Gaming I Don't Pick Fights I Can't Win: The Fire Emblem Series

What with Fire Emblem: Fates coming out in Japan in one week and confirmed to be coming to the US and Europe some time next year, it occurred to me to look and see if this series had a thread... and it didn't. But now it does!

Fire Emblem is more of a thematically linked franchise than a proper series - all of the games are strategy RPGs with medieval fantasy settings and common core combat mechanics, but there are multiple distinct game worlds and no guaranteed recurring elements between titles (Unlike the Zelda series, for example, there usually isn't a Marth). Since capturing our hearts in Super Smash Bros Melee, most of the entries in the franchise have come out stateside, with the notable exception of New Mystery of the Emblem for DS. Almost every title available in English is a good starting point, so just pick up what you can get your hands on. Unless it's Shadow Dragon. Maybe avoid that one.

But enough talk! Here's 30 minutes of Nintendo employees not knowing how to play the game:


And here's 10 minutes of Brian Altano trying to understand this mysterious weeaboo nonsense:


What's interesting about Fates in particular is that there are two plot routes, being released Pokémon style in Japan with two games, with a third route available as DLC. Japan is also getting a limited edition release of one cartridge containing all three routes - there are indications that this might be what America gets, as there's only one Fates in the US and European catalog that we know of. Regardless, suckers like myself fans will assuredly be able to get access to every route in some fashion, along with additional DLC missions that will invariably involve tonally bizarre joke plots.

Anybody else been dumb enough to already preorder their copy, or otherwise excited for Eugenics Simulator 2016?

 

Raw, unapologetic Sacred Stones bias. Plus I thought it summed up the series well.

 

I'm just glad they've figured out how to address the massive nonsense that was player-only pair up. While you should always expect that there's going to be a bit of an uneven fight in FE games, only letting the players do that was game breaking.

 

Confirmation today that the American and European market is getting the split versions of Fates, under the names Birthright and Conquest. Interestingly, the former is apparently going to be an easier version of the game, which is... a weird marketing decision, but it basically boils down to your Avatar character having chosen the side that isn't a bunch of fracturing, opportunistic jerks. In that sense, Birthright is probably the more traditional FE title, with Conquest basically being a villain route. Apparently you can access all possible routes from one copy of the game by purchasing DLC, which is handy if shady, but man, this is going to hit my wallet hard.

 

I've heard similar rumors. Unfortunately my traditional cynicism, which in most cases would make me wait for such an edition, is powerless against my FE fanboydom. Such is life.

As regards the Nohr family - yeah, FE is usually pretty good about featuring sympathetic villains to balance out the less sympathetic commanders of those factions, it reminds me a lot of Gundam in that sense (Maybe that's why I like both franchises?! I smell a conspiracy!). Because of that I think Conquest is a really fascinating concept, but my desire for a natural challenge progression is probably going to push me towards Birthright first.

 

All I know is that apparently Amazon is counting my absurdly early preorder as for the Conquest version. I'll be buying both regardless, because I'm a huge mark, but ****ing hell Nintendo we really need some explicit clarification on the whole thing.

 

NOPE.

Which is too bad, I wouldn't mind reading those interviews.

 

All remaining pre-release details anyone actually cared about dropped today, including but not limited to: buying one version allows you to buy the second for $20 digitally (So, basically, the game is $60); there's a special edition with both of the launch campaigns, the DLC campaign, an artbook, and a carrying case for $80; and a February 19 release date.

I might actually go for a special edition for once in my life; I'll gladly pay no extra money for an artbook and case.

 

I'll be getting the Special Edition too. On the European/Oceania feed, they showed an art book that comes with it.

 

Yeah, looks very exciting. Nice to hear that buying one version would get you half off a digital version of the other. I'm still a fan of physical editions though so I'll probably go for the Special Edition- costs as much as two physical editions but with some extras.

 

I'll be preordering after work tomorrow along with Twilight Princess HD.

 

Nice. It hasn't come out in the UK yet and there's no offical release date yet. Hope we get it soon because I loved Awakening and Sacred Stones.

 

On the bright side, when you get it all three parts should be available.

Myself, I'm holding off until summer at which point I'll be able to devote my attention to knocking out all three parts in one go. I have a hard time putting FE titles down once I get going.