Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem is still in development and is still the absolute best team-up in the history of the planet Earth. The game, known as Genei Ibun Roku #FE in Japan, is back in the spotlight and as baroque as ever with three new trailers showing off characters and a bit of gameplay.
Honestly, I don’t know what I’m looking at here. An anime? A game? An animated music video? The marketing for this title has been all over the place, and I still don’t get what it actually is. Both franchises are famous for their deep systems and challenging RPG combat, but I don’t see that in any one of these trailers, especially the first one. The jumps between the anime and in-engine graphics are simply too distracting to pay attention to.
The next trailer introduces us to our hero, Itsuki Aoi, who possesses the Mirage soul of Chrom, the hero from Fire Emblem Awakening. Again, brief flashes of gameplay, but nothing substantial enough. Is it grid based? Is it an arena game? I don’t see any world map, navigation, or battlefield. Is it told entirely through dialogue and music videos?
The last trailer at least shows a bit more action and even a draining life meter! Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem’s character battle alongside Mirages, the souls of heroes from past Fire Emblem games, and the video shows how they interact for attacks.
It certainly is an interesting vision, bringing together J-Pop, operatic shojo manga, and the romantic capes from the Fire Emblem games. I just wish I knew exactly how it plays. This should be something I feel more excited for. Has anyone released just a straight video walkthrough or something?
At any rate, Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem launches in Japan on Dec. 26 for the Wii U. Nintendo and Atlus will be releasing it in English next year.
