Overview
Triangle Strategy is an HD-2D tactical-RPG developed by Square Enix and Artdink and published by Square Enix, released in 2022. I played it on Nintendo Switch.
I was really looking forward to it after seeing the announcements and the various trailers, and I wasn't disappointed.
Story and world
The game takes place on a continent split between three nations, Glenbrook, Aesfrost and Hyzante, which fight over salt and iron. You follow Serenoa Wolffort, heir to a noble house of Glenbrook, caught up in a war that breaks out between these nations.
The story is good. The game offers several endings depending on the decisions made throughout the story.
Gameplay
Battles are turn-based on grid maps, where terrain height, unit facing and pincer attacks play an important role. Many characters are playable, and the gameplay is good.
The game has a big difficulty spike: I found it quite hard compared to other strategy games.
The choices are one of the things I both loved and hated. I loved them because they are tough, agonising choices, with no right or wrong answer. But I hated them because you are not the one who decides: major decisions go through the Scales of Conviction, a vote among Serenoa's companions.
At several points, I had to restart the game because I wanted to make a specific choice. To tip the scales in my favour, I had to meet this or that condition, so that the various protagonists would vote for what I wanted to choose.
The game still has good longevity, especially if you want to see several endings.
Graphics and music
With its HD-2D style, which blends pixel-art sprites with 3D environments, the game is gorgeous. The soundtrack is composed by Akira Senju.
Verdict
Despite a big difficulty spike and a voting system that sometimes forced me to restart the game, Triangle Strategy offers agonising choices, a good story, good gameplay and good longevity, all in a gorgeous HD-2D style. I loved playing it, and I highly recommend it.