Fire Emblem Engage Reviews
Fire Emblem Engage may lack the same quality storytelling and interaction as past releases but offers some of the best tactical RPG combat and deep customization that fans could ask for.
In Fire Emblem Engage we find a new and outstanding game for Nintendo's hybrid console that will make all lovers of strategy and tactical role-playing hooked from minute one. A whole audiovisual and sound show whose only Achilles heel lies in the simplicity of the details of some of the backgrounds, especially those of the Somniel and those exploration stages between battles, which we have found very flat and simple. It makes up for this pain thanks to its unforgettable combat and map designs, the true cornerstones of the game, which make the title one of the most dynamic and fun map stages in the entire saga. In addition, it has an almost infinite character customization system thanks to its Engage system and link abilities. And let's not forget how delightful it is to be able to see our favorite heroes from the entire saga, such as Marth, Roy or Byleth, participating again and actively in the game, both in combat and in conversation, a clear tribute to a saga that began in 1990. An adventure that could easily take us 35 hours if we don't get too distracted (be careful with the Somniel, hehehe).
Review in Spanish | Read full review
When taken as a whole, Fire Emblem: Engage often succeeds, though where it falls, it falls a bit hard. With a largely less-than-stellar cast keeping you company for the 40+ hours you may find yourself playing this game, there are many times when the game’s solid narrative and excellent gameplay aren’t able to carry it through to the finish it feels like it deserves.
Fire Emblem Engage is, first and foremost, an excellent turn-based strategy that succeeds in the complex task of limiting many of the elements that weighed down the gameplay of the previous chapter to offer battles that put the player's reasoning at the center of the action.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage features an excellent combat system that I'm sure fans of the genre will appreciate. It's smart, balanced, and with enough depth to absorb the player into its mechanics. It always rewards patience, organization and strategic combination of units and punishes rushing and "heroics". However, the rest of the game that frames this combat system is, unfortunately, in my opinion, disappointing.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage calls upon many renowned characters from the series 30 year history, with a battle system that features a highly flexible progression system and quality of life changes that make a noticeable difference in combat.
Fire Emblem Engage has one of the best TRPG and tactical combat mechanisms that have been released in recent years, and for this reason only, it is well worthy of your attention. It's a shame that Engage doesn't live up to the high standards set by its predecessor. If you want to battle on hundreds of maps and click through countless dialogues, this is the game for you.
Despite faltering in its plot delivery and the absence of meaningful decision-making, Fire Emblem Engage once again allows Intelligent Systems to demonstrate its unparalleled strategic brilliance and unquestionable dominance in the genre. It isn’t a game that is lacking in heroic ambition, in many ways evolving its own formula triumphantly beyond what was achieved with Fire Emblem: Three Houses but otherwise disappointingly falling short in others.
Fire Emblem Engage is one of the early surprises of 2023. Nintendo has managed to make fans of the genre happy with a great JRPG game!
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage is focused on making the series’ enduring turn-based tactics more compelling, more exciting, more stunning – and the game does an excellent job at that. Smart new mechanics add much to the feel of battle, and once your army begins rolling through enemy forces across the continent, it’s hard to stop.
All combined results in an experience that based on traditional bases and the foundations that have earned the series, is better overall, both in terms of argument as in the equipment management system and the combat system. By carrying the heroes of other campaigns through the emblems, Engage seems to risk everything for the sake of a narrative that gives all the guarantees, even when it ends up punching the player's stomach. The outfit and the character's character are other reinforced elements, as well as the remarkable voice work, both in Japanese and English. With the combat system, leisure options in Somniel and equipment management reinforced, Emblem reaches a new level in the growth of the series. It's my favorite Fire Emblem.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage unfortunately fails to shine like its predecessor Three Houses. The step back to the roots of the series wasn't a bad one at all. Above all, the combat system knows how to inspire thanks to the emblems, the reunion with Marth and Co. was successful. Unfortunately, the unspectacular story, its generic characters and the lack of endgame content reduce the gaming experience a lot.
Review in German | Read full review
"Fire Emblem Engage" turns out to be the hoped-for tactical spectacle with considerable scope. For more than two dozen chapters, you'll experience nerve-wracking battles that are at their best, especially in Classic mode with the permadeath function turned on. The new break and emblem ring mechanics fit perfectly into the proven combat system, the design of the battlefields always holds interesting surprises in store, side missions are regularly linked to the unlocking of new additional characters, and the story is also peppered with some twists that we did not always see coming. Alear's Ring Odyssey is rounded off by a staging that is absolutely worth seeing by Switch standards, a bombastic soundtrack and numerous multiplayer functions that promise a lot of long-term motivation.
Review in German | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage tells a great story full of heart that’s probably the best of the series. The addition of the Emblem Rings which bring heroes of the past games is a nice touch. However, the decision of removing so many great features that were in Theee House, makes Engage a weaker title in my opinion.
Review in French | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage is one of the best games in the series. The large character roster, changes to the combat system and the exciting Engage system all help create an enjoyable time across a game that looks absolutely stunning.
After getting a bit experimental with Three Houses, Intelligent Systems returns to more traditional, stellar gameplay with Fire Emblem Engage.
Fire Emblem Engage may not share the same ingredients as Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but it is far more impressive and palatable because of its finely-hone mechanics. If anything, Engage is a celebration of the series and the perfect starting point for newcomers who may want to engage with the series.