Less than an hour into Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, I was already facing a surprisingly difficult decision: which of Dagda’s Four Flames should lead my first journey?
On paper, the opening choice is flexible. Unlike Fire Emblem: Three Houses, selecting Cai, Theodora, Dietrich or Leda does not permanently shut out the other storylines. The developers have explained that players can move between all four heroes whenever they choose.
That freedom may be exactly what makes the decision so uncomfortable. The first character I select could become my emotional anchor, the one I instinctively want to keep following while the other three receive far less attention.
Which of the Four Flames comes first?
One option is to begin with the character I find least compelling, Dietrich, and treat that route like an obligation to clear before reaching the more appealing choices. It is the gaming equivalent of finishing the vegetables before getting dessert.
The alternative is to trust my immediate interest and choose Theodora. That feels more honest, but it also raises the possibility that I will become so invested in her campaign that the other three never receive a proper play-through.
For more coverage of games and the wider arcade world, browse the RETROCADE Arcade Blog. Players considering a dedicated setup can also explore the arcade machines collection or use the Arcade Machine Buying Guide.
A choice with a very long shadow
The story places the player in the role of the herald of the pale raven. Sent into the past, you must alter the destinies of four heroes so they can help save the future from a ravenous undead threat.
At this stage, I do not know how the complete structure will work or how long a single character’s story will take. What I do know is that committing to one hero immediately feels as though it could leave me poorly prepared for the later chapters.
Switching between all four narratives might solve that problem, allowing their stories to develop in parallel. It could also create a campaign lasting more than 120 hours—an intimidating prospect when finding that much time for one game is already difficult.
So the first decision may not technically lock anything away, but it still carries real weight. Whether to follow instinct or spread the time evenly could determine how I experience the entire adventure.
Leave a Reply