This year’s Nintendo Direct was firing on all cylinders, and in doing so delivered a mountain of hype-worthy news to fans. Front and center at the annual show was Fire Emblem: Three Houses, an upcoming game which has been sparse in details up until now. With a firm release date of July 26, fans of the long-running franchise are closer than ever to see what this long-awaited title has to offer.
The Long Wait Is Nearly Over
It’s been over ten years since a mainline Fire Emblem game graced home consoles, and given the Switch’s surge of success, it very well could be the perfect time for such a comeback. The unique plot lends itself to a wide array of narrative opportunities the series has not yet explored. Set in the land of Fódlan, the story sets the player in the role of a professor at the Officer’s Academy, a school specializing in tactics, combat, and magic. The player will choose one of the titular three houses present at the academy to teach, train, and lead into battle.
The houses- the Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and the Golden Deer- are comprised of the various ruling families on the continent. From mercenary to mentor, players will be tasked with bringing their customizable character to the forefront of combat with their students in order to tackle potentially lethal scenarios. Along with the other houses in the game, the player’s chosen house will have a plethora of characters to interact with and get to know, so expect there to be plenty of that classic Fire Emblem relationship building.
The grid-based tactical combat the series is known for will still be prevalent, but Three Houses seemingly seeks to open things up a bit. Fully explorable environments will be present in the game and will allow players to build relationships and gather useful intel for the next big battle. The major shift in story and setting, as well as the various gameplay tweaks, make Fire Emblem: Three Houses an even more exciting summer release.