Triangle Strategy

Genre: Turn-Based Strategy-RPG

Players: 1

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Review:

Triangle Strategy is a Turn-Based Strategy-RPG released on Nintendo Switch in 2022. This game follows in the footsteps of Octopath Traveler, making use of that game’s graphical style, now dubbed “HD-2D”, but with gameplay more akin to another beloved Square Enix classic, Final Fantasy Tactics.

Graphically, Triangle Strategy largely benefits from this beautiful style that it inherits from Octopath Traveler. The blend of 3D locations with 2D characters works well here as it did there, and the visual effects for things like water and lighting are quite lovely. However, the visuals aren’t quite as impressive the second time around, and in fact it’s a bit surprising how blurry the visuals can appear at times, given the deliberately retro style of some of those visuals – if you’re going to use pixel art in your game, I feel like I should actually be able to make out those pixels, not feel like I’m seeing them through a smear of Vaseline at times.

The quality of the writing here is similarly excellent, and save for a few cringeworthy minor characters, the voice acting is mostly quite good too. The game’s plot is somewhat reminiscent of Game of Thrones. It focuses on the fictional continent of Norzelia, where three kingdoms of Glenbrook, Aesfrost, and Hyzant coexist in peace after a terrible war a generation prior. Players take the role of young Serenoa Wolfort, the newly declared head of a powerful household and bannerman to the king of Glenbrook, who has become betrothed to a woman from the ruling family of Aesfrost just prior to the christening of a new mine in Glenbrook, one that promises to be lucrative to all three nations.

While this would seem to bode well for a new age of peace and diplomacy, friction is growing both within the three kingdoms, as well as between them. Aesfrost bristles at Hyzant’s taxation of salt, an invaluable resource Hyzant has sole access to. Hyzant’s powerful society is built on stifling free will and exploiting slave labor borne of racial resentment. And those close to Glenbrook’s royal family seem concerned that House Wolfort’s growing influence may see their loyalty to their nation wane. Amidst this political, racial, and religious turmoil, the idealistic, cautious, and rational Serenoa finds himself carefully weighing different options that could cause allies to become enemies.

The story in Triangle Strategy is not a small element here – depending on how much grinding players opt to partake in, they may end up spending just as much time exploring this game’s story as they do in combat, and these story sections can take a considerably long time to get through. It’s a good thing then that this is all well-written, and in fact the choices you make through the course of the story will impact that story, deciding which path you take, and which characters join your cause.

Often, players will be given a question with three possible answers, and their choice of answer will influence behind-the-scenes stats that add to Serenoa’s “convictions”, utility, morality, and liberty. In addition, the game regularly gives players an opportunity to explore their locale, enabling them to not only find hidden items and barter with shopkeeps, but also to glean information that will give them access to more story choices later on. Needless to say, this is a game where players will likely want to play through multiple times to see what different choices will make possible within the story. You’ll also at times have the various members of your party vote using “The Scales of Conviction”, each bringing their own perspective to the vote, but giving you the opportunity to sway that vote by conversing with them beforehand.

At some point here I have to mention the game’s orchestral soundtrack, and it’s… fine, I guess. While not terrible, I can’t say I’m especially enamored with it, certainly nowhere near as much as I enjoyed the Octopath Traveler soundtrack or Bravely Default II.

As for the Strategy-RPG gameplay, what’s here is good, but nothing truly groundbreaking. There are a wide variety of character classes for your characters, although sadly your characters cannot change their class, nor can you just create or recruit new characters – you’re stuck with whoever the story gives you. Battles also have multiple elements to consider, such as the advantages of flanking an enemy to get extra hits, bonus damage from elevation, and the effect that spells and weather conditions can have on the battlefield, with wet, frozen, and burning terrain each making for different potential hazards.

I should also mention that I found character progression to be somewhat slow here, with one of the major limiting factors being the need to use finite resources and money whenever you want to upgrade a character’s abilities, and even using the option to grind through battles in your camp will provide little headway here, as getting enough money to afford what you need will likely take multiple lengthy battles, and even then you’ll still be stifled by your quartermaster’s lack of resources.

Still, while the gameplay feels restrained by issues like this, overall the combination of strong Strategy-RPG gameplay and excellent well-crafted story makes Triangle Strategy an absolutely superb entry in the genre. If you’re a fan of Strategy-RPGs, this one should be a no-brainer for you.

tl;dr – Triangle Strategy is a Turn-Based Strategy-RPG that makes use of Octopath Traveler’s “HD-2D” graphical style, and pairs it with an outstanding Game of Thrones-style plot. The gameplay is a bit stifled by slow character progression and an inability to change class or recruit new members. Also, the heavy focus on story can mean you’ll sometimes go quite a while without any actual gameplay. However, the strategic elements here are still very strong, and that superb gameplay combines with the excellent story to make this an outstanding entry in the genre, despite the game’s shortcomings.

Grade: B+

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2022 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best RPG, Best Strategy Game / Simulation, Best Story, Best New Character (Serenoa Wolfort)

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