REVIEW: Fire Emblem Engage

Should you play the latest in this storied Nintendo franchise?

Fire Emblem Engage is the latest entry into the iconic Nintendo franchise and has the player controlling a mysterious deity who has just awoken from a thousand-year slumber. Not long after the game begins, the newly awakened main character is thrust into a world-ending battle with the Fell Dragon that will lead to a 40+ hour journey through the neighboring kingdoms of a fictional nation. 

Fire Emblem Engage is a Nintendo-exclusive game and is currently only available on the Nintendo Switch. In our efforts at Checkpoint to find the fruit in all popular media, here are the ways that this game bridges the gap between faith and fandom.

Do Good: 

The general narrative of Fire Emblem Engage is one of redemption and salvation. While violence is often utilized to progress the narrative, many moments are exhibitions of mercy and sacrifice for objectively villainous characters. One of the mechanics in the game is enlisting the antagonists into your own army via conversation. The game itself seeks to teach the player that the heroes and villains are both capable of growth and (mostly) are worthy of forgiveness by the protagonist. Many of these decisions are at the behest of the player and allow for a practical experience of mercy on the villains in the narrative.

Do No Harm: 

There are a few deaths in-game at the hands of the protagonists in the story, but in general, the game goes out of its way to avoid any permanent death of any character. Like in other Fire Emblem entries, the player can choose whether or not to allow their own army to be susceptible to actual death or instead leave the battle when their Hit Points are reduced to zero. Often, even when ‘permadeath’ is enabled, the narrative behind their death is actually more of a retirement from the battlefield than an actual death. 

In the grand scheme of the narrative, the game opens during peacetime and the protagonists are hopeful for a time when that peace will return. The overall goal may be achieved through acts of harm, but the purpose is hopeful.

Strive to Grow: 

As was discussed in our sermon on this game, one area for theological conversation in this game is the parallels between the Communion of Saints in the Apostles Creed. The new element of Engage is the inclusion of Emblem rings that summon heroes from the past to fight alongside the heroes of our game. This is an excellent starting point for how Christians understand the historical church and its role in our current eschatological purpose.

Experience:

I played 56 hours of Fire Emblem on Hard Permadeath mode and finished the story and all of the paralogues (not including the DLC). As a seasoned Fire Emblem player, I found the gameplay excellent, and it was - by far - the most gorgeous game in the franchise to date. From a pure game standpoint, it was engaging (hyuk hyuk hyuk) and compelling to play. The challenge kept me gripped even when the story fell short.

It is quite different from its most recent predecessor of Three Houses, but it is certainly still worth playing. The story is basic and trope-filled, but the seemingly bland characters did grow on me as my playthrough continued. The minigames and time spent in the Somniel (main base) were forgettable and could likely be bypassed entirely. 

All in all, if you’re a fan of Fire Emblem as a franchise, this game is worth your time. If you’ve only played Three Houses, this might be one to skip past. But, as usual, even this is worthy of our Christian perspective and capable of helping us better understand our walks with Christ.

Remember - it doesn’t matter if you’re a mage, an axe warrior, or a divine dragon…

God loves you.
We love you.
You matter.

Score: 7/10