Fire Emblem Engage ally activities on Sonmiel make Garreg Mach look stale

Engage Fire EmblemThe launch of the app is set for Jan. 20. On Thursday, the trailer showed you where your friends and allies can spend their downtime during battles. It was Somniel. This floating fortress is a lush green oasis. In the trailer, the main character — with an enormous mane of Colgate-ass red and blue hair — runs through Somniel’s lush layout, showing off fun activities. Just like in previous Fire Emblem installments, this one promises fun shenanigans like Wyvern flying, shopping for cute outfits, getting your fortune read — and of course classic bonding activities like sharing meals and going fishing.

There are many places in Somniel to get ready for battle. In the game’s plaza you can buy armor and other items. There’s a ring room where you can store the rings you’ve collected and craft new ones — a new gameplay element that allows players to boost stats. For experience you can fight in the Arena and participate in a number of trials in the Tower of Trials.

Most importantly, there are plenty of activities to do with your allies in Somniel, like sharing (probably many) meals at Café Terrace to boost your allies’ stats. It’s possible to work out with your friends, have your fortune read and ride a Wyvern through the air. You also can fish. There’s a freakin’ farmyard where you can care for animals you’ve found on your adventures — the trailer shows a cat hanging out with a donkey, a beagle, and and a camel. There’s also a very cute creature named Sommie who has, “been here since time immemorial,” and will grant luck to those who are nice to it.

The trailer also showed off fashionable customization options — you can buy clothes and accessories like different shades for yourself but and your allies. A cute friend of yours may wake you up. Animal Crossing New Horizons Villager at your door

Fire Emblem fanatics know just how much time between battles Fire Emblem spends chatting and participating in other silly activities. This is In Fire Emblem: Three Homes players roamed Garreg Mach Monastery’s hallowed halls, spending activity points cooking fish skewers and eating what felt like 17 meals a day with students — all in the service of bonding with each other before shipping off to battle. Felix may be the one you swordfight. You can also take Dorothea with her silly little cap to choir practice. Lindhart might even wake you up from a nap.

Even Fire Emblem WarriorsThe recent takeover of the franchise by musou gave players downtime activities like horseback riding, tea parties and dusting.

I can’t wait to meet Engage Fire Emblem’s new allies, and enjoy on goofy excursions and activities with them — even if it must all come to a head on the battlefield.