Fire Emblem Engage Reviews
Fire Emblem: Engage will be welcomed by longtime fans who've felt disenfranchised by the direction of recent Fire Emblem games. The battlefields are clever and challenging, the visuals are outstanding, and the social stuff-although mostly unnecessary-isn't so invasive as to bog down gameplay. The story may be perfunctory, but it's hard to care when you're having so much fun unleashing Twin Strike on your enemies.
It's a solid Fire Emblem, but lacks the lasting impact to rank as a classic.
Fire Emblem Engage is a good game, but like a bulky novel, it could have done with an edit.
Fire Emblem Engage is a great Fire Emblem title that focuses on its core roots, the tactical RPG elements; more so its combat.
Fire Emblem Engage is worth checking out. It'll be a pretty appealing entry for both long-time and new Fire Emblem Fans, the Engage mechanic adds a fun layer to the already excellent combat system, and the bevy of new characters introduced are all generally entertaining. The look of the game is fantastic on the aging Switch hardware, bolstered by the excellent character designs, and the music is really well done. It might not be the best Fire Emblem on the Switch, but it's still a really solid adventure regardless.
Fire Emblem Engage has a lot of great elements, from its striking visuals to the classic Fire Emblem turn-based strategy gameplay. The story being told, however, does not live up to the bar set by other games in the series, while some battles drag on to the point where I'm fighting off a nap just as hard as I'm fighting the enemy armies. I enjoy the game in spurts, but before long I find myself wondering when I can stop engaging with this Fire Emblem. There's enough here to enjoy Fire Emblem Engage, but only the most dedicated will be able to see this through to the end.
Still, this isn’t a bad game. The cast isn’t quite as good as previous entries but is still solid. The combat mechanics are stellar and will keep you excited throughout the 30 or so hours it takes to complete the main plot. Everything outside the combat, however, feels like it was added simply because they couldn’t possibly ship a JRPG without a host of mini-games to pad out the runtime. I went into Fire Emblem Engage expecting “great”, so “good” feels like a disappointment.
A worthy celebration of the series.
Neither a reinvention of the series nor a return to its roots, Fire Emblem Engage finds a comfortable middle ground. It's another polished skirmish (with Suikoden-like town planning on the side) that will keep Fire Emblem fans happy, but its lacklustre plot and lack of branching choice (like Three Houses) ultimately hold it back.
While not a perfect entry, Fire Emblem Engage is a fantastic celebration of a series that has come so far.
Fire Emblem Engage is, without a doubt, the perfect entry for players who want to discover all the strategic potential that the franchise has to offer. The already established concepts of the series are even better with the exclusive systems of the 17th entry, making even veterans need to take a little time to study what the new mechanics add to the experience. It is true that, in terms of narrative and social interactions, Engage may fall short for some, even more so after the experience provided by Three Houses. In general, this new Fire Emblem manages to be an innovative game, but that does not give up its roots at any time.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Fire Emblem: Engage is, despite its shortcomings in the social section, one of the best tactical RPGs currently available, with great depth and accessibility at the same time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I love the characters and seeing them develop in Fire Emblem Engage. Something is missing in the game for me though, it might be the lack of relationships or just to many samey things to do.
Review in German | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage features familiar excellent gameplay with copious ways to customize your team. However, the story is rather dull, and the large roster is hurt by the limited character depth. There's plenty of tactical RPG gameplay to enjoy here, but it feels like a light step back for the series.
It's time to engage.
I love the music, the look, the vibe, the simplicity, the anime girls and boys you can flirt with, the addition of LGBTQ+ couples, the battles, the removal of the weird marriage system, and the return of old Fire Emblem characters… Everything. Especially my Sommie, the cutest little anime mascot ever.
"I found the rings of power, but where's Smeagol?"
Review in Finnish | Read full review
In combat, Fire Emblem Engage is the best in the series. Classic game mechanics coexist with new clever, if gimmicky, elements of entertaining but painfully unforgiving combat. Outside of the battles, however, the adventure doesn't engage as much and is a noticeable setback alongside its predecessor. But if you're primarily after strategic combat, Fire Emblem Engage is a perfect fit.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
The new title from Intelligent Systems treats its story as a compromise that must be quickly broken out of by resorting to the oldest commonplaces within the genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Fire Emblem Engage has an exemplary combat system, a story that becomes more engaging as it goes, and a kooky cast that grows on you with each passing chapter. But beyond all of that, it’s a game that’s genuinely fun to play.