Platform: Switch
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Square Enix
Release:
Triangle Strategy, a new tactical RPG led by Tomoya Asano, producer of the Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler games, makes its debut tomorrow. I’ve been playing through the political adventure, which centers on a young ruler named Serenoa who is thrust into intense power struggles and must decide what’s best for a new generation.
So far, I’m really digging Triangle Strategy, especially the interesting questions it poses about political strategies and how it involves the player in deciding those answers for themselves. Unfortunately, I haven’t finished the game, which has branching paths and multiple endings, so I’m not quite ready to deliver my final verdict. Until I complete the game, here are my impressions to give you an idea of what it has to offer.
If you’re a fan of strategy/RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem, you’ll feel right at home with Triangle Strategy. As you play, you build up an army of different units with classes to help you fight in grid-based battles, where positioning and flanking are key. Elevation matters greatly, as attacking from a higher point than your enemy can give you great leverage in damage dealt and keeping yourself safe. I enjoy looking for optimal places to put my units on the battlefield, but even more so learning the ins and outs of the unique characters at my disposal.
You get a good variety of combatants with unique abilities. For instance, I have a character that can throw out a decoy to attract attention and absorb damage, while another can set traps that knock baddies off ledges for extra fall damage. There’s also great delight in watching your team level up, learn new abilities, and roam your headquarters. There are three different weapon tiers and class promotion levels. The former is more about unlocking stat boosts and passive skills, while the latter improves your stats and opens up cool new abilities. I wish there was a little bit more customization in building characters, but it’s an easy system to grasp, and I always look forward to new abilities due to the new strategies they open.
Triangle Strategy most impresses me in its multifaceted choices. The conundrums are very Game of Thrones-like, as every nation is scheming while appearing to be an ally. I don’t yet know how far-reaching the branching paths are, but I always could see a reason for picking each path. I often agonized over my decisions, wondering where the other path may have led. The choices can come down to doing something you don’t entirely agree with for leverage later to deciding to accept help from a shady ally out of necessity.
Outside of some pacing issues and long-winded battles, Triangle Strategy has been a blast to play, with a good mix of strategy and narrative elements. As a bonus, it is also very newcomer-friendly for those who aren’t well-versed in strategy/RPGs. Now I’m just curious how much the choices actually carry weight and if the finale turns out to be satisfying. That being said, I’ve been pretty impressed.
To see Triangle Strategy in action and learn more, watch our latest New Gameplay Today.
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