When it comes to tactical role-playing action on the Switch, it doesn’t get much better than the Fire Emblem series. A series that spent years delivering some of the finest strategy gameplay on Nintendo’s systems. But, for the latest instalment, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Nintendo have truly gone bigger and bolder.
At first glance, it may simply look to be continuing the series’ tactical role-playing action and high standards. However, it also brings its own ideas to the table. Fortune’s Weave is a game that truly understands what makes Fire Emblem so addictive, and Intelligent Systems deserve credit for shaking things up when it comes to both its story and its battles.
Slash and Burn
At its core, this is still very much a Fire Emblem title. There’s a huge cast of characters thrown into a conflict that quickly becomes much bigger and more epic than it first appears. There are twists, turns, political tensions, plenty of personal stories along the way and, of course, time travel. All of this gives the separate story campaigns enough going on to keep you hooked to the very end.
The cast is another big part of the experience. Fortune’s Weave features mixture of personalities that gradually grow on you as the adventure unfolds. Some characters are instantly likeable, while others take a little longer to win you over, but building up your team and seeing how everyone develops is a key feature.
Smash and Earn
Of course, it’s the combat where Fortune’s Weave really shines. Battles are built around the familiar grid-based system. Every move needs to be considered, and one wrong decision can quickly turn a winning attack into a disaster.
You can spend ages looking at the battlefield, checking enemy ranges, working out which character should attack first and setting up the perfect chain of moves.
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Or you can throw caution to the wind and see if one of your stronger units can carve a path through the enemy lines. Either way, there is a real feeling of satisfaction in seeing a plan come together.
There is also plenty of depth hidden beneath the surface, with different classes, abilities, weapons and character combinations allowing you to build your team around your own preferred playstyle.
Clash and Learn
Experimenting with different setups is half the fun, though, especially when you discover new combinations that can easily turn a difficult fight into a walk in the park. The more you play around, the more your tactics will grow and adapt.
The new artefacts also add an extra layer to battles. Many of these artefacts give you access to powers that are often locked to very rare weapons. Fortune’s Weave also features a ‘blessing’ system, where you basically pray to the RNG gods to bless your coming battle, which can take the edge off the difficulty.
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And when things do go wrong, the game gives you ways to rethink your approach rather than simply accepting defeat. This is particularly welcome in some of the harder battles, where enemy forces will take no prisoners.
Thrashed and Yearn
The difficulty will always provide a challenge when it wants to, though, and for those who want the full Fire Emblem experience, Classic Mode is always there. It offers a real challenge and instantly makes every decision feel more important, as the battle evolves in real time.
When not taking part in epic battles, you can explore the world and find new side quests. Be warned, however, that the world is huge and full of dungeons, which see the game switch to a simple JRPG-style combat system as you explore in search of loot. These help add hours to the game, as many events refresh over time.
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Visually, Fortune’s Weave continues the series’ bold anime-inspired style, with colourful characters, detailed environments and some impressive battle animations. The presentation is backed up by a soundtrack that does a great job of making even a simple skirmish feel as though the fate of the world is hanging in the balance.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a truly strong instalment in the Fire Emblem series, delivering a deep and rewarding tactical combat system alongside an epic story that gives you more than enough reasons to keep playing.
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