Game Update: Big Changes Coming to Fire Emblem Fates

Change is Coming! 

Once again it has been announced that yet another part of the Japanese roleplaying title Fire Emblem Fates will be getting a major makeover before it's English release in February 2016. Not long ago, the original Japanese version caused quite a bit of controversy among it's English-speaking fanbase, and in response, Nintendo has decided some big changes are necessary.

So what is this all about? Why the changes? The latest addition to the franchise, Fates welcomes the "new" concept of gay marriage into the game. If you've played recent Fire Emblem titles you know that, alongside the main story, there is an added element of a "dating sim" wedged in there. Pairing certain characters up has effects on many different things, including offspring -- whom also become and important part of the story, and you guessed it, can be paired up as well. Anyhoo, the new game now allows you to get-it-aahhnnn with whichever gender you want. Despite the addition, and quickly after the game's release, many started to criticize the content, even going as far to call the game "homophobic", for allegedly featuring a scene depicting "gay conversion therapy". So to make a long story short, Nintendo has reported that they will be changing the dialogue of the scene for the upcoming English version.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!!

In their latest announcement, Nintendo stated that ANOTHER part of the game will be changed --eliminated-- thanks to them glorious U.S. puritans. That Japanese version of the game has a feature that allows players to utilize the 3DS touchscreen to pet and stroke different characters within the game. The characters then respond with what's being considered as 'suggestive dialogue'. Kinky? Yes. Pointless? Yes. Awesome? YES! But alas, apparently English-born speakers are not mature enough to handle the content...so the nice things have been removed. Yes, you heard me. Completely removed. WHY CAN'T WE HAVE NICE THINGS?!

Nonetheless, Nintendo has done it's utmost to reassure us that changes like these are normal when it comes to localization. I, for one, don't really care about what a couple of prudes think...but you win some, you lose some, eh?

So to conclude, Fire Emblem Fates will be released as three separate games: Birthright, Conquest, and the later-to-be-released DLC, Revelation. Each are worth playing on their own because they're all very different when it comes to perspective, and even game play. Regardless of the localization and the changes, the game is still very promising.

I will be starting my journey with Conquest...see if you can guess why~ ;)