Should You Play Fire Emblem Awakening Before Fates? A Comprehensive Guide
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The question of whether to play Fire Emblem Awakening before Fire Emblem Fates is a common one for newcomers and even seasoned fans of the tactical RPG series. The short answer is: yes, you absolutely should consider playing Awakening before Fates. While both are excellent games, and Fates might have some more recent appeal, Awakening offers a superior entry point into the franchise for several key reasons. It provides a better understanding of the series’ core gameplay loop, characters, and overall narrative structure, which will enhance your enjoyment of Fates (and potentially other titles).
Why Awakening First?
Accessibility and Newcomer Friendliness
Fire Emblem Awakening was designed as a potential last entry for the series and thus, it sought to incorporate elements from all previous games, while also trying to be more beginner-friendly. This makes it an excellent starting point for newcomers. It introduces crucial mechanics gradually, offering tutorials and features like the ability to disable permadeath, a staple of the series. The option to save frequently also makes it easier to experiment without fear of significant losses. These features are especially helpful for players unfamiliar with tactical RPGs or the Fire Emblem series in particular, allowing you to learn the basics without frustration.
A Foundational Experience
Awakening’s story is considered more accessible and traditionally “Fire Emblem.” The plot is straightforward yet engaging, revolving around a compelling central conflict with clear character motivations and a more cohesive narrative. Fates, on the other hand, has multiple branching paths (Birthright, Conquest, and Revelations) with more complex storylines and potentially conflicting moral choices. While this offers a lot of replayability, it can be confusing for someone just getting into the franchise. Starting with Awakening will allow you to have a much better appreciation of the more unique narrative of Fates
Character Development
Awakening has well-developed characters that are easy to invest in. The support system and marriage mechanics, while present in other games, are particularly impactful in Awakening. Building relationships with characters and seeing them grow as they develop bonds is extremely rewarding. Understanding the core mechanics of the support system in Awakening will also be beneficial when playing fates. This will enhance the understanding of how relationships work in the franchise, making the more complex relationships in Fates easier to process.
Connecting to the Lore (Indirectly)
While Fates is not a direct sequel to Awakening, it is tangentially connected through a plot point in which several characters from Awakening, specifically Owain, Severa, and Inigo, are transported to the world of Fates and adopt new identities. Playing Awakening first provides context for these returning characters, making their appearances in Fates more impactful. Knowing their backgrounds and motivations beforehand allows for deeper engagement with the narrative in Fates.
Price Point and Availability
As Awakening has been out longer, it’s often available at a lower price point than Fates. This makes it a more budget-friendly option for those looking to get into the series. In addition, Awakening is more readily available, both physically and digitally, in most regions, making it easier for interested players to get their hands on the game.
Fire Emblem Fates: A Solid Sequel, but Better After Awakening
While Fire Emblem Fates is a great game in its own right, it builds upon the foundation of Awakening. It’s more experimental with its multiple paths and significantly more complex mechanics. Choosing between Birthright, Conquest, and Revelations can be overwhelming for new players. Fates also introduces features that require some knowledge of core Fire Emblem mechanics to grasp fully.
If you start with Fates, you might find its complexities overwhelming and might miss some of the finer points of the series’ gameplay. Therefore, it is always better to establish a solid foundation in the world of Fire Emblem and its gameplay mechanics before delving into Fates and its complex gameplay and story.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Fire Emblem Awakening a sequel to another game?
No, Fire Emblem Awakening is not a direct sequel. However, it was designed to incorporate elements from all previous Fire Emblem games. It served as a possible final entry in the series and as such, was made to be more accessible to newcomers.
Does Fire Emblem Fates take place before or after Awakening?
The main events of Fates take place after Awakening due to a specific plot element. Characters like Owain, Severa, and Inigo are transported to Fates’ world after the defeat of Grima in Awakening.
Are Fates and Awakening connected story-wise?
Yes, Fates and Awakening are connected tangentially. The main connection stems from the characters Owain, Severa, and Inigo from Awakening who travel across time and space into Fates’ world, adopting new identities. However, the main storylines are mostly independent.
Which version of Fire Emblem Fates should I play?
Most players start with Birthright for its more approachable difficulty, then move on to Conquest for a greater challenge. Revelations is often played last, as it acts as a sort of “true ending” and combines elements of both other paths.
In what order should I play the Fire Emblem games?
The beauty of the Fire Emblem series is that most stories are standalone, allowing you to play in any order you like. However, for a more cohesive understanding of the gameplay, it’s recommended to start with a title that has features like permadeath toggled off to ease in, like Awakening.
Can you marry in Fire Emblem Awakening and Fates?
Yes, both games feature a marriage system. Characters can marry and even have children (in the case of opposite-sex pairings). This leads to new playable characters and strengthens in-game relationships.
How long does it take to beat Fire Emblem Fates?
Fire Emblem Fates – Conquest can be completed in approximately 27 hours when focusing on the main objectives. Achieving 100% completion can take around 74 hours.
Is Fire Emblem a difficult game series?
The Fire Emblem series has a reputation for being challenging, but many entries have adjustable difficulty settings that make them more accessible. While some entries are more challenging than others, Fire Emblem Awakening is one of the more approachable games.
Is Fire Emblem Awakening beginner-friendly?
Yes, Fire Emblem Awakening is considered beginner-friendly due to features like adjustable difficulty, the option to disable permadeath, and the ability to save frequently.
Is Fire Emblem Engage a sequel to Awakening?
While Fire Emblem Engage doesn’t have a direct story connection to Awakening, it’s considered to be more of a spiritual successor or a return to the gameplay style of Awakening. It incorporates elements that helped Awakening explode in popularity.
Should I play Fire Emblem Awakening or Three Houses?
While both are fantastic games, Three Houses has often been praised as having better writing, better characters, and a more refined gameplay experience. However, Awakening is still an extremely worthwhile experience and can be a great introduction into the franchise.
Which Fire Emblem games should I start with?
Good starting points for the series are considered to be: FE7: Blazing Blade, FE8: Sacred Stones, FE9: Path of Radiance, FE13: Awakening, and FE16: Three Houses.
Can you romance or marry a male character with another male character in Fire Emblem Awakening?
No. In Fire Emblem Awakening you cannot engage in a same sex relationship that leads to marriage. Only opposite sex relationships can lead to marriage.
Should I play Fire Emblem Engage before Three Houses?
You do not need to play any previous Fire Emblem games to enjoy Fire Emblem Engage. Engage provides its own unique narrative and gameplay.
Is Fire Emblem Engage considered a mainline game?
Yes, Fire Emblem Engage is a mainline title in the Fire Emblem series, despite its different development history compared to previous entries.
Conclusion
Starting with Fire Emblem Awakening will give you a more solid foundation in the series, enhance your understanding of core mechanics and character development, and make the complexities of Fire Emblem Fates more manageable. While both games offer fantastic experiences, Awakening is the superior entry point for newcomers and is a worthwhile investment for any Fire Emblem fan. Therefore, if you are looking to get into this series, it would be best to play Awakening before Fates to truly appreciate the series.