Fair warning here: While this article will seek to avoid any and all major spoilers, some details of the games will be revealed by the very nature of this article. If you insist on going into Fire Emblem Fates blind, you can stop reading now.
With the release of Fire Emblem Fates looming on the ever-present horizon, you might find yourself questioning which of the game’s two main versions, Birthright or Conquest, is the better buy. The most die-hard fans will probably end up buying both versions, along with the “Revelations” third story, but for those of you for whom money is tight (or you luke-warm fans), one version might be enough. But make no mistake; the differences go far beyond those found in similar titles like Pokemon Red and Blue. This article seeks to provide you, the player, with all the facts necessary to make an informed decision as to which version is right for you.
The Story
The first key difference between Birthright and Conquest lies in the story itself. In both games, the player is born into the royal family of the Hoshido empire, who are a peace-loving people. However, they were kidnapped and raised by the Nohr empire, a war-loving kingdom that prioritized conquering over peace. During the start of the game, the player’s character will need to make a choice as to which army they will side with in the coming war.
Birthright: If the player chooses Birthright, they will align with Hoshido, as they attempt to stop the invasion by Nohr. This seems to be the more straightforward Fire Emblem story.
Conquest: In this version, the player seeks to change the Nohr kingdom from the inside, amidst an internal civil war. You will also be battling Hoshido as your kingdom leads the invasion against them.
Both scenarios will feature a bevy of exclusive characters who will join your army, as in each version you fight the opposing army. The Hoshido characters are distinctly more Asian in design, wearing armor akin to samurai and ninjas. The Nohr army features characters that appear similar to what we’ve seen in past Fire Emblem titles, looking distinctly more European. They also feature an altogether darker motif, often looking more like dark-knights, which is fitting given the kingdom they serve.
As this is the first Fire Emblem game to feature same-sex marriage as an option, it should be worth mentioning that there are two version-exclusive characters who can be married by an avatar of the same gender. If you get Birthright, that character will be Rhajat, a stalker-type young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Tharja from Fire Emblem Awakening. Choosing Conquest will allow male avatars to meet (and thus marry) Niles, the rather sadistic and cruel member of the Nohr army. Note that neither of these characters are exclusively homosexual; rather, they can be married to anyone of the opposite sex or a player-character of either sex. This does mean that if a player is steadfast on marrying someone of the same sex, women will be forced into playing Birthright while men will need to play Conquest.
Difficulty
Interestingly, Nintendo seems to have created a best-of-both-worlds scenario in terms of game difficulty. While playing Birthright, the game will progress very similarly to Awakening. Players will be able to fight endlessly by paying gold to initiate a Skirmish, thus allowing players to level up endlessly. However, while playing Conquest the player will be limited by the missions available to them. This means the game will end up being much more challenging, providing less wiggle-room for the player. Birthright will also feature rather limited win conditions, such as routing the enemy or defeating a boss character, while Conquest will feature more unique win conditions.
As such, Birthright seems to be aimed at appealing to everyone, especially those who enjoyed Awakening’s calm, slow-paced experience. For those who consider themselves Fire Emblem purists, or those looking for more of a challenge, Conquest might be the better choice.
Classes
It should be worth mentioning that there are also some version-exclusive classes.
In Birthright, the player will have access to: Songstress, Oni Savage, Ninja, Mechanist, War Priestress, Weapon Master, Spear Fighter, Blacksmith, Kinshi Knight, Mountain Priest, Master Ninja, White Blood, Kitsune and Nine-Tails classes.
Likewise, Conquest players will have exclusive access to: Nohr Prince/Princess, Maid, Butler, Malig Knight, Dark Blood, Wolfskin and Mánagarm classes.
Similarly, obtainable weapons will vary based on which version you’re playing. Conquest will feature more identifiably Fire Emblem-esque fare, such as swords, spears and the like. Alternatively, Birthright characters will find and use weapons of eastern origin such as katanas and naginatas. It’s more of a cosmetic change, but it really helps add some atmosphere to the games.
Time to choose your fate
Which Fire Emblem Fates title will you be picking up? While Birthright may seem the more benign choice at first glance with its slower pacing and more traditional storyline, its eastern-influence provides a fresh face for an old series. Alternatively, aspects of Conquest’s designs seem far more familiar, but the darker tones and added difficulty provide something altogether different from the usual Fire Emblem fare.
And of course, there is a third route, known as Revelations, in which the player will be able to align themselves with some members from both armies as they experience a third unique story. But there’s no doubt that the first version of Fates that we play will have the same significance to us as whether we chose Pokemon Red or Blue back in ’96. There’s something special about the first time you hear a story, so be sure your choice is a good one.
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