Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a implausible hack and slash sport that anybody can sink hours into. The world is immersive, that includes a roster of fascinating characters which you can construct relationships with. While the story is barely overwhelming firstly, this can be a sport that anybody may take pleasure in, even when you have by no means touched the franchise earlier than.
Pros
Entertaining battlesMultiple storylines to exploreEngaging charactersQuirky and fascinating artwork fashion
Cons
Too many cutscenesFights can develop into repetitiveCamera will be annoying
Availability
UKRRP: £49.99
USARRP: $59.99
EuropeRRP: €59.99
CanadaRRP: CA$83.99
AustraliaRRP: AU$79.95
Platforms:Available for the Nintendo Switch
Release date:24th June 2022
Genre:RPG, combating, hack and slash and journey
Introduction
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is an extremely simple sport to get into, with hours upon hours of gameplay and an immersive world.
Three Hopes is the long-awaited sequel to Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Houses, ditching the turn-based fight technique for a fast hack and slash expertise.
As somebody with little to no Fire Emblem expertise, I discovered this sport to be participating and enjoyable, even when the story beats had been sometimes too difficult to comply with.
Keep studying to see what I considered Fire Emblem: Three Hopes.
Story
Up to a whole bunch of hours of content material Multiple sidequests Three paths to select from
Fire Emblem: Three Hopes takes place on the battlefields of Fódlan, bringing collectively some acquainted faces from Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Houses together with some new characters.
I made a decision to play this sport on Normal problem in Casual mode, which meant that my fellow fighters had been resurrected after dying in battle, as an alternative of being completely useless for the remainder of the story. For anybody like me that doesn’t have quite a lot of Fire Emblem expertise, I’d suggest sticking to Casual mode, as you may miss out on necessary story beats if sure characters will not be round.
You play as Shez, a mercenary that may be both male or feminine. After battling Byleth from Three Houses and shedding terribly within the opening act, you’re approached by three characters: Edelgard, Claude and Dimitri. After working collectively in a camp and pleasurable battle, you’re tasked with selecting which staff you wish to be a part of.
I preferred the liberty on this sport, as I used to be in a position to rename the protagonist and even Byleth, making the story really feel extra private than if the whole lot was set out for me. I made a decision to hitch Edelgard in her Scarlet Blaze staff, being joined by a roster of latest characters that combat with you thru the sport.
As a newcomer, I used to be initially overwhelmed by the big group of characters and seemingly deep lore that you just’re introduced with firstly of the story. However, it turns into obvious early on that you just don’t want any prior information to take pleasure in this sport, with the various cutscenes and conversations between characters offering sufficient content material.
Since I can’t reveal an excessive amount of in regards to the story for embargo causes, however I can reveal that the general story is participating, with extra specks of knowledge and gossip being revealed as you discuss to extra individuals and battle extra enemies. Numerous the story will be diluted down into rival factions, however the nuanced story beats and character interactions preserve issues fascinating, with a couple of twists alongside the best way that I by no means noticed coming.
While it took me 20 hours to finish my playthrough, I can simply see this sport taking upwards of 100 hours. Not solely will it depend upon which faction you be a part of – I can’t say how lengthy Claude and Dimitri’s tales are – however there are a number of facet quests you may delve into, with the choice to replay ranges if you wish to discover each nook and cranny.
Gameplay
Multiple playable characters Activity and coaching factors to make use of Hack and slash fight all through
Three Hopes has a set gameplay routine all through. Your camp will transfer to a brand new location whereby you may tackle a number of battles earlier than defeating the ultimate boss of that space, although after taking up the ultimate boss you can’t return. This makes development really feel linear, and it offers you an opportunity to stage up and collect assets earlier than transferring on to a brand new space.
Whilst in camp, you may discuss to staff members and use your Training and Activity factors. These are gained after battles and can be utilized to spice up morale, develop bonds between characters and activate sure boosts earlier than battles.
While solely a small a part of the sport, I preferred how a lot freedom the protagonist has and how one can roam by way of camp. Cooking meals for teammates was my private favorite, and it was good to see the bonds between characters develop after gifting individuals particular flowers and objects you may procure in battle.
The first few hours of the sport, nevertheless, do tackle a really sluggish tempo, with a number of reduce scenes and character conversations lasting a bit of too lengthy for me. While a few of it was undoubtedly wanted to catch me up on the lore, it felt just like the builders didn’t belief me to make sure apparent judgements on characters.
The lengthy reduce scenes are fairly constant for the entire sport, with every battle ending on a round-up from my staff and typically even the enemies. While they do assist to create a extra fascinating world, I’d have most popular the beginning of the sport to be extra fight and action-focused, somewhat than consistently slowing down to inform a narrative.
Out of the camp and on the conflict map is the place the actual run begins, nevertheless. After choosing your battle, you may select who’s in your roster, although not each combat permits the identical quantity and even kind of individuals. There is victory and defeat situations for all battles, supplying you with an concept of what kind of technique and assault you must tackle.
Once combating, you may pull up the full-screen map to command your teammates to tackle sure foes or defend a base. This jogged my memory of Total War: Warhammer 3, as you may direct particular forces, like archers, to assault sure teams the place they are going to have a bonus. I discovered this riveting, because it was actually satisfying to deploy staff members west as you run east within the last minutes of a battle.
Even with the strategic components, this title remains to be principally a hack and slash. I loved tearing by way of a whole bunch of enemies with my character and the truth that distinctive fight types work in a different way relying on the scenario additionally made me flip by way of my staff extra typically.
My favorite character to play was myself, adopted by Edelgard. My character primarily used a sword whereas Edelgard favoured the axe, giving each gamers a particular vibe. While Edelgard felt heavier and fought finest in opposition to heavy-duty enemies, I preferred how fast Shez may navigate the map and the pressure with which her sword would reduce by way of enemies.
While I do suppose that the gameplay felt recent for a majority of the sport, the previous few hours did begin to get repetitive. While there are totally different strikes and particular strikes for every participant, I discovered I may handle many battles just by button mashing on something however the highest difficulties. I nonetheless preferred this, and there’s something innately enjoyable about watching your enemy fly up into the air after an extended combo, this will not be stimulating sufficient for anybody who prefers the tighter fight of video games like God of War.
Thankfully, even with the button-mashing apart, I didn’t discover the gameplay overly easy. I performed on Normal mode and located there have been a number of difficult foes which demanded extra time, with my staff even shedding some battles as a result of poor technique.
Overall, I assumed the gameplay was quite a lot of enjoyable and an total rewarding expertise. The camp dialogue and fast-paced fight preserve you in your toes, even when it isn’t probably the most difficult sport I’ve performed.
Graphics
Quirky and fascinating character design Fighting animations seems grand Switch has sluggish graphical load-up timesCamera is usually a hindrance
Since this can be a Nintendo sport, I had excessive hopes for the graphics. With video games like Breath of the Wild and the current Metroid Dread trying so spectacular, I used to be happy to search out the identical stage of element and character in Three Hopes.
Scarlet Blaze has an virtually gothic aesthetic, with the characters embodying their personalities by way of their trend. The combating animations are very grand, with the particular strikes displaying off vibrant colors and interesting fight. I beloved watching my character rear up and pull dozens of enemies right into a ball of slashes, sending massive enemies flying throughout the map.
However, regardless that the close-up animation and design look nice, Three Hopes has the identical concern as Pokémon Legends: Arceus, whereby the Switch can’t appear to load the environments quick sufficient. This isn’t an enormous concern and was really solely noticeable while you’re racing by way of the map, for the reason that fight was normally too frantic and busy for me to note new bushes sprouting a couple of toes in entrance of me.
Playing on the massive display didn’t alleviate this concern, and it was barely jarring to see big enemies showing in entrance of me rapidly. Like Arceus, is it not a deal-breaking concern, and I do suppose the general fashion makes up for it, but it surely’s irritating to see the Switch stumble throughout these cases.
A last massive bear for me on this sport is the digicam, as quite a lot of the time, it felt prefer it had a thoughts of its personal. While you may lock on to sure enemies, typically the digicam will pressure you to show round for no cause and may zoom in actually tight throughout particular strikes.
Due to the character of the sport, the digicam points by no means resulted in me dying or getting trapped, but it surely was extra complicated to navigate than I’d have preferred.
Latest offers
Should you purchase it?
You desire a hack and slash expertise:
Whether you have got performed Fire Emblem earlier than or not, this sport is very easy to suggest. The fight is thrilling and it feels nice to mow down a whole bunch of enemies in a single fell swoop.
You desire a shorter sport expertise:
If you don’t wish to sink dozens of hours right into a title, chances are you’ll wish to avoid Three Hopes. While the sport gained’t essentially take too lengthy to complete, the multitude of facet quests and additional content material is a worthwhile expertise and could be a disgrace to skip out on.
Final Thoughts
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a implausible sport. While I could have discovered the start to be a bit of sluggish, as soon as the battles decide up there are hours of enjoyable available.
The button-mashing method is straightforward however thrilling and can please anybody that enjoys racking up massive combos. Hacking and slashing by way of enemies feels rewarding, and the added strategic aspect permits for experimentation in the way you tackle every battle.
And ignoring the awkward digicam, the fashion of the sport is great to take a look at, with every playable character having their very own distinctive fashion and aesthetic. This sport has ignited a love for Fire Emblem that I didn’t even know I had, and I feel this can be a nice alternative for anybody after a brand new Switch sport.
How we take a look at
We play each sport we assessment by way of to the tip, outdoors of sure exceptions the place getting 100% completion, like Skyrim, is near unattainable to do. When we don’t totally end a sport earlier than reviewing it we’ll all the time alert the reader.
Played on Nintendo Switch
Played by way of all the single participant marketing campaign
FAQs
How lengthy does it take to complete Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes? The run-through time will depend upon the alternatives you make within the sport. My playthrough took 20 hours, although yours might look very totally different. Where does Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes happen? This sport is ready with some acquainted characters however in a distinct land, specializing in the world of Fódlan.
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UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Manufacturer
Quiet Mark Accredited
Release Date
First Reviewed Date
Platforms
Publisher
Developer
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
£49.99
$59.99
€59.99
CA$83.99
AU$79.95
Nintendo
No
2021
30/05/2022
Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo Switch Lite
Nintendo
Intelligent Systems and Omega Force
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