Some Reflections on Fire Emblem: Engage

Spoilers naturally


Hard isn't kidding around early on, though it is kidding around later. It's a satisfying tactical experience without being crazy hard. There is however some cheapness in some stages regarding boss movement and when they trigger.
The combat styles are a good attempt to reduce mounted dominance. Fliers feel like one option rather than the best one. Cavalry, however, seems too weak now. Perhaps it should have built-in Momentum, because as it is, increased movement alone is a poor bonus with how small the difference is and the additional terrain-ignoring fliers get.
It's a great idea to divide skills between the characters (personal and class skills) and the emblems (crazy nonsense). The game can be more complex while still being easy to understand because of the compartmentalization. That said, I would have preferred if the balance hadn't been tilted so far toward the emblem side. Even inherited skills come from emblems only and not from classes or something else.
SP gain is slow. Any kind of experimentation is pretty much locked to Normal, where skirmishes ought to be safe to do.
The story itself is decent, but the presentation of it is terrible. The cutscene direction is a big problem. I'm sure the writers imagined most of the lines between the good guys and the bad guys being delivered across a battlefield, not for everyone to walk up and stand in a cirle together and walk away when it's time for war and tactics. The blocking is boring even in good-guy-only conversations. There's no cinematic flair whatsoever. Another problem is that they use the lord's dumbfounded expression far too often.
The translators should be ashamed of themselves, but they most certainly are not.
The voice director should get some of that shame too.
The cast is decent. Pretty normal Fire Emblem stuff, which doesn't seem exceptional but is still better than most games.
The music is standard for Fire Emblem as well, which is to say completely forgettable. It isn't essential to have super-special special weapons, but it can be fun. Unfortunately, most of the special effects go into emblem weapons. Outside of that theere's the lord's sword then nothing till the very late stages when you can get legendary weapons. The legend of a silver weapon but slightly better.
The biggest disapppointment of the game is Wyvern Ride. Only the little mascot could have fun with that one. Maybe I'm just mad he's better at it than I am.
Colors! How I missed them. Most importantly, the enemy range and threat colors and terrain distinctions, which in Three Houses were often hard to make out.
Rating: Good/Game.

Like the Seasons, the Trends Are Ever Changing

Trash: Main character has a butler
Smash: Counting down

The Popular Taste

Suppose you have your main character travel around with his butler, but the readers at home tell you the setup is too stuffy. What do you do? Add a team of cheerleaders, of course. Keep the butler. Audiences today demand more.

The Rules Are Simple

Q. Can my main character have a head maid instead of a butler?
A. No. A head maid alongside a butler is permissible however.
Q. But I really want a maid and not a butler.
A. Have you considered having the butler be a woman in disguise?
Q. Fantastic!

Turn Everything on Its Head

Instead of having a future man with a robot butler, why not have a future robot with a human butler? What do you mean, that doesn't sound like an improvement? Write the rest of the story? No way. That's your job.

One Small Tip for Life Improvement

Tired of missing the call to adventure? Hire a butler!

Q&A Corner

Q. Should the main character's butler go on adventures with the main character or not?
A. Both are acceptable.
Q. Might we replace the butler with a head maid?
A. Certainly.
Q. My, there's certainly a great deal of flexibility in this concept.
A. Go forth and take advantage!

Maintaining a Household

How often does the main character in fantasy or science fiction have a household? Servants, dependants, an estate, repairmen, the whole thing. Ownercore is the next thing.

Trends Will Never Leave Us

Out: Special abilities conferred voluntarily.
In: Main character has a butler.