Overview
Fire Emblem Engage is a tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo, released in 2023. I played it on Nintendo Switch.
The game is fun, let's be honest, but I have to admit this Fire Emblem didn't click with me. It feels like it was made for nostalgic fans, to see the characters from previous entries again.
And yet I grew up with Fire Emblem: I loved the GBA games, and I was happy to see Lyn again. But I don't know, it lacked flavour for my taste. It felt like this game was only there to keep us waiting after Fire Emblem Three Houses, until the next big game.
Story and world
You play as Alear, the Divine Dragon, who wakes up after a thousand-year slumber. On the continent of Elyos, the Fell Dragon Sombron threatens to return, and you have to gather the Emblem Rings, which hold the spirits of heroes from past Fire Emblem games.
The story is pretty "sappy", the "power of friendship" kind, and everything is far too predictable.
Gameplay
The core mechanic is Engage: a character equipped with a ring fuses with the Emblem it holds for a few turns, and gains its weapons and skills.
The game also introduces a new mechanic: attacking an enemy with a weapon that has the advantage in the weapon triangle stops them from counter-attacking. Between battles, you return to the Somniel, a hub where you can strengthen bonds between characters and take part in various activities.
Graphics and music
The game is very colourful, with character design by Mika Pikazo.
Verdict
A fun Fire Emblem, but one that lacks flavour for my taste. It relies heavily on nostalgia for older characters, and its "sappy" story is far too predictable. For me, it mostly serves to keep us waiting after Three Houses until the next big game.