Someone can think of the three versions of Fire Emblem Fates as follows. Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright is the beginner’s game, with maps that aren’t too challenging, a traditional “save the world” story with expected heroes and heroines, and ample opportunities to level grind. Conquest is the most challenging entry, a throwback to Fire Emblem’s roots and, in my opinion, the entry with the best storyline. There are conflicted motivations, unlikely heroes, and some twists and turns. Revelation is the dream team. Once you’ve played through one or both of the other storylines, Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation lets you have it all.
To start, Revelation has some of the challenge of Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest. There are plenty of maps with unique gimmicks. One has colored panels which determine if the unit on them is a basic or advanced class, depending on whether the ground is blue or red beneath them. There are maps with unseen roads, where taking a wrong turn will send you back to the entrance of the immediate area. Another has you breaking down a barrier to gain access to a seemingly impenetrable fortress. It’s clever in a way that Birthright is not, but not as demanding as Conquest.
Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation offers the best grinding opportunities as well. Whether it’s for levels, money, or Support, it’s easy to get enough of everything to make your experience go smoothly. Which is especially helpful, since you can have 67 people in your army, kids included. (That isn’t counting amiibo units or the unique captured characters.) Be advised, Saizo, Orochi, Kagero, Shura, Nyx, Benny, and Charlotte are missable. The avatar needs to talk to Saizo in Chapter 11 to recruit him, Orochi, and Kagero. You must send Elise to talk to Benny and Charlotte in Chapter 14, and Shura and Nyx must be approached by Corrin in Chapter 15. Benny and Charlotte will be most difficult, as Elise will be a Troubadour at that chapter the game and unable to defend herself. I don’t have Benny or Charlotte in my Revelations route and am quite sad about the lack of Ignatius. After a while, creating Challenge maps, sending a group of characters out, and choosing to auto battle for cash and experience is incredibly appealing.
My favorite part of Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation is the ability to pair up people who can’t be together in other routes. I put together Hayato and Nyx as soon as possible. Every royal family member is intermingling and married. Subaki and Selena make perfect sense together. Also, Kaden and Peri have the best “proposal” Support conversation in this entry.
It also means you’re going to get the best castle for My Castle. You get access to all of the Hoshido and Nohr facilities in the Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation route. The result is one of the most attractive fortresses for visits. People get extra food and precious stones for stopping by. If they challenge you, they’ll have to deal with Dawn and Dusk Dragon. Your place can be intimidating. As an example, visit the Siliconera castle. You should be able to find it by putting in “Siliconera” or the address code “01720-47948-56162-86246.” You can go out of your way, making sure you have the best statues for stat cap lifting, upgrading buildings, and arranging things in such a way that the entire castle is a nightmare.
To be honest, Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation is almost too much. You’re overwhelmed with content. Having a story that clears up some plot holes and helps everything make more sense is great. I can see why Nintendo decided to wait to make this route available as DLC until March 10, 2016. You really need to have played at least one of the other routes to be equipped to handle everything here.
Now, as for recommended units, you might want to give Fuga a try at least once when tackling a Revelation run out of pity. This is the only route where he’s a playable party member. (He replaces Izana.) Though, sadly, he’s a poor replacement for the other unit. Izana is a pretty fantastic unit with amazing growth rates in every stat except strength, which is fine since he’s best as a mage. Fuga is strong and lucky, with lots of health, but he’s not as good a unit to have in battle as the other characters. By the time you’ll probably get him, your other party members will be farther along.
I’d suggest preparing and using as many royal characters as you can, be they members of the Nohr and Hoshido families or their kids. Many of the later maps have Dragon Veins to exploit, and you’re going to want those folks along to take advantage of that.
Fire Emblem Fates is immediately available for the Nintendo 3DS. If you didn’t get the limited edition, the Revelation storyline will be available as DLC starting March 10, 2016.
