The mainline Fire Emblem games have always been known to follow the formula turn-based strategy games are known for, and they have managed to do so to great effect. Throughout the series' evolution, some modifications have been made to the gameplay, but the core of each game remains the same, which many fans enjoy and appreciate. Still, one has to wonder whether it's time for the next Fire Emblem to make one key change: going from a semi-open world to a fully open one.
The release of entries such as Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Fire Emblem Engage can be seen as tests for whether the franchise would benefit from going for fully open-world gameplay. While the move would be a complete deviation from what fans have become accustomed to, it also opens up many different and interesting possibilities. The benefits could prompt Nintendo and Intelligent Systems to consider entertaining the idea, with a true open-world introduced sometime in the future.
Rumor: New Fire Emblem Remake Could Be Announced This Year
Recent rumors are suggest that the Fire Emblem franchise could potentially announce the next remake in the series sometime during 2025.
How the Next Fire Emblem Game Could Benefit From Going Fully Open World
Among Nintendo's many franchises, Fire Emblem would arguably be the best open-world candidate. It has already dabbled with the concept of openness with its more recent entries, but not enough to allow players unrestrained exploration. If Nintendo and Intelligent Systems choose to commit to the next game going the open-world route, then they would be met with a few beneficial opportunities:
- It could result in more diverse environments that can easily be accessed at any point, allowing for a level of exploration that no other entry in the franchise can provide.
- Having the next game be open-world creates the possibility of battles taking place anywhere and anytime, making it one of, if not the most, engaging mainline entries.
- With players no longer being restricted by battlefield boundaries, it could mean large-scale fights that would not have been possible in the older entries.
- Because of the increased variety of battles that can take place in an open-world scenario, this hypothetical game might be the most strategic, especially when considering factors like enemy behavior and environmental hazards.
While going the open-world route is against the traditions of Fire Emblem, it's a move that will likely help the franchise in terms of relevancy. If done right, an open-world game could help the next game reach new heights of popularity and success that would not have been possible if it stuck with the formula everyone has grown used to.
Why the Strengths of Fire Emblem Going Open World Can Also Be a Weakness
Going open-world will open possibilities for the next Fire Emblem game, but it also comes with problems that could make it stray from success. For one, since it may be possible for players to take on battles anywhere at any time, they might find themselves in situations such as not knowing where to go, being unable to figure out which areas they can take on at their current party's strength, or leveling up too much that their characters are now too powerful. Another is that, because going open-world allows for many new features or mechanics, the game might overwhelm people with everything that needs to be handled, managed, or learned about, which could turn some gamers away. As such, the next mainline entry going open-world may mean it is not a good Fire Emblem game for beginners and even veterans.
A good reason why Fire Emblem became one of the more successful Nintendo franchises is that its mainline entries have stuck to their roots in being tactical role-playing titles, using the genre's restrictions to innovate and provide increasingly complex yet enjoyable gameplay and narratives. Straying away from what worked and going open-world with the next game can be seen as a risky move, as fans might not be quick to accept the change and lose interest. At the same time, it could prove to be a good one with the right execution, so it's certainly worth considering.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- January 20, 2023
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Fire Emblem
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, JRPG
