Reviews VideoGame / Fire Emblem Fates

A+ Gameplay

What I am so impressed by Fire Emblem as a franchise is its ability to evolve and keep itself refreshing just enough to justify every new sequel. Fates builds on Awakening's previous formula, carefully improving upon the gripes (overpowered Pair Up/weapons), while also testing the waters with new features like Phoenix mode option for casual players, different "versions" and My Castle.

As far as Gameplay is concerned, Fates is rock solid. Great maps, addictive leveling system and fun classes, with balanced challenges and improvements to the dual systems. Some major changes were added like weapons no longer having durability limits, but all in all, it all works well because of smart design choices. I found myself not missing durability at all because of the shift in focus from simply using the strongest weapon, to using the smartest weapon. A lot of thought went into revamping the gameplay for balance while still maximizing fun. The pay off for successful battles are still the Support Conversations and unlocking them all is still an addictive and rewarding journey.

A big goal for Fates seems to have been making it as universally likable as possible regardless of the audience. New features like My Castle was provided to cater to fans who really enjoy getting attached to the characters, not to mention vastly extending playtime and adding fun online interactions. Phoenix mode was included for players who struggle with strategy but enjoy the story. Meanwhile, the fans who enjoy classic FE hardcore gameplay will love Conquest for its return to older FE style of limited grinding and resources. There's a little something for everyone, which is a plus for any long-running franchise.

There is always room for improvement, however, and the most glaring flaw is the story. The premise of Fates with its bloodline vs loyalty theme is certainly intriguing, but ultimately what was needed to successfully provide three different perspectives and conclusions to a conflict was a mountain of contrivances and plot holes. It's clear the focus was not on a silky-smooth story, and more so on fun strategy combat, which is where Fates excels superbly. Sadly, suspension of disbelief is very difficult to maintain, especially for the third route.

With its latest entry, Fire Emblem has taken many steps forward in the right direction. It has refined and improved its strengths (combat, support system), while fixing many past problems. Still, some areas could use some work. I feel a story that relies less on grabbing the Idiot Ball to fuel conflict would be more appreciated in general, and the voice acting and the implementation of the Children units was an overall step down from Awakening. Even so, Fire Emblem Fates does a lot right, maintaining its great record of taking more steps forward than backward, and I eagerly look forward to what the next installment will bring.