Man i love Fire Emblem. Fire Emblem is cool. Fire Emblem has also never been this good.
After the success of Three Houses, i'm sure the last thing anybody expected after the next game is a colorful, corny game that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. And honestly, i'm glad. Three Houses is great, i love Three Houses, but damn i wouldn't want it to be the future of the series. So here comes Engage, proving once and for all that Intelligent Systems constantly changes up the series, even when the previous entry had a winning formula. But enough about Three Houses, that's not relevant here. What is relevant is Fire Emblem Engage and how it's so good i think it's retroactively hurting my ability to play the older Fire Emblems a bit.
Much like how Metroid Dread is peak Metroid and Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, Fire Emblem Engage is peak Fire Emblem. For the first time in the series, the Weapon Triangle actually matters and that's an insane thing to say when you consider that it's been a central mechanic of the series since 1996. In Genealogy of the Holy War, the Weapon Triangle provides insane bonuses to whoever wins the interaction. So let me correct my previous statement: the Weapon Triangle in Engage actually matters for the right reasons. In every previous iteration, the Weapon Triangle merely provided stat bonuses, whether to an insane degree (FE4) to a miniscule (FE5). Fates took it a step further by having every weapon be a part of it but the principles were the same: winner gets higher hit and avo, loser gets less. In this game, those stat bonuses are gone, instead replaced by the Break mechanic, which is an insanely good mechanic. Now having WTA means you stop the enemy from counter-attacking for one interaction. That seems broken but it allows for the game to be the most player-phase focused game in the series. It allows weaker units to get in kills without fear of being countered. It allows axe-units to....suck relatively less than in other games in the series. And most importantly, the enemy can do the same thing, so it's something you have to account for. The Weapon Triangle in this game allows for actual strategy and not "let me put the swordmaster on the choke point".
The quality of the Weapon Triangle enhances the quality the maps. The map design across the game is really damn good, even if it dips here and there. It is in fact so good that the worst map in the game is still better than most maps in the series. Other ways the maps are enhanced by mechanics is the introduction of Class-Types, which are arguably more important than the Classes themselves. Mystic-Types can ignore avo bonuses, Covert units double their own avo bonuses, Armored units can't be broken which means they are finally good for the first time in the series, they actually have a niche. In addition, the low movement across the board for all units means nobody really falls behind. While low movement seems like a negative, execution is what matters, because honestly it's going to suck so hard when the next Fire Emblem game gives Cavaliers big movement again.
The gameplay still isn't done, because then there is the most advertised mechanic in the game: the Emblems. The Emblems are so conceptually broken in combat, yet everything in the game comes together to make them balanced. Emblems allow you to do massive AoE attacks, retaliation free attacks, multiple attacks, etc. My favorite is Emblem Corrin, because equipping her on Alear allows Alear to use any Dragon Vein tile, making Alear one of the best Lords gameplay-wise.
All of this comes together to create the most gameplay-story integrated game in the series. Yeah, the funny anniversary game integrates it's story to it's gameplay better than the rest of the series. It's why Ch.17 is one of the hardest chapters in the series and i don't just mean in terms of difficulty. It's also one of the three Fire Emblem games to actually acknowledge permadeath.
Speaking of story, i know some people went into this expecting Three Houses 2 or some shit. How they did that when the game opens up with a 4Kids opening, i have no clue but here's the thing about Engage's story: it's actually one of the better ones and it's all about intent. From the developers themselves, Engage's #1 priority was to be a fun SRPG. They accomplished that. Because of that intent, Engage's narrative weight is very light. If you're wondering what i mean by that, i mean that Engage didn't necessarily need to have a good story. The fact that it's actually pretty decent all things considered is more of a bonus. To compare, Three Houses had a heavier narrative weight, so that game had an obligation to tell a "good story". Whether or not you think it succeeded is up for debate but i will say this about Engage's story: it's the one game in the series that is allowed to get with some of the usual bad tropes found in the series. Hell, it lacks any of the bullshit that brought down the previous stories. There's no dumb cult bullshit like in Judgral or the funny Blood Pact in Radiant Dawn but again, it's all about intent.
As far as the characters go, they are pretty fun. Alear is unironically my favorite Lord in the series, she's fully of personality and i even like how she reacts to the Corrupted the same way i react to the unholy demons of the inferno known as "wasps". Yunaka is also another personal favorite of mine, Ivy's character is very surprising, the Solm royals are based, etc. There's a lot to go on. They are unfortunately held back by the rather slow Support grind. It's not as bad as in FE6 and it's still way better than the absolute slog that is Personality statchecks in Persona 5 but considering how quickly they could build in Awakening and onwards, it is a bit of an odd step back. Doesn't help that Skirmishes are harder than the game itself, you will fight for your life if you do them. So bringing up weaker units later is difficult, which also means grinding Supports is difficult. A shame.
Music bangs, i don't think i need to say anything there.
Fire Emblem Engage is peak Fire Emblem. It clears the entire series but the real question is how does it compare to Sparks of Hope, the best SRPG. Honestly? Very close. I'd give the smallest edge to Sparks of Hope because of the sheer versatility of that game. But Engage is a damn good game, it goes hard, and i do consider it peak fiction. I want to replay it immediately but i did spend nearly a week on the final battle because life and i really need to finish that Zelda-thon before Tears of the Kingdom comes out. But one day i shall be back. Yes i shall be back. When Wave 2 of the DLC drops.
Edit: Wave 2 wasn't supposed to drop today God damn it
After the success of Three Houses, i'm sure the last thing anybody expected after the next game is a colorful, corny game that doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. And honestly, i'm glad. Three Houses is great, i love Three Houses, but damn i wouldn't want it to be the future of the series. So here comes Engage, proving once and for all that Intelligent Systems constantly changes up the series, even when the previous entry had a winning formula. But enough about Three Houses, that's not relevant here. What is relevant is Fire Emblem Engage and how it's so good i think it's retroactively hurting my ability to play the older Fire Emblems a bit.
Much like how Metroid Dread is peak Metroid and Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, Fire Emblem Engage is peak Fire Emblem. For the first time in the series, the Weapon Triangle actually matters and that's an insane thing to say when you consider that it's been a central mechanic of the series since 1996. In Genealogy of the Holy War, the Weapon Triangle provides insane bonuses to whoever wins the interaction. So let me correct my previous statement: the Weapon Triangle in Engage actually matters for the right reasons. In every previous iteration, the Weapon Triangle merely provided stat bonuses, whether to an insane degree (FE4) to a miniscule (FE5). Fates took it a step further by having every weapon be a part of it but the principles were the same: winner gets higher hit and avo, loser gets less. In this game, those stat bonuses are gone, instead replaced by the Break mechanic, which is an insanely good mechanic. Now having WTA means you stop the enemy from counter-attacking for one interaction. That seems broken but it allows for the game to be the most player-phase focused game in the series. It allows weaker units to get in kills without fear of being countered. It allows axe-units to....suck relatively less than in other games in the series. And most importantly, the enemy can do the same thing, so it's something you have to account for. The Weapon Triangle in this game allows for actual strategy and not "let me put the swordmaster on the choke point".
The quality of the Weapon Triangle enhances the quality the maps. The map design across the game is really damn good, even if it dips here and there. It is in fact so good that the worst map in the game is still better than most maps in the series. Other ways the maps are enhanced by mechanics is the introduction of Class-Types, which are arguably more important than the Classes themselves. Mystic-Types can ignore avo bonuses, Covert units double their own avo bonuses, Armored units can't be broken which means they are finally good for the first time in the series, they actually have a niche. In addition, the low movement across the board for all units means nobody really falls behind. While low movement seems like a negative, execution is what matters, because honestly it's going to suck so hard when the next Fire Emblem game gives Cavaliers big movement again.
The gameplay still isn't done, because then there is the most advertised mechanic in the game: the Emblems. The Emblems are so conceptually broken in combat, yet everything in the game comes together to make them balanced. Emblems allow you to do massive AoE attacks, retaliation free attacks, multiple attacks, etc. My favorite is Emblem Corrin, because equipping her on Alear allows Alear to use any Dragon Vein tile, making Alear one of the best Lords gameplay-wise.
All of this comes together to create the most gameplay-story integrated game in the series. Yeah, the funny anniversary game integrates it's story to it's gameplay better than the rest of the series. It's why Ch.17 is one of the hardest chapters in the series and i don't just mean in terms of difficulty. It's also one of the three Fire Emblem games to actually acknowledge permadeath.
Speaking of story, i know some people went into this expecting Three Houses 2 or some shit. How they did that when the game opens up with a 4Kids opening, i have no clue but here's the thing about Engage's story: it's actually one of the better ones and it's all about intent. From the developers themselves, Engage's #1 priority was to be a fun SRPG. They accomplished that. Because of that intent, Engage's narrative weight is very light. If you're wondering what i mean by that, i mean that Engage didn't necessarily need to have a good story. The fact that it's actually pretty decent all things considered is more of a bonus. To compare, Three Houses had a heavier narrative weight, so that game had an obligation to tell a "good story". Whether or not you think it succeeded is up for debate but i will say this about Engage's story: it's the one game in the series that is allowed to get with some of the usual bad tropes found in the series. Hell, it lacks any of the bullshit that brought down the previous stories. There's no dumb cult bullshit like in Judgral or the funny Blood Pact in Radiant Dawn but again, it's all about intent.
As far as the characters go, they are pretty fun. Alear is unironically my favorite Lord in the series, she's fully of personality and i even like how she reacts to the Corrupted the same way i react to the unholy demons of the inferno known as "wasps". Yunaka is also another personal favorite of mine, Ivy's character is very surprising, the Solm royals are based, etc. There's a lot to go on. They are unfortunately held back by the rather slow Support grind. It's not as bad as in FE6 and it's still way better than the absolute slog that is Personality statchecks in Persona 5 but considering how quickly they could build in Awakening and onwards, it is a bit of an odd step back. Doesn't help that Skirmishes are harder than the game itself, you will fight for your life if you do them. So bringing up weaker units later is difficult, which also means grinding Supports is difficult. A shame.
Music bangs, i don't think i need to say anything there.
Fire Emblem Engage is peak Fire Emblem. It clears the entire series but the real question is how does it compare to Sparks of Hope, the best SRPG. Honestly? Very close. I'd give the smallest edge to Sparks of Hope because of the sheer versatility of that game. But Engage is a damn good game, it goes hard, and i do consider it peak fiction. I want to replay it immediately but i did spend nearly a week on the final battle because life and i really need to finish that Zelda-thon before Tears of the Kingdom comes out. But one day i shall be back. Yes i shall be back. When Wave 2 of the DLC drops.
Edit: Wave 2 wasn't supposed to drop today God damn it