The Taiwanese MMORPG publisher Gamania shared, during their own game show held yesterday and today, some new details about the upcoming MMORPG Langrisser Schwarz, scheduled for launch in the asian markets during the fourth quarter of this year.

You don't know what Langrisser is? Shame on you. Langrisser is a classic saga of strategic JRPGs started on the Sega MegaDrive (only the first game was actually published in the west, under the name Warsong) also known for the lovely character design by the well known mangaka Satoshi Urushihara. 

Langrisser Schwarz is a MMORPG based on the original series, and features lovely anime-style cel-shaded graphics (actually some of the best I've seen in a MMORPG, just check the trailer here). It will also include music from the original composer of the Langrisser series Noriyuki Iwadare.

Iwadare's contribution will be a major selling point for classic JRPG fans, as his work goes much beyond Langrisser. We heard his lovely music also in the Grandia and Lunar series between many other titles.

At the start of the game the player will have a conversation with the goddess Lushiris, that will suggest the most suitable faction between Light, Darkness and the Empire. The faction choice will have deep consequences, as it will change the available questlines and even go as far as influencing the art style that the player will experience in the game.

The class system is similar to the original. Six class trees are available: Warrior, Ranger, Guardian, Archer, Mage and Priest.

 

Accumulating Training points, players will be able to access up to two advanced classes, exploring each class tree, that will include ten classes plus two secret ones, for a total of seventy-two classes.

Each class will grant different abilities, that will be retained when changing between different classes, moreover the player will be able to freely go back to already unlocked classes, continuing to build-up their skillset.

Finally, when reaching the top tier of a class tree, the player will be able to undergo a "rebirth" process to move to another tree, still retaining all his previously acquired skills.

To put it down simply, it'll be possible to master every single class in the game on the same character, more or less as you can do in Final Fantasy XIV.

One of the most original features in Langrisser Schwarz is mercenaries (quite appropriate, given that the original game was a strategy RPG). Upon creation a character will be assigned some mercenaries based on his class, and while progressing through the game he'll be able to hire more.

Like in the original game mercenaries will be divided in three categories: Soldiers, Spearmen and Cavalry, and coordinating formations and tactics with friends will be important in order to achieve victory.

The game looks definitely interesting, especially if you loved, like me, the original Langrisser series. A western launch is quite likely, considering that Langrisser Schwarz already has an English website.

You can see the new screenshots in the gallery below.