Wexter

@SonOfDracula It is no conspiracy really. Developers and publishers have been wanting to increase the cost of a new AAA game for over a decade. There has been general discussion of this in the games media since 2014. But, actual developers have been discussing this since the late-00s when game development cost ballooned with the HD twins.

Now, I'm not advocating that games get more expensive to buy... but we've seen publishers use increasingly more drastic practices to recover that development cost... so... this should had happened over a decade ago if I'm being honest.

Reading some of these comments makes me want to moan. Games have never been cheaper! As $60 USD is not the same as $60 USD in the mid-00s or even $60 in the 90s. Games were far more expensive in the 1990s. The equivalent of spending $60 USD in 2006 is the same as spending $88.33 USD today. To put that in further perspective spending $60 USD 1990 is the same as spending $136.25 USD today. So, to put that in further perspective spending $70 USD today is cheaper than spending $60 USD in 2006. And might I remind people salaries were also lower at those times too as the average personal income in the US in 2023 is $63,214 USD, the average income in 2006 was $59,600 USD and $50,200 USD in 1990. So, the average salary has gone up year after year in the US, yet game prices have stayed the same.

Making games have gotten more and more expensive (about $1-6 million USD in 2006, yet it is over $80 million USD in 2023 to make a AAA video game), yet the actual price of games has stayed the same. People wonder why companies have used insane DLC practices and live services that is why. Now, some companies are just straight greedy, there is no denying that. But, the expectation that games will always cost $60 USD is in itself insane.

Will this mean I spend less on games? Probably as inflation has infected every part of our daily lives. But, in general I've spent less on games year after year as I've gotten older in general. Those having a temper tantrum because the new Zelda might, and I repeat might, be $70 USD need some perspective.

@Ryu_Niiyama as a longtime Fire Emblem fan I like it when people point out the marriage mechanic was found in Genealogy of the Holy War all the way back on the Super Famicom. It's a cool mechanic and I liked how Awakening implemented it. I do wish that Fates cut it though... It makes sense in Genealogy and Awakening (one because of a time skip and the other had time travel).

Though as someone who liked pairing Severa and Owain it was cool to see them interacting with thier own kids in Fates.

I went Cordelia. It made the most sense from a male Robin's perspective. She's loyal, intelligent and willing to sacrifice herself for Chrom, but has a deep shame about not fulfilling her promise to her comrades. It's a very complex relationship and I like how Severa fits into the dynamic as her misery is directly because of her father. That and with Robin being the one who killed Cordelia in the future it is both tragic that the one who helped her get past her trauma was also the one who killed her when she protected Chrom the other man she loved.

So overall that's who I picked. I just liked the meta narrative.

While I'd be down for a sequel and it seems Platinum's plate is now clear with Babylon's Fall mercifully put out of it's misery, and the only major projects they're working on is Astral Chain 2 and Granblue... But this is Konami... Odds are good it's a remaster for PS5 and Switch. The PC might get a 4k remaster... So I'm prepared for disappointment

@Selim for figures that is the going rate. Most of them are made in small batches between 200-20,000 and they tend to get 1-2 print runs. That and the figures are disgustingly detailed. I do agree that the price is high, but that is the going rate for most figures.

I'm going to go a bit into my views as to what makes a good single player for fighting games. The best ones are the ones that teach you how to play the game. Think the old arcade ladders in Capcom games where each fight gets increasingly harder. Those are decent. I think the modern Mortal Kombat games have done an amazing job at teaching players how to play while presenting a great story and cycles through each character regularly so you are sampling most of the cast and learning what makes them tick. The best way to learn how to fight a character is to learn how to fight with that character. So, not only are they challenging and teach you how to play, but they also allow you to figure out who your main will be while engaging you with the unique mechanics of each fighter.

Subspace since it was a side scroller which controls like a fighter it never feels good to play. It's clunky and the platforming is never all that challenging and rather just tedious. And since you're not actually engaging with the mechanics of a fighting game your not learning how to actually play. That and when you're in an arena they are brief appearances and a lot of the bosses are not playable characters so you're learning how to fight an enemy you'll never face online or your buddies can pick. So as far as a fighter single player mode it lands flat. It's not good enough to be enjoyed as just a side scroller on it's own or a good enough mode to teach casuals how to get good at the fighting game part of the fighting game.

It's basically just fanservice. And Smash is fanservice so that's not a bad thing, just not ideal. Compare that to Melee where yes Adventure mode had platforming, but those were few and far between and more just broke-up the fights. That and All-Star mode was a nice gauntlet you could do to test your skills, plus the game had a unique challenge mode. Melee actually did a good job of teaching players how to play through it's single player content.

So yeah... That's why Subspace was not a good single player mode on its own. That is unless you like fanservice in that case you're probably going to have fun... But, that's really all it was as it was not a good side scroller or a good fighter as far as a mode on its own.

I'm going to say no. I think while a nice Single Player mode, it was not very good. It was a pretty mediocre platformer and a decent addition. I think the cinematics were AWESOME, but the actual mode is a big wet meh. I like how Smash Ultimate handled unlocking characters, but I'd rather it be like Street Fighter, Killer Instinct and other fighters where everyone was just there at boot up.

Maybe if they improved Subspace then maybe I would not mind it... But I'd rather Melee's Adventure or All Star modes.

EDIT: seriously people should go back and replay it was a critical lens and compare it to Kirby, Mario and other platformers. It's not very good. As a pack-in with a fighter it's pretty decent, but compared Mortal Kombat's singleplayer offerings Subspace hardly compares.

Nintendo has been doing their own thing for years. So if they skip the show and just do their Summer Direct + Treehouse steam no major loss. Microsoft with owning Bethesda and soon Activision Blizzard really can do their own thing as well. Sony is a bit more surprising... But, not unexpected either.

@OrtadragoonX I think it depends on the titles. Nintendo and Rare titles have aged extremely well, and for 3rd parties most Factor 5 and Hudson Soft games still play excellently!! Without the experimentation of the N64 we'd probably not have the excellent titles of the 6th generation (which still struggled with camera controls till rather late in the generation).

The PSOne RPGs and 2D Sprite game have aged well, but a lot of it's catalog had aged just as bad if not worse in some cases because of the lack of analog controls early one. Go play the original Tomb Raider, MediEvil, Resident Evil, Silent Hill or Spyro... They've for the most part aged like milk.

@johnvboy I know we've bounced back and forth, but I don't think I've ever given my VC experience. I loved VC on Wii! I got into retro gaming around that time back when Game Trailers and Screwattack were a thing (I miss Stuttering Craig's Top 10s). Great time playing absolute banger classics!!! But, on Wii U the bubble popped for me. It was just not as exciting to see what was released because I already had access to the games I wanted in Wii mode, and as an adult it was harder to decide if I wanted to spend $6-15 on a game that might have aged very badly rather than just save that pocket change for a new Wii U or PS4 game. I like NSO because it gives me more incentive to play games I would had probably skipped and I need it for my Splatoon and Pokemon fix so it's easy to justify having it and not having to rebuy Super Mario World or Super Metroid for the third time (or in some cases 4 times because 3DS and Wii U did not have unified accounts) in 10 years just to play them when I have down time. That and it's nice to see Nintendo take risks with games like Starfox 2 and Earthbound Beginnings (Zero) which I first heard about when I was 15 on old 16-Bit Gems and Hard4Games videos.

I can see though that if you're single player only and don't want to pay for NSO even for stuff like Pokemon that's fair. I can see why you'd prefer and option to buy these games instead. But, with how robust the catalog had gotten I think it's easy to justify paying what amounts to a couple cups of coffee (or a fancy Starbucks coffee) a month to have access to Golden Eye and Banjo.

To each their own and that has been my TedTalk.

@AgtOrange but that misses the point of the service. It's to allow people to play the games as they originally were with some modern clean up and online. They don't change the game itself in how it plays. And you can setup Golden Eye to play like a modern shooter by selecting 1.2 in the control settings and add a profile for your Switch control in settings. A bit of legwork, but you can remap the controls. That and the game is best played with an N64 controller as that was what it was designed for.

I've played games with my brother for years and we get super competitive. We have yelled at each other over a round of Smash and Mario Kart. I've played games with my partner and while I try to quell this demon... They figure it out and we go back to reading and other activities... I'm a monster too!

@ModdedInkling it runs better mostly because Microsoft has a better console and are tweaking the game a bit more. Nintendo's is a straight emulation without tweaks and are not running a custom emulator for the game just the standard NSO one. Which to be fair to Nintendo they are constantly improving the emulator and are trying to produce a version closer to the N64 original. Microsoft is releasing a slightly more modern version (better controls ect.). It's just the devil in the details. If you prefer a slightly smoother and modern experience go Xbox, if you want online and a closer to the og version go Nintendo.

@electrolite77 neither do I friend. I think a lot of it is either misconception about how NSO works (like this idea that you have to be always online to play these games) and a combination of bitterness over there no longer being VC and the idea of "ownership." I think most of those are a little silly to still be bitter over almost 6 years later (especially with digital ownership discussion. I eye roll just as much with the physical or die crowd, yet they are right digital ownership is not really a thing)... But that's life. This isn't politics it's gaming, no need to get so bent out of shape over how people choose to spend their money and enjoyment if it's not hurting anyone.

Well my TedTalk is over, see you next month when this exact same thing happens with the next N64 game.

@nocdaes it's mostly just sad honestly. It's like having the fun police come in and say "you playing NSO? You've been scammed" with the straightest face ignoring what the meaning of the word is. NSO is a nice service, it can be better, but it's a nice service that does what it says on the tin. I would enjoy some QOL improvements and a few gems still missing, but overall it's a nice way to unwind.

@electrolite77 it's the mentality of "I don't like it so you shouldn't either" which for some reason is the worst in the gaming space. If people are looking forward to something awesome! If you're not move on and do the things that make you happy. Life is too short to hold onto so much negativity.

@GameOtaku that's not what I'm talking about. How about addressing what I'm actually talking about then "drip feed" and the vague "companies do better" line. That's not what I'm talking about and you're just arguing past me and arguing with a strawman not actually talking with me. I never said VC was a bad idea in principal and I'm glad it's gone or I even think Switch Online is perfect. What I'm saying is how VC is highly romanticized and not actually discussed in context of what it actually was.

If you want something we agree on... I agree that Nintendo should offer the chance to buy a digital copy with the game being available with Switch Online. I agree that publishers should try harder to keep their back catalog available especially obscure stuff like Terranigma and Ogre Battle 64. Cool. Now we can have discussions about what I'm actually talking about.

@GameOtaku but you're completely misrepresentationing what I've said. I'm not saying NSO is perfect, rather I'm saying VC was exceptionally flawed and despite not having it we do live in a golden era for retro game accessibility. Then you started arguing with me about how certain collections don't have as many games as you want despite them being exceptionally more affordable than VC was. While at the same time you're wondering why Nintendo doesn't just make the 700 NES game library available when you and I both know that's not how this works due to how probably at the very least 50% of those games are in some legal quagmire. It's just a circular discussion. I'm not arguing a fallacy you're nitpicking details and ignoring 90% of what I'm saying trying to get me in a "gotcha" when you haven't.

I'm not sure what you think I've been saying, but you seem to be arguing against what I'm not actually saying.

EDIT: and I don't want to have the discussion about "ownership" of digit goods... Because that is a semantic argument that is a nightmare to have. In short if it's VC or Switch Online you're renting both in some way shape or form. So, don't argue with me there because it's one I don't want to have and if I'm annoyed now, I don't want to get short there. Reason I'm bringing it up is because if someone is pro "ownership" most of these collections are 100% better than VC was in that regard as they tend to get a physical package at some point. This is why I've not talked about "renting v. owning" because it's a silly argument to have in this context because it becomes bogged down nonsense.

@GameOtaku so you're sour grapes over Legends not being included? Kk sounds good mate. That and the logistics of what you want is impossible. You can't have every game ever made available at all time.

@GameOtaku so what's the issue with Drac X an obscure and expensive game being included in the Advance Collection?

@GameOtaku And it was a nice inclusion as they probably want to save Rondo for when they release a Symphony collection or with the DS games. So Dracula X is a nice bonus for a mostly GBA game collection to help round it out. And they probably don't want to charge $50 for a Castlevania collection so they had to cut some games.

@Mgalens I think that is a very fair rant. I have zero issues with VC in principal. I just think it's important to keep its flaws in perspective when discussing it as... It had a lot of them. Same with Switch Online. But, once again it's all keeping perspective.

@GameOtaku They could still be coming. It's not all or nothing. Sometimes they want to hold back certain games due to cost (by that I mean keeping in mind these are $30 collections after all) or just simply the game not fitting the collections theme.

@GameOtaku How many of those were on VC? Not every game will be on every collection, but Capcom has done very well with rereleases through their Arcade Collections and Legacy Collections. Same with Konami with the Anniversary Collections... I mean they gave us the GB Castlevanias and Kid Dracula 1 when they could had just packaged in Castlevania 1-3 and still sell it for $30 and gotten away with it. Compare that to the actual games list and it's a steel at $30 with the NES Trilogy the two GB games, Super and Bloodlines.

These collections are way more pro-consumer than the VC ever was.

@GameOtaku dude I don't want to rain on your parade... But most of those were trash licences titles (LJN being one of the most prolific and infamous publish on NES). A lot of those games are also with dead publishers whose rights are held by banks, wealthy individuals and modern publishers who might have no idea they have them as they bought the corpses of those defunct devs. The big sellers were always Nintendo titles on VC and most 3rd parties saw pennies on the dollar in revenue. It's why so few after the big Nintendo heavy hitters like Kirby, Metroid, Mario and Zelda games started trickling in. There was almost no incentive for publishers to even bother.

Switch Online is by far more profitable for Nintendo and adds incentives for their online service. That and 3rd parties are now releasing collections which are better value for the consumer, more money for the publishers and they can even release games individually on the eShop if it's a title like Final Fantasy or Chrono Cross and reap more profits with a non-unifed pricing scheme.

I know you like VC, but it had major problems that killed it not just Nintendo being mean and evil.

@johnvboy There is a lot of rose colored glasses for the VC. I mean it was cool, but it was far from perfect... From inconsistent emulation between platforms. That weird washed out filter on N64 games. That and as you said with Wii mode on Wii U in some cases being worse than playing it on Wii! VC had a ton of problems, just going over old Gamefaqs forum posts can confirm that much.

I liked the VC I would not complain if it came back. But between the amazing collections (especially by Capcom and Konami), the PSOne remasters and NSO giving away games (like try getting Earthbound on SNES cheaper than paying for a year of NSO) with a subscription you need to play online anyways... It's a pretty golden era to be a retro enthusiast and don't want to get gouge on the used market. That and if the service transfers over the Switch 2... I probably be very pleased.

@GameOtaku You mean the same VC where you could not buy games for both 3DS and Wii U rather it had to be separate even if it was the exact same game? The same one where you had to pay extra to "upgrade" your Wii VC games to Wii U. That one? The one people moaned about for a service "similar to Netflix, but for Nintendo retro games" that one? This service is not a scam. A scam this is not.

@Jprhino84 Thank god someone said it! I'm tired of VC apologists ragging on Switch online as a "scam." I liked VC fine enough, but Switch Online is far from a scam. You're getting what you paid for and it is still far cheaper than the competitors (especially if you get a family plan and have people chip in on it). People need to relax and use the correct terms! If you wish Expansion Pass offered more or had more features that is cool and we can discuss that! If you just hate the service in principle that is fine too. But, people this is not a scam.

@SabreLevant I think Johnny's issue (and they can correct me if I'm over reaching) is how people are basically attacking a human being for something they had no control over. They were hired because of their vibrant and stylized art, not to copy previous artists. It's pretty disgusting if I'm being honest with how hyperbolic people are being and directing their vitriol solely at her for "ruining Fire Emblem" when the creator's sought her out after doing the grounded styles of Echoes and Three Houses.

It's just very disappointing the way people are treating her and that's my personal issue with this entire issue. Not buying a game because it personally does not suit your taste is one thing. Attacking an artist is another.

@JohnnyMind I'm in the same mindset as you. I prefer the more classical designs of Senri Kita, Chinatsu Kurahana or even the more elaborate designs of Yūsuke Kozaki, but Engage's designer does not deserve the flack. Sometimes devs want to try something new and this is clearly that. And apparently the gameplay is top notch! The entire development team backed this choice and wanted to make a very stylish and colorful game... Sad that people bash on her just because they don't like her art.

People just need to be more open minded and not put all the blame on one person if they dislike something. I personally think her application of colour and shadows is top notice and her line work is amazing! Not big on her character designs themselves, but her talent is very clear!

@Arehexes I miss the days where Square Enix would regularly restock old PSOne and PS2 games. Kept new copies in circulation through their online store. But, with how good rereleases have been on Steam, Switch, Xbox and Playstation there really isn't a reason for people to pay inflated prices. Nintendo is giving away Earthbound with NSO as a pack in for their online service. We live in the dying corps of the used games market, but a new golden age of retro accessibility.

Not really surprised. There has been a bunch of Fire Emblem manga and even the original got an anime OVA. Probably won't get around to reading it though.

@Vyacheslav333 what about Polish games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Witcher? Or Russian/Ukrainian games like Metro or S.T.A.L.K.E.R? Or Chinese games like Genshin Impact? You seem to mostly have bugaboo about Japanese games in particular and not talking about other cultures and their games translated into English. Why is this the worst with Japanese games rather than like the other ones I mentioned?

If you're this passionate about Japanese games why not learn Japanese and play them in Japanese. The option is there in game to use Japanese text with Japanese voices. So, if you hate localization that much then just go that route. I'd say at least 40-50% of the users of this site have a different native language than English like German, Polish, French or Spanish and they learned English to play games in English. So nothing stopping you from learning Japanese.

@AlienX I think you'll enjoy Awakening, but if you liked Sacred Stones and cool monsters than Echoes will be far more your jam (followed by Three Houses)!!! I'll keep plugging that game hard as my 4th favourite in the franchise! It's hard to overtake FE GBA (Rekka no Ken), but it is really, really good!

@BLD indeed Fates localization was terrible in retrospect. But, stuff like Xenoblade actually have really good localizations which is why I feel I need to remind people that "pure translations" are hot trash unless you're a total weeb or know Japanese. Localizations are very important as even the best translated games, are just games with seamless localizations. For example Witcher 3 was not developed or written in English. Rather it had an amazing localization to the point you would never notice it was originally written in Polish.

@Bret that is actually not true. The first FE with the option to turn off permadeath was New Mystery of the Emblem. But, that was only ever released in Japan so that is why it is a misnomer in the West to claim Awakening was the first with that feature.

@Vyacheslav333 you know straight translations are awful to read and super clunky to hear unless you're super immersed in Japanese culture because some words and phrases do not translate to English? For example honorifics are not a thing commonly used in modern English. Also, Japan loves their puns and a lot of them do not translate into English directly and instead the translator needs to figure out an equivalent pun that does work in English. Localization has to happen for the game to be playable by an audience that may have no familiarity with Japanese.

@Cool-Breeze The "dating sim" was more a Fates feature. If you can I think you'd really enjoy Echoes if you can find a copy. It really is a back-to-basics experience that feels like a more modern version of the GBA games. That and Three Houses is also fantastic! I recommend both of those to get a better vibe of where the franchise is heading personally.

@mariomaster96 I think it does what it says on the tin. It is a JRPG that merges elements from SMT (more Persona) and Fire Emblem. It is an odd bird of the game, but with an open mind it really is fantastic. Granted some of the spit shine is missing like an English dub. The game did come out during the latter Wii U years when Nintendo was cost cutting on niche titles (like only releasing Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water digitally in the West outside of special editions in the EU) so that is why one is missing. Overall it is a very solid package and I'm sure a sequel would be amazing!... if we ever got one.

@gcunit That is very fair! I remember having a love affair with it too so it does make sense. Just wish the hype around it would start to settle down. It did great things for the franchise, but sadly overall it is probably one of the more middling entries when the hype goggles come off. Still a very solid SRGP, but not nearly as good as Three Houses, Echoes, Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn.

Really shocked to see Awakening over Three Houses, Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn... all three of those games smack Awakening in both narrative and gameplay. Granted these kinds of lists are more popularity contests then objective lists breaking down the merits of each game.

Though I am slightly saddened to see Echoes so low... it really only beat out Shadow Dragon and Fates. It really is the better game over Sacred Stones and Rekka no Ken. But, what can you do.

EDIT: On a side note despite being lower on the list (it's a spin-off so duh) Tokyo Mirage Sessions is a very good game. If you just finished Persona 5 and looking for a similar game to scratch that itch, give it a go. ESPECIALLY if you like Fire Emblem.

How dare you insult our Lord and Savior Magikarp!! All hail Majikarp!!!

Path of Radiance hands down has the best story even if it sits firmly in the shounen archetype. But, I think that's a good thing! Seeing Ike develop from an unsure if brash young man to a cool collected lord was amazing! Plus it had a very well rounded cast of main characters and recruit-able allies. Haar is amazing! Fight me nerds!

Over the years my disappointment of Radiant Dawn has faded. At the time it's story seemed peek shounen anime meets standard JRPG, but I like how most characters got a chance to shine and you really were unsure who the bad guys were till the ending Part. Plus Haar is still amazing and probably the most broken unit in the game.

Every other FE I think it depends on my mood. But I'd probably put Echoes and Three Houses near the top. Outside of Birthright, Fates story is kinda bad and despite a genuinely good midway twist Awakening kinda drags and goes a little too cookie cutter save the world. The GBA games I think are great as well generally very well told games if not mold breaking. I think our of the three GBA games I'd probably put Rekka at the top of the pile.

On a side note I really hope Genealogy of the Holy War gets either a translation/re-release on Switch Online or a remake like Echoes. It's story blows most of these games out of the water.

@Sisilly_G When you compare the US's track record to the House of Saud... its not really comparable. Yes the US has done terrible things, but they are FAR from the worst government.

For those worried that the Saudi Government has 6% stake in Nintendo... don't. 6% is such a negligible amount to consider any of their politics to appear in game. This seems more like a portfolio investment so that way they have money stashed away in other industries with the world's increased independence from oil their economy will suffer hard in the coming decades if they don't.

@MagicMan to call these games soules is pure hyperbole. Gamefreak could had churned out another Let's Go game or a game in the style of Sun and Moon and still sold millions instead they did what the fanbase asked and did a full open world adventure.

Granted I would not bother arguing with these kinds of people. It goes nowhere as no matter what points you bring up they'll just say "grrr Gamefreak lazy and the bugs grrr". Save your time and energy friend.

@Arawn93 Lol! I honestly think people who complain that FE is too anime have a very stereotypical idea of what anime is. If they sat down and watched Berserk, Vinland Saga, Psycho Pass, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Fune wo Amu or even Bakuman. I think they'd have a very different impression of the medium. Anime like any medium will have its junk food series like Sword Art Online, Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia, but even then you can find gold nuggets of interesting creative ideas in those stories even if they are you're more generic popular anime. But, there is a lot more out there that might just scratch that storytelling itch they have that Western productions might just never done for them if they just give it a proper chance. I mean I never would have thought I wanted a material arts comedy dealing with concepts of gender identity and the idea of the self while wrapping it up in a cute romcom format... then I found Ranma and went... hey that's pretty good!!!

It is such a rich medium that can appeal to all age groups and I think people just need to be more open minded... what am I saying, that is a ridiculous statement as anime is bad and you should feel bad for liking it! "anime was a mistake" - Hayao Miyazaki

I'd take the Xillia duology and Abyss. Those are two of the better Tales of games still locked to their original platforms and are not easily accessible. I know Abyss got a 3DS port, but it was a rather limited release if I remember correctly. But, give me Xillia 100%.

@KindofaBigDeal don't bother. I think games are an eye of the beholder kind of medium. I love The Last Remnant. Loved it since the 360... Do I care that most reviewers disliked it because of technical issues and an obtuse battle system? Not really. Same deal here. I'm excited to play a new FE game, and the journalists are just background noise. It's nice to hear they're having a good time, but it does not change how I plan to spend my money. If I get burned I get burned, but it's my choice either way. They do what they do, they report what they feel the quality of the game is.

And I agree user reviews are rather unhelpful as well as due to the practice of "review bombing" it's hard to gauge the actual quality of the game unless I played it myself. There have been a number of games that received glowing praise from the User Score on Metacritic that I scratch my head over. Same way that I've loved games that the "gamers" claim is the "worst thing ever!!!" In their bombastic group think. Just let yourself enjoy what you enjoy and don't bother letting others tell you, "you're wrong."

Also, don't bother responding to some of these people because they already have an idea in their heads that "reviews are paid off" rather than just how a journalist and a player review and score a game can be RADICALLY different.

@Dr_Lugae I think you hit the nail on the head about my personal frustration regarding the discussion around every FE game since Awakening. Fire Emblem has always leaned heavily on an anime aesthetic and shounen storytelling tropes. For anyone who does not believe me look up the art of "Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War" and the artwork of Kazushi Hagiwara (specifically his work from the 80s/90s) the mangaka for Bast ard!! (remove the space. it is the name of the series and in English it is a swear so I do apologize) If you don't see similar inspirations I don't know what to tell you.

But, I think you're right. Since anime has become far more popular in the west thanks to series like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer and Steins;Gate it is far easier to point at FE and go "that looks like anime" then it was back in the mid-2000s. Even though I love the artwork of Yūsuke Kozaki (he also did the character designs for No More Heroes), he has a very clear style that looks far more elaborate, gothic, yet punky and sexy than what people associated FE with at the time. It was probably why Awakening and Fates can so easily be pinpointed as anime compared to Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn's designer Senri Kita who cut her teeth on SNK arcade games. That and Senri tended to draw more inspiration from 90s shojo fantasy than shounen action (the female fantasy v. male fantasy). Which might be why people say those games looked more "grounded" even though they are just as stylized as Kozaki's work.

Though, I'm a cranky old fan who will continue to argue blue in the face that FE has always been anime and to deny that is to deny reality. FE is not getting more anime, you're just finally noticing what was always there.

@LUIGITORNADO I mean it just sounds like you dislike the "anime" style and more Japanese-esc story telling. Based on your above comment it sounds like you want something that Fire Emblem is just not. This game yes is far brighter and seems to be more poppy than other entries, but we have no idea how the story will change or develop. Some of the brightest looking manga/anime on the cover are some of the darkest things I've ever read like Made in Abyss (am I expecting that? Not really. Granted I was not expecting Three Houses to go body horror either... but umm... it did that).

Fire Emblem has flirted with the dark fantasy genre, but it won't go that direction. Dragon Age Origins is a dark fantasy game, while Fire Emblem is a traditional Japanese Medieval Fantasy Shounen. They have very different literary and artistic traditions. Even some of the games you mentioned previously are very shounen focused stories with for their time very anime design elements. Path of Radiance story structure is quintessentially shounen from the rival character killing off the father figure, the mystical plot device that will end the world, the animal people, the very heavy handed racism and war is bad messaging, to Ike fighting for his friends. It is very anime.

I just don't know what you're expecting from this series when it has always flirted with anime trends and shounen storytelling.