Square Enix, the Japanese RPG giant, offers a new title exclusively on the Nintendo console. A Tactical-RPG reminiscent of the best hours of the genre.
Triangle Strategy signs a new collaboration between Square Enix and Nintendo, since they are both the publishers. It is to the Artdink studio that we owe this new game, but we also find the Asano team on the project. A team that we know for having developed the Bravely Default as well as Octopath Traveler. This Triangle Strategy is therefore a Tactical RPG inspired by the best Japanese productions of the genre. Through it, its developers demonstrate their know-how and their love for the genre.
Thirty years before the events of the game, on the continent of Norzelia, a war between three great nations took place. The conflict that we now call “the Great Salt and Iron War” opposed the Duchy of Aesfrost, the sacred lands of Hyzante and the kingdom of Glenbrook, each wanting to seize the resources which are on the lands of others. But following many exhausting battles, the three camps decided on a truce, preferring then to develop trade to exchange their resources. In Triangle Strategy, we follow the adventures of Serenor, the young heir to the Wolffort family, a Glenbrook clan that played an important role during the war. The adventure begins as the three kingdoms embark on the development of a common iron mine. To further solidify the relations between the different camps, an arranged marriage is arranged between Serenor and Frederica, the sister of the steward of Aesfrost. An era of peace seems to be looming, but that was without counting on the excessive ambitions of some who will plunge the continent back into chaos. We then follow the point of view of Serenor who is accompanied by other characters who will compose his small army.
The affiliation with Octopath Traveler is particularly visible since Triangle Strategy uses the same visual style, a mixture of pixel art in 2D and 3D that Square Enix likes to call “HD-2D”. A style that seems to be very popular with gamers as well as Square Enix, which has found a perfect way to make old-school and modern JRPGs at the same time (evidenced by the announcements of future remakes of Dragon Quest III and Live A Live in this same visual rendering). This choice is far from being a mistake since Triangle Strategy is a great visual success. Its successful pixel art and numerous visual effects make it a very enjoyable game to watch. We must also underline the memorable soundtrack that we owe to Akira Senju, a composer who has mainly worked in Japanese animation in the past (he is for example behind the music of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood).
Triangle Strategy’s adventure is very linear. The title is a succession of cutscenes, battles as well as phases where we can freely explore cities to glean information. On the gameplay side, the game is a rather classic but quite effective Tactical-RPG. We embody a small team of characters that must be led on the battlefield. The latter is presented in the form of a grid on which we can move our characters when it is their turn to act. Each of our units has its own role and different abilities. While Serenor is a fearsome swordsman, Frederica has the ability to use magic, the burly Erador can draw enemy attention to himself, while the spy Anna can turn invisible and use two actions per turn… Plus more characters join our team during the adventure, giving us even more strategic possibilities.
We must also pay attention to the placement of our characters since blows in the back cause more damage, as well as surrounding an enemy, these rules also work for our opponents. Other subtleties give us more tools to develop our strategies like the use of magics which influence the ground. Despite all these possibilities, Triangle Strategy is not particularly very original in its gameplay, fans of the genre will find their way around without any problem. It is possible to evolve each of the characters by granting them a higher class under certain conditions but also to strengthen the statistics of their weapons.
Do not misunderstand the intentions of the title. If the gameplay is very effective, Triangle Strategy is a game that rather wants to tell you its story. The adventure is completely punctuated by its scenario, leaving little additional content, and this optional content is often cinematics giving more context to the geopolitical situation. The game is very talkative, we spend much more time following the scenario of Triangle Strategy than engaging in strategic battles. However, this is not a problem since the story that the title offers is quite well written and fascinating to follow. A rather dark and serious political history. The universe manages to be detailed while having very many characters without losing us (the game has this little option which allows you to display the profile and information on the characters who speak, perfect for refreshing your memory if you is a bit lost).
If several tens of hours are necessary to complete the game, it will take even more to see everything since there are several different endings and several chapters to which we have access according to our choices. At several points in the adventure, a moral dilemma is presented to us. You have to make an important choice that will impact the course of history. The difference here is that we don’t make a choice directly since the important political decisions will be decided democratically, seven of our allies will vote and decide what happens next. However, it is possible to talk to them before the vote to try to make them change their minds, an uncertain process whose chances depend on the choice of dialogues. Other minor choices punctuate the adventure but these only influence our “convictions”, a value that will decide on several small changes, including the secondary characters that the game lets us recruit into our army.
This Triangle Strategy is an exciting title to browse. Its complex universe and its plot are a real plus. We can blame him for his not very dynamic staging, but the very good dubbing brings a lot of life to the adventure (available in English and Japanese). The title has several difficulty modes that leave the choice to be pushed to our limits during battles or to make them very easy to follow the scenario. It is true that it does not bring much to the genre of Tactical-RPG but its gameplay remains a great success.
Conclusion
Square Enix and Nintendo offer a new title developed in collaboration between the Artdink studio and the Asano team. Triangle Strategy is a Tactical-RPG inspired by the classics of the genre. Thirty years following the Great Salt and Iron War, the three nations of the continent of Norzelia seem to be working towards a lasting peace. We follow the adventures of Serenor, the heir to a clan that played an important role during the war, who will find himself in the middle of a brand new armed conflict. Triangle Strategy is a Tactical-RPG that focuses a lot on its scenario, we spend much more time following this serious and well-written story than taking part in battles. These take place in a fairly classic way, connoisseurs of the genre will not be lost. The title has a very good lifespan thanks to a long scenario and a choice system that really changes things. These choices are not made by the player but rather by Serenor’s entourage who will vote to make these decisions, it is then possible to discuss with them to try to convince them to change their minds. Triangle Strategy benefits from the “HD-2D” treatment of the Asano team, already experienced on Octopath Traveler. This mixture of 2D and 3D renders marvelously well, and the title is also accompanied by a very good soundtrack. Not particularly original in its gameplay and in its staging, the adventure remains fascinating thanks to its scenario filled with political intrigues and interesting characters.
Triangle Strategy
WE love :
The classic but effective gameplay
A well-written script
Choices that change the course of the game and offer different endings
HD-2D style, still beautiful
A very good soundtrack
We like less:
Lacks a bit of originality in its gameplay
An uninteresting scene
A very narrative side that can put off
