The most recent entry in the Fire Emblem series, Fire Emblem Engage, offers players options to tailor the experience to their liking. Engage has three modes for players to choose from: Normal, Hard, and Maddening. This guide will provide information about each setting and explain how to change it during gameplay.
Fire Emblem Engage Difficulties
Normal Mode
The Normal setting in Fire Emblem Engage is the easiest way to play and should be the first option for new players. As explained above, the series can be challenging, so getting to know the mechanics and familiarizing oneself with Fire Emblem Engage's nuances by selecting Normal mode is advised. Unfortunately, players can't increase the challenge later if Fire Emblem: Engage feels too easy in this setting.
The most significant mechanic to consider in the Normal mode is rewinding turns. The turn rewind mechanic was introduced in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Then it reappeared in Three Houses as the Divine Pulse and returned as the Draconic Time Crystal in Engage. The beauty of playing in this mode is there are no limitations on the Time Crystal's use. While this makes Fire Emblem Engage sound too easy, it's a great way to learn from mistakes before attempting the more challenging modes.
Hard Mode
The Hard setting in Fire Emblem: Engage is unsurprisingly more challenging than the preceding setting. There are more enemies with higher stats to deal with on the battlefield, and it's easier to feel overwhelmed if players are not used to the series or the SRPG genre.
The turn rewind mechanic is more limited than in Normal mode. In the Hard setting, players can only use the Draconic Time Crystal ten times in combat. As a result, making the right decisions in battle is vital, but the gameplay is more rewarding and balanced.
Maddening Mode
Fire Emblem: Three Houses fans had to wait for an update to access its highest setting. For those that enjoy a challenge, the Maddening option is available from the start in Fire Emblem Engage. However, the increased effort from the more manageable modes is significant. Enemy units are usually at a higher level than the player, and their increased number will cause problems for even the most hardened Fire Emblem veterans. Like hard mode, the Draconic Time Crystals have a limit of ten uses in the Maddening setting.
Classic Mode
To make Fire Emblem Engage more challenging, players have access to Classic mode to activate Permadeath. The Permadeath mechanic is a throwback to the older games where players would permanently lose their Fire Emblem allies if they fell in battle. The Classic setting can be combined with all the above difficulty settings for an extra challenge.
Changing Difficulty In Fire Emblem Engage
When playing in Hard or Maddening modes, players can lower the challenge from Chapter 4 in Fire Emblem: Engage. As stated above, players can't raise the setting from Normal to Hard and Maddening. So if the game feels too easy, it's better to start over again as soon as possible. To lower the setting, use the following steps:
- In Chapter 4, approach and enter the protagonist's room above the Cafe in Somniel.
- Walk over to the bed and press A to examine it.
- Select Difficulty Setting and lower it from there.
That's everything needed to understand the options available to players, whether they want to experience everything Fire Emblem Engage throws at them or enjoy the story.
Fire Emblem Engage is available now for the Nintendo Switch.
