Fate/Samurai Remnant, the latest entry in the Fate franchise, will receive? the first of three DLCs soon, and it will arrive in February 2024.

Titled Record’s Fragment: Keian Command Championship, details on what to expect are still sparse. The trailer depicts Gilgamesh the King of Heroes announcing t??hat he has seized control of the fates of several characters from the base game. He then announces the start of the Keian Command Championship.

Two more DLCs are o??n the way, but they've yet to be named or receive a release date, although they are to launch in 2024. Each of the DLCs will bring additional scenarios, new Servants, stages, and more. If you want access to all the extra content, a Season Pass is available which also comes with the Hallowed Re??lic Sword Mountings bonus.

I enjoyed my time with Fate/Samurai Remnant, so the DLC piques my interest. Perhaps the only downside is that it comes during a time that already promises to be packed with enticing titles like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Persona 3 Reload.

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The Fate franchise spans a wide range of mediums, including manga, light novels, anime, and video games. I'm almost entirely new to the series, with my only prior interaction with the Fate franchise being the Fate/Zero light novel I discovered after seeing it referenced in Eliezer Yudkowsky's Three Worlds Collide. This hardly felt like a problem at all in Fate/Samurai Remnant.

Samurai Remnant is the latest game in the Fate series, and Omega Force is serving as the developer with some assistance from Type-Moon and Aniplex. It's an open-world game which features action gameplay and liberally borrows from history, and while it does extend the Fate universe, the story is still mostly self-contained. It didn't take long before I was fully immersed in Miyamoto Iori's story and the sometimes depressing but always captivating world of Fate/Samurai Remnant.

Fate/Samurai Remnant (Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5 [reviewed])
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Released: September 29, 2023
MSRP: $59.99

A world worth getting lost in

The story takes place in 17th-century Japan during the Keian Uprising. A battle is brewing, brought on by the Masters and their Servant spirits. You take the role of Miyamoto Iori, who is the apprentice of the swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Iori has an innocent face which matches his gentle personality, making it more emotionally impactful when you witness him dragged into conflict as he goes on a quest for the Waxing? Moon Vessel.

While it may appear complicated at first, the game does an adequate job of explaining all the elements of its world, so it's never difficult to keep track of the story. Fate/Samurai Remnant's tale unfolds in E?do, which feels alive thanks to the busy villagers walking the streets and the vendors selling their wares. You can chat with some of them, and you'll occasionally discover side ??quests dubbed "Digressions."

Every location feels authentic to the period, and the vibrant anime art s??tyle makes it a pleasure to simply wander through the streets without any goals in mind. You're also treated to a calm soundtrack featuring wood instruments and a Japanese flair.

During many parts, the game feels like an interactive anime series thanks in part to the beautiful cutscenes. Be prepared to sit through quite a few of these, and to do a lot of r??eading. Fortunately, the writing is great and doesn't falter, even when tackling some of the game's heavier themes, such as grief and death.

Not long after the beginning, you're joined by Saber, who'll be at your side for most of the game. She's a great companion, both on a gameplay and narrative level. There are so many moments that leave you grateful to have Saber around during exploration, as she helps you overcome obstacles by passing through walls or boo??sting you onto a roof, for example.

Simply running through the streets with Saber is great fun, especially when she directs you toward Digressions where you help NPCs and score useful rewards. It's worthwhile to complete these Digressions, as they give you a chance to brush up on your combat and level up. You should also note that some are missable and if you progress with the main story, you'll be unabl?e to return to them.

Become a samurai

Battles have you taking on hordes of enemies who you chop down with your trusty katanas, and you also have? magic spells at your disposal. The combat is shockingly engaging. I often found myself picking up?? the game with the intention of playing for a few minutes, only to wind up glued for hours.

You have different stances you can switch between, and they have their unique advantages. For instance, the Water Stance prepares you for multiple enemie??s, while the Earth Stance is for defence. Landing attacks against enemies feels good, dodging is smooth, and t??here are plenty of cool moments during the bigger boss battles.

The combat is satisfyingly flashy,?? especially once you learn some fancy combos. If you aren't a fan of action games and are primarily interested in the story, you should turn the difficulty down to "Sword Novice." You'll still have to pay atte?ntion when up against enemies, but you won't be breaking a sweat.

For folks looking for a challenging experience, "Sword Fighter" or the hardest difficulty "Sword Expert" will do the trick. Either way, you have an engaging combat system at your disposal which allows you to chain combos, perform a riposte when you dodge at th?e right moment, and synergize with your Servant.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is also good on a technical level. I enjoyed a solid 60 FPS with no dips on PS5. Th?is doesn't come as a surprise, as the game isn't particularly demanding, but it is still appreciated. The only negative worth mentioning is that combat can get repetitive. This is somewhat unavoidable in a game that'll have you spending 40+ hours on it, no matter how varied the enemies are and how deep the combat system is.

My advice is to take things slow and don't be tempted to rush. Instead, enjoy the Digressions as well as the mini-games you'll find when doing side activities such as sharpening your blade or carving statues. Th?ere's enough variety punctuating the combat to ensure you don't get burned out if you pace yourself.

Servants and Leylines

When the going gets tough, you can lean on your Servants, who have been well-implemented. They have various techniques that can be used in battle to lan??d devastating blows on enemies, which is especially handy when you're trying to penetrate thick armor. As you defeat enemies, you'll accumulate points which you can spend on skills. Your Servants also have their own skill trees, so don't forget to upgrade their skills now and again.

Outside of the Servants, my favorite aspect of gameplay is the Leylines that pass through the Spiritual Lands. This is a turn-based?? mini-gam??e which has you going up against enemies to connect Leylines and eventually take over their Spirit Font. Cross paths with an enemy and it's battle time. The Leylines are a nice break from regular exploration, and you get help from friends along the way.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is the whole package

Plenty of games feature side adventures and exploration that are supposed to be immersive but end up feeling like busywork merely there to pad your playtime. Fate/Samurai Remnant manages to avoid this, which is impressive considering its length. Ve??nturing off the?? beaten path to complete side activities, talk to villagers, or just pet a dog, almost always yields rewards.

Sometimes, you'll?? learn more about the villagers and the tragedies they're facing. Considering how much death is seen, it feels satisfying to be able to positively impact people. Other times you'll find it?ems that'll help you during battles or can be sold.

With Fate/Samurai Remnant, what you ??put in is what you get out. Engage with its many systems, and you'll discover a game that demands strategization while not distracting you from the central plot. Crank the difficulty down, and you'll find yourself with a captivating story that occasionally requires you to slash some monsters up.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is easy to recommend to Fate newcomers who will have no problem jumping into the game. Series fans will also enjoy it, as they'll be able to appreciate the references on a different level. In a year that is filled with major releases seemingly every week, Fate/Samurai Remnant manages to be worth your time from its open?ing? scene to its last hours.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Koei Tecmo revealed a new trailer for Fate/Samurai Remnant, spotlighting more of the upcoming entry in the Fate series. The Omega Force action-RPG takes the series to Edo-era Japan, kicking things off to the tune of its main theme "Zanya Gensou feat. LICCA / Spiral Ladder." 

The story of Fate/Samurai Remnant continues the history-spanning Holy Grail War in a new locale. True to the Fate legacy?, Masters and Servants are at the heart of the action, this time centering on young samurai Miyamoto Iori and his Servant Saber. With the Waxing Moon Ritual unfolding, seven pairs o?f Masters and Servants battle for the right to claim the Holy Grail.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgxC3edcEnY

Story and character relationships are key to the new trailer, but it also shows off some gameplay systems. There's a woodworking minigame in Gilgamesh's shop, as well as a look at the skill tree. More importantly, however, is Circe's ability to transform Iori into a pig. If you can believe it, Iori's first line of dialogue after this twist is a mighty "Oink!" Playing as said pig will no doubt be among my top honors of the year. 

[caption id="attachment_399917" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Koei Tecmo[/caption]

Fate is in your hands

Fate/stay night author Kinoko Nasu is credited in a supervisory role alongside Type-Moon for this outing. For Fate fans, character designs come from Rei Wataru, who previously provided art for one of the Fate/Grand Order manga adaptations. Their work will be featured in a special Tokyo Game Show 2023 livestream on September 21, 2023 at 6:00am PT. 

Fresh gameplay and info is on the menu for the TGS 20023 stream along with a handful of special guests. Those set t??o? appear include voice cast members Kengo Kawanishi (Iori Miyamoto), Hibiku Yamamura (Saber), and Tomoaki Maeno (Zheng Chenggong).

Fate/Samurai Remnant hits PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on September 29, 2023.

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Don't say sayonara to these Wild Hearts yet

The world of Wild Hearts is getting even more in March. Koei Tecmo and Electronic Arts have teased a new Kemono arriving in Wild Hearts in March, alongside more content.

This new beast to hunt seems to be fire-based, according to the teaser posted on social media. T??he "torrid inferno" and volcano emoji certainly brings to mind some smoldering concepts for a new K??emono to hunt through Azuma.

//twitter.com/playWildHear??t?s/status/1631090551645667328

More content is expected to arrive in March, though today's teaser doesn't specify if that means more Kemonos or other content. Regardless, it does look like speedy Wild Hearts players will have even more to tackle in the co??ming month.

Hearts young and wild and free

It hasn't been all that long since Wild Hearts landed on newer consoles and PC, back on February 17. Still, it sounds like players have mostly enjoyed Omega Force's return to the monster-hunti?ng format, with lots of building and action to go around.

With content already slated for March, it looks like support will be here for at least the short term. For the hunting fans at home, I hope it's a sign of a decent lifespan on this game. February was an absolutely stacked month, with way too many games for any one person to get around to. But Wild Hearts cer??tainly seems like it's been worth it to check out, for anyone who likes to take down big monsters and gradually gear up as they do so.

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Paradise Lost

This week sees the launch of Electronic Arts period-piece adventure Wild Hearts, the mythical action-RPG set within the age of feudal Japan �Developer Omega Force, of Dynasty Warriors fame, has released a new trailer introducing players to the village and people of Minato, located deep within the beautiful overwor??ld known as Azuma.

Wild Hearts will present players will a fresh take on the... well... the Monster Hunting genre that has proven especially popular in recent years. The player will take up the mantle of a custom hunter, and team with the people of Minato on a quest to track and defeat a menagerie of behemoth beasts ?known as "The Kemono" �utilizing each creature's soulful "Celestial Thread" in order to renovate and rebuild the province of Azuma before it is lost completely.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=_grFGQ2oWUQ&t

As you can see from the trailer above, Wild Hearts will boast some amazing and awe-inspiring creature designs, while offering up a selection of varied weaponry, gear, and elemental skills?? in order to aid our hunters in their battles with these incredible land gods. From the village of Minato, the player will enlist the help of various arts, from alchemists to healers, blacksmiths to guides, in order to best prepare for the long and hazardous journeys that lie ahead.

Hone finely cra?fted skills of the "Karakuri" in order to build a variety of environmental traps and defenses, and experim??ent with a wide arsenal of weapons in order to best equip you and your party for the hunt. And looking at some of the monsters on display in this preview, you're probably going to need all of the help you can get. I mean, I'd come with you, but I've got a bit of a bad back. There in spirit, though.

Wild Hearts launches February 17 on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X. Be sure to check out our own Chris Carter's initial thoughts in his Review-in-Progress.

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Yosuke Hayashi of Koei Tecmo gave us a bit of background on the project too

Recently, press were able to attend a Wild Hearts hands-on session, and the game is shaping up to turn some heads when it arrives on February 17, 2023.

Here's how things are shaking out so far, with a bit of background from Koei Tecmo producer Yosuka Hayashi, and executive producer of EA Originals, Lewis Ha??rvey.

Koei Tecmo says it has "unfinished business in the hunting game genre"

Hayashi kicked things off with a pre-recorded message, and specifically brought up the Toukiden series up (which had releases in 2013 and 2016) as part of Koei Tecmo's history with the genre: and noted that the company had "unfinis??hed business" with hunting games.

Wild Hearts is very much inline with his thesis for what he wanted another hunting game to be about: "an action game everyone ca?n play together." "Four years in the making," this hunting game brings Kemonos (monsters) front and center, with "animal and nature" fusing together (in many cases, literally) to form the setting.

?Before heading out, Hayashi noted that EA has the "global experience Tecmo Ko?ei lacks," so the partnership was a good fit for them.

[galle??ry link="file" columns="2" ids="347010,347009"]

Here's how EA helped Koei Tecmo with Wild Hearts

As for what help EA gave explicitly, the "full force" of the partnership ?was employed; things like "user research" (testing/data to fine tune the game), and reaching a "broader, more western audience," with "tutorialization, onboarding, and clarity of UI and mechanics."

You can really see this in action when playing the opening moments of Wild Hearts, as the tutorial? involves a straightforward hunt that showcases the game's dynamic environments and some basics. There's a lot going on with this game (especially with the traps), and most of it is clearly commun?ication on-screen.

"You can climb any [monster] in the game"

Following up on Hayashi's focus on the Kemonos themselves, Lewis Harvey calls them the "star??s of the show," as giant nature-infused beasts. They'll apparently represent a "tremendous challenge" for players, with an emphasis on crafting to gain more of an edge. Crafting will "take enemies down while traversing the world, to build it back up."

Crafting is also baked into the lore, as you're apparently one of the very few people who can actually create new technology to take on the looming and out of control threat from the Kemonos. This includes magic-like building of structures, giant walls an enemy can smash into, or huge hammers that can stun. Ziplines, camps, human catapults, an umbrella gliding tool, and more are talked about and showcased in the Wild Hearts demo.

Harvey explains that there will be "over 200 variations for weapon loadouts," when putting crafting into mix, and you can change up your weapons and armor with some form of a transmog system (where you can alter the appearance of your armor). Weapon types teased include a blade and shield combo, a bow (with an ultimate charged shot ability), and a staff that can transform into five different weapon types (the demo starts yo??u out with a katana).

The Kemono modifying themselves based on the environment, which is very impressive looking (as you can see in the trailer below). An enraged king tusk boar-like creature, a lava back gorilla, and a giant hawk were all rattled off, among the ones we've seen so far. "You can climb any Kemono in the game," Harvey says, and brings up a comparison to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but I see shades of Shadow of the Colossus in there too.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbJPkCD9ZTs

Friends can "party up at camps and play through the entire game"

As for multiplayer, Harvey explains that although Wild Hearts was tested with different player counts, three players in total is ultimately where they landed from a balance perspective. In terms of scaling, Wild Hearts will "?dynamically scale its difficulty," including scaling for solo play; and will ratchet up or down as people joi??n your session.

One big element of the multiplayer system is going to be the traps, and mixing and matching strategies and different builds. You'll also get to "party up at camps and play through the entire game," which includes every facet of Wild Hearts??. During a demo of multiplayer, we saw that you'll be able to open the world map and select a monster, then matchmake into a hunt. You'll also see local hunters in your area. If you're alone, you'll have a companion.

Harvey clarifies that "every player gets their own rewards/loot," so no one is going to get screwed out of drops. Full cross-play is also reconfirmed across the announc?ed PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X platforms.

So far, Wild Hearts has a lot of promise

Kicking things off, the aforementioned tutorial really let me become acquainted with the visua??l style, and I'm going to love exploring this world. It looks fantastic, and nearly every character/enemy model I've seen so far is pronounced. Even little critters are fully of personality, and the ??"four seasons" approach is a genius way to automatically meld some style into the universe.

Mechanically, Wild Hearts feels tight (inline with the action focus Hayashi mentioned), and a key ?component involves free movement, with a dodge governed by a meter (which can be swapped to a running slide dodge, which slides a a sufficiently over-the-top character-action distance). You can climb on certain surfaces and bigger monsters, but you'll need to physically press a grab button (RB/R1) to latch on.

Wild Hearts quickly shows off the important of elevation. Early on you can conjure up crates (hold LB/L1 and press X), which can be stacked, and tr??igger a little plunger to push you up at the top. Not only do you need them to get from place to place (especially when cliffs are involved), but you can also adapt new combat strategies with them. I started to pick up on creating vantage points, which I could leap off of and quickly trigger a lunging attack. The combo system seems rewarding ?and deep enough so far, especially with how elegantly the dodge mechanic is woven into everything.

So how big will the game be? While Harvey said that there's more info coming, it will take "30 hours to get through the story, with a hell of a lot more co??ntent throughout." Omega Force apparently has an endgame concept in mind that won't get grindy, but future support is "TBD," officially. Harvey notes that all of this is currently a work in progress, and they'll announce "what they know when they can."

Wild Hearts looks gorgeous, and the action-cent??ric focus does it a lot of favors. It's also great to see Omega Force get out of their recent wheelhouse, and ideally, the EA partnership gave them a chance to work with a bigger budget and extra time to smooth things over. Given how long this has been in development for, and how it plays already, I have good feelings about this one.

We deserve some real competition in t??he hunter genre space.

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"An epic adventure set in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan"

Just a few weeks ago we learned that Wild Hearts was now in the mix: an action game from the minds over at Omega Force and...Electronic Arts? Hunting games are rising in popularity even more so thanks to the success of Monster Hunter World and Rise, and now more companies are getting back into the genre that once flourished on platforms like the PSP. Thanks to its debut trailer, we now have a better idea of what t??o actuall??y expect.

Described as "the land of the beast," the game's world (Azuma) seems to be fairly varied,?? with several different biomes. We see that the area is "fraught with danger," as the player character fights giant monsters (Kemono, which were once peaceful) with unconventional weapons like umbrellas and wooden helicopter tools; in addition to more traditional kits like katanas.

Building traps and structures seems to be a big part of the gameplay in Wild Hearts. Multiplayer capabilities are in too (to add "up to two friends" with cross-play), and the building mechanic lends itself well to multiple people creating things in tandem and working together. When I said "giant monsters" earlier I meant it too, as the footage shows off some huge ones, almost Shadow of the Colossus style. Based on the style and the building concept, I'm intrigued! It doesn't look like a Monster Hunter clone to me.

After the stream we were sent a brief explainer from Yosuke Hayashi, executive VP of Koei Tecmo, on the philosophy behind the game: "Wild Hearts opens up a vibrant fantasy world to players that’s as untamed as it is beautiful. With Wild Heart, not only did we want to showcase the evolution, infusion and real threat caused by Kemono, but we also wanted to create a game where crafting was at the core of the experience, redefining what can be possible in a beast hunting game. We have placed great care in designing our Karakuri to fit within the combat, and we’re excited for players to use these powerful mechanisms to fight giant beasts and traverse the world.�/p>

More info on Wild Hearts is coming on October 5

Wild Hearts is out on February 17, 2023 on current-generation consoles and PC (Steam?? and Epic Games ??Store are both planned for launch, as well as Origin) for $69.99 (yep, we're at that era now). English, Japanese, French, Italian, German and Spanish voiceovers are confirmed.

Surely we'll learn more before then (potentially on the official site) beyond this two-and-a-half-minute debut trailer. EA i??s alread?y teasing another October 5 "extended gameplay reveal."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxcnwH8TPEg

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Wild Hearts will be published under the EA Originals banner

Do you wish more games followed in the footsteps of Monster Hunter, especially after big-budget hits like Monster Hunter: World and Iceborne? While Capcom has been on fire, there's room for more, and EA of all companies is making a move with Omega Force. [Update: The game is called Wild Hearts, and it will be shown on September 28.]

Electronic Arts ann??ounced its partnership with Koei Tecmo for an Omega Force-developed hunting action game that's set in "fantasy feudal Japan." According to the companies, they are aiming to deliver "the next great hunting game" with thi?s "AAA"-budget original IP.

Details are light, with more news to come "later this month," but we do know the Omega Force collaboration will be released through the EA Originals label. If you haven't been keeping score, this is where some of the most interesting EA-backed games have been coming from �Unravel, Lost in Random, Fe, and It Takes Two, to name a few.

"The EA team fully embraces our creative independence and have become invaluable partners offering both development and publishing support," said Koei Tecmo Games executive vice president Yosuke Hayashi in a press release. "Adding the global resources of EA with our own will help us introduce a new kind of hunting game? to a global audience of players and expand our reach into global markets."

"[Omega Force has] elevated the hunting genre to the next level, merging their proven talent for combat gameplay with unexpected and innovative mechanics," added Jeff Gamon, the general manager of EA Partners.

As much as the studio is known for the Warriors games, you can't forget about Toukiden. With litt?le info to go on, I can't help but feel like this will have clear connective tissue �as much as a distinct new property can, anyway. ?I'm stoked to see a potential glow-up.

More big bets in the hunting-action space? ??Sounds great. EA and Omega Force are an unlikely pair, but I'm hoping these two worlds mesh and the game is better off for it.

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Claude's band of misfits are back

Nintendo has published the third faction spotlight for its upcoming musou crossover Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, featuring the Golden Deer. And yes, the?y're all here.

Today's Three Hopes trailer shows off the Leicester Alliance, better known as the Golden Deer in Three Houses. Claude and Hilda were already confirmed, but today's trailer makes it certain that all Deer will be feared in Three Hopes.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNllTZWziQc

If you couldn't tell, the Deer were my first and favorite playthrough of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. And it might be my favoritism talking, but these designs and combat kits are fantastic. Ignatz blots paint on the screen while he ??fights. Marianne unleashes the power of her animal pals. Hilda smashes stuff with her axe. It's all great.

A full house

With all three factions now shown off, we also now know for certain that every student from Fire Emblem: Three Houses is in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. That's a hefty lineup. I guess the question now is whether any of the faculty or side characters get a slot, too. Between teachers like Shamir and Manuela, and longtime Fire Emblem main?stays like Anna, there are ??still plenty of options.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, if you're catching up now, is a musou game collaboration with Omega Force. It's one of several that Nintendo's done now, and Three Hopes looks to follow in the footsteps of the most recent one, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. What I mean by that is Three Hopes is a seemingly alternate-timeline approach to the story of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, where new protagonist Shez teams up with one of the three major factions.

How this comes together, especially with Three Houses protagonist Byleth now an aggressor and the "Ashen Demon," will be neat to discover. I'm just happy all the Golden Deer are here, and all three houses will be taking the field in full force. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes hits Nintendo Switch on June 24.

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Edelgard and co. get some new duds

The next faction spotlight for Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is here,?? and it's all about Edelgard and the Black Eagles.

The Adrestian Empire is the banner they'll be fighting under, but Three Houses players will remember this motley crew as the Bla??ck Eagles. Edelgard is here, of course, but in today's trailer we ??get to see all the former students in action.

There are some neat touches here, considering the variety of skil??lsets in the Black Eagles. Two little aspects I dug were Dorothea using singing as a weapon, and Petra's big attack utilizing a bow (since she is an Assassin class when you fig?ht her in other houses' campaigns).

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EGQ3oKDcj0

Two houses down, one to go

That's two of Fire Emblem: Three Houses' big factions down, one left to go. It looks like since we have Black Eagles and Blue Lions covered, t??he Golden Deer will be the last crew to get a spotlight.

That said, it's impressive to see how every student in each house is a full-on playable character in Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. With just the three ?houses and protagonist Shez, th??at's 25 characters.

I'm curious to see if we get any of the school staff or the endearing basement goths from the Ashen Wolves campaign. And I'd be really surpris?ed if Anna, the series??' long-running "mascot" merchant, doesn't also make an appearance.

I'm hopeful (ha) that Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes will turn out as a pretty good musou game, as the Nintendo crossovers have run the gamut. The Hyrule Warriors side has been generally solid to pretty darn good. But Fire Emblem Warriors missed some of that spark.

With a laser focus on just Fódlan and the world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, maybe Three Hopes can make the Warriors side click. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes hits Nintendo Switch on June 24.

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Dimitri and the Lions are back

The next Nintendo musou crossover is just around the corner, as Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes closes in. Today, Nintendo spotlights one of the factions the protagonist can side with in Three Hopes under the Holy King?dom of Faerghus, a.k.a. th??e Blue Lions.

The Kingdom of Faerghus is one of three nations in Fódlan, the setting of both Fire Emblem: Three Houses and its upcoming Warriors spinoff Three Hopes. It represents one of three routes in the original game, and it looks like Three Hopes is ??taking a similar approach, having the protagonist Shez side with one of the three nations once again.

In today's trailer, we get to see the Blue Lions of Faerghus in action. It basically se??rves as a roste??r confirmation for many of these fighters, but it's interesting to see how warriors like Ingrid and Ash fight. Also, we'd seen glimpses of Dedue before, but now we know. It is Deduesday.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpCxRE7xCAg

As for the rest of the bunch, hopefully we'll get some confirmation soon. We've seen Claude and Hilda from the Golden Deer, and Edelgard and Hubert from the Black Eagles. With all the Blue Lions in the Three Hopes lineup, odds seem good we'll at least see ??every student take the field.

War of the Three Houses

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is both the second Warriors crossover with Fire Emblem and, seemingly, an alternative timeline story for Three Houses. Basically, it seems like Three Hopes will be to Three Houses what Age of Calamity was to Breath of the Wild.

Hopefully the time between has given Omega Force and Team Ninja some time to work on the formula. While Fire Emblem Warriors had some cool ideas, it also fell a bit flat compared to Hyrule Warriors.

With the underpinning story and world of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, maybe the massive army-slaying action genre will click with this franchise. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes launches for Nintendo Switch on June 24, 2022.

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Burning Down the (Three) Houses

Nintendo has released a new trailer for the upcoming Switch musou-like Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. Developed by the anime lovers over at Omega Force, the strategic brawler will see some of FE: Three Houses' scholarly legend?s step onto the battlefield in explosive 1 vs. 1000 ??action.

Similar to its JRPG origins, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes will see the player align with one of the great houses of the Garreg Mach Monastery �The B?lack Eagles, The Blue Lions, or The Golden Deer �before charging into battle alongside each house captain and their finest and most adept students and wa?rriors.

Three distinct campaigns await you, as you and your chosen house defend both the honor of the Garreg Monastery and the liberty of the surrounding lands of Fódlan. I mean... you can if you want to. I'm just going to be hanging back in the commis??sary with Miss Manuela. I don't have the knees for all that fighting. But don?'t worry, know that whatever horrors you face, I'm behind you. 3000 miles behind you.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes launches on Nintendo Switch June 24, with digital pre-orders already open on the Nintendo eShop.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5TrSaoYmZ8

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The rocking soundtrack fits so well

So, the Dynasty Warriors movie is almost out in China, as? it's set to debut on?? April 30.

Wait, what?! Yep, it's a real thing, and it's finally coming out after ages of hearing about it. I know it's an international release, but it's really flown under the radar in terms of recent overarching "game adaptation film" conversation especially in light of flicks like Sonic (which is getting a sequel) and the upcoming Mortal Kombat reboot.

This trailer does the new Dynasty Warriors movie a lot of favors. It starts off with a little homage to the games, then jumps straight into over-the-top combat and big-picture military strategy footage. The anime-like moves look authentic, t?he costumes are on point, the ?game soundtrack is infused into this clip. Everything checks out on paper.

I don't know why, but the "produced by Omega Force" logo at the beginning really got to me. A lot of the time when a gaming adaptation is produced, the original studio that started it all is completely forgotten. Like when "Sega" is credited with producing the Sonic movie, and so on. But to see a?? trailer with the developer front and center: it's a beautiful thing.

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Age of Calamity gets a makeover mockup

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is out, and as expected, it's gotten a reaction out of you all in?? th?e community.

I expected the performance issues to be a problem for many, but a lot of you out there are enjoying the new take on the story on top of the tweaks to the classic Warriors formula. Well, a lot of people out there are experiencing it actually, as it shipped three million copies and basically became the most successful Warriors game overnight.

But I don't want to stop there. While DLC seems inevitable, there's a lot of potential here with Age of Calamity add-ons, and I hope to eventually see some of the hardcore endgame content from the original Hyrule Warriors. Oh, and another entry, of course, potentially tying into Breath of the Wild 2.

Before that all (likely) happens though, the folks over at Nintendo Wire gave us a glimpse at what could be in their Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity demake. Do?ne in the style of the Game Boy Color era, it's a lovely little mockup that actually looks pretty fun to play! Just about everything from the minimalist intro that conveys the key bits of the real opening cutscene, to the gameplay itself looks fantastic.

Things like this make me immediately reach for my GBA coll?ection! The good old SP is never far from my desk.

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The framerate wasn't mentioned

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is out, and I'm pretty excited.

I mean, I already finished it, an?d then some! I'm just jazzed to hear from everyone else with the spoiler shield removed, and how they feel about some of the story choices. But before then, there's some housekeeping with a small day-one patch.

No, it doesn't overhaul the framerate (it's not the Warriors ??;way!): rather, it shores up some game-breaking glitches, while adding Spanish audio. According to the patch notes, there were multiple scenarios that involved not being able to "proceed further," when certain conditions were met. One of them was with the use of two-player mode, and two others had triggers of changing characters and "defeating an enemy with a certain procedure."

Well then! Good thing those were cleared up before someone had to halt their progress and wait on a future pat??ch. That patch just came!

As a reminder, Nintendo just put out a physical My Nintendo reward for Age of Calamity that's basically a Breath of the Wild tchotchke.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Updated [Japanese Nintendo]

Version 1.0.1

• Added Spanish audio.
• Fixed software issues, including the following problems: 
  • Fixed issue where proceeding further became impossible after certain operations in the menu screen of the two-player mode.
  • Fixed issue where proceeding further sometimes became impossible when changing characters at a certain point in some of the scenarios.
  • Fixed issue where proceeding beyond the loading screen sometimes became impossible after defeating an enemy with a certain procedure in some of the scenarios.
  • Fixed the issue where the screen display got corrupted and controls apart from the HOME Button stopped responding after certain operations in the materials selling menu.

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Right on, this is what we need right now

While the next generation of gaming is stealing all of the headlines as of late, Nintendo still has a heavy-hitter coming in 2020: Age of Calamity.

The Zelda: Breath of the Wild prequel is proving to be quite the surprise, as the story is billed as a direct link to the popular 2017 iteration; right down to some extra lore details on top of broader story strokes. I'm stoked to find out a little more about this version of Hyrule, so long as Nintendo and Omega Force don't go too overboard on the retcons and? exposition.

Alas, while most of the details are left to pure speculation, it looks like we'll all be able to go hands-on with it together very soon. Spotted on the Nintendo News section (first in Korea and now in the US), a demo is "available" as of today. The Nintendo Direct Mini today re-iterated this!

It's a genius move to get ahead of the buzz of any potential scene-stealing next-gen games: to get people talking about Zelda again before the hype takes hold. Also, it's nestled very nicely between the next-gen launches and the now-December-dated Cyberpunk 2077.

Everything is in place for Age of Calamity to sneak up?? on peo?ple, especially given the large Switch install base; some of which may not even be interested in upgrading their consoles just yet.

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It came out in February in Japan

Persona 5 Scramble seems to have a mixed level of anticipation for Persona fans.

The crossover between stylish action and the Persona games proper isn't too much of a stretch, but a lot of stalwart JRPG fans aren't thrilled about the prospect of Omega Force (Dynasty Warriors) putting a hack and slash spin on the series. Either way, Scramble came out in Japan in February, and some folks have been enjoying it ever since. But what about a localization??? Patience is a virtue, Koei Tecmo says.

According to a FY19 report by Koei Tecmo (translated by BlackKite), the company is not only having a better year than the last fiscal period, but still plans on localizing a few things they've been mum on recently, including Scramble. According to the report DLC is a cash cow for them (sadly, DOA6's exploitative add-ons seem to be raking in the dough), and overseas sales have been increasin?g since the last report.

With that in mind, Koei Tecmo intimates that they're stepping up their localization efforts, including the impending Nioh 2 DLC and the aforementioned Scramble. Koei Tecmo games, particularly of the brawler variety, either obtain a worldwide release or arrive just several months after their Japanese debut. Scramble seems to be the exception??, and hopefully we'll get a window sooner or later. No doubt Atlus has some sway in all these decisions, too, and they've been ramping up their script localization efforts as of late.

Financial Report [Koei Tecmo via BlackKite]

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'So we’ve been talking a little about maybe putting out a third entry'

I don't think of the Dragon Quest Heroes series often. I mean I liked the first and second game well enough, even in spite of the former's insane subtitle. Maybe it's the oversaturation of Omega Force games. Either ?way, it's great that Square Enix is taking a break with them, but series director Tomohiko Sho recently spoke up about murmurs over a third entry.

Amazingly, Sho admits (after noting that it's ultimately up to Square Enix and not Koei/Omega Force) that if there was to be a third game, it would need to up the ante. Sho explains, "So we’ve been talking a little about maybe putting out a third entry, but really the big thing is between I and II there were so many improvements made. If we were going to go from II to III, what else can we p??ut in to really impress the players who played both games that will get them really excited and really emotionally moved by it? So there are a lot of hurdles. What would it be that we can put into the game? That’s still something we’re not sure how to do yet.”

Smart! The second iteration was indeed an upgrade, but if Omega Force doesn't have enough new ideas to go arou??nd it's best t?hey think on it instead of churning them out. Then again if they sold exceedingly well, Square Enix probably would have commissioned more already. The second game was released back in 2016 in Japan after all, and we haven't seen more entries since.

Director di??scusses t?he possibility of Dragon Quest Heroes III [Nintendo Everything]

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The Persona series has such a rich tapestry of characters that you could probably argue all day over who your own individual favorites are, but as a cat owner at heart, Morgana really hit home in Persona 5. The fact that he can transform into all sort??s of wacky configurations is just the cherry on top.

Morgana is bringing that madness into Persona 5 Scramble, the new Musou-like game arriving in Japan this February on PS4 and Switch. I say "Musou-like" because it really looks like it's shaking up the formula with a bit of Persona madness, especially with characters like Morgana and the titular Personas. His trademark?? humor also made it in, baka!

Call me crazy, but Scramble even seems import worthy, which will be super easy to do on the PS4 and Switch, which are both region-free. I don't know if I wa??nt to wait for a localization announcement and the ev?entual release!

Now that I think about it: let's do this. Throw down on your favorite Persona 5 party member below.

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I'll just be here twiddling my thumbs until it's released in the west

It's been several months since Atlus first pulled back the curtain on Persona 5 Scramble: The Phantom Strikers. With its original codename of "Persona S," many people assumed it to be a Switch port of the fifth entry in the popular RPG series. Instead, we all found out Atlus had teamed with Koei Tecmo studio Omega Force to give Persona 5 its own Musou style game. Now, we're getting more information o??n the title and when the world will first be able to play it.

Atlus has confirmed Persona 5 Scramble will release in Japan on February 20, 2020, for Switch and PS4. Judging from the new trailer posted below, this doesn't look like your average Warriors spin-off.

Normally I'm a "Just get it on Switch" guy now, but hot damn if the PS4 version doesn't look absolutely wonderful. In addition to a release date, Atlus?? also announced a special edit?ion of the game that includes the original soundtrack on two discs, a bag, a towel, and a Blu-Ray about the making of the theme song.

There is still no word on a western release date for the title. Hopefully, that changes soon because I could use a new Musou in my life.

Persona 5 Scramble Release Date [Japanese Nintendo]

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Lu Bu's your valentine

Koei Tecmo has confirmed that Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate will be launching in the west on February 14, 2020. That's just in time to make Lu Bu your Valentine! The date was announced in a new trailer that is actually just an English version of the TGS trailer I posted last weekend. Along with the date, it reconfirms Ryu Hayabusa, Achilles, and ??Hades as new add?itions to the cast.

One new bit of info is that popular Japanese actress Saori Hayami will be providing vocals for the Japanese theme of the game. She is also lending her voice? to the game, possibly as an announcer or maybe another character. An English version of the theme will be produced, though Koei Tecmo hasn't announced who is singing it.

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'Wield the Power of the Gods Once More�

Koei Tecmo has uploaded a new teaser to its various YouTube channels that basically confirms the existence of Warriors Orochi 4: Ultimate. With a tagline of "Wield the Power of the Gods Once More…," there's not much else it could be. Pretty much every Warriors game gets either a refresh or spin-off (i.e. Xtreme Legends or Empires) and the previous Warriors Orochi titles have had re-releases. I think it's a safe bet that 4: Ultimate is coming.

As the description for the trailer notes, we'll ??lear??n more on August 30, 2019. In Japan, the August 29 issue of Weekly Famitsu will have a full description of the game, so there's likely to be no questions left.

Koei Tecmo and Omega Force to announce n??ew title on August 29: "Wield the Power of the Gods Once More…" [Gematsu]

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Pursue this Lu Bu

At this point in time, people are probably sick of hearing about Dynasty Warriors. The team over at Omega Force has pumped out so many titles under the banner that you'd be forgiven for not knowing nearly half of them. Despite playing most of the Dynasty Warriors titles, a couple of the Warriors Orochi crossovers, and the wonderful Hyrule Warriors, I still have only played about 1/1??0th of the games in this series??.

Even so, many people will tell you that Dynasty Warriors 8 was one of the best games in Koei Tecmo's prevalent franchise. It contained swift, crunchy gameplay,? a ridiculous amount of content, and full co-op support for every mode in the game. If you went for 100% completion, you were looking at spending at least 100 hours digging your teeth into its secrets.

That title came out five years ago, though. Why is it only now getting ported to the Switch instead of its successor, Dynasty Warriors 9? Well, for starters, Dynasty Warriors 9 is awful. Secondly, 9 barely runs properly on a beefy PC, let alone the underpowered Switch. Obviously dialing it back to the last entry was a safe bet for performance, but just about anything could? have gone wrong with this port.

Thankfully, the Switch release of Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition (my?? god, what a mouthful) nearly l?ives up to its lofty title and is a good way to experience this high-octane action romp.

As that run-on sentence of a name suggests, this new version of Dynasty Warriors 8 is a complete bundle of both the base game and its Xtreme Legends expansion. I’ve only ever played the original on PS3, so I was pretty blown away when I looked at the level select screen and saw a second campaign for each of the four main factions. Even without factoring in the unlockable hypothetical paths, you're looking at a staggering amount of battles to be fought. That could either be a blessing or a curse, but I really enjoy Dynasty Warriors 8's combat, so I’m ready to dig in.

The biggest thing I feared was shoddy performance. While the series started out targeting 60 FPS on PS2 hardware, that eventually gave way for prettier graphics and lower framerates. As good as Dynasty Warriors 7 and 8 might be, one has to admit it was disappointing to see the speed dropped. Both of those games also failed to maintain a locked 30 FPS and could drop to some obscenely low framerates under duress. This new Switch port isn't a locked 60, but it runs a lot smoother than the last-generation versions of Dynasty Warriors 8 ever dreamed they could.

That being said, this is most certainly based off of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Dynasty Warriors 8. It may be sporting a higher resolution (what looks like a mixture between a 1080p HUD and possibly 900p rendering), but none of the assets have been changed from the older ports. I suppose this has more in common with the PC version than I was expecting since that is very ??much the same thing.

What you can expect is some pretty decent looking character models mixed with rather drab environments, ugly pop-in from distant objects, and some seriously ugly water. It doesn't ??take away from the sheer speed the game ?has, which helps elevate it beyond the outdated look. Even though this port isn't attractive, at least the gameplay doesn't suffer.

This performance also holds true in co-op, for the most part. My friend and I were able to make the framerate chug in certain situat??ions, but it never dropped into the single digits. The lowest we saw was around 20 FPS in seriously effects-heavy areas, but the game mostly performed well. The framerate does get halved in co-op, but consistency is there and it makes the co-op more enjoyable than multiplayer was on PS3. It even supports split Joy-Con play, if you hate yourself that much.

The main reason you might be picking this up is for portable play and even that holds up. Slowdown can happen, but it seems to be even less frequent than docked play. I didn't get a chance to test co-op while undocked, but this is easily the best-performing portable Dynasty Warriors game I've ever experienced. It kicks the crap out of the 3DS entries and even runs smoother than Hyrule Warriors did on Switch. It can be hard to put down, at times, just because it feel?s so nice.

In portable play, the graphics don't even seem to take any kind of hit. I suppose shadow resolution might be decreased and obviously, the game is now rendering at 720p,?? but any blemishes are hard to spot on the Switch's display. It isn't awful to look at on your TV, but it comes off looking nicer as a handheld title thank??s to how sharp it is rendered.

As for bonus features, the game ships with both the English and Japanese voice-over options available. I know this became a standard feature with the jump to next-generation consoles (English was even dropped in the series for a little while), but the last-?gen versions required a separate download to get Japanese VOs back. At least now if you want the choice, it doesn't demand you jump through hoops to get it. Fully customizable controls are also a bonus, though you oddly can't change the button for activating your rage meter.

Honestly, I went in with somewhat low expectations and was met with an attractive prospect. Maybe you've played Dynasty Warriors 8 to death over the last five years, but it is a truly great entry in Omega Force’s stupidly long-running series. Taking all of that action on the go in an uncompromised fashion just ticks every box off, for me. I'm sure others will feel the same way, especially since this isn't the vastly inferior Dynasty Warriors 9.

So even though it is a bit late and might not really be worth the higher price, Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition gets a hearty recommendation from me. It may not be the absolute best way to experience this title, but it is most definitively the best porta??ble hack and slasher around.

Also, Lu Bu on the go is incredible.

_{[This impressions piece is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher]}

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Less grinding required!

By the grace of god, save data from multiple versions of Warriors Orochi 3 will be compatible with the upcoming Warriors Orochi 4. This is actually a feature from previous entries in the Warriors series, but is typically relegated to reissues (like Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate) instead of sequels. While it won't get you more than 100,000 EXP f??or your fighters, it is a nice head start and a great way to reward longtime players.

In another great move, the feature will be available on every platform. While the Xbox One version of Warriors Orochi 4 isn't mentioned in the press release, Japan doesn't get versions of the Warriors games on Microsoft's platforms. It would be pretty silly for the Western release to not ?include the feature, especially when PC is getting it.

As for what games are compatible, save data from the original Warriors Orochi 3 on PS3 is supported. The PS4 port has the most options, with the aforementioned vanilla release and Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate on every Sony console supported (PS3, PS4 and Vita). Switch will only work with 3 Ultimate from Switch, but that mak??es sense (it was the only release of the game on Nintendo's platform??).

If you happened to buy Dynasty Warriors 9 on PS4 or PC, then you have my condolences. More importantly, though, save data from DW9 will net you a costume pack with alternate outfits for Zhenji, Daqiao, Yueying, Wang Yuanji, and Diaochan in Warriors Orochi 4. It may not be much, ??but the gesture is certainly nice??.

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DO NOT PURSUE LU BU

Koei Tecmo Japan has released a new trailer for Warriors Orochi 4 running on Switch and just...ooof. This is looking a bit rough. While the texture quality would obviously need to take a hit, that framerate is just unfortunate. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I figured that with Fire Emblem Warriors having a 720p/60 FPS option, we would at least be able to experience the latest Warriors title with a fluid framerate on the go.

Then again, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is a bit sloppy in that regard, so maybe I was hoping for too much. This is all still an in-development build, so there is hope for the final version to be a bit better. As easy as it would be to just ignore this and grab it on more powerful hardware, the Switch's hybrid design is absolutely perfect for Warriors?? games.? I wouldn't want the console to get a sub-optimal port just so they can take it anywhere.

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Zeus ain't got nothin on Lu Bu

Warriors Orochi 4 will be heading West this year on October 16 for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch! Many had assumed the game would be exclusive to Japan for 2018, but Koei Tecmo kept its promise of a worldwide release for the title. If that wasn't enough, split-screen co-op will finally be making a return to the Warriors series (even though it did show up in Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition). Along with that news, a new trailer has been released ?that shows off footage of Zeus. ?While he looks pretty interesting, even a god has nothing on Lu Bu.

The big surprise is that the Xbox One isn't being forgotten. While Japan won't be getting a localization for the platform, I'm sure there are plenty of Xbox fans in the West that would welcome the game. I'm also sure that many more will eagerly grab this as it isn't open-world like Dynasty Warriors 9.

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Four inches high

I've been talking to a fair amount of people about Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, and they're torn. On one hand, they've played the original for hundreds of hours, lovingly grinding for new items and characters across the game's adventure maps. On the other, they've played the game for hundreds of hours already and may want to delve into s??omet?hing new.

Either way, if you missed all of the 3DS DLC, you're probably due for another playthrough. And if you're so inclined, you can pick up this new Switch port with a Green Rupee Light. You can grab it as a bundle (£49.99) or as a standalone item (£11.99) on the Nintendo UK store, though "various other worldwide retailers" will be stocking it eventually (you can find it here at GameStop in the US for example).

Wait, a collector's ed??ition that actually lets us buy the one thing ??we want from it separately?

Hyrule Warriors [Nintendo]

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Attack on the go!

Koei Tecmo's sequel to its take on Attack on Titan will be coming West next year on March 20, 2018. The game will be heading to ??PS4, Xbox?? One, PC and even Switch! Koei Tecmo has shared a new trailer for the game, which looks pretty nifty.

One of the new features for Attack on Titan 2 will be a character creator. Now you can experience the anguish and fear of taking on a Titan as yourself! Along with that, some light RPG elements will be making their way into the "Town Li??fe" segments. By spending time with your comrades, you'll be able to cultivate relationships and foster friendships with the main characters from the anime.

Now I just want to know if that Monokuma crossover from the 3DS Attack on Titan 2 will make an appearance.

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Lu Bu roams free

Koei Tecmo's latest entry in the Dynasty Warriors series will be heading West on February 13, 2018. This is one week after the Japanese release date (February 8), though I'm not really sure why any delay is necessary. Regardless, at least the wait won't be tremendously long like with previous installments. As a reminder, Dynasty Warriors 9 will ?be hitting PS4, Xbox One and PC (via Steam) in the West.

Anyone who pre-orders the game will also receive a bonus costume pack with seven outfits for "fan favorite" characters. Why Lu Bu isn't included in the list is beyond me (HE IS A GOD!), but you'll be able to don Zhao Yun in a Bejing-Opera style outfit and there are traditional Chinese undergarments for Guan Yinping, Diaochan, Sun Shangxiang, Lu Lingqi, Wang Yi, and Wang Yuanji. I guess that?? is neat?..

Dynasty Warriors 9 Western Rel?ease Date Revealed, Pre-order Bonus Revealed [VGChartz]

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Wonder twin powers, activate

It took other publishers a long while to get on Koei Tecmo's Warriors train. While their studio Omega Force was pumping out hit after hit, no one really dared to ask "hey, can we collaborate?" for a number of years. Now it's hard to imagine a series that wouldn't work with the current crown prince of console hack and slash. Because Zelda&nbs??p;??ended up being one of their absolute best, the sky is the limit.

Fire Emblem Warriors brings the whole idea back to Earth.

Fire Emblem Warriors (New 3DS, Switch [reviewed])
Developer: Omega Force, Team Ninja
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: September 28, 2017 (JP), October 20, 2017 (WW)
MSRP: $59.99 (Switch), $29.99 (New 3DS)

Although we've gotten plenty of meaningless character vignettes and curated demos leading up to the release of Fire Emblem Warriors, I really didn't know what the game was about until I actually got my hands on it -- that is to say, relative to the rest of the series. In reality, it borrows a bit from Hyrule with its very similar postgame and leveling systems, but with a less interesting hook centered around an uninteresting pair of? twins.

While any given Warriors' flow tends to fluctuate from game to game, this one eschews the whole "one versus a thousand" concept and centers around squads. You can order NPCs around to help you out, and even level them up in tandem with your main character of choice or combine them into one unit -- all various Warriors mechanics, but peppered in at the discretion of Omega Force. As a result, the game feels more like a team effort, which includes support for local drop-in multiplayer (man, this is a basic thing that's sorely missing from some many recent Warriors games).

This spread across an army rather than an individual works because of how many different playstyles there are. Much like the variety found in Arslan's roster, riding a wyvern into battle or going at it with a ranged archetype just feels right. Archetypes, mind, that can be directed in 720p60FPS, a far cry from the severe framerate drops of recent Warriors titles, and I'm not just talking about Hyrule or the Wii U.

Yet, once you cycle through the several wholly unique cast members, you'll start to get a little roster fatigue. Although we knew they weren't coming, not even by way of DLC, no Roy or Ike is just strange, especially given their Smash presence -- and several other warriors feel more like clones than Omega Force's previous efforts in Hyrule, where everyone had their chan??ce to shine. I don't need a gigantic swath of choices, just one or two, but it is a bothersome aspect given the downgra??de.

No, the main annoyance with Fire Emblem Warriors despite how well it plays is the campaign. The writing just isn't witty enough during the comedy relief bits, nor is it interesting during the more stoic moments. Generic demon enemies that pop up all too often also lend credence to the "too much fodder" critics often levy at Warriors games. If you're the kind of person who can completely ignore story beats (and you very easily can here, with a skip cutscenes options right at the start), you'll be fine, especially since the difficulty curve does its job. Normal is balanced out of the gate, hard is a bit more taxing as one might expect, and Lunatic is as advertised. Oh, and a permadeath mode (called "Classic," which can be swapped off but not back on) is a nice Fire Emblem-ey touch.

History Mode replaces maps (adventure) from Hyrule Warriors, and is a welcome distraction to assist veterans in grinding past the campaign. Specific challenges make things more interesting, and the chance to unlock new abilities with an ever-changing set of goal posts does too. A retro setup with the top-down sprites that morphs into a Fire Emblem Warriors skirmish is also a nice touch. Yep, this is your postgame (as well as the free play that's incorporated into the campaign after ??you finish a stage), the strong structure that DLC will build upon. It's a juice you'll need to squeeze to drink (read: getting through the narrat?ive), but it's where the real joy lies.

With the power to pick up the Switch tablet and storm through History on the go, Fire Emblem Warriors is still going to get some play in my house despite its issues. It follows a set formula with very little in the way of risk-taking, but so long as you? can stomach the idea of warring kingdoms with very little at stake other than your level-u??p bar, it'll probably delight you too. With some DLC meat on these bones it'll likely be a long, wild ride.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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