Square Enix fans have been asking for a tactical RPG for quite some time. The company is credited for creating several genuine masterpieces, like Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics. Square Enix’s Triangle Strategy is a novel way to create a brand new IP that draws on its strengths while attempting to give a fresh viewpoint for followers of the SRPG genre.
It cannot be overstated that the SRPG genre is getting a breath of fresh air, due in part to Nintendo. They achieved enormous success with their Fire Emblem series, which is contributing to bringing other unique games to the forefront, with Advance Wars being one of the highlights. Because of the popularity of Fire Emblem, Square Enix is beginning to invest in the genre, which has resulted in fantastic outcomes such as the current Triangle Strategy.
Triangle Strategy’s presentation and story aspects pleasantly impressed me. It’s a touch too much at times since the game continues to take control away from the player as it goes through narrative sequences one after the other. This is most noticeable at the start, when, following short combat, we are instantly pushed into a long segment of cutscenes with no player participation. The glacial speed of the story growth is the worst aspect of Triangle Strategy, and it is as horrible as it sounds.
The good news is that Triangle Strategy is a top-tier SRPG in terms of playability. The lengthy story beats may appear to detract from the general gameplay emphasis, but they are crucial for setting the stage for the characters and key plotlines. When the game reaches its halfway point, the tale comes together nicely to give a narrative that completely immerses the player. There will be a lot of reading material to learn about the world’s lore and history, but they are just engaging enough that it never seems boring.
Set in the fictional continent of Norzelia, we take control of Serenoa Wolffort, the story’s primary character. Glenbrook, Aesfrost, and Hyzante are the three nations that make up the continent of Norzelia. The primary narrative is set thirty years after a big battle between these countries, and after years of peace, they strive to heal their relationships and come closer together to live in harmony after the discovery of a new mine rich in natural resources. However, in a typical war-focused scenario, twists and betrayals occur, resulting in the game falling into another conflict in which the player must make difficult decisions.
Triangle Strategy is a well-written story, somewhat Game of Thrones-esque in the way it narrates the tale from the perspectives of the many continents. Every character goes through a thorough character development process. Because of the game’s branching plot, there are multiple endings, and certain characters can only be recruited through a specific branch of the story. The new game plus mode also leads to the increased replay value. There is a lot of conversation to sort through, and occasionally there are so many plot cutscenes that the tempo slows to a crawl. However, once we’ve completed the big events, the gameplay seems polished and well-crafted.
Graphically, it’s a unique take on the HD-2D graphics style initially seen in Octopath Traveler. The game runs on Unreal Engine, which allows it to display some unique 3D backdrops, while the characters look to be old-school sprites but are 3D. Unfortunately, the overall performance is not strong, and there are certain flaws, such as frame rate drops during some effect-heavy scenes. It may be experienced during both fighting and general exploring.
The game is broken into three sections. The first is the story, which includes both vocal and text-based sequences. The second part is the exploration phase, in which the main character gathers about an area to obtain vital knowledge, chat to other people to discover more about them and their goals, or locate items to utilise in combat. The third phase is combat, which is similar to that of a conventional SRPG. Before we begin the battle, we position our forces and map out the terrain. There’s also an encampment screen where you can get combat tutorials, shop, and upgrade opportunities.
The gameplay is turn-based, with each character having a turn in a fight. They may be able to go ahead of the enemy depending on their stats and location during battle. The attacks are a combination of normal strikes and special skills that deliver additional damage or inflict status ailments. Winning in battle is similar to playing chess, since the movement of the unit may lead to critical strikes, chained attacks, and even an advantage depending on the vantage point on the field. If you’ve played an SRPG before, it’s very simple, but if you haven’t, the game does an excellent job at explaining it through tutorials.
One of the branching pathways is based on how successfully the character can persuade their party members at certain points in the story. This is known as Scales of Conviction, and it requires a decision. Each of the characters has made a decision, while some are still unsure. It is up to the player to persuade them to adhere to a specific choice, and this segment is aided by talking to people throughout the exploration phase since this leads to additional options opening in the dialogue box. Depending on the conclusion here, the game can dynamically change events, influencing the ending.
Triangle Strategy, with its branching plot, entertaining battle system, and magnificent plot that gives insight into a war-torn civilization, is an excellent SPRG that is well worth a visit. It also demonstrates the mechanics of politics and how crucial even little choices can be in determining someone’s fate. If you own a Nintendo Switch, I don’t see why you should pass up such a fantastic game.
Disclaimer: This review was conducted with a review copy provided by Nintendo UK.
Triangle Strategy is a unique game that combines strategic gameplay features from classic Square Enix games with breathtaking HD-2D graphics and a branching plot.