As I spoke of last week, there was a new character released on “Super Smash Bros Ultimate,” and that character was Byleth. For those that don’t know too much about them, they come from a long line of protagonists in a series called “Fire Emblem.” “Fire Emblem” has been around for two decades, with the very first release of the series in April of 1990. Since then, it has gained exposure thanks to the inclusion of their main protagonists into the “Super Smash Bros” series, with characters such as Ike, Marth, Roy, Chrom, Robin, Lucina and Corrin.
With Byleth in particular, they come from the most recent franchise release this past summer, “Fire Emblem: Three Houses.” “Three Houses” consists of three main houses, and the Church of Seiros, which has unified the land of Fodlan. The land of Fodlan consists of three sub regions, the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, the Leicester Alliance and the famed Adrestian Empire.
Once you begin the game, you meet this mysterious woman on a throne, who saves you from giving your life and turns back time, allowing the main character (Byleth) to save the house leaders. The Black Eagles leader Edelgard, the Blue Lions leader Dimitri and the Golden Deer leader Claude all are in trouble, and you and your father Jeralt are in charge of helping them and bringing them back to the Garreg Mach Monastery. The Monastery is home to the Church of Seiros, headed by Archbishop Rhea, who helps you throughout the campaign and tells you to choose your house for your playthrough.
As the game continues on, you meet several different characters and gain support with your chosen houses the further you continue in the story, which opens up a whole new progression system in which it is up to the player to decide where the story shall end up. Whether it’s using the many mini-games, such as training or fishing, or the many training routes with each character, playing the game will affect the course of how strong you are as well as the support around you.
In total, there are four story routes you can choose from, one from each house as well as a hidden route within the Black Eagles storyline, which you can find out on the playthrough. There are also many cinematic cutscenes, a fantastic musical soundtrack and a turn-based combat system that will leave you wanting more. With Byleth’s release on “Super Smash Bros Ultimate,” Nintendo unveiled a brand new downloadable content addition to the best-selling “Three Houses, Cindered Shadows.”
Unlike the previous DLC content that “Three Houses” has had so far, “Cindered Shadows” delves deep into the Abyss, a place lingering underneath the depths of Garreg Mach Monastery. It comes with four new classes to play as, four brand-new characters to know and have at your side and so much more that has yet to be unveiled.
“Fire Emblem: Three Houses” is one of the best-known titles of 2019, and it’s on track to have yet again another fantastic year. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and become the hero of Fodlan!
Jeffrey Babcock is a third-year student majoring in communications and minoring in journalism. JB884128@wcupa.edu