Fire Emblem: Three Houses Reviews
With the Switch's delightful dual abilities, Three Houses fittingly bookends the series' triumphant run on the 3DS and becomes the first big-screen outing in over a decade. It also surpasses them all. A masterpiece of strategy, story-telling and intertwining relationships, Three Houses deserves to make Intelligent Systems a household name.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses succeeds in bringing a breath of fresh air into a saga that is perhaps too anchored to its own style, it does so by renewing the experience without losing sight of the deep strategic soul that has always been the trademark of Intelligent Systems' works. The pace of the game may seem a bit diluted to the most fundamentalist fans, but the overall result is, in our opinion, absolutely convincing and worthy.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I have never beaten a sixty-hour game and immediately wanted to jump back in for round two. Fire Emblem: Three Houses pulls you in with its rock-solid grid-based combat. But it keeps you invested by offering rich characters, deep squad customization, and an enthralling story that keeps you guessing. It’s is easily the best RPG of 2019—so far.
The most ambitious and cared-for episode of the franchise to date
Review in Italian | Read full review
The lack of map diversity doesn't take away from the visual splendor of the game, though. While much of Three Houses is seen from an overhead perspective, initiating combat zooms the camera in, showing off gorgeously animated soldiers in combat. During a particularly tense battle, Claude, the house leader of the Golden Deer, tosses an arrow into the sky before catching it and firing off a critical hit to take out a pesky enemy pegasus moving in on my healer. These flashy moments happen all the time and are unique to the two dozen classes in the game, so there's always some new animation to get pumped over.
Demanding lap strategy, loveable characters and great story. But you have to like the social simulation.
Review in German | Read full review
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is unrivaled in its scope and execution on Nintendo Switch to resoundingly deliver strategic perfection, whether at home or on the move. With a memorable cast of characters each with their own motivations – complemented with remarkable voice acting – it is the meticulous worldbuilding that elevates it to become one of the best games available on the portable home console. More than that, it's Fire Emblem at its very best.
Intelligent Systems tactical role-playing game looks and plays swell on Switch, but it also lowers the stakes of this stressful series
Edelgard's Black Eagles is an engaging route that you should take if you want a road filled with intrigue, betrayal and action. Siding with The Adrestian Empire shines a whole new light on the events of the game, and at times you may even question your allegiance. At the end of the day, there can only be one ruler of Fódlan and Edelgard is the right choice… at least for your first playthrough.
Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo have managed to find the key in getting the new installment of the franchise to face new challenges and, at the same time, leave intact the molds that were already established in the past.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you own a Nintendo Switch and you’re a fan of Turn-based JRPGs, Fire Emblem: Three Houses should be on your “Must buy” list right now. It comes highly recommended and will keep you busy for hours and hours on end.
...interesting maps and epic military adventures from older titles, while building on the newer aspects we’ve come to expect from the 3DS games.
An ambitious and exciting game in which deep strategy and human emotions clash.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
For all the little ways I can nitpick Fire Emblem: The Three Houses, there is no denying the elegance with which so many of the gameplay systems are intertwined. I enjoyed micromanaging the progression of my students on and off the battlefield. I just wish I was able to think of them as more than colorful pawns.
It is strange to talk about pacing and bloat and a slow-moving plot when the turn-based battles are built on a foundation of ‘taking your time to make the right move’. But in adding so much and painting on such a large canvas, it’s hard not to eventually feel a little lost or stuck in Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Three Houses is so vibrant that I didn't really mind the lack of difficulty. I was too invested in the characters, and looking forward to the next major plot point too much to really care. It can be bloated, messy, and unnecessarily padded with content at times, but when it comes to the core strengths of Fire Emblem - its character-driven epic fantasy, tight tactical battles and a full harem of both waifu and husbandos, Intelligent Systems have delivered something truly resonant with this one.
The series found a comfortable stride in the handheld world, and moving away from that isn’t always a strong step – so it’s a good thing that the Switch is a little bit of both worlds. The game is great for playing in short bursts, with even ten to fifteen minutes feeling like enough to really get something done, even if it’s just returning a bunch of lost items to your units in the monastery to boost your support links. The characters are endearing and help draw you into the world and its story, complete with divine mysteries to carry you through the school year.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the most fascinating tactical RPG with interesting battles and story, great world and charismatic characters. If you are not indifferent to the genre of role-playing games, this project should not be missed.
Review in Russian | Read full review
This is a fantastic installment for returning fans or newcomers playing for the first time.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a gaming oasis in the 'dry' months of summer.
Review in Greek | Read full review