Fire Emblem Fates Will Introduce Same-Sex Marriage to the Series

[Eclipse Dragon]

Awakening takes place in Marth's world, not Ike's.
There is/are characters in Awakening descended from Marth.

Fire Emblem though does love their blue haired pretty boys, so anyone who confuses them is swiftly forgiven. (Although it's funnier when people confuse Roy with Eliwood) [http://www.awkwardzombie.com/index.php?page=0&comic=062215]

Wasn't one of the points of Awakening to retcon every entry as being in the same world? (just in different periods, dynasties and such). Also, you gotta admit, that sword Priam wields looks surprisingly like Ragnell.

But Priam isn't recruited during the main storyline. I just took the whole spot pass shtick as an excuse to have cameos and shoutouts. If it's a full fledged retcon, it's not a very good one and wouldn't do very well in explaining the major differences between the different game worlds. Unless it's supposed to be a multiverse thing, that could work.

Edit: It is a connected multiverse thing, the previous worlds weren't all literally merged into one, the characters just jump planets or dimensions or junk.

 

[AntiChri5]

Damnit all! If I'm reading right, the lesbian stuff is in the plot lead version, and not the Awakening styled one. :/

No, the lesbian option is in the Hoshidan version, the one stlyed more after Awakening (open world map, grinding possible).

 

[Jeyl]

I feel vindicated.

 

[FPLOON]

Aw fuck! This is terrible! Why can't my MC be a lesbian in Conquest? This is bullshit! Next, you're going to tell me none of my women can be in lesbian with one another in Conquest as well... *sighs sarcastically* Baby steps... Most likely adopted baby steps, I think...

Other that that, more shipping options! WOO!

 

[Callate]

It sounds like, one way or another, the issue of children in the homosexual relationship is going to be a bit of a hand-wave.

I know, I know, fantasy world, writer can make it any way they want to, yatta yatta. It's just that in most of the medieval feudal societies (from which, at least broadly, the game seems to draw) I've studied, blood lineage among nobility tends to be kind of a big thing. To the point that "illegitimate" children of said nobles often have a really hard time of it.

Anyway. There are other issues, from what I've heard, in how the game is split; basically, after a certain relatively early choice, you get that half of the storyline and have to purchase the other branch. That seems like a more contentious issue than the particulars of the romance options, though I understand why those would be an issue as well.

As far as the DLC goes, I can understand why Nintendo and its squeaky-clean image might want the homosexual romance options to be DLC, but I think the polite thing to do would to make that free DLC to those who were interested. Unfortunately, "DLC" is a rare enough term to hear associated with Nintendo, let alone "free". These people wanted you to pay two bucks for the DSi store's version of the Flashlight app.

 

[saltyanon]

How is it odd? It's dealt with in the exact same way other content from the game is dealt with. It's split into two different games and they obviously want you to buy both of them to experience everything, regardless of same-sex marriage or not. It's fairly unsurprising that this will happen.

And let's be honest, they're doing this, not for LGBTs, but for shippers/otakus/fujoshis. I wonder how many fujoshis gushed at the idea of canon BL.

 

[EternallyBored]

It sounds like, one way or another, the issue of children in the homosexual relationship is going to be a bit of a hand-wave.

I know, I know, fantasy world, writer can make it any way they want to, yatta yatta. It's just that in most of the medieval feudal societies (from which, at least broadly, the game seems to draw) I've studied, blood lineage among nobility tends to be kind of a big thing. To the point that "illegitimate" children of said nobles often have a really hard time of it.

The game broadly draws on medieval history and then gleefully discards it when it suits them, there have been families in past games where bloodline nobility seems to matter squat all, and societies that seem to choose their rulers based entirely on who kicks the most ass like Ferox in Awakening.

The main character is also apparently adopted into the nobility of Nohr, given the nature of the story, the main character seems to have a good reason to say "fuck bloodlines", in neither case does the PC seem to be in direct line to the throne of either Hoshido or Nohr.

I imagine the story will likely sidestep the issue entirely as the it seems to be focusing on issues of loyalty to adopted family versus blood family, so any issues of bloodlines will likely involve the main character rather than their children as any child is not necessarily involved in the story as getting into a relationship is optional, so most of their character development will be relegated to support conversations.

Anyway. There are other issues, from what I've heard, in how the game is split; basically, after a certain relatively early choice, you get that half of the storyline and have to purchase the other branch. That seems like a more contentious issue than the particulars of the romance options, though I understand why those would be an issue as well.

Nintendo seems to want to assure us that each game is a complete experience in and of itself, but that is a valid worry. You won't be getting half the story though, as each game is technically an alternate universe of the other, so it's more like playing an alternate version of the previous story, whether those two stories are sufficiently fleshed out to stand alone remains to be seen.

As far as the DLC goes, I can understand why Nintendo and its squeaky-clean image might want the homosexual romance options to be DLC, but I think the polite thing to do would to make that free DLC to those who were interested. Unfortunately, "DLC" is a rare enough term to hear associated with Nintendo, let alone "free". These people wanted you to pay two bucks for the DSi store's version of the Flashlight app.

Wait, where did you hear this? As far as what I've read here, the homosexual relationship isn't DLC, the Nohr story path includes a male homosexual character, and the Hoshido story contains a female homosexual character. The rumor is that the third path that comes later as DLC will include both characters, but from what it looks like the homosexual characters are not DLC unless you want both, in which case you'll have to buy both games.

 

[Infernal Lawyer]

So... basically they've given same-sex relationships the "gotta buy both versions to catch 'em all!" treatment, just like Pokemon. Bit bizarre, but it's a step forward... kind of.

 

[ShenCS]

hell, they went so far as to make Ike, the main character of two of their games, gay

Wasn't one of the characters from Awakening all but stated to be Ike's descendant?

Gosh if only he had some sort of straight sibling with the same bloodline. It also ties in thematically with Marth - who is called a descendant of Anri, but comes from the blood of Anri's brother. That and the fact that he lacks a true Aether (incidentally, having Sol which is one of Mist's abilities) means there is more evidence for him NOT being a 100% direct descendant. It's not a problem in any way.

Also, RE: "each game is complete on its own" nonsense from Nintendo - does that mean each game uses completely different assets? Of course not. Same engine, same mechanics, different perspective but still the same storyline. Only difference is which half of content you're arbitrarily gated off from based on what you pick up from the store. It's like if they sold Hector mode from FE7 separately. What people don't understand is that the Pokemon games actually benefited massively from having so few differences; players got functionally the same experience no matter which cover art they thought looked cooler and any important content they missed (i.e. other Pokemon) could be readily obtained for free by simply finding another Pokemon fan and trading. Bam, instant super community.
This split is just bullshit and the more they reveal about the differences, the worse it becomes.

 

[Gizen]

I'm of two minds about this. On one hand, it's more realistic to have same-sex relationships limited to only certain characters, as it's more true to life where some people are and some people aren't (and some people are both and anywhere in between).

On the other hand, specifically limiting it to one type of relationship in one, and the other type in the other is fucking stupid. A relationship isn't something to be collected like fucking pokemon.

 

[kenu12345]

"the heart and soul of the series is arguably its focus on relationships" No, just no. Yes, they happen but til awakening there wasn't that much focus on them :I Either way, cool news I suppose. As of right now I rather see more platonic relationships between people where they just end up as good friends

 

[AntiChri5]

"the heart and soul of the series is arguably its focus on relationships" No, just no. Yes, they happen but til awakening there wasn't that much focus on them :I Either way, cool news I suppose. As of right now I rather see more platonic relationships between people where they just end up as good friends

Some characters can now get "A+" support rank with another specific unit of the same gender. It's not marriage/sex/romance.

So we are getting some progress on platonic relationships. Even non-waifu bonds are important.

 

[AntiChri5]

hell, they went so far as to make Ike, the main character of two of their games, gay

Wasn't one of the characters from Awakening all but stated to be Ike's descendant?

Gosh if only he had some sort of straight sibling with the same bloodline. It also ties in thematically with Marth - who is called a descendant of Anri, but comes from the blood of Anri's brother. That and the fact that he lacks a true Aether (incidentally, having Sol which is one of Mist's abilities) means there is more evidence for him NOT being a 100% direct descendant. It's not a problem in any way.

Also, RE: "each game is complete on its own" nonsense from Nintendo - does that mean each game uses completely different assets? Of course not. Same engine, same mechanics, different perspective but still the same storyline. Only difference is which half of content you're arbitrarily gated off from based on what you pick up from the store. It's like if they sold Hector mode from FE7 separately. What people don't understand is that the Pokemon games actually benefited massively from having so few differences; players got functionally the same experience no matter which cover art they thought looked cooler and any important content they missed (i.e. other Pokemon) could be readily obtained for free by simply finding another Pokemon fan and trading. Bam, instant super community.
This split is just bullshit and the more they reveal about the differences, the worse it becomes.

The fact that you can download the path that you don't buy physically (for a price, of course) says it all, really.

I love DLC and am usually the last person to accuse devs of chopping out content to sell off later, but this is pretty overt.

 

[kenu12345]

"the heart and soul of the series is arguably its focus on relationships" No, just no. Yes, they happen but til awakening there wasn't that much focus on them :I Either way, cool news I suppose. As of right now I rather see more platonic relationships between people where they just end up as good friends

Some characters can now get "A+" support rank with another specific unit of the same gender. It's not marriage/sex/romance.

So we are getting some progress on platonic relationships. Even non-waifu bonds are important.

Yes but are all opposite sex supports going to end in marriage? They already proved that it probably is with the child system coming back

 

[AntiChri5]

"the heart and soul of the series is arguably its focus on relationships" No, just no. Yes, they happen but til awakening there wasn't that much focus on them :I Either way, cool news I suppose. As of right now I rather see more platonic relationships between people where they just end up as good friends

Some characters can now get "A+" support rank with another specific unit of the same gender. It's not marriage/sex/romance.

So we are getting some progress on platonic relationships. Even non-waifu bonds are important.

Yes but are all opposite sex supports going to end in marriage? They already proved that it probably is with the child system coming back

*shrug*

I haven't looked at all of them. Still, isn't SOME progress then none?

I get your issue. It's like in Mass Effect 2. You talked to a character until you reach a certain point where the friendship path just....ends. And then it's all romance, just slotted in on top of the friendship.

I would like to have pure friendship support paths even among characters who can S support.

 

[Callate]

As far as the DLC goes, I can understand why Nintendo and its squeaky-clean image might want the homosexual romance options to be DLC, but I think the polite thing to do would to make that free DLC to those who were interested. Unfortunately, "DLC" is a rare enough term to hear associated with Nintendo, let alone "free". These people wanted you to pay two bucks for the DSi store's version of the Flashlight app.

Wait, where did you hear this? As far as what I've read here, the homosexual relationship isn't DLC, the Nohr story path includes a male homosexual character, and the Hoshido story contains a female homosexual character. The rumor is that the third path that comes later as DLC will include both characters, but from what it looks like the homosexual characters are not DLC unless you want both, in which case you'll have to buy both games.

Hmm, somehow I managed to mis-read the lead-in article. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[kenu12345]

"the heart and soul of the series is arguably its focus on relationships" No, just no. Yes, they happen but til awakening there wasn't that much focus on them :I Either way, cool news I suppose. As of right now I rather see more platonic relationships between people where they just end up as good friends

Some characters can now get "A+" support rank with another specific unit of the same gender. It's not marriage/sex/romance.

So we are getting some progress on platonic relationships. Even non-waifu bonds are important.

Yes but are all opposite sex supports going to end in marriage? They already proved that it probably is with the child system coming back

*shrug*

I haven't looked at all of them. Still, isn't SOME progress then none?

I get your issue. It's like in Mass Effect 2. You talked to a character until you reach a certain point where the friendship path just....ends. And then it's all romance, just slotted in on top of the friendship.

I would like to have pure friendship support paths even among characters who can S support.

Some progress is good yes and despite what some is saying I am glad its just particular characters that are bi/gay since its more realistic, but that doesn't fix the problems I had with Awakening. Lon qu for instance I feel would be one to have more friendship paths instead of marriage paths with women. Glad we agree though

 

[Jake Martinez]

And let's be honest, they're doing this, not for LGBTs, but for shippers/otakus/fujoshis. I wonder how many fujoshis gushed at the idea of canon BL.

Yeah I thought that was pretty obvious, but if you look around the web today you'll see more than a few sites reporting this as some sort of massive advancement for "gaming" when this is really fan service. Also kinda annoys me that they seem to be inferring that being able to be in a gay relationship is something new for video games "in general", when it's been a staple of a lot of RPG's for almost 20 years.

 

[Vahir]

I'd much rather see a good story than be able to bang every character in the game, especially after how disappointing Awakening's narrative was.

If the new FE game ends in another hug-fest I'm going to vomit out my intestines.