Game News Fire Emblem Engage: Gameplay, scenario, emblems, everything you need to know before the release of the exclusive Nintendo Switch!
More than three years after Three Houses, Nintendo and the Intelligent Systems team are back with Fire Emblem Engage, a new episode of the cult tactical role-playing game license! Its release is only a few days away. Here is all the information about it to help you know if it is for you.
What is the release date? That of the Expansion Pass?
We start with the most important! Fire Emblem Engage will be released on January 20, 2023 exclusively on Nintendo Switch. Because yes, the license has always been the protege of Japanese society, and this is not about to change. On this date, players will also be able to download the first wave of content from the Expansion Pass… Enough to enjoy three heroes from Three Houses, previous episode, namely Edelgard, Dimitri and Claude – but also the famous Tiki. All these beautiful people can be used as an Emblem, a central mechanic in Fire Emblem Engage which we will talk about a little later in this article. And that’s not all, since three other expansions are already planned by the end of 2023, with a new scenario for the last. The Expansion Pass is available for: €29.99.
What is the storyline of Fire Emblem Engage?
Inevitably, to go into battle in this tactical role-playing game, you need a very good excuse. Here, you play as Alear, better known as the “Divine Dragon”. It’s been 1,000 since the hero has been plunged into a deep sleep, after his victory against the fallen dragon (Sombron)! Except here it is, this big bad guy is back and it’s wake up time. To beat him again, you will have to rely on the help of the twelve Emblem Rings which contain the spirit of legendary warriors from the Fire Emblem series (Byleth, Marth, Celica, etc.). Of course, the inhabitants of the kingdom of Lythos will also be valuable allies. A quest therefore opens to find the artifacts, and gather a powerful army.
What are the new gameplay features?
If you know Fire Emblem, Engage will clearly not disorient you! It’s still a turn-based tactical role-playing game where you have to move your units on a battlefield. Each hero has their own characteristics and weapons, the secret of victory lies in your ability to take advantage of their strengths (and in particular the bonds that your characters will create as the adventure progresses). So far, not too much of a surprise. Note that this new section marks the return of the arms triangle of the franchise, as our preview notes. “To quickly summarize, this is a system in which each weapon is both effective at one weapon type and vulnerable to another,” we wrote, January 5, 2023. “In Engage, hitting an opponent with a weapon against which he is vulnerable allows his guard to be broken”. As a result, he will no longer be able to counter-attack – handy for your units to be able to attack him in stride.
But, as mentioned above, “the” novelty of Fire Emblem Engage are the Emblem Rings, which contain the power of former heroes of the license. Any character on your team can be equipped! When this is the case, your characteristics are increased | you have access to new skills… In the long term, it is even possible to merge with the spirit in question, to activate a “Weapon of fusion” and “Techniques of fusion”. Of course: the transformation does not last forever, three short turns to be precise. After which, it will be necessary to refill the fusion gauge. Note that – in addition to the Rings – there are also Link Fragments, capable of granting characteristic boosts. They also contain the hero spirit of the franchise. This aspect works like a gacha lottery. You don’t know who you’re going to have in advance.
Is there still an Academy system?
Even if Fire Emblem Engage does not strictly speaking offer an Academy, added in Three Houses, we find more or less the same spirit with Somniel! It’s a flying island which acts as a base, where the player always returns between each fight. So you can buy upgrades here | objects for your units, discuss with your companions (and strengthen the bonds that we mentioned above). There are also mini-games to improve your stats, not to mention a scoreboard to access side quests. Everything you need to breathe between two clashes and make your team progress as it should. Go to Somniel.
Is there permanent death?
As usual with Fire Emblem, Engage offers permadeath, meaning the permanent loss of your fallen characters. However, this is not mandatory. This will indeed be the case in the “Classic” mode – but in “Beginner”, the fallen heroes reappear after a battle. On the official Nintendo page, we also learn that there are three challenge levels (Normal, Difficult and Export) with an Auto Battle option “to follow the story without worrying about the fights”.
Is there an online mode?
As curious as it may seem, yes, there are online modes in Fire Emblem Engage. Again, we refer to the Nintendo page… In the Tower of Trials, it will thus be possible to carry out online asynchronous battles with players taking turns playing cooperatively. In addition, you can create your own cards and discover the ideas of other fans. Hopefully the Expansion Pass will improve this aspect but it has not been announced yet.
