Spoilers for Fire Emblem Engage aheadThe Hero’s Journey, at least so far as it was popularized by writer Joseph Campbell, follows a relatively basic pattern. A character heeds a call to adventure, has their initial worldview challenged during a journey into the unknown, and after hitting their lowest point goes through some transformation that allows them to return in a better, more fulfilled state.Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hopeis touted as a clear-cut example for media analysis, but games likeFire Emblem Engageoffer interesting twists given players have to directly interact with that journey.
As a series of tactical RPGs starring (mostly) European-coded nobles who go across continents to stop evil deities, many of Intelligent SystemsFire Emblemgames could be models for the Hero’s Journey. YetFire Emblem Engage’s two-part Chapter 10 and 11 stand out as an example of characters hitting their lowest point. The narrative is straightforward, but supplemented by Intelligent Systems turning gameplay elements back against players. Alear and their army face insurmountable odds, and players get to experience that panic first-hand.
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The Journey So Far in Fire Emblem Engage
Fire Emblem Engagebegins with the Divine Dragon (a player-insert character canonically named Alear who could be male or female) waking up from a 1,000-year slumber. It turns out their awakening happens just before the nation of Elusia attacks Lythos Castle to steal itsEmblem Rings - powerful accessories that call upon the powers of oldFire Emblemcharacters. These rings are critical to reviving the Fell Dragon Sombron, Elusia’s patron deity, and a cloaked figure kills Alear’s mother to prevent her from interfering.
Alear’s journey thus begins across the four nations of Elyos to collect the remaining Emblem Rings and help newfound allies defeat a scourge of monsters called Corrupted. After collecting six Emblems and teaming up with the royal families of Firene and Brodia, Alear’s army is prepared to invade Elusia to stop the sacrifice of Brodia’s King Morion. However,Chapter 10: “The Fell Dragon Sombron"shows that they were too late.
Despite beating Elusia’s mad King Hyacinth, his daughter Hortensia, and a Corrupted Morion, Alear’s army is faced with the overwhelming might of Sombron backed by the Four Hounds - led by Sombron’s daughter, Veyle. Alear is shocked to find a friendly character is actually a foe, and powerless as Veyle steals their Emblem Rings and the Draconic Time Crystal that players use to reverse actions during battle.Chapter 11: “Retreat"begins with no rest as Alear and company are forced to escape.
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How Retreat Turns Fire Emblem Engage’s Mechanics Back on the Player
Desperate retreat missions are not uncommon inFire Emblemgames, with one notably similar example being Chrom and the Shepherds escaping Gangrel after Ylisse’s Exalt Emmeryn sacrifices herself inFire Emblem Awakening. WhereFire Emblem Engage’s version of this convention stands out is how it incorporates those aforementioned gameplay mechanics for the mission’s antagonists.
Various soldiers around the forest are given stolen and corrupted Emblem Rings, retaining their skills. For example, the opponent partnered withCelica can use her Warp Ragnarok abilityto get the jump on players - much like they did to opponents prior. Without the Time Crystal, players are also brought back to an older era in which one wrong move means resetting the level or letting units die. Adding insult to injury, Veyle prevents Alear from recollecting his rings by distributing them to other members of the opposition instead.
All of this contributes to a spike in difficulty and pressure to succeed, which makes the eventual turn toward hope more appreciated. Elusia’s crown princess Ivy joins Alear after being cast aside by her father, bringing along the Emblem Rings for Lucina fromAwakeningandLyndis fromThe Blazing Blade. Furthermore, her retainer steals back the Time Crystal so that players have a fighting chance as the Four Hounds arrive and chase Alear to the exit.
On one hand, it’s a shame that Intelligent Systems only lets this subversion of game mechanics last half a mission. It’s a relatively novel approach to make the lowest point in this Hero’s Journey culminate with players getting to see what happens when their usual tools are turned against them. Then again, it is fitting that EmblemLucina is one of the chosen few to light a fire of hopeconsidering how well this ties intoFire Emblem Awakening’s original story.
Fire Emblem Engageis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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