February2016
News Let's Clarify Exactly How the Fire Emblem Fates 'Skinship' Mode Works in North America
'Petting' is limited to 'S' relationships
Fire Emblem Fates, whether deservedly so or not, has prompted debate recently over its localisation. This has revolved around the 'Skinship' mechanic which has been referenced as a 'petting' minigame. Quotes from Nintendo stating that it had been removed made way very recently to suggestions that it's...
News Perfect Your Battlefield Fashion with this Fire Emblem Fates Customizer App
Corrin chooses to accesorize!
It won't be much longer until Fire Emblem Fates is released in North America, and there are plenty of folks on both sides of the pond who can't wait to tear into it as soon as they can. We know at least a couple who have chosen to take time off with "Fire Emblem Flu." One of the first items to take care of upon...
News Here's Exactly What Has Changed With Fire Emblem Fates' "Skinship" Petting Mode
Not as bad as you might think
Reports that Nintendo has removed the "petting" mini-game from the western version of Fire Emblem Fates caused the predictable level of consternation among fans online, many of whom are concerned that the company is taking self-censorship to the next level, having recently made changes to the likes of
January2016
Hands On Seeking an Awakening in Fire Emblem Fates
Now with feet
Though it was unknown to gamers at the time, Fire Emblem: Awakening was something of a last ditch effort by the development team to make the tough SRPG series a sales success. Failure to do so would've resulted in the series suffering the perma-death that so many of its characters have experienced. Diamonds can only be created in high...
Rumour Intelligent Systems Is Working On New Paper Mario For Wii U
Game is currently being localised and tested
Nintendo fans and miners of insider information Emily Rogers and Liam Robertson (the latter of whom is a regular contributor to Nintendo Life) have apparently uncovered details on a Paper Mario sequel for Wii U. According to the report - which is based on information from five different sources - the...
"Making changes is not unusual when we localize games"
This week some debate arose around the localisation of Fire Emblem Fates, when it emerged that a 'drugging' scene, in which a character sees men as women and women as men, had been removed from the game in its Western versions. Nintendo stated, rather simply, that in the localised version "there...
News Nintendo Removes Infamous Drugging Scene From Western Localisation Of Fire Emblem Fates
"No expression which might be considered as gay conversion or drugging"
As well all know, Nintendo often has to make changes to its games when localising them for audiences outside of Japan. We've recently seen changes made to the likes of Fatal Frame and Xenoblade Chronicles X, and it seems that the forthcoming 3DS release Fire Emblem Fates is...
News Fire Emblem Fates New Nintendo 3DS XL Model Confirmed, Along With DLC Details
Revelation storyline on 10th March, all-in-one edition on the way
Fire Emblem Fates is not only the eagerly awaited second entry of the franchise on the 3DS, but it's also an intriguing release. Due on 19th February in North America it'll come in two separate editions - Birthright and Conquest - that have different storylines, though those keen to...
November2015
News Target Reservation Cards Re-Affirm Fire Emblem Fates as a Dual Release for North America
While a single release seems likely for Europe
At the end of October we highlighted a minor oddity in Nintendo's list of upcoming releases. It showed Fire Emblem Fates as a single release in Europe, but listed the separate parts - Conquest and Birthright - for North America. This was intriguing as it reinforced the ongoing listing on Amazon UK -...
September2015
News Xenoblade Chronicles and Fire Emblem Characters Join Project X Zone 2 Cast
This just got serious...
Project X Zone 2 may have slipped into an early 2016 release in the West, but there's exciting news that should help build more interest among Nintendo fans. Characters from Nintendo-exclusive games are joining the diverse cast which already encompasses Bandai Namco, SEGA and Capcom IPs. The two games / franchises being...
August2015
Editorial Paper Mario is 15 Years Old Today, and Provides a Reminder of Nintendo's Wonderful Whimsy
Silly and brilliant, what a combination
Paper Mario is 15 years old today, 11th August, in terms of its Japanese release in 2000. Intelligent Systems, a development company typically associated with Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, took a step back from serious strategising to produce what was, at the time, a bit of a revelation. Actually originally...
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...
July2015
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...
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...
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...
June2015
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...
News Fresh Details Emerge For Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem
Music is my radar
Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem - AKA Genei Ibun Roku #FE - was shown off in a brief and almost incomprehensible video during Nintendo's E3 Digital Event which left fans none the wiser as to what kind of experience this crossover will provide. Thankfully, GameSpot has been talking to the team behind the game to get a better idea...
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...
Feature Nintendo Franchises We Want to See at E3 - Paper Mario
A sound theory on paper
In the lead up to E3 we'll be doing a series of features covering game franchises that we want to make an appearance at the show, and what we'd like to see out of a potential next entry in each series. In this article Nintendo Life editor Tom Whitehead makes the case for a particularly popular one in the Rumour Mill, Paper...
May2015
News An Impressive 1.79 Million Players Have Crossed Swords With Fire Emblem: Awakening
...as of December 2014
Fire Emblem has traditionally struggled to make much of an impact in the West - we didn't even get to experience the franchise until the days of the Game Boy Advance - but it would appear that the turn-based series has finally caught the attention of players outside of Japan. A new promotional page has just gone live in Japan...
Parent Trap Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Makes Chess Players Of Us All
Family Gamer's Andy Robertson on old and new turn-based strategy
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. creates a knife edge multiplayer challenge for families with as much to commend it as Chess. Fighting talk I know, but this 3DS game made me reconsider how I see (and limit) video games in the home. While few have ambitions for their children to get really good at...
News Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Fails to Chart in Week of Poor Sales in Japan
Xenoblade Chronicles X clears 100,000 sales
In recent weeks there have been some decent game and hardware sales in Japan, so a tumble was always on the agenda. Even with that in mind, it's nevertheless been a rather lousy week of sales for Japanese retailers according to the latest Media Create results. Kicking off with the software charts, Final...
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...
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...
