DLC for Fire Emblem Engage
Fight alongside new allies and old foes to quell a rising darkness in Fell Xenologue!
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For the money spent on this and the other bracelet DLC it is not worth the price tag of $30. Just not enough content to warrant the price tag. The Fell Xenologue story is hit and miss at times. It's story is better than Engage's base story but not by a huge amount.
Pros:
1. Story is better than Engage's story, but it is not a great story or anything. It's fast paced and very short. It does not overstay its welcome, and it's more of a side story showing how a different world played out.
2. You get to have more characters to use in the base game after you are finished with this DLC story.
3. The last two maps are interesting with how you have to play them.
4. It's cool to not have to worry about killing every unit in this story because of no levelling up mechanic, and the preset weapons and items make less thinking involved when it comes to just starting the battle and stuff. Gives a different feel than Engage's main story where you have so many options to tinker around with and customization.
Cons:
1. Costs too much for what you get for just this story, and counting the bracelets.
2. This is not a separate game mode at the title screen like in Three Houses. You have to play through it every time you make a new save in Engage if you want to use any characters from the DLC story. If you finish this story too soon in the main story it can screw you over when it comes to the DLC bracelet maps when it comes to levels, because two of the characters will come at level 20 and make the challenge maps up its levels, making it harder to complete or make you complete it when you get to the end of the base game instead.
3. Besides the final two maps of Fell Xenologue, the map design felt lazy. It was just big open areas of a bunch of enemies to fight. At least the final two maps had something interesting going on.
4. Nil is too much of a liability in the story, it's dumb. Especially after you finish the story Nil being so squishy and useless while playing it makes less sense with how the story unfolds. You will know what I mean if you have finished it. Nil should not have been a playable unit in the battles, or if he went to 0 hp in the story a different story branch should open up. Ah well.
5. This story is very low budget. Felt like Nintendo barely gave any money or time to the team that was developing it. It feels way too short, it has pictures to tell the story of it a lot of the time, the maps up until the last two are pretty much just open areas where it's just KO the leader unit. The recurring villains in the base game's story pop up here as good guy units with color swapped clothes. It's eh.
6. The game does not feel play tested properly, as normal is too easy, hard seems to be too hard, and maddening even harder. It is not in line with the difficulty of the base game's difficulty at all, so that's just weird. You would think with having each battle having preset weapons, items, and levels that it would be easy to balance it.
7. Not sure why for the forced deployed units in this story you cannot edit their inventory before starting the map. You can edit the other units' inventory no problem. Either let me edit everyone's inventories or none at all.
Overall I would have wished they not even make this story and just spent the rest of their resources including more bracelets for you to do challenge maps to acquire to have more fun in the game with. That, and challenge maps that do not involve acquiring bracelets or rings. It is what it is though. I at least got this DLC for free as a gift, so yay haha.
Pros:
1. Story is better than Engage's story, but it is not a great story or anything. It's fast paced and very short. It does not overstay its welcome, and it's more of a side story showing how a different world played out.
2. You get to have more characters to use in the base game after you are finished with this DLC story.
3. The last two maps are interesting with how you have to play them.
4. It's cool to not have to worry about killing every unit in this story because of no levelling up mechanic, and the preset weapons and items make less thinking involved when it comes to just starting the battle and stuff. Gives a different feel than Engage's main story where you have so many options to tinker around with and customization.
Cons:
1. Costs too much for what you get for just this story, and counting the bracelets.
2. This is not a separate game mode at the title screen like in Three Houses. You have to play through it every time you make a new save in Engage if you want to use any characters from the DLC story. If you finish this story too soon in the main story it can screw you over when it comes to the DLC bracelet maps when it comes to levels, because two of the characters will come at level 20 and make the challenge maps up its levels, making it harder to complete or make you complete it when you get to the end of the base game instead.
3. Besides the final two maps of Fell Xenologue, the map design felt lazy. It was just big open areas of a bunch of enemies to fight. At least the final two maps had something interesting going on.
4. Nil is too much of a liability in the story, it's dumb. Especially after you finish the story Nil being so squishy and useless while playing it makes less sense with how the story unfolds. You will know what I mean if you have finished it. Nil should not have been a playable unit in the battles, or if he went to 0 hp in the story a different story branch should open up. Ah well.
5. This story is very low budget. Felt like Nintendo barely gave any money or time to the team that was developing it. It feels way too short, it has pictures to tell the story of it a lot of the time, the maps up until the last two are pretty much just open areas where it's just KO the leader unit. The recurring villains in the base game's story pop up here as good guy units with color swapped clothes. It's eh.
6. The game does not feel play tested properly, as normal is too easy, hard seems to be too hard, and maddening even harder. It is not in line with the difficulty of the base game's difficulty at all, so that's just weird. You would think with having each battle having preset weapons, items, and levels that it would be easy to balance it.
7. Not sure why for the forced deployed units in this story you cannot edit their inventory before starting the map. You can edit the other units' inventory no problem. Either let me edit everyone's inventories or none at all.
Overall I would have wished they not even make this story and just spent the rest of their resources including more bracelets for you to do challenge maps to acquire to have more fun in the game with. That, and challenge maps that do not involve acquiring bracelets or rings. It is what it is though. I at least got this DLC for free as a gift, so yay haha.
This review contains spoilers
Well this was kinda ass, i finished the dlc before i finished the main game and the story is ok i think its nothing special really. But why do i get restricted in the battles???? Why does the difficulty ramp up like 10 fold on later maps
Why does chapter 5 exist. Why cant i get anything in battles no bond levels, no experience, no supports. Nothing you literally play this for the new characters because you dont gain anything otherwise. Also why are griss, zephia and marnie different in that world but everyone else isnt. it would make sense if everyone is different but its literally just those 3. what makes it even more weird that not even all of the 4 hounds are different its literally just zephia, marnie and griss. Mauvier is unchanged. They were like yeah we dont need a different mauvier you already get him in the main game so why bother. Cindered shadows was so much better lol
Why does chapter 5 exist. Why cant i get anything in battles no bond levels, no experience, no supports. Nothing you literally play this for the new characters because you dont gain anything otherwise. Also why are griss, zephia and marnie different in that world but everyone else isnt. it would make sense if everyone is different but its literally just those 3. what makes it even more weird that not even all of the 4 hounds are different its literally just zephia, marnie and griss. Mauvier is unchanged. They were like yeah we dont need a different mauvier you already get him in the main game so why bother. Cindered shadows was so much better lol
Despite what some fans may tell you, this DLC is not at all significantly better written than the main game, and the core concept around it is kinda goofy anyway. It's around the same level as the main story but with more unabashed edge. That being said, the new characters were all fairly enjoyable (even though all FX Lord counterparts except Celine were just "what if they just had the exact opposite personality") with Nel of course being the standout.
The maps all felt insanely long compared to the main game, not helped by the godawful way they chose to set each characters' stats, classes and inventory, though I found the first 4 enjoyable. Chapters 5 and 6 however are best just not mentioned if you're playing above normal difficulty. But hey, at least the new music goes hard.
All in all FX is a mediocre DLC carried by the fact that it's part of a game I actually really like. Getting the Fell siblings and the Four Winds as playable in the main game is probably the best thing about it, but is screwed up by the strange way IS chose to set their levels and stats once you obtain them.
Still better than Cindered Shadows though lmao.
The maps all felt insanely long compared to the main game, not helped by the godawful way they chose to set each characters' stats, classes and inventory, though I found the first 4 enjoyable. Chapters 5 and 6 however are best just not mentioned if you're playing above normal difficulty. But hey, at least the new music goes hard.
All in all FX is a mediocre DLC carried by the fact that it's part of a game I actually really like. Getting the Fell siblings and the Four Winds as playable in the main game is probably the best thing about it, but is screwed up by the strange way IS chose to set their levels and stats once you obtain them.
Still better than Cindered Shadows though lmao.
Game Finished In 2024 #7.5?:
So I'm going through Fire Emblem Engage, and while I'm not done with the game at time of writing, I HAVE done all the DLC offerings, and it's worth a log, I think.
I'll save thoughts on Engage as a whole for when I'm actually done with it, but as it stands the bulk of the DLC is split into basically two parts: the Divine Paralogues, seven additional Emblems for the main game and six maps to go along with them, and the Fell Xenologue, a six chapter sidestory with fixed character attributes akin to Cindered Shadows from Three Houses, which adds new characters and classes to the main game upon completion.
The Divine Paralogues are a great addition to the game overall, adding fan favorites such as Tiki, Camilla [huge win for yuri fans!], Soren [huge win for yaoi fans!], and Veronica [huge win for me, who liked her in Dragalia]. These Emblems add a lot of interesting options to use in the main game, including and especially after the Big Scripted Loss where the Emblems you have are taken away. Hilariously, the DLC Emblems are entirely unaffected by this event, and it gives you something of a head start on getting the rest back. I chose to get each Emblem according to the Emblem's respective game to break them up. So when I got Lyn in the main story, I did Hector's paralogue, and when I got Corrin in the main story, i did Camilla's paralogue, and so on. This paced the new additions quite well, and eased any potential issues with being frontloaded by 7 new Emblems to figure out. My favorite Emblem to use is possibly Veronica, who has the special ability to... do a gacha pull. Because she's from the mobile game. The ability to pull an extra unit out of your ass on command has a lot of utility, and this utility is further increased when you pull a particularly good summon.
Once I had done all the Divine Paralogues, I decided to do the Fell Xenologue. This is a weaker addition to the game, unfortunately. When I get to Engage itself I will elaborate further but the story and setting in Engage are not particularly interesting, and this is More Engage Plot. An alternate universe plotline does not particularly work when you don't care about the original universe The maps are largely fine, though the last two are notably obnoxious. The fixed character attributes could be theoretically interesting, but Engage is a game that thrives off of the gameplay's excellent character building, and the Fell Xenologue denies you all of the building you've done so far so that you can theoretically do this at any time. The usability of the new classes and characters is to be determined, but I will say Engage is already so filled with likeable characters that even in the base game I struggle fitting all my favorites into a balanced team comp.
Overall, a solid DLC offering, even if it's not all perfect.
So I'm going through Fire Emblem Engage, and while I'm not done with the game at time of writing, I HAVE done all the DLC offerings, and it's worth a log, I think.
I'll save thoughts on Engage as a whole for when I'm actually done with it, but as it stands the bulk of the DLC is split into basically two parts: the Divine Paralogues, seven additional Emblems for the main game and six maps to go along with them, and the Fell Xenologue, a six chapter sidestory with fixed character attributes akin to Cindered Shadows from Three Houses, which adds new characters and classes to the main game upon completion.
The Divine Paralogues are a great addition to the game overall, adding fan favorites such as Tiki, Camilla [huge win for yuri fans!], Soren [huge win for yaoi fans!], and Veronica [huge win for me, who liked her in Dragalia]. These Emblems add a lot of interesting options to use in the main game, including and especially after the Big Scripted Loss where the Emblems you have are taken away. Hilariously, the DLC Emblems are entirely unaffected by this event, and it gives you something of a head start on getting the rest back. I chose to get each Emblem according to the Emblem's respective game to break them up. So when I got Lyn in the main story, I did Hector's paralogue, and when I got Corrin in the main story, i did Camilla's paralogue, and so on. This paced the new additions quite well, and eased any potential issues with being frontloaded by 7 new Emblems to figure out. My favorite Emblem to use is possibly Veronica, who has the special ability to... do a gacha pull. Because she's from the mobile game. The ability to pull an extra unit out of your ass on command has a lot of utility, and this utility is further increased when you pull a particularly good summon.
Once I had done all the Divine Paralogues, I decided to do the Fell Xenologue. This is a weaker addition to the game, unfortunately. When I get to Engage itself I will elaborate further but the story and setting in Engage are not particularly interesting, and this is More Engage Plot. An alternate universe plotline does not particularly work when you don't care about the original universe The maps are largely fine, though the last two are notably obnoxious. The fixed character attributes could be theoretically interesting, but Engage is a game that thrives off of the gameplay's excellent character building, and the Fell Xenologue denies you all of the building you've done so far so that you can theoretically do this at any time. The usability of the new classes and characters is to be determined, but I will say Engage is already so filled with likeable characters that even in the base game I struggle fitting all my favorites into a balanced team comp.
Overall, a solid DLC offering, even if it's not all perfect.
This review contains spoilers
this on maddening probably turns into the worst fire emblem experience you could ever created
xenologue 1 is pretty bad, it's desanitized needle bad, it's roach swarm bad, it's a 20 mile car accident bad, it's falling down the stairs and hitting your toe on a metal gate bad, it's getting your wallet stolen bad, it is around as bad as filing your taxes without the irs telling you what you owe, or maybe as bad as the oil companies buying out the trains so you have to use cars in america. You can live with it, but it will make your life worse.
Xenologue 2 is alright. I would call it a doctor's appointment in the US, expensive, time consuming, and probably not going to answer the questions you have. Maybe a date where they ghost you the rest of the week, maybe a nosebleed during a presentation. It's not fun, but you'd forget about it in a few days.
Xenologue 3 is that crazy bad, it's that 60 mile per hour car crashing through your house bad, it's a sinkhole below your house bad. It's a brick through your window bad. It's as bad as using the school restroom bad. It's as bad as your school chair catching on fire for no apparent reason bad. It's a divorce where: she took the kids. It's that father left and never came back vibes. It's that 10 day old milk sitting out on your patio that someone comes up behind you and makes you drink bad. It's that IBS day where it flares up and all you can do is press your stomach down and wonder why you exist. This shit makes you wonder how they got past the gaming crash. This is the kinda chapter that makes you wonder, maybe fire emblem really is that bad. It's the kind of gameplay that got you tied down to a chair and anytime you move, hell even blink, 300 cigarettes get thrown at your face.
Fell Xenologue 4 is a little irritating, not life ruining. Maybe staring at a wall and watching paint dry and every 15 minutes, someone grabs a brush and does it again. I don't got much to say about it.
Fell Xenologue 5 is better than 3, but better in the same way where drowning in quicksand with 2 people is better than drowning alone, at least you company!
But Fell Xenologue 6. This is the kind of chapter, you know how those kindness creators always film themselves doing great things to strangers after MrBeast normalized it, if you ever wondered what those people are actually like; Fell Xenologue 6.
If you ever wonder why you exist, just remember. You aren't Fell Xenologue 6. Your demons can not be as bad as Fell Xenologue 6. Your existance is great. I love you.
Fell Xenologue birthed criminals, gangs, war, this is the kind of shit that nuclear fallout food taste like.
This is the kinda car crash where you ain't livin.
I would say this is the equivalent of going to Walmart for milk, and coming home to Jail because you got falsely accused of murder, and got that jail without parole type bad.
The story is family guy funny moments. Hey Guys Im Ash ketchum I dont like pokemon. Lol.
Please. Never play this. Never look at this. Check on your loved ones who has played this. This is the kinda shit that will ruin your life. Do you have student loans? Do you think they are paid off? Nope. No they aren't. You will be 80 and that shit will taint your family lineage. You have to break the news to your 5 year old daughter on your death bed that she has to pay for the millions of dollar that it cost for you to go to college.
That's the truth of the Fell Xenologue.
xenologue 1 is pretty bad, it's desanitized needle bad, it's roach swarm bad, it's a 20 mile car accident bad, it's falling down the stairs and hitting your toe on a metal gate bad, it's getting your wallet stolen bad, it is around as bad as filing your taxes without the irs telling you what you owe, or maybe as bad as the oil companies buying out the trains so you have to use cars in america. You can live with it, but it will make your life worse.
Xenologue 2 is alright. I would call it a doctor's appointment in the US, expensive, time consuming, and probably not going to answer the questions you have. Maybe a date where they ghost you the rest of the week, maybe a nosebleed during a presentation. It's not fun, but you'd forget about it in a few days.
Xenologue 3 is that crazy bad, it's that 60 mile per hour car crashing through your house bad, it's a sinkhole below your house bad. It's a brick through your window bad. It's as bad as using the school restroom bad. It's as bad as your school chair catching on fire for no apparent reason bad. It's a divorce where: she took the kids. It's that father left and never came back vibes. It's that 10 day old milk sitting out on your patio that someone comes up behind you and makes you drink bad. It's that IBS day where it flares up and all you can do is press your stomach down and wonder why you exist. This shit makes you wonder how they got past the gaming crash. This is the kinda chapter that makes you wonder, maybe fire emblem really is that bad. It's the kind of gameplay that got you tied down to a chair and anytime you move, hell even blink, 300 cigarettes get thrown at your face.
Fell Xenologue 4 is a little irritating, not life ruining. Maybe staring at a wall and watching paint dry and every 15 minutes, someone grabs a brush and does it again. I don't got much to say about it.
Fell Xenologue 5 is better than 3, but better in the same way where drowning in quicksand with 2 people is better than drowning alone, at least you company!
But Fell Xenologue 6. This is the kind of chapter, you know how those kindness creators always film themselves doing great things to strangers after MrBeast normalized it, if you ever wondered what those people are actually like; Fell Xenologue 6.
If you ever wonder why you exist, just remember. You aren't Fell Xenologue 6. Your demons can not be as bad as Fell Xenologue 6. Your existance is great. I love you.
Fell Xenologue birthed criminals, gangs, war, this is the kind of shit that nuclear fallout food taste like.
This is the kinda car crash where you ain't livin.
I would say this is the equivalent of going to Walmart for milk, and coming home to Jail because you got falsely accused of murder, and got that jail without parole type bad.
The story is family guy funny moments. Hey Guys Im Ash ketchum I dont like pokemon. Lol.
Please. Never play this. Never look at this. Check on your loved ones who has played this. This is the kinda shit that will ruin your life. Do you have student loans? Do you think they are paid off? Nope. No they aren't. You will be 80 and that shit will taint your family lineage. You have to break the news to your 5 year old daughter on your death bed that she has to pay for the millions of dollar that it cost for you to go to college.
That's the truth of the Fell Xenologue.
Thank you for giving me Nel the best Fire Emblem character of all time (not really but she's great).
I kinda wish the mirror world was given more time to shine in terms of the inverted royals and Elyos, but I get that the story is actually meant to be focused on Nel and Nil.
I kinda wish the mirror world was given more time to shine in terms of the inverted royals and Elyos, but I get that the story is actually meant to be focused on Nel and Nil.