Review aggregate site Metacritic has confirmed that the Fire Emblem Engage review embargo lifts on Tuesday, January 17 at 6am PT. This means that it's just a matter of hours from the time of this writing when Fire Emblem fans will know what critics think of the latest entry in the long-running strategy game series.The Fire Emblem franchise has been going for decades, but its success outside of Japan is still fairly recent. Nintendo was prepared to put the Fire Emblem franchise on ice, but the massive success of Fire Emblem: Awakening on the 3DS changed its plans. Fire Emblem: Awakening's popularity reinvigorated interest in the series, drew in new fans, and laid the groundwork for the many sequels and spinoffs that would follow.Fire Emblem: Awakening also has the distinction of being the highest-rated game in the series so far, with an impressive 92 overall rating. Switch exclusive Fire Emblem: Three Houses came close with an 89 overall rating, but fell just short of reaching Awakening's heights. Time will tell where the Fire Emblem Engage reviews will land, but fans will find out when the review embargo lifts on January 17 at 6am PT.
Fire Emblem Engage gameplay has looked impressive so far, and early previews for the game seem to be mostly positive. However, some fans have criticized certain aspects about the game, like its Emblem Ring gimmick that brings back characters from past entries. There are those who are worried that this new gameplay gimmick will bog things down, but that remains to be seen. Hopefully the Fire Emblem Engage reviews provide insight into the Emblem gimmick and the impact it has on the overall experience.
On the other hand, some changes coming with Fire Emblem Engage have been met with enthusiasm. While there are those who would prefer that the game stick with its traditional setup, many are happy to see that Fire Emblem Engage is ditching weapon durability. It's unclear how much of an impact this will have on the final product, but that's something else that will likely be explored in the Fire Emblem Engage reviews that go live tomorrow morning.
Most main series Fire Emblem games have earned critical acclaim and so chances are good Fire Emblem Engage will join them. It's one of the first big new game releases of 2023, and so Fire Emblem Engage could very well set the tone for the rest of the year.
Fire Emblem Engage launches January 20, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.