Fire Emblem Engage: Now we’re talking

 

Well, guess who just reached chapter 11? Looks like I managed to make Engage work for me, baby! It took a full restart and a new run, but that was worth it. The best part is that this change of fortunes only took minor changes — namely:

 

 

— Story battles only: During my first run, I tackled all extra battles and spent a lot of time doing stuff in the Somniel; as a result, I lost my focus and had trouble focusing on the main battles. For my second run, I decided to shear all that fluff and to zero in on said main battles — and that worked miracles! Not only do I enjoy the ride way more, but I also perform way better in battle. Win-win!

 

 

— Matchmaking galore: You can play Fire Emblem without pairing units, but why would you? Making love bloom on the battlefield is fun as heck, and I enjoy Engage more now that I'm keeping my eyes peeled for potential chemistry. Alear is totally going to end up with Alcryst, just because I say so; I’ve not yet decided for the rest of the roster, but that will come soon enough. 

 

 

— My favourite units: During my first run, I felt compelled to keep units I didn’t fancy in my force, just because they were strong or story-relevant. That was obviously a bad move; this time around, I decided to focus on my very favourite units. Engage introduces a lot of units over a short period of time, which forced me to choose very quickly; as of chapter 11, my main force comprises Alcryst, Framme, Clanne, Vander, Alfred, Etie, Diamant, Jade and Lapis. The last three potentially have their heads on the chopping block, as I may remove them for fancier units; the rest of the team should be assured to stay until the very end, unless they start sucking spectacularly on the battlefield.  

 

 

That second run feels effortless, and much more fulfilling than the first: not only did I reach Chapter 11 after a mere 3:38 hours of play, but battles flow smoothly and painlessly. Talking about battles, I found a nifty way to deal with being outnumbered as a rule: instead of scattering my units, I keep them clumped and end my own turn early, thus letting foes come to me. It’s a bit cheap, but it works great! That trick wouldn’t cut it with perma-death on, as I lose a couple of units still every battle; but it’s perfect for casual play. I’ll see you soon with a proper progress report, dear fellow gamers! Take care!