- Pronouns
- He/Him
QUICK FACTS
Release Date: 2022/03/04 (Switch), 2022/10/13 (Steam)
Platform: Nintendo Switch, Steam
Genre: Tactical RPG
Developer: Artdink
Producer: Yasuaki Arai, Tomoya Asano
Publisher: Square Enix (Japan), Nintendo (ROTW)
Rating: PEGI 12, USK 12, ESRB T, CERO C
File size: 5.8 GB
Physical release: Standard Edition (WW), Tactician's Limited Edition (Europe)
Demo: available on Nintendo eShop
Voices: Japanese, English
Text: Japanese, English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Chinese (simplified, traditional)
Promotional art, depicting characters associated with the Kingdom of Glenbrook.
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INTRODUCING TRIANGLE STRATEGY
Editor's note: The following FAQ is based on some topics that popped up in the Pre-release Discussion Thread, as well as others I thought were worth noting, and serves the purpose of introducing you, the reader, to Triangle Strategy. Some information might become outdated, or turn out as incomplete or even incorrect once the full game is released. In cases such as these, I will update the OP accordingly, unless the new information constitutes a spoiler. I am also open to adding further information and explanations by popular demand. Additionally, I will do my best to highlight important new developments around the game with Threadmarks.
Promotional art, depicting characters associated with House Wolffort.
#01: What is Triangle Strategy?
Triangle Strategy is a Tactical RPG in the vein of Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre. It is directed by the minds behind the Bravely Default series and Octopath Traveler, and utilises the HD-2D stlye first introduced in the latter. Square Enix and Team Asano market it as the second installment in the HD-2D series.
#02: Why the stupid name?
Straight away, huh? Both Square Enix and Team Asano have a storied history with outrageously dull or outright stupid naming conventions. From more recent titles like Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler, to forgotten and forgettable ones like Infnite Undiscovery. If you remain unconvinced, may I remind you of the straight up gibberish subtitles of Kingdom Hearts games?
On a more serious note, if rationalising the title helps you get over its silliness, it is worth mentioning that the game's story deals with three main factions involved in a war over resources. The game also utilises a karma system based on three so-called 'convictions', so one might say the triangular nature of the title is very much justified. Yes, this is the best I could come up with. Sorry to let you down like this.
On a more personal note, triangles are neat, and I appreciate someone finally giving them the attention they deserve. Even if — in some kafkaesque twist — that appreciation is coming from Square Enix of all things. Moving on…
#03: Mind elaborating on the three main factions?
Triangle Strategy takes place on the fictional continent of Norzelia, where, thirty years prior to the game's story, three main factions — the Kingdom of Glenbrook, the Grand Duchy of Aesfrost, and the Holy State of Hyzante — have fought for control over the precious resources of salt and iron in the so-called Saltiron War.
Following a brief period of peace built on shaky diplomacy, the situation escalates once again. As the player, you lead young Serenoa and his entourage through this re-emerged conflict. Serenoa is the heir to House Wolffort, the highest of the three High Houses of Glenbrook.
#04: Can you put some faces to these names?
Say no more! Meet (some of) the cast of playable characters.
Information for the character portraits based on pre-release information provided by Square Enix.
But wait, there's more! You will be able to recruit more than 20 playable characters throughout the game.
#05: You mentioned 'convictions' earlier?
Utility, Morality, and Liberty are the three convictions that make up Serenoa's world view. Dialogue choices and decisions the player makes throughout the story contribute to the playable character leaning towards one of those convictions more than the others. Ahead of release, it is unclear how exactly the system works or just how deep it truly is, but it is known that your convictions directly impact which NPCs you will be able to meet and recruit throughout the story.
The story will also progress on different paths depending on the decisions you make. However, you will not be able to make the big descisions all by yourself. Instead, there are points throughout the story where votes are being held with help of the 'Scales of Conviction'. In essence, the entire party votes on the issue at hand based on their individual beliefs. As the player, you will have the opportunity to listen to what your party members have to say ahead of voting, and can attempt to make your case and sway them, one by one, to vote in line with your own convictions.
While we do not know how many different routes there are, the branching story should ensure a high replayability value, especially when taking into account that the game is confirmed to have multiple endings.
#06: Anything else I should know about the game?
The development team is doing a great job at making sure to provide you with all the useful information you might need during combat. Turn orders are dispayed unit by unit. You know which unit is in the range of others, how much damage you or your enemy's units are likely to deal and which of your units are drawing aggro, and from whom, etc.
Like they did before with Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default II, the team is also taking into account player feedback. If you played the Debut Demo, you should know that they made changes based on the survey for said demo and, among other things, further improved on the readability and accessibility of all the information provided during battle. You can read about some of the changes here, and check them out in the Prologue Demo.
#07: If I like Fire Emblem, will I like this game?
Chances are high, but I feel like it is important to elaborate on this topic. It will ultimately depend on what you like most about Fire Emblem. While some mechanics are similar across both, such as class promotion, other systems can vary to some degree. Triangle Strategy does not offer a perma-death mode, for instance. It would also be misguided to expect the same level of social interaction introduced in more recent FE games, culminating in Three Houses.
However, if you are for the most part into the gameplay loop and strategic decision-making Fire Emblem offers from battle to battle, that itch should be scratched nicely, despite some key differences regarding the flow of combat.
#08: Just how different is combat when compared to Fire Emblem?
The major difference you should be aware of is that turns are handled differently in Triangle Strategy, leading to a less rigid flow of combat. In Fire Emblem, you move all of your units in your turn, before the enemy moves all of their units in their turn. In Triangle Strategy, each unit, regardless of their allegiance, has their own individual turn. As such, you might be able to move two or three of your units without your enemy getting in a turn, and vice versa. The specific turn order of each individual unit is determined by their speed attribute. Overall, battle scenarios are more dynamic in comparison, which will impact the way you want to approach combat rather dramatically while keeping an eye on the turn order.
In addition to that, unit positioning is crucial and its importance is emphasised by the game's mechanics. For instance, attacks from behind are guaranteed to deal critical damage, and units are able to follow up on attacks if they are flanking an enemy unit. Attacking from an elevated position, especially with a ranged unit, also adds a damage multiplier and increases the attack's range. Even beyond that the terrain can be utilised to ones advantage with clever use of elemental spells, further adding to the overall complexity of the system.
Those familiar with Final Fantasy Tactics will have noticed a lot of similarities. If still in doubt, the easiest way to determine whether or not the game is for you is to download the Prologue Demo from the eShop and see how you like it. The first three chapters are playable, and save data carries over to the full game.
#09: What if I enjoyed Asano's former work but am generally not into the Tactical RPG/SRPG genre?
In that case, I also suggest to try the demo and see if you like it. As mentioned earlier, the game does a good job of providing you with all the necessary tools to succeed in battle, though I have to admit being exposed to that much information might be intimidating to a newcomer at first glance.
If you are not experienced with the genre whatsoever, it might help to know that the game offers an 'easy' difficulty option on top of 'normal' and 'hard'. You will also be able to participate in mock battles between missions to try out different strategies and team compositions, and gain additional EXP and ressources in the process. You will be able to replay mock battles as often as you want, providing you with a quick and easily accessible way to grind for ressources and level up characters.
#10: Is the OST a banger? Because I need it to be a banger.
Why, yes. Worry not, it certainly is! For instance, did you know that Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood composer Akira Senju has worked on this game's OST?
#11: Hey, listen, I gotta ask — what is that ST subtitle?
The subtitle is based on Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as well as Koei Tecmo's long-running strategy game series of the same title.
In fact, this was only my second choice. Back when I claimed the ST, I planned on making the subtitle Triangles and Tribulations, a play on the title of the final game in the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. However, as a quick websearch will tell you, that was not the most original idea. So, even though I liked it on more than one level, I decided to drop it.
Another one I considered in the process was A Song of Triangles and Strategies, but I quickly dismissed that one on account of being too boring, obvious, and painfully pedestrian.
#12: Look, I am, like, super busy. Do you have some sort of TL;DR for me to fall back on?
If you typically like this kind of video game and have no inexplicable aversion to triangles, this is a game that might be worth your attention.
#13: Anything you want to add?
We all know nobody actually reads the OP of any ST. Except for you, that is! You suffered through all of it, and I salute you for it. Cheers!
Lastly, even though I lack experience in ST creation and the necessary skillset to provide flamboyant banners and an overall less essay-esque presentation, I had a lot of fun in the process, and I hope the end result is adequately informative and entertaining. Thanks for reading, be nice to each other, and enjoy playing and discussing the game.
#14: One last thing, you did not specifically say not to openly discuss spoilers in this thread, so surely this means I —
NO! I can not believe I have to stress this, but please make sure to mark spoilers appropriately in this thread. I fully understand the need for discussing each of the outrageous twists and turns one stumbles upon over the course of the story in painstaking detail, but for the benefit of others, please remember to make use of the handy spoiler feature.
Different people will start and complete this game at different times, and the effect will only be multiplied by the game's various different routes, so I am once again asking for everyone to do their part in making this thread a safe and spoiler-free zone for everyone. Thank you for your consideration, and merry Trianglemas.
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Promotional art, depicting characters associated with the Grand Duchy of Aesfrost.
USEFUL RESOURCES
Triangle Strategy — Pre-release Discussion Thread (archived)
Reveal Trailer
Release Date Trailer
Demo survey results and implemented changes
Challenge Your Convictions Trailer
Character & Story Trailer #1, #2, #3
Final Trailer
Triangle Strategy - Review Thread, courtesy of @Guaraná
OpenCritic (82)
Metacritic (83)
Promotional art, depicting characters associated with the Holy State of Hyzante.
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