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Critic Reviews
"Whatever path you choose, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an absolute blast. It’s the best Fire Emblem title since Awakening, and it goes straight onto my list of must-play Switch games."
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"Depending on your pace of play, there could be more than 100 hours of gaming locked in Three Houses, all of which is completely worth it. This is turn-based strategy gaming heaven. "
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"While Fire Emblem: Three Houses isn’t a perfect game, it comes incredibly close to it. It quickly became my favourite Fire Emblem entry and is quite possibly my favourite TRPG of all time. After finishing the game, all I wanted to do was dive back in and take a different route. Coming from someone who doesn’t replay games, that by itself is a truly telling statement of how excellent the game is. With lovable characters, a deep combat system with great improvements, an interesting story and a beautiful presentation, there’s very little not to adore about this Switch title."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses repetitively and competently shows a clear understanding in how to deliver in not only each individual mechanic, but how they are all intrinsically linked to create an expertly crafted end-product. From the varying storylines available throughout to the engaging, deep and – surprisingly – approachable combat, Intelligent Systems have yet again created a must-have title."
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"The best game in the series, and a masterpiece in the RPG/Tactics genre. A must-have game for Switch owners and a fabulous game outright."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a masterwork in the strategy RPG genre. Everything about it is honed, polished and customizable in such a way that series veterans and new players alike can jump in and find a staggering amount of fun, challenge and charm."
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"It’s very easy to see that the team wanted to make a Fire Emblem game that would redefine what the series has been without changing the strategy parts and the result is something very special. If you ever had any interest in the series then Fire Emblem Three Houses is one you must play!"
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"Three Houses is a masterpiece of a strategy game and a brilliant relationship sim, which feels like the pinnacle of the love/tactics hybrid innovated by 2012's Awakening. With a twisting and turning main narrative and a refined but fairer battle system that retains all its tactical depths, the game's two halves combine to create a hugely customisable strategy experience with high and personal stakes."
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"With a cast of memorable characters, a compelling and intriguing story, so many gameplay choices and a world that is rich with lore and history, but still manages to be a perfect entry for new and experienced players alike, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a must-have title on the Switch that also raises the bar and our expectations for future strategy/ RPGs. "
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses fully realizes a new, meaningful direction for the franchise that makes it the best it has ever been."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a true masterpiece of strategy game design. If this is where the franchise is going, I’m very excited for its future. "
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"Three Houses is another masterpiece from the series, a must-have for Switch users fans of the franchise cannot miss. Intelligent Systems got everything right, from story to gameplay, and we can only ask you to give this fantastic adventure an opportunity."
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"It has a great division of labor between its school and battlefield segments. The characters are all quite likeable. The three storylines are different enough to beg additional replays, as is the promise of knowing everyone has unseen potential to become the units you want them to be. It’s a fantastic game that will easily become one of the NIntendo Switch’s most memorable titles."
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"There may be too much content here for busy adults to tackle! I don't know when I'm going to find the time to do full playthroughs of the other two Houses that I didn't choose to begin with! [Issue #41 – September 2019, p. 74]"
"Fire Emblem: Three Houses offers an incredible experience from beginning to end, although the “end” is not really the END, as the story certainly deserves to be viewed from more than one perspective."
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"Three Houses should be a part of any Switch owner's library at some point. It has pretty much everything you could possibly want in a video game: good graphics, great music, an epic story and, of course, top-notch gameplay. Fire Emblem has a new, higher bar moving forward, and hopefully we'll see this effort replicated for future titles."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the best Fire Emblem game since 2005’s Path of Radiance. Players who skipped Shadows of Valentia may find a lot of things strange and different at first, but it all fits together so well that it starts to feel natural pretty quickly. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing in the beginning, you can still succeed and enjoy playing in the long run. The story is fascinating, the characters are lovable and entertaining, and the presentation is great."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses was a long time in the making and, thankfully, was well worth the wait. It’s impossible to put down, bringing a deep story that involves true character development across a diverse cast, all voiced to perfection. It looks glorious and has epic turn-based battles to boot. This is a must-own game for every Switch owner."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is one of the best Tactics RPGs of all time. Intelligent Systems did a wonderful job on every aspect of the experience. One of the best games of this year hands down. "
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a near-perfect game that will be remembered for many years to come. Featuring well-crafted gameplay, an incredible cast of characters, and countless hours of content, it is a love letter to the veterans and a great starting point for newcomers who are looking to get into the series."
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"From beginning to end, Fire Emblem: Three Houses offers an engrossing story that rarely ever loses steam. In more ways than one, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the most refined entry in the series to date when it comes to the systems that matter most. Whether you’re a newcomer or got your start with Fire Emblem in Super Smash Bros. Melee, this is an exceptionally great title and one of the best strategy RPGs ever made."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses had me completely hooked from when I first picked it up, right up until the end. The ability to train your units in extremely flexible ways in addition to throwing away the old weapon triangle has made combat so much more interesting to engage with. The teaching and monthly schedule provided a welcome respite from the battles, making each one feel so much more engaging. Despite the series continuing to suffer from two-dimensional writing for their characters, I still had a lot of fun taking my favourites to tea and pairing them off together. This is a fantastic installment for returning fans or newcomers playing for the first time."
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"A long, great and very deep game, with a wonderful story and amazing characters. We love acting as a teacher, and being able to develop the potential of our students with so many possibilities."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses succeeds in its ambitious telling of a land at war helmed by captivating leaders, in which no side has all the answers. Its tense battles are made all the more harrowing thanks to new strategy elements, and the colorful cast of troops you send into the fray are incredibly charming. With a new take on training and bonding with your units, and the many activities and options available to sample, it’s absolutely begging to be played multiple times."
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"I have never beaten a sixty-hour game and immediately wanted to jump back in for round two. Fire Emblem: Three Houses pulls you in with its rock-solid grid-based combat. But it keeps you invested by offering rich characters, deep squad customization, and an enthralling story that keeps you guessing. It’s is easily the best RPG of 2019—so far."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is ambitious, and takes more chances than previous entries in the series. The way it lets your role as professor play into both the narrative and gameplay is nothing short of fantastic. This is the most I’ve ever cared about my Fire Emblem characters, and that’s incredibly high praise."
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"While strategy is indubitably a large part of Fire Emblem's DNA, the vast majority of my enjoyment was found having lunch with classmates and getting to know them better."
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"Three Houses is probably the best Fire Emblem in a long, long time. Intelligent Systems tells a poignant, brutal story which takes a few hours to get to the point but ends up delivering in spades."
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"By fully taking advantage of its medium Fire Emblem: Three Houses tells a compelling story and makes you feel part of it by letting you take a side in a complex and morally grey conflict. Gameplay wise, Thee Houses delivers a fun and accessible strategy RPG that has everything that Fire Emblem fans have loved through the years. One of the best Nintendo Switch exclusives so far."
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"We are facing the most titanic work from Intelligent Systems. Not only of the Fire Emblem saga, but of any of their titles. A playable and replayable masterpiece with more than 150 hours of new content."
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"Fire Emblem continues to be a franchise on the rise, and Three Houses just took the series to another peak."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the perfect step forward for an almost-three-decade-old tactical RPG franchise. Incredibly huge and still incredibly fun."
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"Fire Emblem Three Houses is one of Switch's best games of 2019 and a breeze of fresh air to this franchise. Unfortunately, its poor animations preclude any possibility of being the game of the year."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is another must-have release for the Nintendo Switch. Featuring some of the most robust and enjoyable turn-based combat around, along with characters you'll truly want to keep alive throughout the entire 50+ hour story."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses stands tall as a true step forward for the franchise both in terms of presentation and gameplay, which I am certain will propel the series to yet another level of relevancy and popularity."
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"With an epic story, lasting consequences for decisions, and combat that's more enjoyable than ever, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is sure to satisfy. Ultimately, it isn't without faults yet it's still a top-notch entry in the series and one of 2019's best games."
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"A fantastic experience that will take over your life for hours on end. Tactical battles and micromanagement of your units join forces with complex relationships and a good story."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a masterful game that maintains the story and drama of previous entries, but allows you to train and grow your characters on a much larger scale than before. While the graphics, UI and level design are far from perfect, the addictive gameplay loop and dynamic story are of very high quality."
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Edge Magazine
"As Bernadetta's heartwarming lethality proves, the payoff is well worth the investment. [Issue#336, p.110]"
"Although battles still feel the same before, all the systems around them have undergone huge changes. You can spend hours refining your school class and perfecting strategies. A game to keep you truly busy this summer."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses does a tremendous job presenting a more immersive experience in the series’ first console entry in a decade. The three paths all present unique and compelling perspectives into the rich cast, and the Persona-like school life segments are a breath of fresh air that give players a lot more to do besides constant battling. The strategy gameplay is more or less the same with a few alterations and additions, but it remains a shining example of the genre. Every element meshes together well to make Fire Emblem: Three Houses one of the best games in this long-running series."
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"With Fire Emblem: Three Houses, a series known for its extravagant tales of power-grabbing attains an especially epic, moral grandeur with its focus on the interplay between education and religion."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an amazing title for new and old fans alike, with a gripping story and gameplay that can ease one in easy or start out rigorously hard for any type of player. There’s so much to be experienced in the world of Fodlan that anyone looking for a wonderful tactic RPG will be in for a fantastic time."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses might be the best Fire Emblem game yet, and the best strategy JRPG I've played in years. Whether you're totally new to the series or a lapsed fan, this is an essential Nintendo Switch game for any JRPG fan. "
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a very strong contender for the best Fire Emblem game. Pretty much every change to the systems is a smashing success, the storyline is fun and engaging, the characters are likeable, and the presentation is excellent. It's possible that the combat changes won't work for every fan of the franchise, but they feel like the series' strengths have been refined, without the plot weaknesses that hurt Fates. Three Houses is a must-have for tactical gamers, fans of the franchise, or anyone who's looking for a solid JRPG on the Switch."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is very ambitious in scope and delivers in every aspect. The relationships between characters are deep and their stories are well told. The main story features multiple branching paths with twists and turns everywhere, it practically begs a second or third play-through. The new activities perfectly blend Fire Emblem with social simulators. The combat remains as engaging as ever. Fire Emblem: Three Houses sees the franchise make the transition back to a home console, and it couldn’t have done a better job."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is far from just an upscaling of the 3DS games. It’s an evolution for the series which makes it appealing and accessible even to those who aren’t crazy about strategy RPGs. It’s a great gateway for the genre and another excellent addition to the Switch library."
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"Three Houses is fantastic in terms of story-telling, relationship management, and graphics performance. Three different and engaging storylines make the game worth playing multiple times. Although some parts of new game mechanics don't work perfectly, the core strategy elements are great as usual."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a fantastic entry in the series, and has quickly become one of my favorite RPGs of the modern era. "
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"Fire Emblem Three Houses is the hit we were waiting for. Great fighting system, more customization and a lot of management create a amazing game with many decisions that must be made."
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"The most ambitious videogame in the Fire Emblem series, with three campaigns and more than 100 hours of gameplay. If you want RPG tactical turns, this is one of the best options."
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"Fire Emblem Three Houses could have its ups and downs, but it's one of the most ambitious entries in the series. Focused on social links and relationships, with improvements on battlefield and great visuals, Intelligent System made a significant step forward looking toward the future."
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"Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo have managed to create a game that - even if it juggles with several complex playable systems - manages to find a great balance between them to deliver one of those solid, charismatic experiences that fans will remember for years."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses succeeds in bringing a breath of fresh air into a saga that is perhaps too anchored to its own style, it does so by renewing the experience without losing sight of the deep strategic soul that has always been the trademark of Intelligent Systems’ works. The pace of the game may seem a bit diluted to the most fundamentalist fans, but the overall result is, in our opinion, absolutely convincing and worthy."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses does a great job of bringing the series to the Nintendo Switch. The graphics are fantastic, bringing the heroes to life with stunning artwork and visuals. Performance is smooth in both docked and handheld mode, allowing you to enjoy Fire Emblem in its traditional portable form, or from the comfort of your favorite spot on the couch."
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"Like every massive monument, Fire Emblem: Three Houses has been built slowly, but surely. The candid though deep links established in the monastery, theatre of a true student life with plentiful lessons and occupations, are used to express the canevas' dramatic intent, exceptionally dark. And this dense universe features an unprecedented scope, also displayed by the scale of battles lead in unison on large maps, resolutely overpopulated. Then the accent put on human relations and the natural, if not organic aspect of the peregrinations resulting from the gameplay evolutions almost appear to push the tactical dimension into the background. This episode is nonetheless based on its imposing heritage of principles, wisely refined to make the whole experience more coherent. Never did the series deploy such opulence, while giving the choice to discover the extent of its richness freely, whatever one's teaching implication degree. A long-term work anyway, accomplished by the masterful triple hands of Intelligent Systems, Koei Tecmo and Nintendo. In a word, grandiose."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a triumphant RPG experience and one of the greatest games you can play on Nintendo Switch right now. It takes the series’ formula and propels it forward with some fascinating new changes, and every single system works in tandem to create something rather stunning. Technical blemishes aside, Intelligent Systems has really outdone itself here."
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"It goes without saying that Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a massive title. There’s a ton of things to do both in and out of battle, with variety scattered throughout most elements to keep you on your toes. It’s safe to say it’s the most polished and engaging console entry in the Fire Emblem series to date. With the staggering amount of content and more in the pipeline via multiple waves of DLC, the game may very well keep you entertained for the remainder of the Switch’s promising life cycle."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses soars on to Switch with a fully-realized school setting, deep character customization, and multiple full-length campaigns. While it loses momentum in the second half, it still manages to come off as a striking reinvention of the well-worn Fire Emblem formula. That makes its first real console appearance in more than a decade a triumph."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is unrivaled in its scope and execution on Nintendo Switch to resoundingly deliver strategic perfection, whether at home or on the move. With a memorable cast of characters – complemented with commendable voice acting – it is the meticulous worldbuilding that elevates it to become one of the best games available on the portable home console. More than that, it’s Fire Emblem at its very best."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses doesn’t change how it plays on the battlefield, but its greatest advancements lie in the moments between the horror of war. The bonds forged between comrades in arms, the drive to really get to know the cast who you spill blood with and the opportunity to truly learn about the finality of death all combine across a vast and sweeping fantasy epic that’ll leave you breathless by the time the credits finally roll. "
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses can best be summed up as a carefully crafted mix of old and new that feels comfortable to pick up, though perhaps its new mechanics take a while to get accustomed to. Its visual presentation may be slightly underwhelming, and not quite yet the ambitious step-up into the realm of HD that it could have been, however it is so captivating and addictive in every way that those blemishes should absolutely not take away from the exceptional display of balance, and the blend of the new school setting into the very roots of its gameplay. It is an all-around very comprehensive display of mastery on Intelligent Systems' part."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an inspired innovation of a time-tested franchise, providing the same tactics fans love in a much more inviting package."
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"With a visual handheld-to-console upgrade that puts Pokemon Let’s Go! to shame, Fire Emblem: Three Houses shows how to do a console glow-up right."
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"With the Switch’s delightful dual abilities, Three Houses fittingly bookends the series’ triumphant run on the 3DS and becomes the first big-screen outing in over a decade. It also surpasses them all. A masterpiece of strategy, story-telling and intertwining relationships, Three Houses deserves to make Intelligent Systems a household name."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is, quite possibly, the most ambitious JRPG you'll play this year. And perhaps the most impressive part about the whole game is that it actually manages to deliver on that ambition."
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"Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo have come together to create an absolute masterpiece of a strategy game. RPG elements have been seamlessly integrated into the Fire Emblem series and all the additional activities that can be partaken in just add more to the characters in this world. The main draw for the Fire Emblem series, the combat, is the best it has ever been. It has its minor issues, but what game doesn’t? I can’t recommend Fire Emblem: Three Houses enough, it is one of those titles that we will still be discussing in a decade’s time."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses brings the tactical and emotional goods to the Nintendo Switch; despite some rough spots, this entry is a series best."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is even more approachable than its predecessors. The game includes a lot of diverse activities, and because of that it never feels repetitive. All the game asks of you is a little bit of patience."
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"Three Houses is so vibrant that I didn't really mind the lack of difficulty. I was too invested in the characters, and looking forward to the next major plot point too much to really care. It can be bloated, messy, and unnecessarily padded with content at times, but when it comes to the core strengths of Fire Emblem - its character-driven epic fantasy, tight tactical battles and a full harem of both waifu and husbandos, Intelligent Systems have delivered something truly resonant with this one."
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"When all was said and done, all I could think about was starting another playthrough."
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"There was a lot riding on it, but we can confidently say that Fire Emblem: Three Houses has managed to live up to the hype and will stand as a highlight in the series for years to come. The expanded gameplay styles, retooled combat, lovable characters, and in-depth character customization hook you fast and are almost guaranteed to keep you engaged for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours as you come to understand this enormous game in its entirety. Fans both new and old won’t want to miss out on what Fire Emblem: Three Houses has to offer; this sets a new standard for what a strategy RPG can be and most certainly proves itself to be the next must-have release for the Nintendo Switch."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses borrows some of the management elements from the Persona franchise, creating a fairly deep system of activities that will eat your free time like a glutton beast. The gameplay is still amazing and character relations are so fun that even the sometimes truly disgusting environment graphics can't ruin the greatness this game is as a whole."
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"It's far too easy for the harcore fanbase and it's definitely not a technical marvel, but Fire Emblem Three Houses is nonetheless a deep and rewarding strategy game and one of the best entries in the long-running franchise."
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"For me, Fire Emblem is just the right mix of brains, excitement, love, suffering and tactical thinking."
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"Compelling, cerebral and elegantly deep, Fire Emblem: Three Houses marries the tactical acumen of its turn-based battles with a management dimension that exalts even more the role of the strategic spirit of Intelligent Systems. At the center there are three abundant campaigns and an extraordinary cast of characters: an indispensable tactical experience for the "elite fighters", but on which hides the shadow of a visual frame between high and low. Nevertheless, the new Nintendo exclusive goes into the field proclaiming itself the next 2019 Switch champion."
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"If you've had a Fire Emblem-shaped hole in your heart till now, Fire Emblem: Three Houses will leave you breathless, sleepless, and eager for more. I know I'll be lost in this new world for months to come."
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Game World Navigator Magazine
"Large selection of classes, good AI and wide variety of missions make Fire Emblem: Three Houses one of the best turn-based tactics. [Issue#240, p.50] "
"The fans of Fire Emblem can be reassured, Three Houses lives up to its name, and is undoubtedly one of the most well-rounded épisodes of the IP. The only let down are the ugly graphics due to the Switch's technical limitations."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an excellent management title that catches you by the variety and depth of the gameplay. Although its main value is to allow the player to control so many factors in a simple and intuitive way, he perfects the formula with a very varied and complex narrative. In addition, it is one of the greatest exponents of turn-based combat games, since its battles have a learning curve suitable for engaging us for long hours. On the other hand, aesthetically has little to be ashamed of, since the really important sections are solved in a brilliant way like the CGI or the character design. Undoubtedly, a video game that requires dedication, but in return gives great doses of joy that result in many hours of deep management and exciting fighting."
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"Three Houses is expanding the Fire Emblem series in an interesting way, cause your choices are important in developing your fighters. The story is not perfect, but with a large number of interesting characters, this is an impressive new Fire Emblem."
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"In a lot of ways, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is exactly what you would want a well-respected series to do when transitioning to a new console. It pushes the series in a discernible new direction with purpose. The game's problems are relatively minor and Three Houses largely nails the most important aspects, namely having excellent characters and tactical combat that contains depth without being overwhelming, leading to a strategy game that's very easy to feel connected to."
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"An engaging story and superb battle system keeps you coming back hour after hour, but Three Houses suffers from a lack of variety in the RPG sections."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an ambitious and charming game, but in many ways it is also terribly clumsy and unbalanced in its design. It may be pleasant to choose your class and students, interact with them, train them and go to battle, but this ends up becoming heavy and repetitive. When starting FE3H, one should note that it is not just the tactical side of gameplay that is important, but that the school management, dialogue, exploration and mini-games are all crucial to the overall experience."
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"The turn-based tactics are deep and challenging, in short: on top of their game. Everything else though, from the narrative to most of the boring side-quests, is hit-and-miss."
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"It is strange to talk about pacing and bloat and a slow-moving plot when the turn-based battles are built on a foundation of ‘taking your time to make the right move’. But in adding so much and painting on such a large canvas, it’s hard not to eventually feel a little lost or stuck in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Like a student sitting at the back of classroom, watching the clock, wondering just why this hour-long lecture is beginning to feel like an eternity."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a new start for the series that also got the new ideas of its predecessor right. Although the weapon triangle is still missing, what we get this time turned out to be much deeper and better. It takes time to experiment and switch between different job types, but in the end you can have an army that is completely unique to your particular game type. And when we are tired of fighting, it is extremely gratifying to exchange all that for pure conversations and lessons, while still giving our characters experience points. Fans who were discouraged by Shadows of Valentia can thus breathe peacefully. Fire Emblem: Three Houses shows that the series is back on its feet again, better than ever."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses arrived on the Nintendo Switch with the mission to become the ultimate experience of that name and while it may not outshine all its predecessors in every single aspect, Three Houses boasts the best world, plot and gameplay of the entire series. If some of its moments may seem too repetitive, the game's marvelous writing and plot development will help consolidate this as an indispensable game for any Fire Emblem fan or for any tactical RPGs fan, for that matter."
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"There are a few prerequisites you have to meet in order to enjoy Fire Emblem: Three Houses for dozens of hours: you can't be weirded out by the Japanese weird, you have to accept the unique visual style and hundreds of silly (but mandatory) conversations and activities, including fishing, growing plants and eating soup. If you think you lack at least one of the above skills, we recommend finding another game."
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"It all adds up to a new lease of life for one of Nintendo’s younger series, bolstered by revised combat and a gorgeous new look that endows these 3D characters with the grace and style of older games’ portrait art. By turns grandiose and silly, but always engrossing, this bubbling school soap opera is a game to spend a summer with."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses does a laudable job of bringing Intelligent Systems’ strategy series to Nintendo’s hybrid console, and I’m likely going to be playing for months to come. The ability to take command of three different houses, each with their own roster of students, adds plenty of replay value. Still, I’m going to keep my Game Boy Advance Micro loaded with a copy of Fire Emblem handy for those days when I want to feel what it’s like to really risk the deaths of beloved heroes in battle."
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"Despite some of my misgivings with the challenge available or the storyline itself, I still come away quite fond of Fire Emblem: Three Houses largely due to is characters and world. As I write this review, I am eager to return to the game to finish up the remaining routes as soon as I can get around to them. "
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is great in a lot of respects. The game flies by with its various mechanics, making for a highly entertaining adventure. That being said, I can't shake off the feeling that the final acts in the various routes could've been better. When I spent 60 hours on singular route, only to be greeted with a bummer of an ending, it stung a lot. Combining the crapshoot of your ending with a few technical problems drags the whole game down. The actual character arcs, complete with fully voiced interactions, do a great job of accounting for the limitations, thankfully. Three Houses is certainly worth seeing through, but it is way more about the journey than the end."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses features some of the most refined and enjoyable battle mechanics the series has seen since its successful renaissance with Awakening. But the renewed focus on support relationships gets in the way of what some may have valued most from the franchise – the strength of its strategic design and the battles themselves. Regardless, it’s hard to argue that Three Houses is the best Fire Emblem since Awakening, so it’s still worth your time, even if you’ll have to spend it wisely."
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"Intelligent Systems has gone big with its latest Fire Emblem and it’s a real achievement, layering up the base game with an absorbing system of customisation options and character development. But at times it feels too big, and will demand plenty of time and patience to see it through."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses tries to evolve the classic formula changing the way you fight and manage your heroes. Doing so, the game has lost something both in consistency and integrity."
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"In reinventing Fire Emblem for a new console generation, Three Houses doubles down on its philosophy of player choice, but neglects to make all choices equally valid."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a long and content-packed experience, which sometimes makes the grind become more pronounced. While I was able to ignore the dull elements for a long time, it eventually weighs the game down."
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"for all the little ways I can nitpick Fire Emblem: The Three Houses, there is no denying the elegance with which so many of the gameplay systems are intertwined. I enjoyed micromanaging the progression of my students on and off the battlefield. I just wish I was able to think of them as more than colorful pawns."
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"A disappointingly clumsy attempt to evolve the Fire Emblem formula that takes little advantage of being on the Switch, but the anime melodrama and fun combat still entertains."
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"Fire Emblem: Three Houses is not a bad game - it starts off strong and for some reason systematically unpicks everything by the time you’re 30 hours in. The battle system is fairly impressive but still carries some of the flaws the series has had for the past decade, and the writing of the central cast feels like a step back compared to the 3DS series’ entries."
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In Progress & Unscored Reviews
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"Fire Emblem goes back to school for the most epic, generous and dynamic outing for the series yet. [Eurogamer Recommended]"
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"It isn’t pretty or easy, and it comes with more than its share of heartbreak. But it is worth it: to fight, to resist, to push for a better world. In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude all envision a future for Fódlan that’s radically different from the one they live in. By the end of the game, one of their dreams will be realized. It’s nice to spend time in a world where that’s not only certain, but believable."
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"It takes a lot of brain power to keep these relationships going and win battles. But there's no way I'm stopping now."
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"I was so captivated when I finished my first 52-hour campaign with Claude, Ignatz, and the crew of the Golden Deer that I immediately went ahead and started a new one, desperate to see what the differences would be, what new friends I’d make, and which old friends I’d have to stab in the heart. I’m just that sort of weirdo. [Polygon Recommends]"
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"This shift away from the generational system of the Awakening and Fates, and towards a more robust take on character development that takes notes from influences as diverse as Final Fantasy Tactics and Princess Maker, should not be undersold. Stepping away from that design, instead of simply making it shine bright on the big screen thanks to the Switch, is fundamentally a risky move. But I also think it’s a smart one."
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