Triangle Strategy PC Review
Summary: Three years after its initial release, Triangle Strategy makes its presence felt once again. Which worked out: I finally got to give the game a chance. No regrets.
4
Still good
Triangle Strategy is not a new game. It debuted as a Switch exclusive in 2022. Several months later, the title appeared on PC – and this summer it was released on current-gens as well. As I haven’t played this RPG before, I decided to give it a try. However, something told me that the game isn’t a good fit for a stationary console. Thus, I opted for the PC version and played it on a Steam Deck.
The story unfolds in the land of Norzelia, divided into three rival kingdoms. After years of uneasy peace, tensions rise between these kingdoms when valuable resources are discovered in one of their domains. It quickly becomes clear that it’s only a matter of time before a war breaks out.
The narrative follows Serenoa, the young heir of a powerful noble house. He will assume leadership soon, though he doesn’t seem prepared for it. Worse still, he’ll need to face an arranged political marriage to Frederica, a mysterious heroine from a neighboring kingdom.
Politics is the driving force of the plot, and you feel it from the very beginning. All this may sound dull at first glance, but thankfully, it quickly proves otherwise. The intrigue and richly developed personalities make the story engaging and complex. Once you start, you’ll find yourself eager to know what happens next. The plot is definitely one of the game’s greatest strengths.
The only real drawback I can find within the narrative lies in the storytelling method. Most of the plot unfolds through dialogue, and there’s an overwhelming amount of it. You keep scrolling and scrolling, and it seems like it will never end. Sometimes, you can’t shake the feeling that dialogues have been stretched out unnecessarily.
Of course you can skip them, but it’s advisable not to do so – keeping track of the events is essential for making right decisions in the game. Needless to say that your choices have a genuine impact on the progression of the story.
A crucial element of the gameplay is turn-based combat. Triangle Strategy features tactical encounters which reward careful planning. Protagonists have a set number of tactical points that can be spent on their unique abilities. Some characters excel in offense, while others are better suited for protecting the back line. Success depends heavily on knowing the turn order.
The game clearly shows the range within which a character can move without entering enemy reach. These zones are color-marked for clarity. What’s more, terrain shape also plays a significant role in each fight. In short, there’s plenty of room for clever strategies, and winning feels genuinely rewarding.
I like the game’s visuals. Triangle Strategy features the HD-2D style that combines 3D environments with 2D pixel characters. Locations are colourful and rich in detail, and characters have an irresistibly cute design. All this looks pretty gorgeous on the small screen of a Steam Deck, though sometimes it seemed like too much blur was used, making the game feel a bit hazy.
Plenty of praise is to be given to the sound; music impresses with its variety and atmosphere. However, the English dubbing falls a bit short at times, with some emotions not quite coming through as intended.
Triangle Strategy runs smooth on Steam Deck – the controls and all other settings work perfectly out of the box. However, one thing really bothered me while playing on Valve’s PC: the font style in the inventory and subtitles. It makes the text barely readable. And, as there’s a ton of reading in the game, I consider this a pretty major flaw.
Final thoughts?
Triangle Strategy serves up plenty of treats for players. An intrigue-filled story with well-written characters and deep combat are just a few. Classic pixel-art visuals and excellent sound design definitely add to it. Is the game worth picking up? In my opinion – yes, even several years after its release.
About the Author
Dagmara Sorceress from The Witcher's homeland and Yennefer's classmate (got better grades than Janka). Addicted to the mechanical keyboard clack; always looking for an opportunity to make this lovely sound.
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