10/5/2023 0 Comments Fire emblem engage emblem![]() In that regard, Engage may be the series’ most thoughtfully crafted story, even if its bigger-picture beats aren’t as exciting as previous sagas. The story almost acts as a tutorial for how to strategize in battles, encouraging more patient play. It’s a smart central theme that pairs well with the tactics genre. Alear and company must learn to slow down and plan their next moves more methodically if they want to defeat the Fell Dragon. It tells a story about characters too eager to push their momentum in battle, only for it to backfire in a shocking fashion. Most effective to me, though, is Engage’s more subtle thread. Family drama takes a front seat, as characters struggle to reconcile who they want to be with what’s expected of them due to their lineage. While the reliance on old faces can drag out the lengthy story, there’s a lot of thematic depth to uncover. It’s hard to shake the feeling that the returning faces are little more than a good marketing gimmick built to capitalize on the mobile hit Fire Emblem Heroes, which adopts a similar approach.Įngage may be the series’ most thoughtfully crafted story, even if its bigger-picture beats aren’t as exciting as previous sagas. Returning characters like Marth wind up feeling like hollow toys next to the new cast - even their support conversations are short and flat by comparison. Though the narrative goes to great lengths to justify its Avengers-like premise, it can often feel like a distraction from its more appealing original world. To aid in their quest, Alear must track down 12 rings that summon the stars of previous Fire Emblem games. That’s in part because Engage puts fan service at the front and center. The smaller tales tend to work better than the big picture this time around. Another centers on a woman who is so into strength training that her teacups are all weighted - a running gag that pops up in several character interactions. One of my favorite micro-stories involves a character who can’t stop monologuing during training sessions, infuriating their sparring partner. Support conversations are especially delightful this time around, revealing eclectic details on each warrior. I’m most enamored with its colorful cast of characters, some of which find the series at its most playful. Coming off a year where Switch owners seemed fed up with the console’s hardware limitations, Engage acts as a counterpoint that shows how games can still excel on the platform when optimized for it. It trades in flat Earth tones for a cool color palette that gives Elyos more stylized landscapes that are always pleasant to look at. On a basic level, it’s a gorgeously designed game that goes heavy on bright colors and personality-loaded battle animations. The narrative can be uneven, but I’ll give it credit upfront: If any Fire Emblem game were to get its own anime adaptation, Engage would be a good candidate. An opposing force, a blue-and-red-haired human named Alear (AKA the Divine Dragon), reawakens to help unite four kingdoms and bring peace to Elyos. This entry takes place on the continent of Elyos, which faces impending calamity as a faction looks to reawaken the evil Fell Dragon. Like previous installments, Fire Emblem Engage tells a grand war story filled with political tension between nations and lots of lore. ![]() Its story isn’t as engrossing as some recent installments and its side activities can get tedious, but memorable characters and colorful art direction make for another easy victory in a long line of them. It may seem like a step back at a glance, but it’s more a lateral move that ensures the series can safely fight its next battle.įire Emblem Engage delivers another strong tactics experience made just a bit better thanks to smart, mobile-adjacent hooks. It looks to reinforce its core combat hook with new systems, like adding extra armor plating onto an ax-wielding knight. Rather than following up on 2018’s hit Fire Emblem: Three Houses by repeating its exact playbook, the new tactical RPG is a quick regroup for the long-running series. Like a master strategist, Fire Emblem Engage understands that need.
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