Der Langrisser ROM

Der Langrisser was one of the first tactical RPGs to allow the player a choice of story paths. Depending on the player’s choices, the protagonist of the game, Erwin, can switch allegiances between three factions: the Descendants of Light, the Rayguard Empire, and the Demon Tribe. Alternatively, he can choose to create his own faction in opposition to the other three.

Erwin begins the game on the side of the Descendants of Light, fighting against the Rayguard Empire, which has enlisted the aid of the Dark Lord Böser in the interest of unifying the continent and putting an end to the wars which plague it, unaware that Böser is chiefly responsible for the conflicts. To unify the continent, the Empire needs the power of the two legendary swords, Alhazard and its anti-type, Langrisser.

Determined that the two swords should not serve one master, the Descendants of Light, led by Jessica, pledge to stop the Empire from finding Langrisser. Erwin commits to discovering Langrisser before the Empire. Erwin’s rival for Langrisser, Leon, is the leader of the Empire’s Blue Dragon Knights and a frequent obstacle to Erwin’s progress. By chance, however, the two find themselves participating in a common cause, and begin to suspect that the differences between them are not as great as they imagined.

Leon suggests that Erwin side with the Empire, the choice of which is left to the player’s discretion. If Erwin sides with the Empire, the roles of protagonist and antagonist are reversed: Jessica’s Descendants of Light side against Erwin and the player, and the Rayguard Empire allies itself to Erwin. Former allies become enemies, and previously defeated enemy commanders become allies. The choice of sides carries significant weight to the story, because Erwin will ultimately have to kill the opposing side’s commanders to bring peace.