Fire Emblem If is due to be out in Japan come June. The new Fire Emblem title will have new gameplay elements never before seen in previous titles like an easier mode, game-changing skillsets, as well as the removal of the signature core mechanic, the durability system.
Fire Emblem If (a tentative name) was announced back for the 3DS in January in Nintendo Direct. The game was announced to have two separate versions, White Kingdom and Black Kingdom. Each title has a different story and promises to have their own unique gameplay that would separate each other. There will be a bundle to have both of the games, or buy one title and download the other game as DLC.
The new entry of Fire Emblem will ditch weapon durability system as seen in Fire Emblem: Awakening. It will introduce a new difficulty setting that will cater more to the casuals. In Fire Emblem Awakening, the durability system added a new layer of tactical factor as players will try to hold back the best weapons and spells for better use. It would be intriguing to see what will happen to a Fire Emblem title without the durability system.
There will also be the easier mode called Phoenix difficulty mode in Fire Emblem If. With this, in addition to the returning Casual mode, it will disable the permadeath and revives the slain units after completig a map. In Phoenix difficulty, the dead units will revive after each turn. However, it is worth noting htat the Black Kingdom features additional challenge by restriciting both experience and money, both have limited quantities. Aside from that, clearing the map will not trigger the victory as there are additional victory conditions.
Gender customization is also part of Fire Emblem If's new feature. The protagonist's class will either be called Dark Prince or Dark Princess, depending on the player's choice in creating him or her. There is also an ability called Dragon Pulse for specific characters. Examples of Dragon Pulse effects are flattening mountains and summoning Earthquakes.
Fire Emblem If is being developed by Intelligent Systems and is published by Nintendo. Intelligent Systems had been developing the series since its inception. Fire Emblem If is slated for a June 25, 2015 release in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS platform. There is no release date for North America and Europe, but basing on Nintendo's behavior in releasing games out to the West, expect the game to come out in North America in 2016, Europe late 2016 or even further, and a chance to be never released at all.
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