The Verdict
Fire Emblem Fates is a fantastic followup to Awakening, introducing some slight new gameplay elements as well as gorgeous new graphical options.
It is a shame that, in order to get the "full" experience, you're going to have to spend $60 at the very least, or $80 at most. But given that each storyline is filled with its own characters as well some unique plot elements, not to mention emotion-heavy decisions, it's well worth investing into at least two out of the three.
If anything, Fates does a fantastic job at allowing you to actually experience the "is grass really greener on the other side?" You'll face enemies that could have been your friends, had you made a different decision. Knowing that going in, can be terrible heartbreaking, and Fates does an incredible job at portraying that.
The Positives
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At first, there was some confusion about the timeline regarding the three games, but after it was clarified that they're all separate games, based around their own individual timelines, I was much more excited about the prospect. That meant, after all, that we're basically getting three times the game we'd normally get.
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Kudos to the animation team behind the cutscenes, as they're breathtakingly gorgeous.
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The same goes for the game itself though, as it does look significantly better than Awakening. The transition from overhead map view to the battle scenes is amazing, and the characters are much more detailed this time around. And hey, they have feet now!
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There is a great deal of customization to the game's mechanics and UI, depending on your playstyle. You can play with an expanded UI which displays a lot more detailed info on each unit, or keep it condensed. Battle animations can be turned off completely to keep the game going at a brisk pace as well. Nothing too new from its predecessor, but the inclusion of these is appreciated none the less.
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I'm really surprised at how great the characterization is for each faction in the first five chapters. I went in knowing I was going to side with the "good" guys for Birthright, but damn if the game didn't make me really like my "siblings" from the other faction as well. Sure, the King is most certainly evil on the Nohr side, but your siblings and others from Nohr you grew up with consider you their family, and it's truly a heartbreaking and gutwrenching moment, trying to choose between the two.
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As is common knowledge by now, the Birthright route is the easier choice, as you're allowed to grind for XP, while Conquest takes out the grinding element, forcing players to make sure they make the best of each encounter. But aside from those gameplay differences, the story for both Conquest and Birthright are somewhat familiar, as you're main goal is dethroning the evil King of Nohr. Where things really take a drastic shift in story is in the third scenario. My recommendation would be to perhaps choose Conquest or Birthright depending on your playstyle, and whether you want the game to be more or less challenging, but then definitely pick up Revelation, as that one changes events up quite drastically.
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Even though some of the plot elements are shared between both versions, Conquest and Birthright have, for obvious reasons, drastically different character interactions, and lore points. Birthright with Hoshido has arguably better storytelling, with a lot more characterization from both factions coming through. On Conquest, the story might be weaker due to some events simply never explained, but the characterization and interaction excels there as well.
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Choosing your faction also decides which characters you'll get to befriend, and which will, unfortunately, die by your hand. Experiencing both, while not necessary, really intensifies this aspect, as you're familiar with the other side by the time you beat one of them, and you're actively trying your best to now annihilate the forces you once called your friends and family. It's really well done.
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With all of that said though, if you're going into Fire Emblem Fates as a series newcomer, then Birthright just might be the better choice, as it's much better suited for beginners. That's not to say it's a cakewalk, but generally it is a much easier game. Conquest on the flipside is for series veterans, borrowing gameplay elements of earlier FE games.
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Character interactions that happen within your castle walls are usually some of the best pieces of dialogue this game has to offer, and really allows you to get more personal with all of them.
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The game includes a My Castle mode where you'll spend a bulk of your time between battles. This customizable area allows you to build structures which further unlock various amenities. You'll also able to talk to all of your recruited units, which most of the time awards you with various items and consumables. Even the music and various aesthetics can be changed here to further make your Castle more personable.
The Negatives
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Nintendo got around charging players, at least dedicated ones, $60 for what is essentially a complete experience. While the story does conclude in either Birthright or Conquest, Revelation feels like the game's "true" events and ending. Not to mention it balances out the gameplay of both titles by including repeatable battles from Birthright, and varied mission objectives from Conquest.
The Neutral
- There's a third difficulty added called Phoenix which more or less defeats the purpose of the game, but it is a decent inclusion for tactics games newcomers, who might find it daunting that your characters can either die in a given battle, or die forever. This mode allows your units to basically self revive on the next turn. I didn't see the appeal, but I'm sure there is someone that might.
My first real exposure to the Fire Emblem series was through 2013's Fire Emblem Awakening. As I've learned much later, Awakening was a lot different from its predecessors, opting for a lot more streamlined gameplay and simplified gameplay elements. Fates continues this tradition, sure, but it does add some more complex layers and mechanics that make it seem like an evolution of the previous game.
Fates is unique in the way it's presented. Instead of one core game, we essentially have three, that branch out after a certain chapter in the game, giving the player a choice of which of the two factions to side with; Your birth family who you were taken from at a young age, the family you've known your whole life that raised you, or siding with neither and starting your own. Currently, those who buy the Special Edition of the game are the only ones who can access the third campaign, and the rest will be able to get their hands on it March 10. Though that is the perfect amount of time for players to go through either one, or both of the choices.
I'm thankful that Nintendo was kind enough to send me over the Special Edition which allowed to get a feel for all three of the included campaigns.
Let's take a look at what makes this next entry in the Fire Emblem series great, what falls flat, and our final verdict
