It's sometimes easy to forget about the 'News' section on the Nintendo Switch, if we're being rather honest, but perhaps we should keep it more on our radar. It seems that last week, for example, Nintendo of America shared a mini interview with two producers of Triangle Strategy, Tomoya Asana and Yasuaki Arai.
It has a few interesting nuggets. One relates to that name, which we sometimes fear masks or undersells just how intriguing and excellent the game truly is once you dive into its story and strategic gameplay. Asano-san acknowledge that the name may seem 'weird', but outlined the literal reasoning behind the title.
It actually comes from the same naming convention that we used for the Octopath Traveler game. Octo, meaning eight, describes the eight characters with eight paths you can travel down. So for Triangle Strategy, there are three angles [Utility, Morality, and Liberty' in the game. I'm sure a lot of the American audience has commented on how it's kind of a weird name, but one of the big things we think about when naming games is that when users see the name of the game, they can understand what kind of games they're going to be playing.
When we're focusing on what the three angles mean, they represent three countries and three other main characters (Frederica, Roland, and Benedict). Each of these characters has their own values and goals that influence the story.
Intriguingly, one answer suggests that early in development they may have been keen to keep the 'Octo' angle, as it originally had 'eight convictions as key components to the game', instead of three. That was clearly a lot, and distinguishing between them would have been difficult; they wisely scaled it back to three.
Meanwhile, Arai-san addressed the plot, acknowledging that its themes and setting of warfare and strife are only suitable for an older audience.
When we started the project, our concept was to create a story for adult audiences. We chose the tactics genre and conflict situation to achieve that purpose. We tried to make such a complex subject as easy to understand as possible. When we think about a conflict, there are at least two groups fighting. Why are they fighting? What do they want? That was our starting point when thinking about the story.
We were big fans of Triangle Strategy in our review, and if you haven't yet checked it out you can still try out a Prologue demo that lets you play the first three chapters (and carry that progress into the full game).
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Comments 24
In retrospect, the name is fine, and ties into the themes and design of the game.
And yes, I love the more "adult" theming of this game. It's amazing to have what feels like a lost PS1 classic releasing in 2022. I simply didn't think games like this were made anymore.
Next we gonna have the developers of Hitman, Thief, and Tennis explain why they chose those names. At least they could have added the name of a famous figure within their respective subject matter, like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater did. Or add some weird words, fantasy names, and senseless punctuation.
I love the game, but still think the name is poor. The idea that Triangle Strategy will “help users understand what kind of game they are playing” seems completely off. I appreciate the idea of trying to convey a game centered around three options/choices, but I think they needed to think harder on what that name should be.
Boring story =/= adult focus.
At least the name is better than the average JRPG who's titles are like 15 words long.
A Game like like Settlers of Catan didn’t need to be called Hexagon Tabletop in order for people to understand what the game was about, because humanity has this thing called.. communication
There is a lot of dialogue to get through in the game, but I think It's because it's all voiced is what makes it drag so much. I could speed read old Snes and PS1 RPG dialogue and still understand the stories, but all the dramatic pregnant pauses that you have to wait for with the "..." thing really annoys me.
The strategy combat however is really good.
@Shambo Wolffort Destinies: Tri-Fold / Manifestations
They should have gone with something like Untitled Goose Game.
I remember when they unveiled Triangle Strategy as a working name. I said "after Octopath Traveler being their working and final name, I bet they are keeping it"
Welp
I feel like words such as Triad, Trinity, Triple would fit along with another one and make it sound better.
Or even renaming the game and putting the current one as a sub title, for example, XXX YYYY: Triangle Strategy. That way a possible sequel with different gameplay thematic would be viable.
I even made some lame meme about it.
https://i.imgur.com/NEakv0u.jpg
@XiaoShao @NinChocolate Exactly. By that logic, maybe Super Mario Bros will be named Octoworld Jumpsearch.
@MrGawain Yes, I felt the same way while trying the demo. The general gameplay and flow of the game seemed very stunted to me, compared to the general fluidity of Fire Emblem titles. In fact, I found Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre too to be sluggish in terms of menus and gameplay flow - not sure if that's the intended style.
Nice, an excuse for their poor naming, it seemed to only be a place holder during the trailers. The exact font with black background for the thumbnail and cartridge art is uncreative, and boring. Not to mention if you put them side to side with Octopath you would have to take a moment to see which one is which.
The title is literally the only issue I have with the game, and that's a minor one. Everything about it is well done IMO.
@MrGawain oh yes, the 'dot...dot...dot' thing. That's the other thing that irks me about the game. That and the title. Nothing else though.
The name requires no explanation for me, never bothered me much. The adult focus point has me thinking:
“We tried to make such a complex subject as easy to understand as possible.”
Why? I thought this was adult focused? I won’t speak for everyone, but I know for myself, I don’t want a story spoon fed and drawn out for me. The game’s overall narrative is fine, but the writing and dialogue between the characters suffers from this “easy to understand” mentality. I’m sorry, but I do think this holds back what could have been a remarkable tale. Remember Vagrant Story? Xenogears? The first MGS? FFVI? That’s what I’m talking about. Complex subjects that respected you as an adult (or maybe younger) while you played and tried to uncover the plot for yourself. I think Triangle Strategy was watered down with this “easy” approach to subject matter. It could have otherwise been a great game for me. I’d go on, but I’ll stop.
Hopefully that’s not too hot of a take! I know a lot of people love this game, but I did give it an honest shot and can’t stand the story/writing approach they decided on. Made me long for the 90s age of jrpgs again.
Its a sRPG for the Switch, what do you guys expect.
Fancy names and a complex story?
Why people got so hung up about the name is beyond me. Are we going to pretend names like "ring fit adventure" or "final fantasy" are any less straight-forward?
C'mon Triangle Strategy isn't as bad a name as Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. What's Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, it's a Super Mario game that happens to be an RPG about finding seven stars.
I find the name more forgettable than bothersome, which is a shame considering it's quickly become my all-time favorite Switch game.
Phenomenal game, one of the best this year for me 😁
I've just finished my forth playthrough and seen every ending the game has to offer.
Superb characters and a superb story.
I was very surprised and happy at just how different the 4 outcomes were!
Map variety is also fantastic 😊
@Kid_Sickarus see, now THAT's a title that got me all '...wut?'.
A title even in your inner voice, you read in complete silence.
I'm the only one that LIKED the name?
@Shambo I can answer for Hitman. Because you hit, umm, men?
@Riventures123 Have you watched Watchmen lately?
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