Fire Emblem 13

[nocturnal YL]

Don't think many NinDBers follow this series as much as I do, so I'll take lead to post this.

First off, the Famitsu magazine scans: See them at SerenesForest; the scans themselves are too large to embed here

It's basically a bit of FE1~12 taken, and with a new cast, new gameplay system and new HUD graphics put into one game. The end result is geared towards the newer players like me, so don't expect the notorious parts of FE4~5 (which basically made the game complicated and difficult) to come back.

There aren't much valuable new information in those scans, other than that this game has My Unit just like FE12. You can set the tone of the chracter's speech (do you want your guy to call himself the manly ore or the Marth-y boku?), but it looks like My Unit's class cannot be changd this time around. It is going to be a senjutsushi, which is basically a Mage Fighter.

Other noticeable observationa:
- The fighting scene can be slowed down or paused altogether.
- Despite what the upper screen appears like, you can get more than 5 stats per level up.
- With the new graphic style, even Anna's appearance changed. She still keeps her "fingertip on chin" pose, though.
- The game is kind enough to let you know the outcome of each fight before the fight. This should make the player less prone to the "what, that move killed me? I overlooked the damage value?" moments.

[Shadrio]

I've been loosely following this game (I love a challenge, and even Sacred Stones, a relatively easy Fire Emblem game, is a good challenge). As far as I know, this game will have a function that will allow you to turn permadeath off, a small thing that can help many new gamers into the series. The most common complain I hear from this series is that when a unit dies, he never comes back, and people always restart a map if one unit dares to loose all his hit points (who doesn't? I've had my best uni KO's by surprise buttsecks and surprise crits to the face).

Other than that, I've been in the dark. I won't care much until I hear it comes out of Japan. And, as a little personal thing, I hope that the main character can use more weapons that aren't swords (I know that the game's lord uses Swords, but he could gain something else like how Ike gets Axes in , like Lance or Axe. I'd love to see an Axe or Lance user in SSB4).

[Wildcat]

I want this quite badly - if NoA localize it, I'd definitely consider getting a 3DS.

[Da Robot]

The Fire Emblem series interests me, the only one I'm played is Fire Emblem/AKA "the one with Lyn in it" on the GBA and it was a good game, apart from the no mid level saves (it's been a while, since I've played) and then I finally stopped when I had lost level 19 or whatever because the enemy lord I had to defeat ended OHKO Lyn (who seemed like the only person who put a dent in his HP) and it was game over (and it took me like 45 minutes to reach him the first place).

I really wanted to play FE12 after hearing about the "no permadeath option" and "My Unit", but was disaponnted with it's lack of western release* . . .

. . . But knowing for a while about those features being in FE13 does make me interested in getting this and a 3DS (like Wildcat), this does seems like it should have a higher chance of a western release than 12. And if not, the fans could try doing an Operation Rainfall project for it.


* I think I heard somewhere that there will be a fan translation project in the works though.

[nocturnal YL]

FE13-themed prepaid card and paid DLC available for free until 31 May! That's literally making me buy a Japanese 3DS!

Fingers even more crossed for whether NoE will cut those parts away in their version.

EDIT - Typing while trying to catch up with a live video apparently isn't a good idea. I mistyped Noe as NoW.

Also, Nintendo of Europe is awesome.

[Leon]

Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that this will come out later this year. There's a guy in the new trailer who looks like a masked Marth. This is getting weirder and weirder.

[nocturnal YL]

If you happen to care about this game but don't follow the Japanese side of gaming news, here's the FE13 trailer in Nintnedo Channel:

[Nester the Lark]

I love the art and character designs in the Fire Emblem games, but this one seems a bit different somehow. Maybe it's more of a "modern" anime-style, with the overly elaborate outfits and such. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing, but it doesn't quite have the same charm.

Is that just me?

[BeamClaws]

I agree completely. In addition to the art style being different (only 2 shades for one), the character designs themself seem, well, less "realistic" I guess. Like I could definitely see the charactes from the previous games fighting a war, more than these characters.

Oh well. I'm still getting this game.

[Nester the Lark]

I don't know if I'd called the art in the other Fire Emblem games "realistic," but I think you're on to something. I think the word I was looking for was "stylized." That's how the new artwork looks to me, whereas the other games seem more "natural."

Again, not that it's necessarily bad, but it just seems strange.

[Wildcat]

If I recall correctly, the artist from No More Heroes is responsible for Awakening's art style. I'm not sure why exactly they're branching out with different artists as of late - I thought FE7 - 10's artist was perfect, myself.

[Nester the Lark]

Is it seriously?! Because No More Heroes is exactly what I thought of when I saw some of those characters!

I loved the art from FE7-10 also, but I respect that they want to try to move forward and evolve. You can't stand still for too long or things get stale.

[Leon]

Yeah, the artist is Yusuke Kozaki of No More Heroes. The previous games have also used different artists, it's just that the difference is less subtle in this game. At first I didn't like the new style, but it has won me over, it really makes me think "NEW Fire Emblem". The only thing I still don't like is how complicated some of the characters wardrobes are. Surprisingly, Liz doesn't bother me, but Krom I take issue with.

[BeamClaws]

Oh yeah, the clothes are a big problem. Look at Anna in the trailer, who's suddenly wearing jester clothes as opposed to the simple red shirt she wore for 10 games before (she wore blue in 5.).

[Leon]

I actually like Anna as well. I find that more elaborate outfit works for her role as keeper of the other world gate.