagonist in Light path, ally in Chaos and Independent paths.
- Ivar: A mercenary who's 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. Only playable in the Chaos path, antagonist on other paths. He's the only character with no hidden fifth classes in the game.
Non-Playable Characters
- Gizlof: The main antagonist of Langrisser IV. He is an avaricious old wizard who seeks immortality and world conquest. He manipulates the Regenburg Federation to achieve his selfish dreams. At 17, he came to learn of the secrets of ancient technology and magic from his mentor, the Devil known as Gendrasil, who is a bitter rival of Chaos. His fate is sealed in all of the three paths by Landius. He posthumously influences the events in Langrisser V.
- Böser: One of the primary antagonists of the Langrisser series and its canonical spinoffs. Also localised as "Ganelon" in Warsong. The Prince of Darkness who takes part in the war as "Fealart" on the Yeless Continent to resurrect his master Chaos and destroy the world. In Langrisser IV, he is one of the secondary antagonists to Gizlof. If Landius swears allegiance to Böser, he becomes a supporting character in the Chaos path.
- Chaos: The God of Darkness himself and the ultimate villain in the Langrisser series and its canonical spinoffs: Guyframe, Ethlead and Crest of Gaia. Chaos' purpose is to bring about chaos and anarchy in order to save the world from established order, which is stagnating it. His resurrection is tied to the unholy sword Alhazard. He is a secondary antagonist to Gizlof in Langrisser IV. A supporting ally in the Chaos path.
- Cruger: The sorcerer Cruger is the son of Gizlof and a major antagonist of Langrisser IV. He is very devoted to his father's dreams to prove his love for him, despite the fact that his father sees him as nothing more than a disposable pawn. In reality, however, he is revealed to be a clone experiment created from Gizlof's cells. Depending on the path, he becomes a devoted subordinate or an enemy to his father.
- Gendrasil: A sealed demon who achieved godhood from dead souls of ancient wars. He manipulates Gizlof with promises of power and conquest in order to overthrow Chaos and rule all over demonkind and the world. He also stole the Sage's Crystal from heaven, which lead to the events of Langrisser IV. In certain story paths, he manipulates Cruger for his own ends. He is the final antagonist in the Chaos path.
- Wiler: Wiler is the head of the forces of Caconsis. His talent lies in strategy, not in combat. He was a colleague of Lanford during their academy days. He is a supporting character of Landius and an antagonist in the Chaos path.
- Emily: General Lanford's adjutant. She was adopted after her family was killed in a flood. She worked her way into the Federation Miltary despite her common origins. She has strong feelings for Lanford and an important connection with the hero Landius.
- Valk: Valk is one of the Federation's greatest generals. Born of common origins, he has a grudge against the nobility, which changes during his relationship with Lanford. He is a minor antagonist in the story.
- High King Cleones: The High King of the Federation. He is brainwashed by Gizlof in order to enact a war against Caconsis and to secure the throne for his son Cruger.
- Prince Frederick: The son of Cleones. He distrusts Gizlof and Cruger. He becomes a rival to Gizlof for succession of the throne. His fate is dependent on the path you take.
- Princess Rosenhill: The daughter of Cleones. Originally engaged to General Aldan. Thanks to Gizlof's machinations, she is wed to his son Cruger, who becomes king.
- Duke Aldan: Aldan is one of the Federation generals. Born from nobility, he has little respect for the common people. Meant to be wed to his fiancee Rosenhill. His fate is sealed in a battle against Caconsis to redeem his honour, thanks to Gizlof's schemes. A minor antagonist.
- Prime Minister: He conspires against Gizlof with the help from demons. He later becomes an ally of Frederick.
- Russell: The Prime Minister's son and his collaborator. He conspires against Gizlof for succession of the throne.
- King Caconsis: The incompetent ruler of Caconsis. Father of Shelfaniel and Angelina.
- Queen Caconsis: The wife of King Caconsis and the loving mother of Shelfaniel and Angelina.
- Bruno: Bruno is a general of Caconsis Kingdom. He is an ally of Gizlof due to Graaz possessing his body.
- Graaz: A demon in the service of Gizlof. He has the ability to possess the bodies of people.
- Village Elder: Adoptive father of Landius, Ricky and Rachel and the head of Gotahl Village. He sacrifices himself to save Landius and Ricky from the invading Federation troops.
- Belgar: Loyal adjutant to General Valk. He assists Valk in his battles against Caconsis forces. He sacrifices his life in Scenario 12 to ensure Valk's safety.
- Reese: Reese is the mage commander in charge of the security of Gizlof's estate. Her fate is sealed in Scenario 4 where she fails in escaping with Rachel.
- Bula: Bula is a commander in Gizlof's employ. Fought in the first and second scenario. He appears again when you fail certain scenarios in the game.
- Admiral Rivaas: Supreme commander of the Federation forces. He is framed by Gizlof as a conspirator with Caconsis Kingdom against the Federation. His fate is sealed by Gizlof himself. Gizlof takes over as his successor.
- Alex: Alex is the son of Rivaas. Suspecting Gizlof of murdering his father, he revolts against the Federation. He commits suicide to ensure peace and entreats Lanford to expose Gizlof's treachery.
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Music
The music in Langrisser IV was composed by Noriyuki Iwadare, Makoto Asai and Yuichiro Honda.
References
See also