Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave represents a new high point for the long-running strategy RPG series, blending the narrative depth of Three Houses with the refined combat of Engage to create an exceptional experience. Developer Intelligent Systems has iterated on its previous work, summoning a sense of wonder and scale reminiscent of classic PlayStation RPGs. The game is a reason to consider purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2.
Narrative and Structure
The game opens with a glimpse of the world's end, tasking a god-like avatar with rewinding time to 1449 on the continent of Dagda to unravel the political intrigue leading to an undead apocalypse. While this introductory section, filled with extensive exposition and slow tutorial battles, is described as the game's weakest point, persevering through it reveals the rich fantasy role-playing experience within.
Fortune's Weave offers four distinct narrative paths, each following a unique protagonist: Theodora, the citizen-first warrior queen; Dietrech, a foreigner investigating Dagda's mysteries; Cai, a village boy ensnared in a conspiracy; and Leda, a traveling performer seeking revenge. The decision to limit players to a single save slot stems from the intrinsic link between these paths, allowing players to hop between stories at will. However, the reviewer recommends establishing some guardrails to ensure progression. A full playthrough is estimated to take around 200 hours for completionists, with the reviewer having already invested over 80 hours.
The quality of writing and voice acting across all four stories is high, with Leda's path noted as particularly emotive. Despite a limited number of backdrops for cutscenes, the compelling writing and animated portraits effectively convey the narrative. Intelligent Systems has managed to ensure that each path feels distinct, with unique pacing and enemy encounters even when characters from different paths eventually join forces. The game reportedly contains twice as much content as Three Houses, while addressing some pacing issues that affected that title, such as lengthy school sections.
Fortune's Weave offers more player agency and urgency than Three Houses, catering to different playstyles. Players can engage with social simulation elements or focus purely on combat and army management. The game's structure is divided into three distinct phases: an opening that appeals to fans of modern Fire Emblem with social elements, a middle section akin to the itinerant battles of Radiant Dawn or Shadow Dragon, and a self-contained end-game.
Combat and Gameplay
The game's pacing effectively balances story-critical battles with open-world exploration. The second chapter streamlines gameplay, focusing on army setup, social links, and equipment before a point of no return. The 'War' section serves as a gauntlet of battles, exposing the mechanical depth of the game. Combat puzzles are meticulously designed with strategic thinking in mind, featuring varied maps and unique gimmicks that maintain high adrenaline while remaining fascinating. This contrast with the slower pace of the early game is described as a potent and impactful element.
Combat mechanics have been significantly refined. The traditional weapon triangle is less central, replaced by a greater variety of weapon types, special moves tied to classes, and intricate unit utility. Victory conditions on maps are more diverse than in previous entries, often requiring strategic mobility and tactical planning beyond simply dealing damage. The introduction of Blaze Arts for main characters allows for powerful abilities that consume HP rather than weapon durability, adding another layer of strategic depth, especially when supported by healing units.
Each path's leader is supported by core army members with unique quirks and abilities that synergize well with their respective protagonists. While this can lead to reliance on these story-centric allies, the game design ensures that armies have clear blind spots that players must address to overcome challenging encounters. The writing encourages players to gravitate towards specific units, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
Difficulty and Customization
Fortune's Weave is noted for its accessibility, particularly on regular difficulty, which is considered the easiest in the series. Permadeath was encountered only once during the reviewer's playthrough, and a free time-rewind function is available on Normal mode. Hard mode introduces more friction, requiring players to rely on critical hit percentages for survival. The choice of protagonist can also influence difficulty, with Cai's path offering a gentler introduction compared to Dietrich's.
Players can further customize their experience by choosing between 'Classic' (permadeath) and 'Casual' modes. However, the overall impression is that the game is relatively easy, especially by traditional Fire Emblem standards, with the possibility of a higher difficulty mode being added post-launch.
Enduring Appeal
Beyond the main campaign, the game offers expansive side activities, including specific side missions for each path, such as Theodora sending supplies or Leda performing in taverns. Bonus battles are generally easier, but the game introduces a meta-narrative element tied to the player's God-avatar. Completing feats across the save file rewards 'karma crystals,' which can be used to unlock Boons of Salvation. These boons offer advantages like doubled experience, weapon discounts, and easier proficiency leveling, making subsequent playthroughs significantly easier. This system allows for a powerful, almost