Gamers have seen AAA franchises scaling bigger and bigger every year. Gaming properties from Zelda to Pokémon all have their own series of sprawling open-world games, filled with more mechanics than ever. Even multi-medium IPs like Harry Potter and One Piece receive games filled with open lands catering to every different playstyle. Although this can certainly result in some great games, many players and critics are refreshed to see the Fire Emblem series has not followed this trend.
Fire Emblem Engage is almost exclusively focused on turn-based tactics combat. This has been a staple for every Fire Emblem entry. However, players of Engage have already noticed that the game prioritizes its combat over absolutely every other aspect. All the classic Fire Emblem elements are present and well-executed, with no extra padding around them. The game actually streamlines the series to a level of simplicity that is rare for AAA games nowadays. Fans are already ecstatic, and hopefully Engage can set a precedent for AAA games in the future.
What Makes Fire Emblem Engage Different
One immediate aspect of Fire Emblem Engage that fans are noticing is that the game has a much barer story than previous installments. The previous hit, Fire Emblem Three Houses, is known for having a complex narrative about political struggles with many different character interactions and cutscenes. Engage doesn't have that. It has much simpler characters and the majority of the character interactions and stories actually unfold during combat. Almost every cutscene is a brief piece of dialogue that leads directly into another interesting tactical battle.
Engage instead focuses on the combat successes of previous Fire Emblem games. It still maintains all the beloved RPG elements: stats, weapon varieties, unique combat arenas, and chess-like strategy. Fire Emblem fans will recognize that the classic Weapon Triangle mechanic is still present, but this time with extra twists, such as Fist-type weapons. Engage also sports some exciting new spells and battle map effects. Overall, the game looks to add new layers of strategy that tactical RPG players may have never seen before.
Why Fire Emblem Engage's Simplicity Is Good News for AAA Audiences
Fire Emblem Engage shows that AAA franchises aren't all destined to balloon into open-world exploration games. Its immediate success with critics and fans proves that players love a simpler game on occasion. Engage will most likely set an example to AAA developers that there are players who still want streamlined games with a smaller scope. It sells itself as a tactical combat RPG, and that's all the players want it to be.
Fire Emblem Engage takes a great, uncommon approach for a modern AAA game. Instead of trying to accommodate every possible playstyle, Engage has the courage to pick a small collection of game mechanics and perfect them. The game's more focused approach even lends itself to be more accessible to anyone unfamiliar with the Fire Emblem series. This game is a victory for any player who's already a fan of strategy RPGs or anyone looking to dabble in the genre.