Keeping secrets in the video game industry has become increasingly more difficult in modern times. And it’s easy to see why, as quite often there is a reasonably sized team behind projects, making it hard to keep everything under wraps, especially with so many eager, hawk-eyed fans watching developers. But this is why there is a whimsical, and almost enigmatic magic when a title shadow drops, without any warning or rumours circulating. It would be hard to deny that this didn’t contribute to the success of Oblivion Remastered, as no one anticipated its arrival – it was a complete surprise. Square Enix has followed in these footsteps and has shadow dropped Triangle Strategy, one of the most engrossing tactical RPGs in recent years, on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
If you’re unfamiliar with Triangle Strategy, the title was initially released on the Nintendo Switch in March 2022, with a PC port following later that year. It was only available on these two platforms until a Meta Quest version of the game was released last year. The development of the game is a collaborative effort between Square Enix and Artdink, with the title being led by Tomoya Asano, the creative mind behind Octopath Traveler and the Bravely Default series. But unlike those titles, the gameplay adopts a turn-based tactical RPG format similar to Tactics Ogre and Fire Emblem.
A Political Scandal Unfolds
Triangle Strategy takes place thirty years after the brutal Saltriron War. The continent of Norzelia has managed to maintain peace, although tension still simmers between the nations. This fragile alliance is on the verge of collapse when the three major kingdoms come together for a joint mining expedition. At the centre of this turmoil is Serenoa, a young warrior and heir to the noble house of Wolffort. Alongside his loyal comrades, he finds himself caught in a web of political deceit that threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of power among the kingdoms.
The plot is written exceptionally well, with constant twists and turns seamlessly integrated into the story. Around every corner, there’s a new political scandal and conspiracy that the group is trying to navigate through. Whether it’s arranged marriages, political alliances, or even ruthless betrayals, everyone has an agenda and a motive behind their actions. It sometimes feels reminiscent of watching a hyper-political show like Game of Thrones or Vinland Saga, as the overall story is highly thought-out, and you’re constantly wondering how other characters will react or retaliate to specific actions.
However, there are a few downsides that slightly spoil the broth, so to speak. The main sticking point is that all the cutscenes are rather lengthy, with many lasting up to an hour, so a substantial amount of time is spent away from the gameplay. This disparity between combat and cutscenes is most evident in the first few hours of the game, as you don’t have much freedom, and you have to concentrate on the story. In Chapter 4, you’ll gain access to a feature (called Mental Mock Battles) where you can spend time in combat scenarios unrelated to the story. Admittedly, it was only after this that I became fully immersed in the experience, as I was able to create my own pacing. Safe to say, if you’re not a massive fan of story-rich narratives, you may struggle with these almighty big cutscenes.
The English voice acting also feels really rigid and stiff, especially with certain characters, including the protagonist, Serenoa. I found it so off-putting that I entirely gave up with the English audio and just switched to Japanese, which was far better. No matter the genre, it’s crucial for story-focused experiences to get the voice acting right, as it can easily make you feel disconnected from the characters and their emotions. Unfortunately, this is the case here.
Mind Games On The Battlefield
If you’ve played other turn-based RPGs like Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics, you know what to expect from the gameplay. Each turn, you can move a unit across the grid and decide to take an action, like using an item or unleashing an attack on the opponent’s army. The winner of the conflict is usually determined by who eliminates all the opposing units first.
This may sound like a simple affair, but there are so many elements of the battle that you need to consider, and if you misjudge a situation, it can easily change the tide of battle in a matter of turns. For instance, if you attack an enemy from behind, it will inflict more damage. However, this could potentially leave the character closer to the enemy units, making it vulnerable to incoming aggression. Do you play it safe and strike from the front, or maximise the bloodshed by attacking from behind? These are the types of dilemmas you’ll have to face during the fight, which forces you to pay attention at all times.
Another aspect to bear in mind is how you utilise Tactical Points (TP). Each character has their own unique, special attacks that they can use on the battlefield. However, unleashing these actions will consume a certain amount of TP, and you can only gain one TP each turn. This can leave you in an interesting predicament, where you’re constantly deliberating whether it’s best to use TP the moment you obtain it and then rebuild, or hold tight until you encounter a higher-level unit. I would often sit on the TP accumulated until I was fighting the more powerful units on the field, but to say there were no occasions when I didn’t break this rule would be a lie.
Every unit you send out to battle will also have a distinctive fighting style, whether they’re a fearless close-combat swordman, a valiant lancer, or a tactical magic wielder. There are definitely similarities between some characters, but not one single character fights the same way. This encourages you to deploy every character at least once, so you can get a rough idea of how each character fights, very much like Fire Emblem. Personally, I liked characters who attack from a distance, such as Frederica, who manipulates fire, and Rudolph, a reformed criminal archer. Therefore, I would often spearhead the battle with these types of units, but you can definitely fight in whatever style you think best suits your playstyle.
The conflicts feel incredibly high-paced and engaging, as you’re constantly weighing the best course of action to take. Some of these fights can easily last up to an hour, especially in the latter half of the game, where some of the enemies can be rather difficult to take down, even if you’re playing on normal difficulty. It feels like a lot is on the line, as if you make the simplest mistake, it could potentially lead to you having to replay the entire level.
The tactical mind games are definitely on par with other juggernaut titles in this space, but Triangle Strategy is arguably easier in comparison, as it lacks permadeath. This means that even if a character falls in battle, they are not permanently dead moving forward. This leaves a bit of wiggle room for trial and error, as there are no long-lasting consequences if you black-out. The entire combat strikes an interesting balance of being approachable for newcomers while also providing a healthy challenge for skilled veterans.
Scales of Conviction Directly Influence The Story
A unique feature that makes Triangle Strategy stand out is how your choices directly mold the events that transpire. At different points throughout the story, your party will face dilemmas that require you to vote on the best course of action. This democratic process is known as the Scales of Conviction and involves the seven original members of your group. Before each character casts their crucial vote at the ballot box, you can engage in conversations with them to influence their decisions. Several factors can impact the influence you have over the conversation, such as gathering specific information or choosing dialogue options that resonate with each character’s personality.
Each choice represents one of three values: Morality, Utility, and Liberty. Each time you select one of these options, the corresponding stat for that value will increase. Over time, this will influence how others interact with Serenoa, making specific courses of action easier or more difficult for them to pursue. Some of these choices have a minor impact on the story, but others will even dictate what ending you will receive. There are four endings in total, with three classified as character endings and the last one being the “golden ending”. Once you have completed the game, you will unlock New Game+, where you can see how each dialogue option relates to a value.
I really liked the fact that it uses a political voting system as a vehicle for how the story can branch into different pathways. Serenoa truly feels like a diplomat in these moments, as he’s generally trying to determine what is in the best interest of his kingdom, his comrades, and himself. It took me just a little over thirty hours to complete my first playthrough, so there’s a ton of replay value to be found if you’re a completionist who likes to see every single outcome possible.
Unlike the Nintendo Switch version, where the framerate would noticeably drop (especially in handheld mode), Triangle Strategy plays flawlessly on the PS5. This really helps Tomoya Asano’s signature HD-2D aesthetics stand out. I would often find myself taking a break from the combat just to appreciate how the 2D sprites interweaved with the environmental terrain. It really is beautiful to look at. The character’s art designs from the menu screen are also fantastic.
Triangle Strategy may have a few blemishes here and there, but overall, this is an excellent tactical RPG. Whether it’s the highly politically charged story or the challenging combat, everything that happens feels high-stakes, and it’s easy to get invested in the entire experience after you push through the initial hours. If you like games that encourage you to think before you act, you can’t go wrong with Triangle Strategy.
Disclaimer: Square Enix provided a PlayStation 5 copy of Triangle Strategy for review purposes.
