We had to wait a little longer on it, but Fire Emblem: Fates is finally up for sale. The Fire Emblem franchise is gaining a lot of fans worldwide, so Nintendo is making sure the quality of the games stays on point. Fire Emblem: Fates is a little different from other Fire Emblem games since it comes in two versions. Which kingdom will you defend? Time to learn more about it!
An important decision
The first thing you’ll need to know is that Fire Emblem: Fates released as two separate games called Fire Emblem: Birthright and Fire Emblem: Conquest. If you buy Birthright, you’re able to get Conquest at a smaller price as DLC, this works vice versa as well, of course. Keep in mind that Conquest and Birthright are two entirely different games however. Unlike the two versions of Pokémon games, Birthright and Conquest truly are different from each other.
Both games start off the exact same way but after the sixth missions, it will jump to the Birthright or Conquest story. If you want to know everything about both stories, you can get the other arc as DLC. Owning both versions is interesting since the final arc ‘Revelation’ will only be available for those who own both Birthright and Conquest. But why did they create two games? Well, that’s all thanks to the interesting story.
Join the Nohr or Hoshido
The story of Fire Emblem: Fates is about a devastating war between the Nohr and Hoshido kingdoms. Things get more interesting thanks to Corrin (you know him/her from Smash), who is born in the Hoshido kingdom but got kidnapped and raised by the Nohr kingdom. After the introduction of the game, Corrin once again ends up in Hoshido, the kingdom where he was originally born.
Just when the war between both kingdoms reaches its climax, Corrin needs to decide on which side he’ll fight. Will he join the Hoshido kingdom and fight for his Birthright? Or will he fight side by side with the men who kidnapped him in the past? If he joins the Hoshido kingdom, you’ll play the Birthright arc, if you join the Nohr, you’ll play the Conquest arc.
Prepare for the epic battlefields!
Besides some drastic differences in stories, both versions also play differently from each other. Birthright is the most casual game where the story plays the most important role. Birthright features some great scenes and plots but the gameplay itself is rather easy. We would recommend Birthright if you’re new to the franchise. Conquest on the other hand, has a less interesting story but has better Fire Emblem gameplay for the veterans. Nothing comes for free in the Conquest campaign so you’ll need some experience in order to complete this harder story.
Time to make friends
Don’t be mistaken however; the Fire Emblem franchise is as difficult as you wish to make it. Both Conquest and Birthright come with extra levels of difficulties to make things interesting. There’s also the permadeath option which means your character is gone forever if it falls in combat. This mechanism is something that made Fire Emblem as successful as it is now but a lot of players complained it was too difficult to beat the games if your characters are gone forever. Personally, I like to switch the permadeath option on since it makes you think twice before you send your characters towards the enemies. Now that you can switch it off, some of the tension gets lost in my opinion; but it’s great to see that the franchise offers something for the casual and veteran player thanks to the difficulty options.
The battles themselves still feel amazing and offer a lot of strategic options. Fire Emblem is a turn-based game where you and your enemy attack and defense in turns. There are a lot of strategical decisions to keep in mind. The most important one is the weapon circle. Learning which weapon is stronger against another type of weapon is crucial for surviving. The best part about it is the number of different units Fates offers. There are traditional knights and more fantasy-like creatures all fighting on the battlegrounds. It’s fun to experiment with the characters and learn about their weaknesses and strengths.
The most interesting technique is by far the bonding of characters. If two characters create a strong bond, they’ll form a team and fight as one. This means you need to give up on that extra character but in return, you get a stronger unit thanks to the team attacks. You can create these bonds by fighting and defending together but also by talking with each other after the fights. The script is very strong so connecting with other characters never feels like a drag.
Corrin the Targaryen
Another great feature of Fire Emblem: Fates is Corrin. Corrin could have been a Targaryen in another universe (Fire Emblem X Game of Thrones, anyone?). Corring has the ability to transform into a huge dragon thanks to the blood of the old dragons that’s running through his veins. Transforming into a dragon isn’t only epic, it also enables you to take down your enemies with more ease. The transformation is best used against special, stronger, enemies.
Besides transforming, Corrin can also use the Dragon Veins on the battlefields. These Dragon Veins are special locations on the map that are indicated with little stars. If you land on such a square, you can use Corrin’ special powers to alter the environment. Thanks to the Dragon Veins you can decrease the mountains, set rivers dry or change sand to solid ground. It’s a great new mechanism that can change the combat drastically. It means you can reach your enemies faster but it also works against you. If you decrease the mountains, for example, it also means your enemies will reach you a lot faster. It’s an interesting new technique but keep in mind that you’re not the only one that can take advantage of the new battlefield.
Relax and get married
Tired of always fighting off those enemies? No worries, Fire Emblem: Fates got you covered. After the battles, you’re able to visit the camp. This camp can be created just the way you want it, you’re in control of the layout and the buildings you want to add. The camp is a great place to be after the battles since it not only brings variation to the game, it also gives you some time to relax. In the camp, you’ll be able to upgrade your gear, play the lottery and get to know your team better.
If your bond is strong enough, you can invite certain members of your group to your private room. It sounds sexy but keep in mind it’s still a Nintendo approved game so you won’t see the actual action of course. If you’re connected with another character, you can get married. This is worth mentioning since Fire Emblem: Fates is one of those rare game where the marriage of the same sex isn’t a problem at all. That being said, the camp is a great place to stay before you jump back into the brutal action on the battlefields.
Amiibo support and DLC
Since Fire Emblem: Fates comes in two different versions, it’s the biggest story yet and it doesn’t stop there. The game also supports the Robin, Ike, Marth, and Lucina amiibo. If you scan those, they will visit your camp where you can chat with them and get to know them a little better. These chats offer a lot of fun since some of the characters are referring to their Smash adventures for example!
Besides chatting, you can also unlock powerful new gear or add them to your roster of fighters. If you want to have them on your side, you’ll need to defeat them in a fight, after you do, they’ll join you during the next battle. Be aware, however, using these amiibo figurines is only limited once per chapter so be sure on who you would like to have in your party. It’s a great system and a great way to implement those great Fire Emblem amiibo figurines.
Amiibo isn’t the only feature to keep you hooked on your game, Nintendo is also releasing map packs as DLC. These packs add a new map to your game on a weekly basis. These new maps offer a lot of fun since they follow the story of one of the more popular characters week after week. Each week, you’ll be able to learn more about a certain character. Playing these maps really feels like a part of the game and not just as DLC to generate more income.
Conclusion:
It doesn’t really matter if you’re buying the Birthright or Conquest arc of Fire Emblem: Fates; both are pretty amazing. They both offer that classic Fire Emblem gameplay and combine it with interesting new features to keep veteran players happy. If you’re new to the franchise, you better start with Birthright since this one feels easier to complete. Conquest offers the true challenge for the veterans and never gives away a victory for free. Of course, the best way to enjoy Fire Emblem: Fates is to get both versions and unlike the Pokémon games, you’ll truly play two different games. Fire Emblem: Fates is on of the biggest entries in the franchise and one of the best for sure!
9/10
