We don’t usually review games in this manner but since there’s a fair bit of crossover in these two Fire Emblem titles, we decided it was probably the best way to go about things.
After the excellent Fire Emblem Awakening, Intelligent Systems is back with another installment, though it is now divided into two titles whereby the player is given a choice about halfway through; either cough up the dough and play the other or continue on the existing tale. The story is fairly basic in Fates, centering around two waring kingdoms that each have their own tales to tell. Depending on which title you buy, you’ll be assigned to either the Nohr (Conquest) or Hoshido (Birthright) kingdoms. The former has the darker story of the two, though neither are exactly light-hearted.
In terms of gameplay, things are pretty unforgiving. Conquest is definitely the harder version of the two, with Birthright carrying simpler objectives with bigger rewards. Much like previous titles in the series, you’re going to spend a large majority of your time cursing as characters get chopped down. If you’re playing on Classic Mode, you also won’t be able to get those characters back, leading to some pretty emotional situations where you lose one of your strongest members for good.
Conquest is definitely the harder version of the two, with Birthright carrying simpler objectives with bigger rewards.
Battle mechanics are the same as titles of old, which is to say that they continue to be fantastic. The combat and movement takes place on the top screen, while the bottom shows an overview of the battlefield in a handy map. Movement is done in a grid-based style and everything is carefully balanced with that staple weapon triangle to ensure tactical gameplay. The big new feature added to combat in Fates is ‘Dragon Veins’, which allow players to manipulate the environment in unique ways. This could be anything from a change in weather to moving a wall or creating a bridge. This simple addition completely alters the flow of battles, opening them up to some refreshing strategic possibilities. You’ve also got the relationship mechanic, which offers battle bonuses for specific characters who have gained affinity from fighting together.
The last big addition in this title is the ‘My Castle’ system, which allows players to literally craft their own base from scratch. You can place specific buildings and use the mode as an opportunity to scavenge for resources; these are essential for upgrading your weapons and items. This is done while walking around your creation, which all happens in full 3D. If you have the right Amiibo’s at your disposal, you’ll also be able to unlock additional characters such as Marth who’ll appear in My Castle. You’ll be able to chat to them and occasionally battle them, with the ultimate goal of gaining an extra ally to help you in those tricky battles. Fire Emblem Fates is another great entry in a series that has just enough new editions to make it feel fresh. If you’re new to the series, we’d advise going for Birthright as it’s the easiest of the two. For everyone else (or those who want a challenge), head to Conquest for something a little more difficult.
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