Fire Emblem: Working Title

[mark_asphodel]

Official site here.

Serenes Forest section here.

Serenes Forest forum here for those who want to enjoy better speculation than, say, GameFaqs has to offer.

Thoughts:

1) I said it wasn't going to be a console title.

2) So much for the idea of a player-created Lord.  Thank goodness.

3) Chrome?  Sounds like a Final Fantasy name.  I like "Krom" better.  Prince Krom of the kingdom of Iris.  OK.  I can roll with that.

4) Art style?  Do Not Like.  Even more of a shock than my initial reaction to the FE11 art... which I did come around to.  Eventually.

5) In between the world maps and the "Sealed Sword Falchion" and the undead soldiers, it feels like a very, very weird Valencia homage.

Comments

[crimsonmorgan.livejournal.com]

I like the art style better then the FE11 one. FE11 looked so... dirty.

Zombies? Yay~

[kyusil.livejournal.com]

I find it highly ironic that the version for the 3DS has the dullest and least immersive art style yet. IMO nothing about it... looks like an FE game. Even FE11 kept the basic costume design trend. If IS wanted to go for a radically different style, I just wish they had done something that didn't look like every other JRPG in existence. :/

Although between the map and that sword IS is proving themselves spectacularly uncreative so far.

(I might just be bitter because I just realized we're going to get one of these jokers instead of an existing Lord for the next Smash Bros. :|)

[sailorvfan10.livejournal.com]

...So I'm not the only one who thinks the official arts look kind of like Generic Anime Style #43?

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

I just wish they had done something that didn't look like every other JRPG in existence. :/

I find the style repellent, to be blunt. I don't like it elsewhere and I don't appreciate it here.

I might just be bitter because I just realized we're going to get one of these jokers instead of an existing Lord for the next Smash Bros.

Yaaaay, it's another blue-haired guy with a big sword!

Yes. Not happy about that, either.

[amielleon]

1) Hey, it was very sensibly for the next launched platform. They may swing around consoleside again when it comes to the new thing they're making.


3) What doesn't sound Final Fantasy about it?

"Krom" is a little less faithful -- the Japanese o is closer to our "long o" by far. But switching in a "short o" in a　localization isn't known. And I do think it looks more FE-ish.

Iris is a bit of an odd choice though... the romanization looks like that, but "Erice" might draw a more faithful pronunciation out of an English speaker.


4) I liked the sprite style, but not the character design. :(

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

They may swing around consoleside again when it comes to the new thing they're making.

I dunno; I believe them when they say that console games cost too much for what is essentially a niche market franchise.

but "Erice" might draw a more faithful pronunciation out of an English speaker.

"Erice" sounds too close to "Elice." ;P

Character design is... antithetical to my tastes.

[amielleon]

Developing from scratch, to be certain. I wouldn't mind if they borrowed resources from Radiant Dawn by the dozen. I'm pretty sure they made FE8 simply because it was cheap enough to develop.

Elice sounds closer than Iris!

I'm trying to think of a way to indicate that the stress should go on the first syllable, while keeping a "long e" sound in front. Ihrice, maybe? I will not rest at Iris.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure they made FE8 simply because it was cheap enough to develop.

And it shows...

Elice sounds closer than Iris!

How 'bout "Eris" then? Good mythological resonance there.

[amielleon]

It's sloppy, but ultimately functional. Much better than, say, Pokemon Battle Revolution, which was similarly a mass borrowing. I would be happy with a low-budget job on the RD engine for an FE game for the new console.

Looking up the pronounciation on wiktionary of Eris... yes, actually. That looks wonderful.

[sailorvfan10.livejournal.com]

The whole "Sealed Sword Falchion" thing is going to make me theorise that the Fuuin no Tsurugi from FE6 is Falchion remade. Which will make me want to know how Elibe fits into my whole Archanea -> Magvel theory...

I like "Krom" better as well, but that's because "Chrome" reminds me of a certain Google product... But I agree, it sounds less Fire Emblem-like and more like Final Fantasy. Although you have to admit, if you look at Krom long enough, he looks like the lovechild of Ike and Marth...

Although on closer inspection, he also kind of looks like MyUnit.

oh dear god MyUnit went and founded his own damn continent.

...I wouldn't have minded a FE2 remake tbh. So long as there was no MyUnit-like character all up in Alm's face.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

if you look at Krom long enough, he looks like the lovechild of Ike and Marth...

No, dude. Sigurd. Lookit the cheese-wedge sharpness to his face.

[sailorvfan10.livejournal.com]

...The lovechild of Marth, Ike, and Sigurd. A nice blend of Marth and Ike with the cheese-wedge angular face from Sigurd, which is a little unfortunate.

...And now that I've stared at Krom long enough, he looks less like Ike and more like Marth and Sigurd's lovechild.

I think if I stare too long I might scare myself.

[hooves.livejournal.com]

I guess I don't mind generic anime style #11 but I wish the hairstyles would at least be somewhat believable. -_- Ugh. I mean, at least Serra's pigtails looks like pigtails-- I mean, if a person actually wore them.

But this chick, just. The thing on her head (which does sorta strike me as Spanish-influence) is fine if we're going for new types of styles, cause some change might be nice. But it doesn't even make SENSE with her hair up like that. wtf

in short, I am not holding my breath for this to be good.

but even by the time it gets here, I probably won't have a 3ds to play it on, anyway.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

in short, I am not holding my breath for this to be good.

We'll see. Popular tastes opposed FE11. I enjoyed it. FE12 was met with an outcry of "Oh noes, another sucky remake" until people actually played it-- and in spite of my misgivings about the characterization and plot, the gameplay received rave reviews.

But I admit... I do not see anything here that excites me. There is only the sense of deflation that the FE games in my head are really not ever going to be made.

I'll buy it anyway. Gotta use my 3DS for something.

[myaru.livejournal.com]

Wow, it looks like the character portraits will be giving us expression this time! Yay FE, you're finally doing what RPGs and strat games have been doing for a decade! :D

I'm okay with the art style, but 50/50 with the character designs from the screenshots. That girl looks like she'd fit right in with a Suikoden cast, but for some reason that seems off in this context. I don't know if I'd say FE designs are more realistic, but they're... more conventional? It's a change in mood, I guess.

There isn't much to go on yet, so I'm withholding judgment. If I chronicled my reactions to some of the older games when I started branching out from Tellius and peeking at the art, they wouldn't look much different than what people are saying now.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

If I chronicled my reactions to some of the older games when I started branching out from Tellius and peeking at the art, they wouldn't look much different than what people are saying now

Mm, true. I really have a visceral distaste for the style of the portraits though-- not just "in my FE," but in general. I think this is how my husband felt when Castlevania went anime-style for Dawn of Sorrow.

[raphiael]

Admittedly, that Castlevania thing was pretty bizarre. But it was more that it was the same characters suddenly looking like the main cast of Pokemon XD;

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

I don't mind the art style so much--I'm getting a rather Spanish/Portuguese/Italian feel from it, setting-wise, that I kind of like, but what does get to me are the character designs. The ones we see, at any rate. I wonder what other sorts of impractical wardrobes we're going to get now?

To be completely honest, a player-created Lord would be downright terrifying. Imagine the Stus. *shudder*

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

I'm getting a rather Spanish/Portuguese/Italian feel from it, setting-wise

You and Manna may be onto something with the Spanish vibe. Innnnteresting.

[xirysa.livejournal.com]

I think it's actually pretty interesting, if only because there seems to be a relative predominance of an Italian/Greek atmosphere in most of the games so far, so it's nice to see a different sort of setting.

Then again, I like to geek out over these sorts of things, so. Heh.

[raphiael]

I don't think it's any more generic anime than FE9, personally, which I enjoyed nonetheless. And I like it better than FE11's. Still hating the character design on that Liz person, though.

I guess my main sticking point is that nebulous "does not feel like FE" - but I thought the same thing about FE9's look, and FE10's, and FE11's, so I'm still hopeful.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

Still hating the character design on that Liz person, though.

Oh yes. Oh, yes.

[raphiael]

Apparently she's the hero's sister, though. . .? I guess it's better than being a love interest, because I don't think I could ever take that seriously.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

It's Fire Emblem. She could be both.

[aviatrix8.livejournal.com]

*pokes head in*

The first thing I noticed about the character designs are how dull the colour palette is; all neutrals, from what I've seen. Perhaps they're going for a more realistic look, but I miss the vibrant and wacky hair colours I've learned to love from Fire Emblem games.

Also, disliking the design of the girl with the pigtails (what I can see of her outfit, anyways). There's something very moe-moe maid about it. :/

BTW, "Krom" is the name of Conan the Barbarian's god, who he invokes every now and then. Probably not the best choice of translation, in that context. ;)

(I ought to just friend you, darn it. But I'm kind of shy. >.>)

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

I miss the vibrant and wacky hair colours I've learned to love from Fire Emblem games.

This is true. The blonde girl has that ashy color I associate more with, say, Final Fantasy, and the "blue haired" hero has the darkest hair of any actual game protagonist.

I truly dislike the design of moe-moe pigtail girl.

But I'm kind of shy

Aw. I don't bite. And friending me isn't going to expose you to a torrent of TMI exhibitionism or anything.

[aviatrix8.livejournal.com]

Friended. :) (BTW, I just feel awkward when asking to friend someone, that's all.)

[shimizu-hitomi.livejournal.com]

Woooooorld maaaaaap whoooooo.

That said... eh. Doesn't particularly excite me. I don't know, it doesn't make me go "ewww" like the stupid rumor a while back but -- man. I am just not excited, even though I feel like I should be. I actually don't mind the art style terribly much (though I do dislike Liz's design, and her personality is already grating on me given the bits of dialogue we see -_-) but given the direction they took FE12 in I'm... not really surprised. It's not Emblem to me... but. eh. well.

Our new prince seems so. incredibly. exciting. -_-

I think at this point I'm just glad it's not another remake. I do think the teamup attacks look kind of neat... but can't imagine how they will affect the gameplay flow/balance. (Would be awesome if enemies could double up on you too but kinda doubt that's going to happen -- I suspect it's a callback to the way lover/sibling bonuses worked in FE4.) The Spanish vibe would be lovely if true. But.

I think I'm most worried about plot/worldbuilding at this point. I mean, sure, every FE has the same essential plot, but to me it's really about execution and I have yet to see anything that really excites me here. Even with the "Sealed/Sealing Sword Falchion" and the zombies. Seems to me they're more interested in showing off the shiny new battle animations. Yawn. I realize it's still early but. I cannot take Liz seriously at all and that is coloring my judgment of everything. EVERYTHING. XD (Doesn't help that all the characters they've shown so far seem to be more along the lines of comic relief.)

Anyway, tl;dr, the game seems to lack a serious sense of identity at the moment. Even FE8 had a coherent vibe to it.

But it is WAY early, so... I guess I'll wait and see. :/

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

Our new prince seems so. incredibly. exciting. -_-

He's not even eye candy. He's like anti-eye candy as far as I'm concerned. Then again, they've given us no reason whatsoever to care about him. But, out of everything we might have had... a blue-haired prince equipped with a Falchion of Seals or whatever-the-fuck was at the BOTTOM of the list of things I wanted.

I wanted an awesome Peg Knight femme!Lord

I cannot take Liz seriously at all and that is coloring my judgment of everything.

She's gross. I keep looking at the banner to see if she's really THAT bad, and she keeps on being just that bad. And the dialogue scenes... I can tell from the expressions she's annoying.

the game seems to lack a serious sense of identity at the moment

Well... it looks like a combo pak of everything that's been irritating about Fire Emblem over the last few installments. Except catgirls. No catgirls... yet.

But it is WAY early, so...

I mean, hey, look at Ankoku no Miko.

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

Krom?

....

I have a whole stable of Conan The Barbarian jokes ready to go.

[mark-asphodel.livejournal.com]

I'll take Conan jokes over something that shares a name with Google's browser.

I hear the FE14 Lord is going to be named "Firefox."