



Fortunately players are not stuck just playing as Shez, as they can take four total characters into battle and freely switch between them. All the while new challenges and objectives will pop up requiring tons of micro-management in order to keeps units moving and alive. The general goal of each stage is to capture keeps to gain strength and proceed towards the boss or key objective to conquer it. There’s normal attacks, strong attacks, special attacks and exclusive to Three Hopes are Combat Arts and Magic which use up a weapon’s durability in combat. Three Hopes gameplay will be familiar to any fans of Warriors titles right off the bat. It manages to give the story a high replay value, which is heavily encouraged due to there being three different stories that players can experience. After heading to Garreg Mach with their party they choose a lead, much like Three Houses, who will determine the direction the story goes from there on out. Along the way Shez meets the three lords who hire Shez’s services after a battle encounter. With Shez’s fellow mercenaries killed in battle, they turn to a life of survival after meeting a bizarre and unique individual that now lives in their head who saved their life.

Shez finally makes it to the head of the mercenary group only to find Byleth, who is far too powerful for them to overcome. They’re a mercenary who finds themselves facing off against another group that is pushing them back. Three Hopes begins with the new protagonist by the in-game name of Shez. Right off the bat it’s good to be aware that Three Hopes spoils elements of Three Houses, so for those hoping to play it first they may want to do so unless they don’t particularly care too much. The question remains, however, if whether or not these were stories worth telling alongside the remixed style of gameplay. It takes players down alternate routes through a brand new character alongside the iconic characters many have come to know and love. Much like Age of Calamity, it’s a re-imagining of the story players experienced in Three Houses. Following its success we would see Fire Emblem Warriors, Age of Calamity and finally Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. Nintendo’s crossovers with Warriors titles started with Hyrule Warriors, which has remained one of the most enjoyable Warriors spin-offs ever made.
