The best news I've read so far is that the Lancer class is coming back. I will hopefully be able to use another Nephenee-like battle goddess.

Is this the game with two different versions or something? What's the deal with that?

GO TO WII U, WHAT THE HECK.

Seriouslah: why can Hyrule Warriors be on both systems but Fire Emblem can't?

THE GAMEPAD IS ALMOST A 3DS, DUMMIES.

@r_hjort

From what I understand, some of the choices that you make during the game's prologue will set you down one of two paths. You will fight for either the kingdom of Hoshido or Nohr based on your decisions, and the story will change as a result. For example, someone you could have befriended while fighting with Nohr could be a foe if you choose to side with Hoshido. There was some footage shown yesterday during the Treehouse stream that goes into some of these details. This feature seems like a compelling way to expand the narrative while also diversifying the experiences people have with the game.

@Mr_Mustache

I was just thinking that this whole controversy over the two versions would maybe have been lessened if one version was for Wii U and one was for 3DS. This may have gone over better even if the Wii U version was digital only and looked just like the 3DS game.

@Octorockin
That sounds more like branching paths within the game; I thought the game would release in two different versions on two different cartridges or something?

@r_hjort

Like gojira said, it's almost like there are two versions of Fire Emblem Fates. One path takes you into the "Birthright" version, while the other leads you into the "Conquest" version. I'm not really sure if decision-making plays an important role after the prologue, but it sounds like you'll make a hard decision at the beginning of the game that determines which version you play.

@Octorockin
Oh, so you don't actually have to buy two separate games then? Sorry if I'm being an idiot about this. Got food on the stove and can't sit down to watch a video right now.

@r_hjort

I'm actually a little confused, too. After doing some digging, it appears as though there are different versions of the game to buy in Japan. If you buy one version, you can buy the other as DLC. I'm unsure how this will fit into the North American release.

@Octorockin
I'm not exactly a rocket surgeon, but this sounds very weird! Oh well, I guess we'll find out all the details soon enough.

@r_hjort

Indeed! I'm curious to know if both versions will receive retail releases in North America.

Here are the different versions of the game. The one on the left is Birthright, and the one on the right is Conquest.

@r_hjort
You're not being an idiot, Nintendo's being cagey about whether or not this game has two versions a la Pokemon like it is in Japan. And it looks like that is the case in other territories, as well. Siliconera spied this paragraph in a North American press release.

"Two versions of the franchise’s new installment offer players an unprecedented choice: fight an opposing force or join the other side and try to make changes from within. For the first time in the series, players take on the role of the main character and command an army, while struggling to decide which path to follow: helping blood relatives or the family that raised him or her. The game is scheduled to launch in 2016."


As for the game itself, I'm sure it'll be very good, as all Fire Emblem games have been, but I've played 5 FE games and that's probably enough until the series gets a shakeup.

@nate38
Fishy. Can't say I care for the idea of selling two different versions of a game like this, in general. Guess it could be acceptable depending on how big the differences are, and how much you have to pay for the second version DLC thing, but spontaneously I think it sounds shady.

@gojira

....I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT WAS A THING!

WHAT THE HECKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK. This is MOST disturbing. For as much cross-platform stuff they've been doing (get both the 3DS and Wii U versions of Smash Bros. for a special soundtrack CD!; you can import your fighters from the 3DS version to the Wii U version if you own both copies of Hyrule Warriors!; etc.), you'd think they'd JUMP at the opportunity to do this. Apparently not.

What happens if everyone in Japan wants one version over the other? Then "Birthright" (or whatever) is known as the less popular version. Nothing makes any sense to me.

nate38 said:

As for the game itself, I'm sure it'll be very good, as all Fire Emblem games have been, but I've played 5 FE games and that's probably enough until the series gets a shakeup.

Well, you're in luck! Not only is the story going to be a shake-up from the usual Fire Emblem-fare, but they are also changing up the weapons types, the "priority wheel" and even adding in new weapons and attacks!

It'll be like a whole new franchise. Kinda.

@GameDadGrant

I also heard it said that the Harder path was also going to play a little differently because you are a part of the invading force as opposed to defending against one.

@gojira

That's really cool. This dualism between both versions makes Fire Emblem: Fates sound like two separate games.

Which storyline will you guys play through first? I haven't decided yet, but I'm leaning towards Conquest.

This is where I hope cross platform functionality becomes a focus on NX. It'd be cool to have the option to have this game on the TV or the handheld. I'm really interested to see where it goes.

What's also a killer is these beautiful HD cutscenes that won't be in HD on the 3DS. Also not really sold on the two versions of the game...I'd prefer to pick my path on just one cart, you know?

Still, FE: Awakening was one of my favorite 3DS game so I'll still be following this closely.

The real problem with Fire Emblem is that they all start to feel the same after a while. Yeah, each map is different and each story is different, but the mechanics don't change much, so the basic strategies don't change much.

What I'd like to see is a spinoff series - sort of the inverse of Final Fantasy Tactics - that really experiments with the core "system". Fates would be a good time to do that, since we already have Awakening on the 3DS.

GameDadGrant said:

nate38 said:

As for the game itself, I'm sure it'll be very good, as all Fire Emblem games have been, but I've played 5 FE games and that's probably enough until the series gets a shakeup.

Well, you're in luck! Not only is the story going to be a shake-up from the usual Fire Emblem-fare, but they are also changing up the weapons types, the "priority wheel" and even adding in new weapons and attacks!

It'll be like a whole new franchise. Kinda.

This sounds interesting...

@Octorockin

Probably Birthright since it's supposed to be the easier of the two.