Hands on: Fire Emblem Engage is on the right track

destructoid.com:

Based on the reception of the main characters alone, I think it’s easy to see how divisive the aesthetics of Fire Emblem Engage are: and the game isn’t even out yet! As someone who was unsure, I have to admit to grew on me, especially after seeing it in action. Here are some brief thoughts after hands-on time with Fire Emblem Engage.

[Note: the only story bits that are talked about here involve the brief intro.]

Clocking in at 12.6GB, Fire Emblem Engage is in your face immediately: both in terms of dropping into a tense story moment, and the bright, sometimes zany visual style.

Engage seemingly opens in media res, as you (a character named Alear by default, with two form options) and your party are rushing down a group of enemies, with the “Engage” system (read: merging with spirits, including past Fire Emblem characters like Marth) in full swing. It turns out that the intro is actually taking place in the past (1000 years ago to be precise): right before your Divine Dragon avatar vanquishes a great foe and falls into a mystic sleep. Then, things get decidedly less “epic” in nature, almost like downtown in a party-based anime like El Hazard.

Alear wakes up, acts aloof, and wants to run from their first battle. From there you start down a path to acquire your power and memories…and I can hear some groans already. I think some people are going to straight up hate this shonen/shojo approach, but I’m somewhat mesmerized by it. After the somewhat traditional medieval storytelling in Three Houses, to rubber band back to this seems a bit jarring, but it also differentiates Engage from many modern Fire Emblem releases.

Cutscenes are sleek, colorful, and full of details. While I won’t head into spoiler country here, I am enjoying