Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest

Some of the most powerful moments experienced in contact with Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest come from crucial decisions made during intense turn-based tactical combat, and it was these moments that kept me going for more than 40 hours. Whether it was the relationships established and developed between my soldiers or the horrible final loss of one of them, overshadowed by an enemy blade, I appreciated every moment. This imposing challenge, visually very colorful and designed for veterans of the Fire Emblem saga, is magnified by the presence of exciting and varied missions and offers vast possibilities for customization.

Conquest is undoubtedly the most demanding segment of the Fire Emblem Fates collection - you can also consult our test of Fire Emblem Fates: Heritage , sold and tested separately.

The magnificent anime-oriented graphics and superb soundtrack offered by the Fire Emblem Fates triptych live up to the excellent Fire Emblem Awakening released in 2013. The very European aesthetic of the kingdom of Nohr, for which only glory counts , strongly contrasts with that of the peaceful Hoshido, whose architecture and culture were influenced by Japanese medieval times. This visual bias makes it easy to distinguish the characters and makes the confrontations more readable. The two enemy families confront each other during a staggering campaign, filled with tough battles. In Conquest, you play Corrin, a young nobleman born on the lands of Hoshido but raised under the banner of Nohr who chose to confront his adoptive brothers and sisters in order to put an end to the conflict between the two kingdoms.

The harsh decisions made on the battlefield are an integral part of the demanding and addictive turn-based tactical combat system offered here. Attacks are subject to a percentage chance of success as a dice throw, melee weapons and other ranged weapons are balanced by the laws of the famous stone-leaf-scissors: swords and magic beat axes and arrows, the latter take advantage over spears and concealed weapons, finally spears and concealed weapons beat swords and tomes. Each choice made on the battlefield is fraught with consequences and conditions the outcome of your skirmishes, but your actions also have an impact on the way your troops evolve. Thus, you can determine which units to send to combat, select their weapons and equipment, and choose the best time to launch an assault on the enemy or, on the contrary, withdraw.

The experience gleaned in combat obviously allows you to increase the level and statistics of your troops, but, and this is one of the popular characteristics of the Fire Emblem saga, your soldiers can also improve by developing affinities with the warriors fighting alongside them. By building these relationships, you unlock new secondary dialogues that enrich the main plot and add personality and depth to the characters, often revealing their real motivations and imperfections. Felicia, for example, this hardworking servant whom you will meet at the start of your journey, proves to be very clumsy, while Xander the obedient prince of Nohr with a nuanced personality fights with conviction for the kingdom, even if he does not always agree with the decisions made by his father.

This work on personalities and bonus statistics adds incredible depth to the perfectly calibrated combat system of Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest. The percentages of success and the damage caused by the attacks depend on the distance, the enemy classes and the proximity between your different allies. If each of the proposed classes has a specific function in combat, you can evolve these and obtain surprising results. For example, when Corrin's class evolves from Prince of Nohr to Noble of Nohr, his Draconic Hex spell can be cast as a result of standard attacks, adding an effect that greatly reduces enemy stats and makes him vulnerable to a final attack. Silas' Vow of Friendship power, which is extremely risky but can pay off, adds additional damage if it is close to another main character with 50% or less life at time of attack. These complex abilities can really change the outcome of a fight when used at the right time on the right unit. Building strong relationships attracts new powerful soldiers to join your troops, and this virtuous circle continues as you develop relationships with your new recruits.