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Triangle Strategy, the latest tactical RPG from the team behind Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler, promises a mature and engaging experience. Released in March 2022, the game has garnered significant attention for its intricate storyline and challenging gameplay. But does it live up to the hype? This review delves into the game’s strengths and weaknesses, exploring its compelling narrative, innovative gameplay mechanics, and potential drawbacks.

Triangle Strategy Key Art

A Gripping Narrative with Branching Paths

Set in the war-torn continent of Norzelia, Triangle Strategy weaves a complex tale of political intrigue, betrayal, and moral dilemmas. Players follow Serenoa Wolffort, the young lord of House Wolffort, as he navigates the tumultuous power struggles between the three nations: Aesfrost, Glenbrook, and Hyzante. Each nation controls a vital resource, creating a delicate balance of power easily disrupted by conflict. Thirty years prior, the Saltiron War ravaged the land, and its lingering effects continue to shape the present.

The story unfolds through Serenoa’s perspective as he takes on his new responsibilities, beginning with a politically motivated marriage to Princess Federica of Aesfrost. Fans of George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” will find familiar themes of power struggles and political maneuvering within noble houses and seemingly peaceful nations. While not as expansive as Martin’s epic, Triangle Strategy’s narrative offers a compelling depth, with each location and NPC contributing to the overall lore.

Triangle Strategy – Serenoa and Federica

The narrative truly shines in its branching paths, shaped by player choices. Key decisions significantly alter the story’s trajectory, offering a more impactful experience than many other choice-driven narratives. These choices ultimately lead to one of four distinct endings, adding significant replayability.

Triangle Strategy – In-game dialogue

Tactical Gameplay with Depth

Triangle Strategy delivers a classic tactical RPG experience with a grid-based battlefield, strategic unit placement, and a diverse range of character abilities. Players must leverage terrain, enemy positioning, and magical effects to achieve victory. The enemy AI presents a genuine challenge, utilizing flanking maneuvers and coordinated attacks.

Triangle Strategy – Battle Scene

Beyond story battles, the Encampment system allows players to train their units, purchase items, craft weapons, and upgrade characters. Given the limited number of story battles, the Encampment becomes a crucial hub for character progression.

Triangle Strategy – Combat Gameplay

The Innovative Conviction System

The Conviction system lies at the heart of Triangle Strategy’s gameplay. Serenoa’s actions, both in and out of battle, influence his Morality, Liberty, and Utility. Every decision, from selling items to specific attack choices and conversations with NPCs, impacts these three values. While the exact numerical effects remain hidden, players must carefully consider each action’s potential consequences.

Triangle Strategy – Character Interaction

The Conviction system directly influences the story’s branching paths. At key junctures, Serenoa utilizes a voting system, with the majority deciding the narrative’s direction. Players can attempt to persuade other characters, with their success depending on previous choices, Conviction values, and information gathered through exploration. This encourages thorough exploration and interaction with NPCs, further enriching the narrative.

Triangle Strategy – Conviction System

Triangle Strategy – Exploration

A Slow Start and Repetitive Grinding

Triangle Strategy’s primary weakness lies in its pacing, particularly during the early chapters. The initial hours are heavily focused on dialogue and story choices, with relatively few battles. The overabundance of cutscenes and conversations can feel tedious, especially for those eager to engage with the tactical combat.

Triangle Strategy – Cutscene

Triangle Strategy – Dialogue Heavy Opening

The repetitive nature of grinding in the Encampment mode can also become a chore. While necessary for character progression, the limited map variety and repetitive battles detract from the overall experience.

Conclusion

Despite its slow start and repetitive grinding, Triangle Strategy delivers a compelling tactical RPG experience. Its intricate narrative, innovative Conviction system, and challenging gameplay make it a must-play for fans of the genre. While the pacing issues may deter some, the game’s strengths ultimately outweigh its weaknesses, offering a rewarding and memorable journey through the war-torn world of Norzelia.