Two armies stand at opposite ends of a lush, green map. One side contains my team of brave heroes. The other belongs to the wretched, enemy Corrupted. Laid out over a grid, I place my units into formation, unleash devastating attacks, and win the day thanks to strategic thinking and a bit of luck. Welcome to Fire Emblem Engage.
See the trailer for Fire Emblem Engage here
The newest title in Nintendo’s tactical role-playing franchise, Fire Emblem Engage takes the series a small step back towards its roots while bearing many of the hallmarks of 2019’s Three Houses.
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The story’s protagonist, canonically named Alear, has awoken from a thousand year slumber, forgotten basically everything due to amnesia, and is thrust into the action after learning they are the Divine Dragon. The short version of this title means they’re a hero fated to slay an evil enemy again, having previously done them in before commencing the world’s longest nap.
Throughout the game’s initial chapters (I’ve played up until the eighth one), Alear takes charge of an army tasked with putting an end to this looming threat. To do so, many battles must be fought over the standard turn-based, grid-based the Fire Emblem franchise does so well - not to be confused with the hack-and-slash action we know from 2022’s Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. (A game which we loved in our review).
Wielding a variety of units, from sword infantry and archers, to mages winged-horse-mounted lancers, each battle has a set criteria for victory and defeat, with the latter usually coming if/when Alear falls.
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Which characters you deploy is largely up to you, with plenty of fighters available to recruit on your adventure. Personally, I’ve grown attached to Etie and Chloé, but you can bench them if you prefer taking someone else into the fray with you.
As I previously mentioned, Engage feels more like a traditional Fire Emblem, particularly in the sense that it’s a game about waging a campaign to save the world. While this is nothing new compared to Three Houses - a game which redefined the series with stunning confidence - the days of teaching at Garreg Mach Monastery are long gone.
In Engage, instead of living in a school, your hub world is the Somniel. This enchanted place is essentially a floating bastion, complete with bedroom, cafe, orchard, stable, training grounds, an arena, and more.
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While it exhibits a similar social scene to Byleth’s workplace, it’s a different vibe in many ways because of its supernatural qualities. Add to this Alear’s status as someone who has to relearn who they are, and it’s a far cry from the days of strutting about classrooms trying to impress Edelgard von Hresvelg. That being said, fans of the last game in the mainline series will still feel right at home in Engage.
The biggest change from Three Hopes is the Emblem system. In Engage, Alear is accompanied on the battlefield by the spirit of Marth, the iconic swordsman from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (although many of us first met him in Super Smash Bros. Melee).
In battle, Marth is able to share his abilities with Alear through the titular Engage feature. Once selected, this option lasts three turns and grants access to other attacks, which usually deliver devastating damage on those who dare cross you. This feature is reminiscent of the gameplay in Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore (which we reviewed back in 2020), but different enough to feel new.
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As the game progresses more Emblems are unlocked, each with their own fighting styles and abilities that can be utilised by your units. You’re able to assign these spirits as you please, and even make copies of their abilities so as to strengthen soldiers who are without an Emblem of their own, which will happen a lot because there aren’t that many ghost friends to go around.
Out of battle, you’re able to converse with these Emblems, much like you can with other side characters, and this can lead to strengthening your bond with them. As you complete missions, among other things, you’ll earn Bond Fragments, and this currency can be used in a variety of ways. You can upgrade character relationships, make the rings I previously mentioned, and utilise them in other beneficial fashions.
Bond Fragments aren't the only currency you’ll gain as you play, with plenty of gold available to earn on your travels. The more traditional form of money is used to buy new weapons and gear, as well as invest in the nations you’re fighting to protect. The more you invest in a given location, the more you can gain from fighting there, so be sure to sow before you reap.
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Each area - once the threat has been eliminated - is home to items and animals to collect and take back to the Somniel. After a bout, you’re able to roam around the land you just fought in, changing from the grid-based view of battle to a third-person viewpoint. This adds a sense of accomplishment to it all that I’ve not felt in a Fire Emblem game before. There are also characters to recruit sometimes and, honestly, I’ve been enlisting everyone and I’m loving having so many heroes at my disposal.
All of this collecting and recruiting brings life to the Somniel, but nothing stands out here more than Sommie. This small, cat-like creature lives within the enchanted land, and can be fed and petted in order to earn friendship. The cute little critter is already my favourite part of Fire Emblem Engage, following my Alear around as I explore the grounds, and even joining me when I exercise.
The training minigames put Alear in gymwear and task you with completing a set number of a given calisthenic routine. Whether they test your timing or your button-mashing ability, each exercise pays off with a temporary buff for you to take into the next battle, so don’t shy away from working up a sweat. Or do, I’m not your boss.
Perhaps most impressive of all, is the game’s visuals. The anime cutscenes are breathtaking, which is delightful in of itself, but Fire Emblem Engage is gorgeous in general. Whether walking around the Somniel or engaging in a skirmish, the art style pops in both handheld mode and on the big screen when the Nintendo Switch is docked. A nice reminder that this console is not the slouch some say it is.
While there’s much more to see in Fire Emblem Engage, including multiplayer modes, it’s clear already that 2023 will have to work very hard to give it a real challenge when the game of the year conversations start. From its tactical gameplay to its social elements, from its visual style to the cutie that is Sommie, there’s a lot to love in the first seven chapters.
Although it’s something of a mild departure from Three Houses, Engage is shaping up to be an exceptional game for fans of the franchise, and arguably for all Nintendo Switch owners.
Fire Emblem Engage releases 20 January, 2023 for Nintendo Switch. Game tested with code provided by Nintendo.
Featured Image Credit: NintendoTopics: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo