News Articles
Sunday1st Nov 2015
News Fire Emblem will be Getting an Art Book for its 25th Anniversary
Naturally, it's Japan only
It's hard to believe, but Fire Emblem has been a source of SRPG nirvana for almost 25 years already. Of course this statement is kind of cheating, as Nintendo didn't opt to bring the series West until a little over ten years ago, but at least Japan got to enjoy it for all that time. When it comes to Fire Emblem, it seems...
Wednesday28th Oct 2015
Project Guard still listed for 2015, Fates remains a single listing in EU
Following today's financial results from Nintendo, we've been picking up some additional details found within the accompanying press conference or documents. As usual we've taken a look at the updated release lists, too, and there are a couple of quirks to consider. First up...
Saturday8th Aug 2015
News Fire Emblem Fates Looks Set to be a Single Release in the West, According to Amazon
In Europe, at least
Fire Emblem Fates promises to bring the most content of any entry in the series, so much so that it has two distinct versions at retail and a third path available as DLC in Japan. It's ultimately a choice between light and dark paths, with many Japanese gamers making their decision in stores. Due in 2016 in the West, no details...
Friday7th Aug 2015
News Masahiro Sakurai Tackles Criticisms of Bonus Features in Games
"If it bothers you so much, then don’t use that feature"
Masahiro Sakurai shares regular articles in Famitsu magazine - on some occasions he discusses Smash Bros. features and updates or his personal plans, but occasionally he's happy to simply give his views on a topic that's clearly on his mind. This week he considers criticisms some level at...
Wednesday29th Jul 2015
News 3DS Software Is Getting Patched To Work With The New NFC Reader/Writer Accessory
Amiibo at the ready
Nintendo is launching its NFC Reader/Writer accessory for the non-New models of the 3DS family this Thursday in Japan, and as a result many NFC-compatible games are getting updated so that they support the amiibo-granting dongle. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., Fire Emblem If (or Fates, if you prefer), Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy...
Wednesday15th Jul 2015
News The Great Ace Attorney and Yo-Kai Watch Lead The Way for 3DS in Japan
3DS still number one in hardware
It's a Wednesday, which means it's Media Create chart results day in Japan. This week brought some notable new releases, with the 3DS faring particularly well while the Wii U hangs on to five figure hardware sales. Kicking off with software, Yo-kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team / White Dog Squad - an action spin-off...
Thursday9th Jul 2015
News Fire Emblem Fates Third Path And New HOME Theme Launch In Japan
Invisible Kingdom is now available
If you are a Fire Emblem fanatic and you have been following the updates of Fire Emblem Fates - called Fire Emblem If in Japan - you will know that there are two scenarios that have been released in Nintendo's home country. The two scenarios, named Birthright and Conquest, have the same storyline up until the sixth...
Wednesday8th Jul 2015
News Fire Emblem Fates Leads Japanese Charts Alongside Rhythm Heaven and Splatoon
3DS still dominates in hardware, too
With another passing week we have the latest Media Create charts out of Japan, and the focus this time is on momentum and solid sellers, with no major new releases arriving to shake up the results. From Nintendo's perspective the news is positive, with its releases showing decent numbers and hardware holding...
Tuesday7th Jul 2015
News How Fire Emblem amiibo Interact with Fates
Memories of distant Battlefields...
In what likely comes as a surprise to absolutely nobody, Fire Emblem Fates comes with amiibo compatibility for figures from the series. One fun little twist, however, seems to be a solid nod to where these characters had been employed between installments. According to the folks at Siliconera, Robin, Lucina, Ike,...
Friday3rd Jul 2015
Video Watch Acclaimed Manga Artist Kozaki Yusuke Draw Felicia From Fire Emblem Fates
The long and short version
Art design is vital in any game, and it's particularly important when there's a sizeable cast of characters to consider. It's with that in mind that the return of acclaimed manga artist and character designer Kozaji Yusuke to work on Fire Emblem Fates - called Fire Emblem: If in Japan - is such welcome news. Yusuke-san's...
News Fire Emblem Fates Birthright Edition Is The Popular Choice In Japan
Which path would you choose?
We know Fire Emblem Fates will be released in Europe and North America sometime in 2016, but that doesn't stop us from enjoying the action in Japan, where the game is already available. Fire Emblem: If - as it is known in Japan – has sold incredibly well, with the Special Edition Bundle being so much in demand that a...
Wednesday1st Jul 2015
News Fire Emblem Fates Storms to Number One in Japan
Beats equivalent launch sales of Awakening
The Japanese Media Create charts have brought positive news for Nintendo of late, and that continues this week with the arrival of the latest blockbuster from Intelligent Systems. Fire Emblem Fates - known as Fire Emblem: If in Japan - has launched in Nintendo's homeland and performed rather well. There...
Wednesday24th Jun 2015
News Fire Emblem Fates Iwata Asks Explores Multiple Storylines, Its 500 Page Plot and My Castle
"I ended up writing so much that it could be turned into about two books"
Fire Emblem Fates - known as Fire Emblem If in Japan - is out in Nintendo's homeland this week, before heading to the West in 2016. After the franchise-saving antics of Fire Emblem: Awakening the new title seems like a somewhat dramatic step-up for the series, with two...
News Fire Emblem Fates Will Allow Same-Sex Marriages
Nintendo wants its games to "reflect the diversity" of its audience
Nintendo has confirmed that Fire Emblem Fates will be the first title in the long-running strategy series to feature same-sex marriages. In Fire Emblem: Awakening, it was possible to marry characters you had formed a strong bond with, but it was only possible to wed members of the...
Tuesday16th Jun 2015
News The New 3DS Fire Emblem Will Be Called Fire Emblem Fates In The West
Final title announced during E3 event
Nintendo has revealed the final Western title for the new 3DS Fire Emblem during its Digital Event at E3. Fire Emblem Fates is the final name - in Japan, it is known as Fire Emblem If. Both titles reflect the fact that this is one of the most open-ended instalments in the series yet, offering two different...
Wednesday10th Jun 2015
Video Feast Your Eyeballs on Extended Footage of Fire Emblem If
Plus quirky Splatoon and Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus vids
Though we're looking at a 2016 release in the West, Fire Emblem If is all set to arrive in Japan on 25th June, shaking up the standard formula with two separate releases - and a third storyline available as DLC. It'll likely have all of the strategy gameplay we can handle. With the...
Sunday31st May 2015
News Fire Emblem If Allows You to Build and Manage a Town, All Four Current FE amiibo Supported
Ten minute presentation video released
It may not be coming to the West until 2016, but Fire Emblem If is hard to ignore as a result of its rapidly approaching release in Japan. With two distinct versions - and a third arc available via download - it's a title ambitious in scope, expanding upon the excellent Fire Emblem: Awakening. Today's Japanese...
Tuesday19th May 2015
News Fire Emblem If Changes The Traditional Weapons Triangle
Remember to breathe...
Some ideas are so integral to series franchises that to change them can seem blasphemous; yet that doesn't stop Nintendo and affiliates from doing what they feel is right. It's often tweaking core mechanics in rather subtle ways, such as the will-he-won't-he triple jump appearing and disappearing from modern Mario games, and...
Friday15th May 2015
News Famitsu Reveals Some Fresh Details on Fire Emblem If
New 'Phoenix Mode' will be an even easier, third difficulty option
It's rather hard to believe, but Fire Emblem If will be releasing in Japan on 25th June. This is made all the more surprising because relatively little is known about the game at this point. Here's a quick breakdown of what we do know so far: The story will follow the war between a...
Thursday30th Apr 2015
News Fire Emblem If Box Art Confirms amiibo Support and 15 Years and Up Age Rating
Now we just need to find Fire Emblem amiibo in stock...
Fire Emblem If is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing entries in the popular series to date. Though it's not due in the West until 2016, it's raising eyebrows with its approach to two separate retail releases + DLC for its Summer release in Japan, which will be combined through...
News Nintendo Celebrates Japanese Launch Of Fire Emblem If With Themed Cover Plate & Bundle
Another week, another cover plate
Since the launch of the New Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo has allowed users to accessorise their system with a wide selection of cover plate offerings. This trend won’t be stopping any time soon, with the latest cover plate reveal celebrating the upcoming Japanese launch of Fire Emblem If. The special Fire Emblem If...
Wednesday29th Apr 2015
News Fire Emblem's Two Versions Will Offer Very Different Challenges
More difficult "Black Kingdom" edition aimed at veterans of the series
The next entry in the Fire Emblem series - dubbed Fire Emblem If in Japan - is coming in two different packages: White Kingdom and Black Kingdom. While it's tempting to assume that these two versions boast only subtle differences, Intelligent Systems' Masahiro Higuchi and...
Friday17th Apr 2015
News Fire Emblem: If Special Edition Bundle Sold Out In Japan, Sparks Second Shipment for Pre-Orders
If only it was out in the West this year
It seems Intelligent systems has pulled it out of the bag with its latest release. The brand new game in the Fire Emblem series has sold out of its pre-orders for the Special Edition pack, resulting in a second shipment being ordered for Japan. Some people may call this an ironic twist of fate, after Fire...
Saturday4th Apr 2015
News New Fire Emblem on 3DS Takes Shape as Two Separate Releases in Japan
Western details for 2016 release unclear
We think it's fair to say that, at the moment, the Fire Emblem series is in the position to go from strength to strength, following the success of Fire Emblem: Awakening. Intelligent Systems and Nintendo SPD continue to impress their Fire Emblem fans, and with a new addition to the series on the horizon Fire...
Thursday2nd Apr 2015
News The New 3DS Fire Emblem Will Force You To Pick A Side
Hoshido or Nohr - which will you choose?
During today's Nintendo Direct more footage of the latest Fire Emblem title was shown, and although the game doesn't have a final title yet, we're starting to get a better picture of what this fresh instalment is all about. Unlike Fire Emblem: Awakening, you won't be assuming the role of a off-screen...
Monday16th Feb 2015
News A Fire Emblem 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert is Coming to Japan
No news on a western tour, yet
As you may remember, we reported about a week ago on the upcoming Legend of Zelda Symphony of the Goddesses: Master Quest tour line-up. Promising orchestral covers of a plethora of music pieces spanning the series' rich history, the symphonic experience is something to look forward to for many fans of the franchise...
Thursday29th Jan 2015
Level creation game was previously listed for "1st Half 2015"
Following Nintendo's Q3 financial report, it's followed with convention and released supplementary information that includes upcoming release windows for 3DS and Wii U titles. There are only a couple of notable changes from the equivalent Q2 list, both affecting major titles. To start...
Tuesday20th Jan 2015
News The New Fire Emblem For 3DS May Be Arriving Sooner Than Expected
Update: Nintendo Australia issues an update dropping '2015' window
Update: It appears Nintendo Australia made an error with the listed 3DS release dates and has now sent out an updated version of the newsletter. The 3DS section now reads, "Games coming for Nintendo 3DS" rather than the existing header which indicated a 2015 launch for all titles...
Wednesday14th Jan 2015
News A New Fire Emblem Game Is Marching Towards The 3DS
From the same team behind Fire Emblem: Awakening
During today's Nintendo Direct it was confirmed that the 3DS family of systems is getting a new entry in the beloved Fire Emblem series, created by the same core team at Intelligent Systems which brought us the sublime Fire Emblem: Awakening. An entirely new story is on offer, but this time around...
