Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave may finally be the title to break a 14-year curse that has plagued the series since the success of Fire Emblem Awakening. For years, subsequent entries have struggled to balance strong narratives with engaging combat, often excelling in one area while faltering in the other. Early impressions after 10 hours of play suggest that Intelligent Systems has managed to marry these elements effectively in Fortune's Weave, potentially delivering Nintendo's best strategy game in years.
After clearing the prologue and five chapters across one of the game's four story paths, Fortune's Weave has made a strong impression with its pacing and immediate introduction of new mechanics. Unlike previous titles that might linger on tutorials, Fortune's Weave expects players to grasp new systems quickly, offering difficulty options and a rewind feature to support newcomers. The game's narrative centers around the Heroic Games, hosted by the god-emperor Solel in the capital city of Dagsion. The prize for the winner is a granted wish, and the four heroes of Fortune's Weave, including protagonist Dietrich, find themselves drawn into the games for their own distinct reasons.
Despite the early stage of the preview, the game hints at a vast world and a complex plot. Dietrich's personal story delves into the obscure religious histories of Fodlan and Dagda, but the overarching narrative maintains a compelling sense of mystery. Fortune's Weave eschews the slow build-up seen in titles like Three Houses, opting instead for frequent revelations and narrative connections that keep players engaged. The game's cast is as characteristically eccentric as ever, featuring familiar archetypes like bards and devoted retainers, but the writing and localization efforts appear to be at their peak, creating deeper and more entertaining personalities.
One peculiar narrative element noted is the game's emphasis on the male characters' attraction to women, often highlighted in character info panels. While Fire Emblem has historically had a mixed approach to LGBTQ+ representation, this specific focus has been described as unnecessary.
Once players arrive in Dagsion, Fortune's Weave establishes a flexible gameplay loop. Between main story missions, players have free time to engage in activities similar to Three Houses, such as training and bonding, while also having access to a world map for exploration. This exploration functions akin to a tabletop game, with a set number of movement spaces per turn and various locations offering special events, battles, or shops. The game encourages a rhythm of weekly tasks, exploration, and side quests, providing a sense of choice without inducing paralysis.
Dungeons in Fortune's Weave function similarly to those in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, featuring large areas filled with loot and enemies. However, they incorporate skirmish battles that adopt a more traditional turn-based combat style. In these skirmishes, the party shares HP and magic resources, along with "link points" for special abilities. Unlike traditional tactical combat, players cannot select their targets directly in skirmishes, potentially leading to challenges if the party composition isn't suited to the encountered enemies.
While dungeons have not yet presented a significant challenge even on hard mode, the game's design aims to reduce predecessor tedium. HP and magic are only replenished at rest points, imposing a limit on sustained activity and encouraging strategic regrouping. The traditional weapon triangle has been altered, with axes dealing more damage but having lower accuracy, swords granting bonuses during follow-up attacks, and lances offering a direct advantage against cavalry. Guns function similarly to fists, offering unique combat options.
Combat flexibility is a key philosophy, with classes and weapons offering more special skills that can lead to powerful combinations. Many classes can now utilize multiple weapon types, increasing their versatility. For instance, the hunter class wields both bows and swords. While there's potential for overlap in starting classes, the depth of mastery skills is expected to make each class feel distinct.
Fortune's Weave blends complex, objective-based maps with more straightforward "kill everything" scenarios. The latter often appear on the world map and serve as efficient training grounds for new classes and character progression. Combat animations, transitions, and unit movement have all been accelerated compared to previous entries, streamlining gameplay. Story-critical maps often demand intricate tactical play, reminiscent of earlier Fire Emblem titles. One notable example involved an arena battle with chariots and manipulating the environment, followed by a map requiring timed objectives and the luring of powerful enemies. This return to high-risk, high-reward tactics, last seen in Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn, is a welcome development.
With much of the game yet to be explored, including three other distinct story paths, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave has laid a strong foundation. The preview suggests a game that addresses long-standing criticisms and offers a rich, engaging experience. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is slated to launch for Nintendo Switch 2 on September 17.