Nintendo Switch #5

[Gecklund]

Only made it through about five chapters last night. Everything seems solid so far. The story isn't overly compelling but it's not bad either. It's shaping up like a standard Fire Emblem plot but what I liked about Three Houses was that while the story wasn't exactly War and Peace, there was a lot more at play. Geo-political intrigue and tension over a dominant religion, etc. This feels way more scaled back in scope.

Spoiler

Like there *are* multiple kingdoms here but it feels like they're going to mostly serve as backdrops for battles for Alear to obtain new emblem rings with just a smattering of location relevant backstories, but the main plot driving is the villain waking up and incurring war and strife. That's just not as compelling.

And I'm definitely seeing what the reviewers were talking about regarding deemphasizing character writing. Everyone has unique personalities but there doesn't seem to be as much emphasis on dedicating effort to fleshing these characters out five chapters in.

Have to echo the reviewers again though because the visuals are super crisp compared to Three Houses and the maps have been great so far. I made the choice to start on normal difficulty to be able to play through the content quicker but I'm definitely going to give it a hard difficulty playthrough and maybe even maddening if the game shapes up to be strong throughout.

So far it's a very solid entry in the series but some of the things I really liked about Three Houses just isn't here.

I’m only four chapters in and I agree with what you said except about the overall story. This might change but I could easily see it turning into a more in depth conflict similar to Three Houses. I mean the maps are basically identical but this one has one more faction.

I love the use of battlefields after battles though. It makes them not just seem like maps. The battles while still not challenging (early in so understandable) definitely require a bit more thinking than Three Houses which was by far the easiest Fire Emblem game I’ve ever played.

The characters are a bit one dimensional but I think they show a bit more depth than most reviews gave them credit for.

The engage gimmick is useful in very certain circumstances but I’ve found myself rarely using it (think I used it once when not forced).

 

[HanSolo]

Okay but the more important question here is who is the best waifu?

Lol uh. Idk. Chloe or Ivy? Hasn't felt much like waifu pandering. Yet.

 

[HanSolo]

I’m only four chapters in and I agree with what you said except about the overall story. This might change but I could easily see it turning into a more in depth conflict similar to Three Houses. I mean the maps are basically identical but this one has one more faction.

I love the use of battlefields after battles though. It makes them not just seem like maps. The battles while still not challenging (early in so understandable) definitely require a bit more thinking than Three Houses which was by far the easiest Fire Emblem game I’ve ever played.

The characters are a bit one dimensional but I think they show a bit more depth than most reviews gave them credit for.

The engage gimmick is useful in very certain circumstances but I’ve found myself rarely using it (think I used it once when not forced).

What difficulty are you on?

 

[Gecklund]

What difficulty are you on?

I always start on the lowest (so normal). Mostly just to fully experience the story. I’m fully expecting to replay this so I’ll do more difficult later.

 

[HanSolo]

I always start on the lowest (so normal). Mostly just to fully experience the story. I’m fully expecting to replay this so I’ll do more difficult later.

Ah. Same.

 

[Gecklund]

Ah. Same.

Did you end up getting the expansion pass? The extra emblems are interesting to say the least.

 

[HanSolo]

Did you end up getting the expansion pass? The extra emblems are interesting to say the least.

I did yeah.

Spoiler

I thought it was gonna be three separate rings. I don't mind it not being that way but having the House Leaders as a slot machine is kinda weird. At least they talked more than most of the Emblem spirits. But I was kinda hoping to put each lord on a corresponding unit. Like Dimitri on Alfred since they're basically the same character design.

 

[HanSolo]

Did you end up getting the expansion pass? The extra emblems are interesting to say the least.

Actually I have the Three Houses emblem and Tiki now and

Spoiler

Holy shit these are actually kind of busted. I have the Three Houses one on Chloe and she is just like a master of all situations now. Extra buff when using a Lance, combat arts that let's me basically use a bow...access to all three signature weapons at once makes anyone holding the ring a powerhouse.

And then Tiki is beyond perfect for Jean who is the unassuming young character who has insane growths for the investment. She boosts stat growths with level ups and she let's the holder turn into a dragon with access to three different attacks plus a free revive. I almost wish I didn't get the DLC til after my first play through.

 

[HanSolo]

@SJSharks72 have you gotten to Chapter 11? Don't read if you haven't but.

Spoiler

It was a clever story twist that honestly threw me off. Started the chapter like normal just trying to get Alear to the escape point. But then I realized I still had the DLC emblem rings since they aren't part of the story and my units were overtuned for the chapter from all the skirmishes and paralogues I did. So I started fighting my way back to Veyle hoping I could overpower her. I cleared almost the entire map except for the two beasts, a couple units, and the boss. I killed one of the beast/wyrms pretty easily and almost got the second but it was like the game was self correcting because my Chloe engaged with Edelgard got one shot and without the time crystal I had to reset to keep her alive. I'm honestly wondering what would happen if you overtrained one unit with the three houses ring and fought your way back to Veyle. Would the game break?

 

[Gecklund]

@SJSharks72 have you gotten to Chapter 11? Don't read if you haven't but.

Spoiler

It was a clever story twist that honestly threw me off. Started the chapter like normal just trying to get Alear to the escape point. But then I realized I still had the DLC emblem rings since they aren't part of the story and my units were overtuned for the chapter from all the skirmishes and paralogues I did. So I started fighting my way back to Veyle hoping I could overpower her. I cleared almost the entire map except for the two beasts, a couple units, and the boss. I killed one of the beast/wyrms pretty easily and almost got the second but it was like the game was self correcting because my Chloe engaged with Edelgard got one shot and without the time crystal I had to reset to keep her alive. I'm honestly wondering what would happen if you overtrained one unit with the three houses ring and fought your way back to Veyle. Would the game break?

Yes I had just gotten there too!

Spoiler

I will say I did a similar thing. All of mine are 15-20ish around now but you CANNOT get all the way back there. There’s something that stops you if you take too long that will wipe you out. Almost lost 3-4 units. They all had single digit HP but I already Alear at the escape point so just ran away.

 

[HanSolo]

Yes I had just gotten there too!

Spoiler

I will say I did a similar thing. All of mine are 15-20ish around now but you CANNOT get all the way back there. There’s something that stops you if you take too long that will wipe you out. Almost lost 3-4 units. They all had single digit HP but I already Alear at the escape point so just ran away.

Definitely feels like the story is picking up a bit. Still don't think it's as deeply developed or nuanced as Three Houses but I'm enjoying the conflict context. Still wish the characters were just a bit deeper. It was annoying though how telegraphed the Brodia king stuff was.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

I have a very difficult time getting into games any more. Anyone else or is it just me and my age? Like, I've been looking forward to playing Raji, but I did the intro and a little bit more and I just don't really care.

 

[robertmac43]

I have a very difficult time getting into games any more. Anyone else or is it just me and my age? Like, I've been looking forward to playing Raji, but I did the intro and a little bit more and I just don't really care.

I have kind of felt that. I think for me it's just having less and less time to actually sit down and put in a long session.

 

[Unholy Diver]

I have a very difficult time getting into games any more. Anyone else or is it just me and my age? Like, I've been looking forward to playing Raji, but I did the intro and a little bit more and I just don't really care.

I've had a few times where I've gotten into a rut and the games have just not grabbed me, for me it seems to help me to just have like a palate cleanser game, like if I can't get into games I might play some PGA 2K21 for a few days to just get away from storylines and sidequests and that stuff, or even just go back to an all time favorite and play thru Bioshock to get my gaming brain recalibrated

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

Goldeneye is coming to both Switch and Xbox Game Pass, but the Switch version will offer online multiplayer. It’s probably aged terribly but I’m still excited

 

[x Tame Impala]

I have a very difficult time getting into games any more. Anyone else or is it just me and my age? Like, I've been looking forward to playing Raji, but I did the intro and a little bit more and I just don't really care.

Could be you're just getting older. Not something many are likely to admit on the internet but videogames are something geared for children and younger people. The level of total immersion in a game is harder to achieve when you're not 14 years old anymore. Trying to recapture that same level in your 30's or later gets more difficult with age.

 

[Unholy Diver]

Could be you're just getting older. Not something many are likely to admit on the internet but videogames are something geared for children and younger people. The level of total immersion in a game is harder to achieve when you're not 14 years old anymore. Trying to recapture that same level in your 30's or later gets more difficult with age.

The key to that is never maturing, I am 45 and my wife reminds me often that I am immature, I think that is a key to my enjoyment of games

 

[Shareefruck]

Or go in the other direction and just start transitioning to games that are more geared towards adults.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

I have a very difficult time getting into games any more. Anyone else or is it just me and my age? Like, I've been looking forward to playing Raji, but I did the intro and a little bit more and I just don't really care.

I've felt the same way, but honestly I think a lot of it is that the games being made today aren't as good as they used to be. For one, it seems to take much longer for games to come out now- Zelda at one point had something like 10 games in 11 years while now they've only had one release since 2013. But when something truly great (like BOTW) comes out I get engrossed in it like I used to. But recently most game studios seem to focus more on cutscenes and story rather than engaging gameplay.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Goldeneye is coming to both Switch and Xbox Game Pass, but the Switch version will offer online multiplayer. It’s probably aged terribly but I’m still excited

I swore off paying for the Switch online service after hating everything about Smash online. But I'm so weak, I don't have an Xbox so I'm probably going to cave and sign up again for Goldeneye. Too many amazing memories with proximity mines in the Facility.

 

[Frankie Blueberries]

I swore off paying for the Switch online service after hating everything about Smash online. But I'm so weak, I don't have an Xbox so I'm probably going to cave and sign up again for Goldeneye. Too many amazing memories with proximity mines in the Facility.

I preferred remote mines, but they might be worse without screen watching. Library, Facility, and Complex are GOAT maps.

 

[Taro Tsujimoto]

Oh hey, they added it a little early.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Can you not buy the Expansion pack online service for less than a year? Seems like thats the only option, which sucks.

 

[Jovavic]

New Direct tomorrow, 40 minutes long focusing on first half 2023 games, so maybe some new Zelda footage?

 

[robertmac43]

I wonder if the direct will bring any surprises. Maybe a new mainline game we are not ready for?

That would be a cool surprise.