The strategy RPG genre is far from dead. However, it is not as prevalent as it used to be. Past the 16-bit era of consoles, it found a new home with portable systems. RPGs are a natural fit for handhelds as players can multitask while leveling up.
Even though the Switch is primed for on-the-go experiences like strategy RPGs, there haven’t been many on the system in its five years of life. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is without a doubt its biggest example. How does the newest entry to the genre, Triangle Strategy, compare? Will it overtake Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ throne?
8 Art Style: Triangle Strategy
The most distinctive thing about Triangle Strategy is the HD-2D art style. It looks like a retro game but better thanks to the infusion of 3D graphics and modern textures like shadows. Fire Emblem: Three Houses looks good on the Switch as well. However, it’s one of those games that had cutting-edge graphics at the time of release.
Thankfully the game didn’t go full realistic with its design choices. The anime visuals help make it pop, but will it still look good ten years from now? Hard to say. Triangle Strategy is still the nicer piece of eye candy.
7 Production Value: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The pixelated art style of Triangle Strategy may resonate more with fans of old-school strategy RPGs. However, there are things about its production that is lacking. For example, Fire Emblem: Three Houses has full-on cutscenes to better engage players with the story. It’s hard to care about a battle between enemies in Triangle Strategy when it plays out like a normal combat scenario.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses feels bigger than life. It’s also a game that gives players a lot more to do. The world in it is expansive and with three campaigns, it should keep players occupied for quite a while.
6 The Class System: Triangle Strategy
One of the more disappointing things about Triangle Strategy is that it doesn’t have a flexible class system like many Final Fantasy titles. That might be the initial thought of players. However, each character has a job to do that helps give each unit a specific need in combat. Because they all have their strengths, it gives Triangle Strategy players a lot more to work with.
Jens, for example, can build ladders to reach greater heights quicker. Fire Emblem: Three Houses has classes too but they are not as unique. Certain classes can beat others in a one-on-one fight but that is about it. Triangle Strategy just feels more dynamic in its refined, pared-down state.
5 Battle Shortcuts: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Strategy RPGs are beloved by fans because they engage the brain more. Strategy is in the genre name meaning players must plan out each match as if it were a game of Chess. This also means that battles can sometimes last up to an hour depending on the difficulty level chosen. Triangle Strategy gives players the ability to fast-forward through matches to help speed things along.
However, Fire Emblem: Three Houses does more to shorten the time of battles. Players can cut out battle animations or even skip turns. It would be nice if Triangle Strategy got this feature patched in.
4 The Music: Triangle Strategy
Music can be a hard thing to critique as everyone has their preferences. Fire Emblem: Three Houses does a good job with its soundtrack inside and outside of battle. It is fitting for a fantasy-based strategy RPG. However, it is one of those soundtracks that works best while playing the game and isn’t as spectacular outside of the experience.
The opposite is true for Triangle Strategy which helps get the blood pumping in battle. The map and town tracks are good too, but any battle theme in Triangle Strategy blows what Fire Emblem: Three Houses offers out of the water.
3 Branching Paths: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Both games offer more than typical strategy RPGs thanks to their branching paths. At critical points in Triangle Strategy, players are asked to vote on how they are to proceed. Some decisions don’t change the story much while others affect it on a grander level.
As dynamic as these choices are in Triangle Strategy, Fire Emblem: Three Houses has a lot more to offer. After a couple of hours of game time, players are asked to follow one of three houses. Some of the stories these three campaigns follow are similar but they are also drastically different. They give players new environments to explore along with characters to team up with. As stated earlier, Fire Emblem: Three Houses gives players more bang for their buck.
2 Characters: Triangle Strategy
The amount of characters players can recruit in Fire Emblem: Three Houses is also a detriment. There are too many to remember or care about. This is true not across all three campaigns either but in each school. This daunting number makes it hard to choose who to follow initially.
Triangle Strategy’s story also has a lot of characters that can make it hard to keep up with. However, the amount of playable characters is more manageable. The pacing in which players receive new characters is better balanced. Sometimes less is more in a video game.
1 Verdict: Triangle Strategy
The Switch does not have a lot of AAA strategy RPGs as was stated earlier. However, a system does not need a lot to have a good library. There are more than these two certainly but they are now at the top. Even though the verdict falls on Triangle Strategy in this argument, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a hair away from being tied. It all comes down to personal preference.
Triangle Strategy has a classic old-school feel with engaging music and a good class system with characters players will want to care about. The overall story and production of Fire Emblem: Three Houses is what makes it appealing. Fans cannot go wrong with either choice.