Fire Emblem Needs to Make These 5 Upgrades on Nintendo Switch 2

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As a dedicated fan, I’ve witnessed the meteoric rise of the Fire Emblem series, particularly after Marth and Roy graced our screens in Super Smash Bros. Melee. But it wasn’t until Fire Emblem Awakening ignited in the Western world that its popularity truly exploded. Ever since, Nintendo has been consistently refining this beloved franchise with each new release, culminating in the extraordinary masterpiece, Fire Emblem: Three Houses. This was later followed by Fire Emblem Engage, a game that excelled in certain aspects, but fell short in others. The timeless appeal of its legacy titles remains undiminished, offering stories and features that continue to captivate fans today. With the potential for another installment on the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has a golden opportunity to craft the ultimate Fire Emblem experience.

It’s clear that Nintendo should prioritize several crucial elements when developing a new Fire Emblem game. The battle system, narrative, environment, and characters are the cornerstones of this popular series. By skillfully blending these components, they can create an immersive and exciting game experience. Given the size and popularity of the Fire Emblem series, Nintendo needs a blockbuster hit for its next console to make a significant impact.

Here are the five key aspects that Nintendo should prioritize while developing Fire Emblem for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Here’s a list of five essential areas Nintendo should concentrate on as they create Fire Emblem for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.

1) Improve Storytelling

In terms of storytelling, the Fire Emblem series hasn’t always shone brightest, but certain installments have boasted exceptional narratives and rich character development. The latest example is Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which demonstrates the narrative potential of the series, including branching storylines. Previous games in the Fire Emblem franchise have also been characterized by strong narratives carried by their characters, suggesting that the series should emphasize this more.

In a more casual and engaging manner, I’d say: The story and writing in Fire Emblem Engage are not up to par with the rest of the series, but since it’s an anniversary title, some might be willing to overlook this flaw. However, it represents a significant setback for Nintendo’s narrative prowess. With future plans for the Switch 2, there’s an excellent chance to rectify this issue. If we look at games like Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, and more recently, Three Houses, for their captivating storylines, well-developed characters, and unexpected plot twists, Nintendo could create the best Fire Emblem story yet. Characters have always been at the heart of these games, and a compelling cast making difficult decisions is crucial moving forward.

2) Streamline Relationships

In the Fire Emblem series, relationships have always held significance, but Fire Emblem Awakening elevated them significantly. By introducing the ability for players to develop romantic relationships, marry characters, and forge enduring friendships that impact battle dynamics, it revolutionized the series and attracted a fresh wave of followers. However, as Nintendo has expanded this system, it has grown cumbersome and almost requires a spreadsheet for optimal use. Specifically, Fire Emblem: Three Houses struggles with this balance due to the monastic setting’s vastness and abundance of fetch quests, making the relationship system, otherwise great, tedious to navigate.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve found myself deeply immersed in the Fire Emblem universe. While I appreciate the refinements made in Fire Emblem Engage, I believe there’s still room for improvement, especially on the Nintendo Switch 2. With its enhanced processing power and fresh beginnings, it’s high time we revamped the relationships within Fire Emblem. This overhaul should encompass not just character interactions and growth, but also the recruitment process.

Nintendo could leverage the depth of Three Houses and blend it with Engage’s streamlined systems to create a base camp that is intriguing to explore without being overwhelmingly vast. This would not only enhance the relationship system, but also provide activities for players to engage in with their beloved characters. This way, we can forge deeper connections within the Fire Emblem world, making the experience even more engaging and immersive.

3) Return to Non-Avatar Protagonist

Fire Emblem games often thrive on captivating protagonists, and recently, Nintendo has opted for player avatar-style leads like Robin, Corrin, Byleth, and Alear. These characters have gained considerable popularity, and justifiably so. However, figures such as Lyn, Ike, and Marth are among the most legendary in the series, earning their status through their significant impact on the game’s world, story, and well-crafted writing. This character-focused narrative approach has been noticeably absent since Nintendo introduced avatar protagonists, leaving a gap that these iconic characters filled effectively.

In order for the upcoming Fire Emblem game to be successful, it should have a strong, clearly defined main character to guide the storyline during the inevitable conflict. Instead of using silent protagonists, as in previous games, Nintendo should consider making them fully voiced characters, similar to Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude. The fact that Alear was given a voice in Fire Emblem Engage is a good sign of this trend continuing. Developing an unforgettable character to command the future of Fire Emblem on Nintendo Switch 2 could take the series to even greater popularity levels.

4) Keep the Mature Aesthetic

In contrast to its consistently somber undertones, Fire Emblem exhibits a unique blend that resembles anime aesthetics, which can sometimes feel incongruous. This dichotomy is particularly noticeable in Fire Emblem Engage, where the dialogue and overall tone are reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, despite scenes involving death and devastation. Moving forward, Nintendo should maintain the mature ambiance they developed in Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Fire Emblem has consistently explored weighty topics such as conflict, deception, and mortality. Notably, it includes a permadeath feature within the gameplay. To maximize its potential, Nintendo should emphasize and fully embrace the grimmer aspects of Fire Emblem. This doesn’t mean altering the essence of the series, but rather taking the opportunity to further develop Fire Emblem: Three Houses‘s approach by intertwining lighter moments with a more somber narrative while showcasing the reality of a soldier’s existence in times of warring nations. The story should also reflect the permadeath mechanic by intensifying the emotional impact of character deaths on the rest of the cast and the overall narrative outcome.

5) More Experimentation

In recent times, the Fire Emblem series has introduced some fresh elements, yet it essentially stays consistent. With the potential arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2, there’s a golden chance to introduce significant changes in the upcoming generation of Fire Emblem games. While the fundamental aspects of the series should be preserved, Nintendo can tinker with the presentation and functionality of these core concepts. The weapon triangle, narrative war tales, and strategic components offer ample space for integrating novel ideas.

One intriguing avenue for Nintendo to explore in the Fire Emblem series is its game settings. Typically, each game is set in a fantasy world reminiscent of the Middle Ages, but Fire Emblem Fates introduced a Japanese-themed nation as an exception. Transforming the setting to a Greek or Egyptian backdrop would bring about a significant shift, potentially revitalizing the series.

To enhance the storytelling, it would be beneficial to move away from the usual “us against them” narrative and instead focus on more complex, nuanced plots. The branching storylines seen in Fire Emblem: Three Houses could be further developed to provide even greater flexibility in the writing process.

Lastly, offering additional settings that alter gameplay mechanics would not only make the game more engaging but also more accessible for a wider audience.

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2025-07-10 22:12