Topic: Fire Emblem Engage for Nintendo Switch

So, I just watched the Nintendo World Report review, and of note- the person doing the review is a genuine long time fan.

He says Engage has the best cast of any Fire Emblem game in the series to date, with strong support convos that really flesh out the characters.

And... that's exactly what I suspected based on what I've observed thus far. Idk where these other reviewers are coming from saying the supports are weak and characters aren't interesting- starting to feel like DKC Tropical Freeze "bland and repetitive environments" all over again. I just don't understand how there can be such a disconnect with some reviewers.

If I had to guess, I'd say much of it boils down to many reviewers being PS/Xbox/PC gamers first and foremost, and being accustomed to AAA gaming with Hollywood voice actors and movie-like design ethos, and then judging Nintendo games through that lens. Like, I can't imagine someone who primarily plays games like that picking up a 3DS and a copy of Awakening and actually liking the story and characters. Even with Switch now having better HD graphics and cutscenes and fully voiced, the overall design and direction doesn't stray too far.

I guess those perspectives do offer value as they likely reflect how other like minded gamers will feel. But I also fear it will wrongly confuse gamers more on our wavelength who wrongly assume such reviewers share our preferences, and don't understand they're simply disconnected from the types of games many of us find enjoyable, so their assessment is likely going to be a gross mismatch with their own.

Just beat another 2 chapters in Fates Revelation and am now on the wind tribe map. How did people ever hate these cool maps? Seriously, I love the creativity and strategy on offer. Yet I constantly hear words thrown around like "cheap gimmicks" and "frustrating"... I just don't understand. This is good stuff. I can't get enough of it.

@JaxonH I swear I need Nintendo to make a 3ds player. I'm too blind to finish Fates (did birthright and conquest and half of revelation before I burnt out). I actually promised myself I would work on my 3ds backlog since I am not getting younger and so many games are trapped on that system but UGH. My eye is watering just thinking about it.

I mean bombastic, high fantasy is the series roots, and IS is supposedly leaning on that, so I doubt Engage will be bad (and at this point FE fans don't know what a FE game is anymore), especially as it seems to want to nudge long time fans with the Emblem mechanic, but not in (imo) a fanservice sorta way. I do hope that they explain how the Emblems are created or if they are the fire emblems from each series that have taken on personas from their most famous wielders.

Edit: Wait is Anna a child in Engage? She looks really short.

@Ryu_Niiyama I believe she is for some reason.

@Ryu_Niiyama
Yeah, she's a child in Engage, and I believe lost her parents? Can't remember.

In any case, it's an interesting take on a recurring character.

@JaxonH I swear FE is the only game series that makes me ok with child soldiers...sigh. Welp almost friday! I likely won't get mine till next week since it hasn't shipped yet. Please let Alear's mom survive this game...

This is so freaking cool

@Ryu_Niiyama I'm still going to get the fridge out for her regardless.

@JaxonH I hope this becomes a series mainstay since there should only be more powerful hardware in the future.

@ElRoberico
Oh I know! Actually changing the animations as the characters get stronger? That's so freaking cool!!! At the beginning as more of an early level rooky he dodges attacks, then later can be seen slicing an attacking arrow in two mid-flight with his sword- a super awesome attack from a veteran swordmaster...

My goodness the details in this game. And the animations in general, they're just exceptional.

Btw Lol, when you said, "get the fridge out for her", I'm not sure you meant it this way, but there was a famous football player nicknamed "The fridge" who nobody could get through. Immediately a super bulky armor knight sprang to mind, that you're going to use to protect her

Oh snap. I know nobody cares but me but Mitsuishi Kotono plays Alear’s mom in the JPN version. I will be buying this twice now. If she dies I am going to cry like a baby.

@Ryu_Niiyama
Well, just keep in mind it is Fire Emblem. I can't remember the last time there was a game the parental figure didn't die, and I'm not holding my breath this will be an exception.

@JaxonH hugs my Sailor Moon plushie Shhhhh! Let me dream for a little while….

Edit: now I am wracking my brain to see who has a living mother in the series.

Is it true this unlocks today for everyone at midnight regardless of time zone, so I can play this in like 10 hours?

@JaxonH that absolutely works as well! "Characters in Refrigerators" is a comic book trope where a supporting character gets maimed/killed to spring the main character into action. Nowhere in a Nintendo series is this more prevalent than in FE.

@Pizzamorg I'm praying that my Gamestop is doing a late release, even if I need to go to sleep immediately after.

As we reach the final hours, I hope yall love every second of it! Keep those of us who have to wait until after work to pick up their copies after work!

Fire Emblem Engage user icons are up on NSO, for anyone who is curious.

Would anyone be able to tell me if the rumor about this game having dungeons in the style of Shadows of Valentia is true or not? I remember seeing that a while back, but I don't know if any of the marketing really said anything about it, since I wasn't paying attention. I'm curious though, since it was around the time the game itself had leaked, along with evidence on what the protagonist looked like.

Played like the first hour or so just to try it out, gonna have some breakfast and do some exercise and then probably spend the day with this.

First impressions are generally strong, I really like the general presentation (other than the unnecessarily busy effects layered over the battle animations) it shows that no matter the hardware limitations, with an attractive art style and strong art direction, you can still make pretty looking Switch games. At least on the SWOLED, no idea what this looks or runs like docked. The cutscenes especially are gorgeous.

The story itself so far... Eh. You gotta laugh at how they introduce and have a funeral for your Mother within the first hour. Oh Japan.

The weird irony for me is this has an extremely similar set up and loop to Midnight Suns, which was a game itself clearly heavily inspired by Fire Emblem Three Houses.

I do kinda wish there were dialogue options, even if they were mostly superficial ones, as it helps break up long conversations for me. I can find my interest starting to get lost when I am clicking through loads of text with no breaks. Thankfully the voice acting, at least in Japanese is excellent and like I say, those interactions at least look great.

Pace so far has been great, that first hour or so is almost non stop battling which is what I want. It also does a good job of introducing mechanics piece by piece, to not immediately overwhelm you. I'm looking forward to messing around with the rings and pushing against the Break and Chain Attack stuff they introduce here.

UK folks, the game is £36.99 at Monster Shop if you haven't got it yet and were planning to.

https://www.monster-shop.co.uk/product/fire-emblem-engage-nin...

This game is freaking amazing! I love Alear's vulnerability and initial lack of confidence. Vander's like, "Corrupted! What do we do, Divine Dragon?" and Alear's like, "We run!" lol

I'm playing on Hard Mode Classic, and already on the mock battle (1st battle after intro battle) I lost a character, Framme. Of course I restarted (which btw, I LOVE how you no longer have to reset, you just select Retry from the menu).

One wrong move was all it took. I misunderstood the targeting lines to work like Three Houses, and thought an enemy was attacking someone else, but it turns out the targeting line shows for everyone, and is just potential attacks.

Lesson learned. But I love how this Hard Mode is fair. Feels like, maybe not quite as difficult as Conquest Hard Mode, but close. Enemies will change their targets if a weaker unit comes in range, they will use terrain to their advantage, and you're not gonna get "lucky" because an enemy decided to mercifully attack someone else. No. They're going for your weakest unit. Believe that.

@VoidofLight
I don't think so.

Anyone opened up a Divine Edition? I'm interested to know how Nintendo pack their posters. Do they arrive folded with creases, or are they in a separate tube?