It’s strange and frustrating that such a core mechanic is kept hidden, while it’s never spelled out which conviction the BioWare-style narrative choices you’re given actually align with, though the upside is you often have very nuanced responses rather than stark binary options. Which conviction however, it doesn’t tell you. But convictions also relate to a whole range of actions, including your strategies in battle and even what you do in the exploration and encampment modes in between, which result in regular notifications on the top right hand corner of the screen that “Serenoa’s convictions have been strengthened”. The paths allude to the first part of Triangle Strategy’s title, governed by a worldview made of three convictions: morality, utility, and liberty (although you might notice the rule of three is a running theme).Ĭrucially, plot-pivotal decisions are decided democratically by Serenoa’s closest allies via the Scales of Conviction, although you can do some Ace Attorney-style detective work and argue your case to sway the votes in favour of your preferred outcome. Caught in the midst of what threatens to engulf the realm in war once more is Serenoa, a young swordsman and future lord of Glenbrook’s House Wolffort, and the path he takes is in your hands. However, behind the diplomacy is a truce on shaky foundations, tensions and resentments simmering beneath the surface. Not that you should expect sex and violence in a PEGI-12 game (that said, marking character deaths with their sprites collapsed in a pool of blood leaves an impact) but the world-building is layered with a rich intricate web of history and politics between the game’s three nations – the feudal kingdom of Glenbrook, the industrious classless duchy of Aesfrost, and the theocratic state of Hyzante – where you’re even privy to finding out individual character motivations beyond your protagonist’s perspective.Īfter a period known as the Saltiron War ravaged the continent of Norzelia, peace came to the three nations for 30 years. Sure, there may be magic spells and an elegant narrator, but Triangle Strategy feels less inspired by JRPG tropes than it is by Game Of Thrones. While there’s charm to the pixel art, an overall earthy palette also makes this a more grounded affair. While we’ll be getting more of this aesthetic in 2022, including Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake and Live A Live, Triangle Strategy feels uniquely suited to it as an isometric 3D game with a fully rotatable camera, harking back to a transitional period when Japanese developers continued using 2D sprites while adapting to 3D environments, such as Square Enix’s own Xenogears and, of course, Final Fantasy Tactics. READ MORE: ‘Total War: Warhammer 3’ feels like a return to classic RTS storytellingįour years since the release of the equally hilarious-named Octopath Traveler, it’s only the second game to make use of Square Enix’s patented HD-2D art style, as classical 16-bit-style pixel art combines with modern lighting, particle and water effects that’s just a delight to behold.So it was only a matter of time before Square Enix dipped back into the genre, and if you’ll forgive its terrible title, then Triangle Strategy is a worthy retro-inspired spiritual successor to the likes of Final Fantasy Tactics that takes a modern approach with deep narrative choices. Judging by the success of the Fire Emblem series, there’s a healthy appetite for more tactical RPGs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |