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It's a bit shocking that this game hasn't seen too much coverage here on GBAtemp, other than maybe the initial coverage from its reveal on a Nintendo Direct not too long ago. Which is definitely a shame, because Fire Emblem was one of my favorite franchises growing up. I put a ton of hours into Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS, and seeing this game's details start pouring out, it definitely has me hyped up, considering they're going a more Pokemon-esque route here, with multiple versions.

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First of all, I have to say that I am really digging the art style. It's akin to what we saw in Awakening, yes, but the character models look like something that came out of Samurai Warriors, admittedly one of my secret guilty pleasures. I see a lot of waifu potential too. Apparently, the motif for this game is black and white, which is fitting because the titles will be called Fire Emblem if: Black and White Kingdoms. Yep, two versions. Having two versions has its own individual perks, too.

The two versions will follow the same story up to Chapter Six, and then diverge on very different paths. Both versions, combined, will have the most content of any game in the series, according to the developers. Each title also has the same relative length as Fire Emblem: Awakening, already one of the more vast titles of the series.

Yokota: "The volume of chapters and story in 'Hoshido,' 'Nohr,' and the third scenario are all the length of Awakening. All are downloadable too, so we aimed to give a considerable amount of content."

Maeda: "We offer two different packages both for fans of the series and newcomers to look forward to. In the end, this game is the largest we have made to date in terms of sheer volume. Please enjoy this epic game."

Aside from game length, each game will have different scenarios that are required to clear. What I will be looking forward to are the more varied mission objectives that will go beyond clearing out enemies or rushing the leader will Killing class weapons in tow. The franchise has kind of staled out and I'm definitely looking forward to the changes in game mechanics.

If is going to be the most accessible game to fans, apparently. The developers have since stated that by adding the new Phoenix mode to the title, fans will be able to experience the story and enjoy the game. Before you scream "CASUAL!" though, there are limitations. Just because you are brought back one turn after you die in battle, does not mean that there aren't consequences. Fans who engage in this mode will be unable to obtain the best endings of the game. It does make sense, though. That'd be a bit unfair, and Fire Emblem has always been about those achievements, for me.

Higuchi: From the start until “Radiant Dawn,” we built up the view that those games are the “ideal FE style.” But with that sort of game, one new problem was born: we reached the logical conclusion that it was always difficult for newcomers to pick up. We wanted to make a game that new fans could enjoy too. We wanted to make it even bigger than “Awakening” with this concept as the focus first and foremost. That was the beginning of the game’s development....Just because a player chooses Phoenix Mode does not mean they will miss out on any scenes or items. However, if you change from Classic Mode to Casual or Phoenix Mode, that data will be unable to change back. For those proficient in the series who want the sense of accomplishment in completing “IF” on Classic, please play on Classic without changing all the way to the end.

I've personally grown up and bled in Classical Mode, so I'll definitely have to step aside on Phoenix Mode, but there's the option available, which is nice. Classical Mode had an incredible sense of tension in those later stages because there's a lot of work that went into raising those individual units and losing one, or rather, the potential to lose a unit forever was great, because losing units sometimes would ruin support arrangements completely. Those of us that started early out remembered losing our cherished unit to stray critical hits - not a fun prospect.

But what about that old school weapons triangle? The rock paper scissor mechanic returns in full, but comes with some new changes. Back in the old days, Swords were good against axes, weak against lances. Axes were strong against lances, but weak to the sword, and lances overpowered swords but fell to axes. Magic followed similar trends - Dark, Light, and Anima magic. For the new games, the system has been expanded, with swords and magic being strong against bows and axes. Axes and bows will be then useful against lances and (!) new weapons for the game, concealed weapons, used by, basically, the ninjas - shinobis and maids. Gone also is the durability system - something that I absolutely hated in the old titles. Thankfully, they added the extra strategic element of having certain weapons being useful in certain scenarios. I'm definitely all for the adding of this new element because it seems like we might actually have to think a bit more instead of just spamming Killing Edge all day.

The game is also introducing a newer strategic element called the Dragon's Pulse. I found a lot of intrigue in this particular element because it alters the course of the battlefield, in a pretty significant way apparently. Eight characters of "royal" blood will be able to utilize this mechanic. A bit more information is provided below, from the developer roundtable interview.

Yokota: Dragon Pulse is a special power of Dragons that serves as a map gimmick. It is put to use by the Main Character and Aqua, as well as 8 different characters between the two kingdoms. It changes the map in various ways, such as transforming deserts to grassy plains, or drawing water from the sea.

Maeda: Depending on the timing of Dragon Pulse, it can provide a serious advantage or disadvantage. We hope players implement this in their various strategies. Also, it is not just the player who uses the power of dragons, the enemy will have units who are able to utilize this too in their own strategies.

*grins* This could be very fun. Speaking of fun, they're also changing up the arena component. I spend tons of time in the Arena making the perfect units. Apparently, instead of fighting for money, there's something else to fight for but the team is being mum about it right now.

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Before I can wrap up this piece, one of the things that has come to light recently is the idea of creating a village. Yep, we're going into Animal Crossing territory now, with the fact that we can create houses and amusement facilities. Pokemon-amie comes back in a way, allowing us to... pet our units...? I don't know what to say about this, but it's a quirky change that should get some fans excited. I want to see more of this feature before I make judgments, but based on initial feedback from fans it looks to be a relatively welcome change. Video Link.

Wow. The scope of these games are enormous. There's so much to take in for this game, and it's looking to be the franchise's best yet, with a fair degree of accessibility for any type of gamer and a large scale that will be unmatched by any game. Fire Emblem if comes out in Japan in September of this year, with a 2016 release date in the West. Here's a trailer that came out in English earlier this week! Video link.

With that being said, thoughts on the game? Will I be seeing you guys in 2016 or will you end up passing the title up?

 

[Harsky]

I've been replaying Awakening a LOT recently and I'm also hyped to see what If introduces. I do hope that they might bring in an online play for this because having to use Homepass to gather some teams is not the same as beating someone's team online.

I hope they retain the same writing during the conversations so that I actually care about the characters. And would it kill for the developers to include a little notification that lets me know which characters I can pair up with to start a conversation. Nothing more annoying than having a look at the support menu and forgetting which character can talk with who.

 

[Nightwish]

Fans who engage in this mode will be unable to obtain the best endings of the game. It does make sense, though.

Thankfully, we're in the age of tools like youtube, not in the age of developers who want their precious snowflakes to be experienced the way they want.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I'm happy those options exist for people who want them, I just don't have the time or inclination to focus so much in a game to be great at it. I'd rather sample all the huge variety of gaming at my own pace.

 

[Ryukouki]

I've been replaying Awakening a LOT recently and I'm also hyped to see what If introduces. I do hope that they might bring in an online play for this because having to use Homepass to gather some teams is not the same as beating someone's team online.

I hope they retain the same writing during the conversations so that I actually care about the characters. And would it kill for the developers to include a little notification that lets me know which characters I can pair up with to start a conversation. Nothing more annoying than having a look at the support menu and forgetting which character can talk with who.

A bit more searching shows that this "Village" function will hopefully cater to that aspect.

 

[Nathan Drake]

On one hand, this all sounds pretty neat. On the other hand, I find the whole two versions thing to just be an excuse to take more money. I'm sure there is a way they could have fit all the content on one cart. Instead we get to pay twice as much for one complete game. It's not as bad as Pokemon where you pay for the game a second time for basically a reskinned bad guy team and a handful of different Pokemon, but I still don't like it.

 

[weavile001]

I hope they retain the same writing during the conversations so that I actually care about the characters. And would it kill for the developers to include a little notification that lets me know which characters I can pair up with to start a conversation. Nothing more annoying than having a look at the support menu and forgetting which character can talk with who.

It´s not that hard to keep track of who supports who,I usually pair/put them next to the people i want to support each other right at the unit selection screen, where you can see the possible supports for each character, kinda hard to pull this off in the earlier games where pretty much everyone had a basic unit model , but on PoR,RD and Awakening,it's pretty easy to remember everyone´s supports.

 

[NyaakoXD]

I'm loving the "My Castle" and "My Room" areas. Because it's like an upgraded version of the barracks.

 

[Steena]

Wow. The scope of these games are enormous.

So much so that they felt the need to separate two difficulty settings and a branching story path over two full-priced releases. It's also pathetic of the developers to claim that both releases combined will have more content of any single past release. Well, no shit. You're paying exactly double if you consider them both. The real question is will they have double the CONTENT too? The answer seems to be no because the story branches in the middle, and obviously the majority of the assets will be shared; so customers get the shit end of the stick in this regard.

It's like fans are getting punished for choosing to support a product nowadays.

 

[vayanui8]

I've always wanted to pet my units! I even printed out a picture of Chrom while playing awakening just so I could do that.

 

[Redhorse]

does this mean that we (US) still have the option of purchasing both together in a special package/set at. a third price.? PS I like the additions.

 

[Madridi]

So, @Ryukouki .. I am a huge fire emblem fan, but I have been putting Awakening off for one reason. I must recruit everyone to satisfy my OCD, and from what I heard, it's not possible to do that in awakening (please correct me if I'm wrong, I would start playing immediately if so lol)

Anyway, my question is, any idea if "if" follows this same model?

 

[Hells Malice]

I'll buy one copy and pirate the other. I find it to be absolute bullshit they highlight the "choice" the player will get to make. What choice, the one in the store where you choose black or white? That's a pretty dumb fucking choice when you have no idea which side you actually WANT to side with. The only reason it works for pokemon is because there really is no difference. A couple of pokermans spawns and the shitty legendary you can trade a ditto for is the only difference, not two entire plotlines.

Anyway my only hope is that they bring back the difficulty. Fire Emblem Awakening on lunatic was pathetic. The first 6 missions are the hardest, and once you figure out a strat you can actually clear them almost 100% of the time in about 20 minutes. I ended up restarting just to roll some better stats on my MC to push through the last difficult mission. The rest of the game was a cakewalk. Chrom and my unit could have easily solo'd the game, I just threw in mai waifu and the kids to form 3 immortal units to make things go faster. Though I think I did end up just soloing the last boss because it was easier.
Oh and don't get all up in my shit about Lunatic+. Lunatic+ wasn't difficult, it just gave enemies broken abilities and the only strats online were "restart until 'x' units don't have these abilities, enjoy the game."

So, @Ryukouki .. I am a huge fire emblem fan, but I have been putting Awakening off for one reason. I must recruit everyone to satisfy my OCD, and from what I heard, it's not possible to do that in awakening (please correct me if I'm wrong, I would start playing immediately if so lol)

Anyway, my question is, any idea if "if" follows this same model?

Why wouldn't it be possible?
I think aside from 1 child character possibly being male or female (depending on the gender of your My Unit), everyone else is possible to get in a single playthrough.

 

[CathyRina]

I hope this time when they do casual mode they add a bloody retry button.
tired of soft restarting m console.

I'll buy one copy and pirate the other.

Afaik the other game is DLC for the game you get.

 

[Hells Malice]

Afaik the other game is DLC for the game you get.

DLC is pirateable

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

Game needs gay marriage.

Oh.. and feet

 

[Arras]

Game needs gay marriage.

Oh.. and feet

That wouldn't really work well with the whole kids mechanic though. Also,

I suppose that's sort of feet.

 

[Bimmel]

Game needs gay marriage.

Oh.. and feet

I would actually support both of these great ideas.

But it would make things a bit more complicated. I mean the feet, of course.

 

[storm75x]

*looks at the trailer*
*looks at my wallet*
*looks at the trailer*
*looks at my wallet*

THE FEELS

 

[Madridi]

Why wouldn't it be possible?
I think aside from 1 child character possibly being male or female (depending on the gender of your My Unit), everyone else is possible to get in a single playthrough.

I heard there were more than a 100 characters and the recruiting limit is 100.. Or something along these lines..

Not true?

 

[Skelletonike]

From what I head about the game, Nintendo said that in the west, the game would be released as a single release, while in Japan it would be released as two different games. Can't really recall though.

Either way... I'll most likely pre-order this like I did with Awakening, I wonder if they'll give another sexy artbook with the pre-order. <3
I also started replaying some Fire Emblem games because of this announcement.