Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright (3DS)

The goody-two-shoes Japanese edition

So there was a new Fire Emblem game and hooked as I am on the series I had to get it. Only one catch, they decided to split it in two and let the players choose which scenario they want to play. Goddammit, it’s the Pokemon-scheme. So Birthright or Conquest? Technically it doesn’t matter since you could download the other one and it was basically expected to download a third part named Revelation. But with limited online capabilities what does one do? Get the limited edition of course where all three is on the same cartridge together with concept art and a steel-case game box. So now it’s just matter of playing through each part from start to finish to get the full story.

I really gotta look out for more special editions if they come with this kinda extras

The core concept is that Corrin, a child in the Nohr Royal Family living hidden away in a castle were his/her (you can choose gender for the character) staff takes care and the other royal members visits and trains with Corrin. Xander, Camille, Leo and Elise. All children to the King of Nohr Garon. You know, it isn’t great when a ruler reminds me of Ganon from Legend of Zelda. Corrin is sent out on a mission to investigate a fort near the chasm between the countries Nohr and Hoshido. There Corrin is attacked and ultimately betrayed by a servant of King Garon and you end up in the Hoshidan capital were the big twist is explained. Corrin is actually from the Hoshido royal family that incidentally have the same amount of family members, and I can’t spell their names right from memory since Hoshido is based on asian (and particular Japanese culture) while Nohr is european. As Corrin accepts the situation and gets to know the Queen the dastardly plan of King Garon unleash. While performing a ritual in the capital square the sword Corrin have reacts and acts like a splitter-bomb and the Queen steps infant of Corrin to save her child. Corrin than turns into a dragon. The armies clash over this and you are confronted by the Nohr family you grew up with and the Hoshidan family that are your blood relatives, choose side. And from here you play either Conquest or Birthright.

The bad guy really have potential, a pity doesn't come forth in this version of the game

So the story of Birthright follows Corrin choosing the Hoshidan side and unites the sibling split during the war and leads them on a attack on the capital of Nohr to confront King Garon and dethrone him as the only way to achieve peace across the continent. And I gotta say, the game is rather boring. It might be that in my fantasy game I actually expect the medieval european setting so with weapons and armour designs I can’t quite grasp I feel a bit lost. And the story is a bit to formulaic. It feels like a rethread of the very first Fire Emblem (which was remade as Shadow Dragon for the DS) where your land have been conquered so strike at the heart, meet a sage that upgrades your weapon and fight the big bad and the innocent victims of his reign. And of course he turns into a dragon. It’s a Fire Emblem after all. But there is interesting things hidden here and there. Characters you actually play as dies in the story… I thought, turns out one particular character that died on one chapter could have been saved if I had gotten support A with Corrin. Game, you really try my patience here. So skip that. The other good things was that they mention that life in Nohr is harsh where no one leaves the towns since they risk being attacked by faceless ones, monster of clay and abominations. They aren’t explained in this. But it also told of Nohrs lack of resources like food which forces them to constantly fight wars of conquest to get more resources. Then it’s the hint about Garon’s changed personality and his different wifes. There are interesting stuff there, and certain scenes at the end leading up to the confrontation are really pulling me in. A pity that it’s chapter 36 or something and there are 37-38 of them. A bit late so to speak. You defeat Garon, and Azura, the Nohr nobility that Hoshido took instead of Corrin sacrifice herself to keep Garon calm with her song as she is this games dancer. Looks a lot like Ninian from Fire Emblem nr 1 in Europe. Hoshidian coronation and then hints that it is more to Azura and Garon and so on. Thank god its over.

I don’t know why but it felt like a slog to go through this game. It really didn’t grip me until the end it might have been due to seeing more of the Nohr family which is the more interesting one and I’ve heard Birthright was the worst part of this game. So Conquest next. I would assume the siblings would be reversed. Maybe Ryoma (the oldest one) goes insane after losing both his mother and sister again cause I wouldn’t get why I would fight Garon in Conquest or am I confronting him with some knowledge I will get? i assume Revelation will gathers all characters into one giant battle against the real evil behind this, Garon mentioned some god while changing to dragon so I wouldn’t be surprised if that is the great evil that unleashes the faceless ones. Better get going, wait they released another Fire Emblem-game, another remake from before the releases in Europe? Oh god, I will either be burned by this series if that turns out an disappointment as well or it might rekindle my lost passion for this series. Or maybe Blazing Sword and the Ike-games where the peak of the series.

Still best game in the series!