Back at it again with a development video on Fire Emblem. This time, of Three Houses! If you enjoyed this video, please like! if you like this content and/or have been watching my stuff but you haven't subscribed yet... do it! Subscribe! You won't regret it!!! Subscribe: goo.gl/1xHJzR Patreon: www.patreon.com/GhastPatreon
Another great FE3H video! Overall this video help me reflect that even with the flaws/issues I had with FE3H, I still loved the game so much and I had a amazing time playing the story they wanted to create in these multiple routes. This video showcase that TK&IS collaboration not only was it good but it also was genuine and the people that work on 3H gave their all in the project. I hope that 3H project ends up being the beginning of this wonderful collaboration and that we see them working together in another Main FE game or once again in FEW2. I hope the experience they gained working together in 3H and learning from the criticism fans had about 3H helps them in their future FE project. As a fan of both Fire Emblem and Samurai Warriors I wished them continue success and wait eagerly excited for their next collaboration. And should they announce it being a FE4 remake I have faith in them and believe they will do it justice.
I mean, it's still true of the Alliance itself to some extent, as the paralogues and the bridge mission on most routes tend to try to point out with the recurring Alliance villain noble that doesn't deserve me remembering his name. Pretty much every fight that takes place on that that part of the map is because of some Alliance noble scheming to harm or under support some other noble or trading company.
@@Shalakor yep. I think it's nice that the Golden Deer try to fight the alliance problems by being good themselves and not wanting to create drama over Alliance stuff. It definitely made me like them more.
I feel like it’s a shame that most fe games’ stories get lost in development, and how you mentioned in a previous video that the writing ends up getting rushed or cut down to some extent. :(( I love three houses so much, it’s such a fun and unique game but I really hope that one day intelligent systems will be able to make an entry to the series that really incorporates more of the risky ideas that they want to incorporate without feeling the need to dial it down or rush it (I’m mostly intrigued by the Leicester Alliance’s development, verdant wind has always very obviously seemed kind of empty to some extent but there are so many hints of a “shadier” Claude littered throughout the first half that never get explored, and I think it would have been really cool to see a Golden Deer class with more violent history with eachother
Basically I hope that the next entry will be given more time for development, as nice as the new installment every 4 years or so system is I just hope that the next one will be able to have a more grounded and consistent story that befits the intentions of the writers!
I think the problem isn't only the time for development, but also the medium. A story for video-game must limit itself, even more with a narration like Fire Emblem (chapter/battle by chapter/battle, heavly focus on the hero, etc...). I wish they will do trans-media things a day...
@@evanpereira3555 the problem isn't that video games are bad for story telling. Look at games like Dragon Age Origins. The problem is that these are character driven stories with perma-death. Now don't get me wrong I like perma-death in FE games. It's part of what makes them Fire Emblem games. However there is no denying that the fact that at any given point almost anyone in the cast could be dead does limit storytelling options. That's why the games with multiple game over characters tend to have better, or at the very least more ambitious, stories. That's also why there are usually 1 or 2 characters in every game who are immune to death. When their HP hits 0 they become grievously wounded and retreat and from then on they're no longer deployable but they still show up in cutscenes.
@@sr71silver @sr71silver I didn't say "video games are bad for story telling" but video game have story made for its media, which is logic, it's like you don't write a film (straight 2h) like a serie (lot of "short" episode), and that Fire Emblem have a very rigid storytelling. Actually I didn't even think about permadeath since even when it could be a problem, we can better integrate it. Different line for consistency, and make the "immortal" character (which never bother me) disable. But mainly, this is why I want more cross-media FE, which can get rid of this problem and kill nearly any character and build the story around this (I like permadeath in FE, so if we get like... an anime one day, I also want permadeath in).
What happened? Well, it's quite obvious what happened, the game once again pushed Fire Emblem into the spotlight and introduced another generation of fans to it. Unfortunately, I think the game's experimental nature will give many newer fans whiplash when trying any older games (and I do include the 3ds games, as they are older, just not "THE older" games), or if any new games follow the older, more traditional formulas. Its one of the most different games in the franchise, so what it did was gather new fans, but at a weird spot, mechanically speaking.
This game reinventing the formula again is a double edged sword. It definitely keeps things interesting but I gotta wonder how many times they'll do it before settling on something. Even fates which is critiqued for being awakening 2 still did things like add a multiple story paths and change the properties of several weapons as trade offs for them being unbreakable.
Well as a new fire emblem fan the first game i played was three houses. i liked it so much i played sacred stones afterwards and i’m currently playing echoes right now! no whiplash here, just love and enjoyment. though i can’t speak for all newer fans.
It’s an interesting question to explore. How far can they deviate from the origins of FE and still call it the same series? At the moment it feels like three or four distinct series stapled together for the sake of pedigree, but with little binding them together. And as you say, the further they stray, the more they reinvent the series, the less that pedigree means - both for incoming and existing fans. Would you give a person who started with 3H a copy of Sacred Stones, and expect them to enjoy it? What about a Fates fan with PoR? Some may well, as above - but I wouldn’t expect that to be the case for most people - and the gulf will only widen if they don’t nail down what modern FE is.
@@wotintarnation7990 Of course, if it turns out the fans who started with 3H ARENT getting all that whiplashed by it, then that's a good thing! Glad you're having fun!
So interesting the school was inspired by Sigurd Quan and Eldigan. A shame the inciting incident for the split happened before the timeskip rather than after like in fe4. Definitely would've appreciated a "let's meet up for wine, Edelgard" but oh well.
Koei Tecmo: "Okay, so we have 3 game series based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and one that is literally just called that. What should we base this game on that we're collaborating with Intelligent Systems to make?" "Romance of the Three Kingdoms probably" "Yeah, it just seems right"
Have fun figuring out which FE kingdom is which then lmao You'll be there forever trying to figure it out. Leicester is kind of like a vague Yuan Shao if you want my opinion. Yuan Shao would have certainly become one of the three kingdoms if he hadn't lost to Cao Cao.
@@ramenbomberdeluxe4958 Well ACKSHUALLY The "three kingdoms" resemblance more or less only stretches to the fact that they are three kingdoms at war. That's it - by nature, each kingdom aren't very similar to the three in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Of course, if you really were to put them that way, it isn't that difficult. - Adrestia (Wei): Arguably the strongest in military strength, values military expansion, and is secretly controlled by people in the dark (the Sima clan). - Faerghus (Shu): Their ruler (Dimitri | Liu Bei) looks to be the wisest in the start, but eventually goes a little batshit crazy after certain events (Edelgard's reveal | the brothers' deaths). - Leicester (Wu): The chill dudes who represent the 'third' side the most, not aggressive but not passive; just there, balancing the other two out.
Well, let's see. Alois randomized into himself twice, Nemesis randomized into Mercedes TWICE, and Dimitri took his quest to KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM so far that he randomized into Nemesis.
I hope the FE team took some lessons on writing multi-route stories. Dimitri's was by far the best while Edelgard and Claude was oozing with potential but fell short on the execution. Definitely, would have loved to see more of Claude's amorality
But I also think that the Kingdom route had more potential. You have the DImitri speech about crests early in the game and the music and all makes it seem like a key scene just for it to be not touched upon at all ever again. You could have done something there too.
@@YingofDarkness oh, I really despised how we hear Edelgard's plan for TWSD on a Hubert's support conversation. They were definitely guilty of displaying key moments such as Dimtri dying to the Empire on Claude's route as exposition points
I would disagree. I would take one long, decently written story with one protagonist and a proper, satisfying ending over four out of which only one really manages to tackle all plot threads.
@@matmil5 sometime i just don't know If it was "one path" than it will maybe not tackle all plot threads way more... ( also "satisfying ending" just seen bore to some)
@@aydengarcia9073 Ideally we could choose two paths, but no more then that. IS needs to starts focusing on finishing ONE story and doing everything they want with it before thinking about adding in branching paths. Best case scenario we get something like the Trails game where every different set of games takes place in a different country all dealing with the same war (kind of)
Feels weird how the dlc support just abruptly stopped when the 3DS games got quite a few waves of content. Then again 3H is a far bigger game than the 3DS fe games were.
The DLC was always 4 Waves, but they were so baffling that it feels like it was only 1. The first Wave was an alternative outfit for Byleth, Released at Launch. Second was Altenative Uniforms for all characters and Extra Auxilary Battles along with Extra Sidequest, which was not much. Third wave was the Maid/Butler outfits, Anna and her Paraolouge. Anna is oneof the most dissapointing characters in the game and her Paralouge is just extra gold. A Decent amount but Not worth 20 Bucks. Then finally, the main meat of the game, and many think that Ashen Wolves was Lackluster. Overall, The DLC was very weak and only considerable 20 bucks if you want the ashen wolves characters and classes. Could have been miles better but I'm guessing they want to focus on FE17 or some other projects down the line.
In terms of playtime to experience all routes 3H is the biggest game in the series, in terms of actual content Fates is overall bigger because most of that content in 3H is recycled content that you will literally have to play part 1 3-4 times to experience all the routes with very little changes outside of what students reacts to the story, while part 1 is also over half the game regardless of what route you chose...
@@ChillstoneBlakeBlast If the maid/butler outfits were actually a new class added it would alone add tons of value. Then again those classes would feel wrong without daggers/shurikens so ehhhh
I bought this game thinking, "I don't care for strategy games and I didn't get into previous Fire Emblems, but I kinda want to check this out. It'll probably give me at least some entertainment." It's now my fourth most-played game on the Switch (after MK8 Deluxe, Smash Ultimate, and Super Mario Odyssey), with over 120 hours total. I finished all four routes and the Cindered Shadows DLC (not to 100% completion, because I have better things to do with my free time), and have heard all four of Anna's lines probably ten thousand times.
@@rhettmitchell Yeah I'm a terrible gamer. I have spent more hours than OP and I still haven't beaten two of those routes (Ashen Wolves and Blue Lions)
Hearing how the developers were heavily inspired by FE4 I can’t help but think that an fe4 remake is inevitable at this point. It’s just a matter of time
I like that they made Crimson Flower easier to trigger, I did it by accident on my first playthrough and didn’t realise there was another route until my 4th playthrough
@@archwing3441 Unfortunately this has led to some fans being absolute pricks and claiming that if you support x person, you’re a bad person and have dammed Fodlan for supporting them. FE fans were clamoring for deep gray characters and once they got it they turned it into a shitshow to discuss.
Everybody is supposed to be right for different reasons. Literally every ending is depicted as a happy one that steers Fodlan in a different direction.
@@heavydonkeykong5190 Yeah that’s what I always say, but some people just don’t like others enjoying a different route from theirs. Some people say CF will cause the collapse of Fodlan due to Meritocracy. Some say AM will cause another war to spring up since society is reliant on nobles and the King being a good person, which the story has shown not to always work out well. Some say SS and VW will only go wrong since Byleth is left in charge and they have 0 experience in ruling a nation. All in all it doesn’t matter because the developers made it so that in every route, Fodlan and its people are in a better place. Only people still hung up on it are just trying to ruin the fun for everyone else.
@@Mister100Percent I do understand preferring one outcome over others (I have my own preferences) but demonizing any of the endings requires headcanon, a good deal of which is disproved by the game itself.
It's pretty clear, that there were some corners cut, CF clearly was supposed to get at least one more cutscene (that Chapter 12 event is the last one in the list of events), and I doubt, VW was supposed to be as much of a copy of SS as it turned out. I don't necessarily fault Koei Tecmo for this and more the deadlines. On thing, that I do fault them for though, is the SS abyss lines being copied from VW and not even aligned correctly after Gronder, I mean seriously, at least let the NPC talk about, what Claude would do if he were here in the present and not in the past.
Yeah, I would like to know where the writers wanted to go with the route if there was time, the layout of the level, also I would have loved if the month cutscenes were available to be rewatched
It's already like that in the vanilla game, with some SS characters acting like Judith is still with them and Flayn acting as though they personally fought on Gronder. Based on data mining, it seems like the early sections of SS, VW, and AM were made at the same time, with the later parts of AM being done later. They probably re-used character objects and whenever lines were changed for one, it affected the other. Though to be honest, I get the feeling they just gave up on SS since there's a scrapped Gronder Chapter in the game's data and some of the route feels unpolished. And I don't just mean the story, there's several weird moments in cutscenes--particularly unfitting music choices--that I'm sure they would have corrected if they bothered reviewing their rough draft of SS.
@@q-tip9962 If it helps, all the data surrounding Crimson Flower (mostly monastery exploration & quest data) points out it's short lenght was set up in advance and on purpose.
Well. That would explain why I don't care nearly as much for Dimitri, Claude (Sun Ce) or Rhea (Sima Zhao). Liu Bei was far too idealistic over reason, the Sun family spent nearly all of the Three Kingdoms fighting each other and turtling. And Jin were a bunch of traitorous turncoats who lead China into the foundations of the mess it's been SINCE the Three Kingdoms. I've said before and I'll keep saying it till I'm stage lefted: "Cao Cao and Cao Pi should have won."
Yea they chickened out with Claude who was supposed to be a twist on the treacherous duke archetype to compliment the emperor and mad king types. Should've backstabbed Byleth in act II which would be a catalyst for character development. Instead we got good hearted but bland intelligence asset that has unlimited access to his homeland's treasury - just like intelligence agencies in real life.
@@archwing3441 Claude, the tactical genius who asks Dimitri for help (despite Dimitri trying to kill him two months ago) when he could've just called in the Almyrans like in CF.
I'm really enjoying these deep dives into Three Houses' background and every week I can't wait to see what you do next! The new insights are making an already great game even better.
I think it's funny that some people want to point at 3 Houses' Story or the Graphics and use those things as justification for calling the game awful or terrible (because there are people like that). People want to pretend that if there are any flaws or things lacking in a game at all, that is an indictment on the game as a whole. Bottom line, 3 Houses is an amazing game and earned all the praise and accolades it received. Were their elements within the game that could potentially have been better or fleshed out more? Certainly. But should we necessarily hold these perceived flaws as more important than what went right during development; I would argue no, absolutely not.
At the end of the day, while I think Three Houses is a great game, I don't think it's a good Fire Emblem game. Not necessarily due to the rushed development or plot holes, but due to choices regarding gameplay and mechanics such as: -the open promotion system -wide open maps that aren't built around any challenge or obstacle and are designed to be used more than once -the fact that there's only 10 unique maps that you only see once while the remaining 88% of the maps are constantly reused -the fact that gambits and combat arts are kinda nebulous and unnecessary when gauntlets exist -Letting any class use any weapon class and the removal of the weapon triangle erases the point of multiple weapon types even existing -Lack of difficulty even on maddening since enemies only have higher stats and not skills that would make them a genuine threat Things like that bring the game down for me. I still think it's a great game and it has absolutely excellent writing, but it doesn't have any of the bite that I look for in a Fire Emblem game.
Agreed. Three Houses has flaws (like all games do) but it excels in spite on those flaws and lays some good groundwork for Intelligent Systems to hopefully build upon and improve for later games.
@@GreekDudeYiannis What's wrong with the promotion system? Last time I checked Gauntlets don't hit multiple enemies at once, break monster barriers in one hit(Dragon Claws don't count) or give you special effects like counterattack or blessing. Combat Arts only do one of those things, and for the most part are the complete opposite of Brave attacks.
Dude, if your story and graphics aren't there, that's two pillars of your game already gone. And with gameplay that hasn't really changed much over its entire 25+ year lifespan? Like, look yeah, they're not the absolute end-all-be-all for games, but if it's unfair to have two of your pillars of game design drag down the entire game as a whole, then I think it's also unfair to pretend like Fire Emblem should get a pass because it's only competing against itself.
Yo man you work fast! Anyways, it's wild to think 2019 was the final date they set themselves up for the game. Guess that explains why delaying the game for a third time in a row wasn't an option.
Honestly your right but oh well My fav is the blue lions but the others are important too too me no route is the wrong path yeah we may have are favs or disliked but at the end of the day its all important ^~^
@@matmil5 I'm not saying it's not, but acting like all of the people who enjoy that route are bad and pro-war is a stupid ass thing to say. It's a game for crying out loud. Edit: I realized after writing this that some people are mainly against Edelgard. I respect this opinion, but I don't agree with it, because it's a game. And as a character in a game, we can appreciate them even if they start said war. Because the writers included a convincing and interesting (to some, not all) reason for her to start said war.
@@Robin-234 I mean. It is the objectively shortest and most misable, cut corner route so... There is an argument to be had here. While people cannot really be criticised because it is their game that they paid for, characters should be criticised and shouldn't be dismissed as just wanting to do good.
The calendar paintings reminded me of the "Labours of the Months" collection for the Tres Riches Heures, specifically. (Took an art history class a year before 3H came out and went "OH! Neat!")
I really like all the development and insight videos. I would be very interested to see a character or story video where you talk about what changes you would make or would like to have seen more of for the characters and story.
I want them to add more stuff to this. I really enjoyed this game but it definitely had its issues. Not really having anything to do in the monastery in part 2 was a big problem
Yeah, it was kinda there as just the hub. Like, location wise, I sorta get what they were doing. But it is just a place anyone could potentially guess as a "Yeah, our opponents are there. The place is already kinda beat up." Would have liked to be able to invest into it's repairs to potentially act as a sanctuary for those negatively affected by the war, I think it would work thematically.
The interviews never directly touch on why, but I have this massive hunch they intended to trick as many players as possible into doing Silver Snow first.
I agree. Or, at the very least, I get the impression that Crimson Flower is the "you weren't supposed to do that" option. I imagine originally, should you teach the Black Eagles, the game has a "teacher deals with traitorous student" plot that became Silver Snow. Contrast with the standard "beat the wicked empire" of Azure Moon and the "spanner in the works" in Verdant Wind.
@@moltz4866 The interview gives an explanation as to why actually. The Empire and Edelgard were created as the antagonists of the story and were actually going to be a bigger hindrance to Byleth during WC. So the reveal of Edelgard's betrayal would have hit harder as she'd have been directly responsible for the tragedies in WC. Knowing that Byleth would have been against her as they would never agree to side with someone who actively causes misery to Fodlan. Furthermore the story was created with SS in mind the idea of joining Edelgard came later.
• Blue lions having a split route • Rhea having battle lines/growth attributes was probably intended to be playable but cut • CF being only 18 chapters • The cutscenes are unbalanced more was planned but cut So many things I could name. 3H needed another 3months but Nintendo wasn’t going to give IS anymore time. I always thought the game feels a bit unfinished.
I'm more dissapointed about their not being a edelgard and claude team up, their goals are so similar heck claude even admits he might've started a war if edelgard didn't, what's even the point of sparing him in CF when it affects nothing at least give us failnought
I mean . . . Azure Moon does exist to give us the bread crumb version at least. I also don't think Edelgard and Claude would ever work together. Neither are trusting enough and Fodlan's not big enough for anyone but Edwlgard's ideas according to her.
@@toriwork8891 yeah thats their big problem, there was one scene in golden deer part 1 where they had the perfect opportunity to at least start to work together but trust issues got in the way
I can't see Edelgard and Dimitri teaming up since their goals are opposites, but I could see potential situations where Claude can team up with either of them since his goals can coexist with theirs. We almost got that with both CF and AM, but Claude never returns in CF even if you spare him, and AM... kind of botches Claude in my opinion.
wait... so if the whole ashen wolves thing happens before Byleth comes around then how does Aelfric appear in the main quest asking you to get flowers for your mother's grave? is he a ghost?
I believe Cindered Shadows is considered "non-canon" in relation to the events of the game. The lore it provides is canon, but the events aren't canon to the main story, sort of like an alt timeline.
One NPC from abyss in the early game mentions Aelfric was kicked out of the church due to a "scandal", which implies that in the game's main universe, his plan didn't get far enough before Rhea and the church stepped in.
@@therealsamtheman The characters are canon, but what happens in the side story isn't. Additionally, despite joining you, none of them have any clue who you are.
I still get the feeling some stories ended up... let's say "controversial", because the developers wound up liking Edelgard and especially Claude more than originally intended. I think some of those issues could've been fixed by leaning into that more. On SS, given Lorenz defects to the Empire anyway, it could've an earlier collapse of the Alliance. From there, it could've had Claude hiring out the Alliance and Almyrans as mercenaries, and could've addressed his real name there, showing him to be shadier if you don't get to know him, but wiser if you do. Plus it would've added to the idea outright stated by Seteth, that Edelgard isn't just ruling by force. On CF, sparing Claude could've been the default, and with Alliance reinforcements, you could've actually brought the fight to TWSITD. Plus on All non-AM routes, Edelgard and Hubert are willing to work with Claude and or Lorenz's factions. On VW, they could've actually had Claude address his heritage as what helps him bring people together, with Byleth being the deciding factor of showing he doesn't have to hide his background.
To be honest, my main issue with the game is that the Golden Deer Route ended up losing its focus in my opinion. In the end, it ended up as "Revelation" as it is the only route that truly ends the fighting, both in Adrestia's and Fearghus' ending reveal that after the game there will still be fighting.
Nah, see the Claude/Byleth ending, where it shows that there's still fighting. Plus, other endings in VW has an indication that the Imperial army remnants still fight. CF just confirms that the Agarthans are fought, and Jeritza/Byleth ending confirms their total destruction.
@@0axis771 I nevr paired them together, so I won't know. But my point remains: In my opinion, the focus of anti-discrimination and equality was lostin the story. What is the Golden Deer route? The Blue Lions route is the "Emotional Route", Black Eagles is the "Evil Route" in a way. With Claude's main aspect, being a strategist and dirtly player basicly cut out of the game (except for a few events that don't influence the game at all, especially in the War Phase, as seen by the similarity to the Blue Lions route) and it being the only route with one of the Lord characters and the only one where you fight Nemesis, it can be seen as the "Perfect Path" as no conflict of moral occurs (no war with countless deaths or a better world? Helping Dimitri who kills like there's no tomorrow? Fighting alongside Rhea or Edelgard when Edelgard betrays the church?) And it is the only path where the True Enemies (TWSITD and Nemesis) are defeated during the game. To even add to it, the fact that you also fight Edelgard as End-Boss in the BL-route, but you also fight her in the C-route and the GD-route, but not as final boss, makes it even worse. But while Rhea as final boss as plot twist in C-route creates at least some kind of conflict, Nemesis can be clearly identified as bad and evil.
@@nick3805 Themes weren't handled as well as they had hoped. And nah, Edelgard route is anything but evil. But yeah, VW is more the "lore" route if anything.
7:17 The Part 1 Paintings and narration is one of my favorite aspects of the game. Also, hot take, but I do not find Edelgard compelling as a character. I can see how they tried and why some would, but even in her own route she is the villain (I compare it to Fates: Conquest, because while Garon is clearly the villain - not the true villain but certainly the instigator of the war - he is the ruler of Nohr and thus by siding with him you are effectively siding with "the Dark Side").
Makes sense, but also theres a lot of specific perspective that you have to force yourself to get behind to understand her. It sucks how sloppy her writing was, but depending on how you see it, she's sacraficing lives now to ensure that innocents will never be lost in the future again. Comparing her to garon seems a bit harsh tho even for her
@@carter4619 Honestly, you have to dig a bit for it, but Garon's story is a lot more tragic than Edelgard's. He lost his first wife, Xander's mother, ended up becoming a bit of a womanizer as a result, but dearly loved each and every one of his children- however, his concubines used their children as tools to ascend to the throne, going as far as to kill the other mothers and even the other children, in some cases (Camilla's) using their children as the assassins. Garon had a lot more than four children- Xander, Camilla, Leo, and Elise are just the four that *survived*. Given the fact he genuinely loved his children and seeing how they were all killing each other just to have the mothers become the next queen, his heart was poisoned and ended up being susceptible to possession by Anaktos. His free will, his love for his children, everything that he was ended up subsumed by a power he couldn't fight against, his very soul was in effect destroyed. Like Nergal from FE7 though, most people don't know that because they can't/don't read and therefore don't put in any footwork towards uncovering the backstories behind the "zomg so evul villain, wow, make them compelling maybe, like our cute pwecious uwu female student who works with kidnappers and murderers and transforms human beings into soulless beasts of war to fight for her uwu" (No I don't like Edelgard and I especially hate her fans, how could you tell?)
@@om3ga109 "you have to dig a bit" followed by a kurt dismissal of a characters (the hero of the story no less) entire arc. You are correct in your self assessment at least. Maybe mortally complex story's are a bit much for you. Back to peppa pig mate.
What sucks about them not making a unified route at any point even after the original production is the fact that they made a mutual enemy for everyone by creating “those who slither in the dark” Even though you all know who’s who did get help from them
That’s the whole point of the game though. There is no “Golden Route” in a war. They spend a good deal of the game saying that “War has no winners” as well. Having a “Good ending” defeats the main point of the game
@@jasendrileck2322 yes, I understand, it’s just to the people who believe that one or two routes are “bad endings” instead of choose your canonical route And to my comment I think it’s funny in a way that they made a “unanimous” enemy with ‘Those Who Slither In The Dark’ but they are such a “behind the scenes” group the war blinds everyone from working together in ANY way against them like how in the BE route they only deal with that group in the epilogue where you can’t take control of the fight or even experience how it plays out. The only way there could conceivably be a way for a “Golden Route” would be something like after completing all routes the ‘4 Byleths’ could maybe do a divine pulse that links them together to go back to the very beginning of the game retaining all of their combined experiences to prevent the war from breaking out to begin with because they will be fully aware of how events could play out depending on who they side with. But anyway I just got that idea but that would be a MASSIVE project that no one would that would take who knows how much time and effort that would take and either way that still goes against what Three Houses even is just like you said
The events in Cindered shadows taking place before Byleth shows up in the main story makes a lot of sense. It would also explain why Jeralt isn't around. Would have been less confusing if they explained that in game somehow.
the Japanese name for the game I think references the 4 routes, which means byleth isn't the one being mentioned, instead rhea is. I say that as fuukazetsugetsu 風花雪月wind flower snow moon all reference one route of fe3h. Wind is referencing verdant wind, which is claude's route. Flower is referencing crimson flower, which is edelgard's. Snow is referencing silver snow, which is rhea's route. Moon references azure moon, which is Dimitri's. The title card references the four major players (Claude, Dimitri, Edelgard, Rgea) of the story and their own storylines. Byleth isn't mentioned as he is the player insert, and even though his influence in the story is very high those four players' reactions to Byleth is the thing that makes the story. fe3h is a tragedy as we are able to see all four characters' perspectives, and the knowledge that we have from the perspective of the player through byleth especially highlights this (no golden route = best choice).
I've always thought that Radiant Historia would be a good model to follow to further explore the branching routes thing. Wherein Byleth is actively going between different timelines and trying to use the knowledge from both/all those routes.
FE3H was the reason why I bought a Nintendo Switch in 2019, Istg it's the very first in 23 years that I was absorbed into a game and I spent one and a half month only thinking and playing and listening to this game
I really wish they would return to this game and finish whatever content they had planned, i don't care if i have to pay for it. The game itself is still amazing but it could have been so much more.
I understand it's better the way they made of not having a "golden route" but i would buy a dlc paralogue that makes you have a version of each lord of when their respective routes have been finished so i cold see each one of their supports it would be nice
I think the "different" routes were much too similar. It felt like we were replaying the same game over and over, instead of playing different paths. It should be more like the 3 scenarios of Shining Force 3. Different people going to completely different places for completely different reasons, which all interconnect into an overall narrative. I didn't get that with 3 houses. It was more like minor story tweaks to the same exact events.
3H may have had better writing than Fates, but I much prefer Fates as a game because every single route was actually almost completely different in both story and maps, while 3H recycles much of both. It took me a month or two to beat every Fates route for the first time while it took me over a year to beat every 3H route. It wouldn't have taken me as long if I knew I was in for something completely different every time, but that was unfortunately not the case.
In fairness, thats kind of the point...to an extent. By you choosing a side, you WILL alter what is ultimately the same general storyline. Thats how alternate routes work, and as Crimson said, Fates kinda did that better in a hilarious way.
@@ramenbomberdeluxe4958 I disagree that that's the point. Look up Shining Force 3. You don't just have a slightly altered story; you have different events in different places that are happening alongside the other events. All events take place, no matter which side you're on; you're just witnessing certain events depending on which side you're on.
The game is more like 2.5 routes instead of 4 since golden deer is nearly the same as blue lions. Not to mention the whole first half lf the game is identical
You meant Silver Snow, instead of Azure Moon? Literally the only chapters that are completely different between Claude's route and the Church route are the Gronder Field Battle chapter, and the final boss chapter. Wish they put a little bit more effort for my man Claude (as much as I love the ending to Verdant Wind)
@@AkameGaKillfan777 What she wants is equality, but the system of government she sets up is doomed to fail as it is just unachievable for humans to keep for long. It will fall after her passing, and in its place will either being an absolute monarchy or a dictatorship. Communism it definitely will not be though.
@@MNtoCali That's not it at all but you are free to think of it as you like. Just how I am free to think of Edelgard's route and actions as completely pointless and not worth what she does (minus getting rid of the Slithers) because her idealistic government plan is doomed to failure.
This game's lore was actually really good. Sadly most of it is only referenced once or in optional text and supports. If only they had used a proper engine...
To describe the two routes, Crimson Flower and Azure Moon, as "Military rule" vs "True Righteousness/Righteous Government" just makes me like Azure Moon even more. While I like Meritocracy, I don't like appointed Meritocracy. The reliance on righteous beings (which I personally only consider one such being) calls to me a bit more. Though, I care little about the "government" part to describe Azure Moon, as I like Theocracy, and I consider any government seen over by humans as not being righteous and can never truly be; you can get close, but it'll always have flaws.
I kind of reacted similarly to be honest. The idea of a meritocracy sounds nice on paper but it is way to idealistic to think humans can ever achieve it for more then one generation if that. Edelgard's version of meritocracy is even worse imp because she removed all checks on the leader's power. Nobody is stopping her next appointed emperor/ress from getting stabbed in the throat and then replaced. Assuming the massive amount of power and influence doesn't naturally corrupt them. Azure Moon's ending opens up the path for a representative government which more closely follows my ideals. It is best when multiple people are taking part in the government and making decisions. Some will become corrupt obviously, but it isn't as quick of a descent then it could otherwise be if only one person had power. Humans just aren't perfect beings and we are fine like that. We just always need to keep these flaws in mind and do our best.
@@YingofDarkness Yeah, the problem with Edelgard's system is that all it'll take is one Emperor with bad intentions to send everything down the shit hole. There will be nothing to stop them nor anything to stop them from choosing another corrupt individual to succeed them. Dimitri's system isn't perfect either, but it at least keeps the power more spread out.
@@YingofDarkness Not to mention that Claude is still alive in AM and likely left to take up his throne in Almyra. So peace talks between Almyra and Fodlan are quite likely to happen after AM as Dimitri and Claude parted ways on good terms.
@@33link333 Now that is a little more debatable. In the sense of whether Claude inherits the throne in Azure Moon. In Verdant Wind, it's stated that he uses his success in the war as a claim to Almyra's throne. He doesn't have that in Azure Moon, which leaves it up in the air. He certainly does return to Almyra, but whether he gets the throne in AM is another story.
@@MrSentinel07 I actually have a theory that Claude has either multiple siblings or multiple cousins who are all vying for the throne (which is why he felt he has to prove himself to begin with), and that in AM he does not prove himself capable enough to take it. However, I don't think Claude would ever be okay being pushed to the side and so will still try and get a high government position. When news of Dimitri's victory and unification of Fodlan reach Almyra he will probably make his case for being able to open diplomatic relations between the two nations, and use that to try and gain both political favor and a higher position. Of course this is all one big gamble, as Dimitri can just as easily screw things up for him but we will all know Dimitri will at least hear Claude out. I also doubt he would be against opening up diplomatic relations between the two so Claude will get what he wants, and use that to kick start a political career in international politics. Which would only grant him more and more power in the long run.
I played through twice as I didn’t care for Claude. Now I’m going to play it again for all the new content. I always force a couple years before replaying something as I want the same magic so to speak hit me through the story
They did my boi Claude wrong but it’s not like it wasn’t expected either. CF ending was abrupt and I’m disappointed that SS was just a carbon copy of VW and viceversa. I was really hoping the dlc would expand on Claude’s side of things as well as others, but it didn’t.
If there is anything I want from FE17 its that I want a protagonist that isn't a blank slate but is done incredibly well like Shulk from XC. Plus whyyy more map options and different battle objectives as well as proper exploration.
Probably has to do with how each route is basically their own propaganda for that house. When choosing CF, the player gets to see the most sympathetic and endearing side of Edelgard while none of her ideologies are questioned or opposed. It makes sense for the player to fall in love with their route’s lord when they’re shown in the best light, pretty sure that’s what IS was intending at least.
@@oddcupcakegaming8924 Probably done in response to how Fates was received to an extent. Not a lot of people liked how Nohr was clearly the nation in the wrong during Conquest. Crimson Flower is basically TH's version of Conquest, except it's written to make Edelgard and the Empire more sympathetic to the player.
@@MrSentinel07 I know the Nohrians were the ones definitely in the wrong but honestly, that just made me want to play their route more. The whole medieval darkness aesthetic mixed with the siblings’ designs just really sold me into playing Conquest over Birthright.
I like her BECAUSE CF is the way it is. It's a villain route that isn't actually a villain route, and I'm glad we got to play as the revolutionist character who got her hands dirty without them being demonized or depicted as wrong in their own story line. If CF didn't have a happy ending or, if it portrayed Edelgard as a villain protagonist rather than an anti hero, it would have ruined the routes concept for me.
Thanks for the detailed video. Great work, both from you and the various developing teams behind FE: Three Houses. Looking forward to more! Also, here's to improving your odds with the almighty Algorithm :)
I thought it was super weird how the Ashen Wolves story was disconnected from the main story, especially with cardinal appearing in the main game in the cemetary in white clouds. I find it hard to believe that it happened before you arrive as they say. Honestly I can't make sense of it all as actually being a thing that happens in the same story, there are too many contradictions.
I always felt the game was originally the blue route. In Part 1, every single story beat involves a blue student, and the route is most similar to a traditional Fire Emblem storyline.
I still think IS could add an additional part of the story, as it still feels a little incomplete. The way Byleth works in the narrative is perfect for a "Planescape: Torment" -ish route, in which they talk their way out of a conflict with the two houses the player chose to oppose but no peace or "happy ending" occurs. Three Houses also has many other similarities to other older games that I can point out, but it would take a long time.
If you want a route that focuses on the main lord specifically then Azure Moon and if you want a route where you want the most lore about the story then Verdant Wind
What the guy above me said, playing both SS + VW pretty much gives you the full lore of the world, which is why it sucks that the two routes are so similar, it makes CF seem better to play despite that route giving some misinformation
@@willsword8100 It really depends on what you want you want original maps crimson flower, a story that is very focused on the war and Dimitri's character Azure Moon, If you want Lore and Hilda then Verdant Wind. I enjoy all the routes and it really depends what you want from the game even though part 1 for all the houses are the same
i have like 570 or more hours atp in Fe3H 😭 y replayed it so many times 2019-2022 and got sick of it until a month ago, replaying it again and it feels so refreshing and really gorgeous, the charm of this game is definitely the characters
I know Three Houses sold like gangbusters, and I don’t begrudge anyone who loved it, but I just hope the next entry goes a more “classic” route. And for the love of God, NO AVATAR CHARACTER. Just focus on real characters.
Why no avatar character? The more 'classic' FE game (the one on Gameboy, I believe) also had avatar character. Granted, it was a green unit, but it was there nonetheless.
@@Esiaa Only one GBA game had an avatar and they could be opted out of. Generally a lot of fans don't like them because avatars rarely add anything to the story (and can arguably make it worse).
Would hidden weapons like daggers and knives made an impact or not? I’m just at a loss of what more could’ve been added because there’s a lot of good stuff already and I’m left wanting more. Maybe if they really wanted to, Koetechmo and IS can make another Warriors game like how we got Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity except we explore the five year war during Byleth’s slumber.
I have actually not done The black eagle house or the secret fourth choice the church yet. I finished the blue lions and golden eagles and loved them both. I am planning on playing the other two tho. Oh I didn’t get the dlc as well. It’s a huge game hehe.
Never was a fan of routes. I want a complete story in one go. Too much is left out on each route and the beginning part 1 is so fucking repetitive. It was a huge slog. Would rather they go back to the radiant dawn style were you play as multiple independent groups in the same playthrough. Imo the most fun part, gameplay wise, was the dlc as it cut down on the monastery type part in size and had a great difficulty.
I would also add the function to start at the point where the routes start to differ. I would also like the Radiant Dawn Style as alternative to the routes, I liked it in Echoes. However, I do think that the routes play a huge factor in replayability and they are well suited to expand each characters stories as that would make one single route with multiple parties too long (for some, I mean for me, I would have no problem with 50 chapters) but you get what I mean. Especially Fates and especially Relevation which tried to deepen the characters had a huge problem with throwing things and facts in your face but not extending and building upon it at all due to too much content (2 novel-length books) spread on too few chapters. Imagine how it would end up with no routes at all.
@@nick3805 i cant see that start at where part 2 begins working since you pick a new house and all of the dialogue changes throughout part 1 plus they'd have to auto level characters in specific classes which would greatly limit the amount of time to make your students whatever you want
@@starkillahx True, but don't they do the same anyways if you recruit characters from other houses? Or you could make it that way that there is a menu where you can give them the classes you like, and they'll level accordingly? Also, dialogue changes are an aspect, but I would argue that epecially when you replay the routes you might not even want to see them and to be honest, my impression is that they are more often the same then not, often the wording used is just different to express the same thing. Mostly key scenes offer different dialogues (such as DImitri's Talk with Byleth about crests, or Claude's about discrimination) but in the form the game was released I wouldnt say these are as important as they were supposed to because all routes except the Black Eagle routes lose their focus during their time. Crests, for example, are basicly a topic after time-skip in the Blue Lions route and since Claude is a complex character that was shortened to the extent that him being a foreigner and the concept of acceptance and understanding I also would argue that his speach also isn't as important.
As someone who appreciated the game in its entirety, I can understand why they avoided a Golden Route, the main problem with this is unlike Fates, where you don't get to really get attached to the characters, you actually appreciate just about everyone in this game, they all are given enough supports to better understand them and the paralouges given to them strengths more their background, or character development. Than again I realized that not everyone would be a fan of having a Golden Route and prefer to chose one route to be their canon route. Either way, this still doesn't change my mind on having more reasons to play Three Houses. Great video as always.
When it results in the kind of blind, ignorant rabid fans we have in the FE3H fandom? I dunno, maybe having a Golden Route would've been a better idea. Not a fan of the option to "choose" a canon route myself, it's caused waaaaaaay too much hate to be thrown around and no one camp is exempt from it.
Honestly I kind of detested this game's cast, sure you got to know everyone but a lot them are are so arrogant, hypocritical, character development happens off screen, etc... I would have enjoyed a route where you kill everyone you please far more than a Golden Route.
@@emberhermin52 that's not very hard for you to do. It's called Silver Snow solo run, you can literally kill off almost everyone in that route and only play as Byleth.
Good video, it's always interesting to see the creative process that goes into making a great game. Except the devs still have yet to answer one vital question: WHY can't Byleth romance Anna? She's playable, you can do activities with her, she has her own paralogue. It's not a dealbreaker, but still. Anna for best wife. :P
The game has a lot of problems, but as someone who never played a Fire Emblem game before Three Houses, and were used to more traditional JRPGs like Persona, the Trails series and Xenoblade Chronicles, Three Houses was just the right combination of traditional and new, making me take the plunge into my first Fire Emblem game! Although, the name Fire Emblem was a real mystery to me at first, as nothing ingame ever gets refered too as a Fire Emblem, with the Crest of Flames being the closest i could find, but it never gets refered to in any larger context... It is explained elsewhere why the game is still called Fire Emblem, but as someone who pretty much hadn't even HEARD of the games before getting a Switch, the name was a big source of confusion until i caved and looked it up... It's not a huge issue, but they really should start trying to expand on the whole Fire Emblem mythos in the next game, to at least explain to new players why the series is called Fire Emblem.
Explaining why the series is called that would be bit hard considering Fire emblem takes many forms that sometimes it's a sword, sometimes a shield etc etc.
@@V-Jes I mean, just explain their relations to ancient dragons and such, not a giant infodump or anything... As i said, Three Houses was my first game in the series, so i just assumed that the dragons in it was just for this game...
@@skynet0912 and that would be hard because every Fire emblem has it's own lore because most games don't take place in the same timeline/world as the other games, with some games not even having a Fire Emblem in it at all.
@@V-Jes True enough... It's just a bit weird when a games title makes next to no sense given the content of the games, and they keep it simply because "that's what they have always been called", regardless of it making sense or not...
@@skynet0912 The crest of flames IS the fire emblem of Fodlan so there is nothing wrong with the title And if you want I can list all the fire emblems of the other games
Back at it again with a development video on Fire Emblem. This time, of Three Houses! If you enjoyed this video, please like! if you like this content and/or have been watching my stuff but you haven't subscribed yet... do it! Subscribe! You won't regret it!!!
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Another great FE3H video! Overall this video help me reflect that even with the flaws/issues I had with FE3H, I still loved the game so much and I had a amazing time playing the story they wanted to create in these multiple routes. This video showcase that TK&IS collaboration not only was it good but it also was genuine and the people that work on 3H gave their all in the project.
I hope that 3H project ends up being the beginning of this wonderful collaboration and that we see them working together in another Main FE game or once again in FEW2. I hope the experience they gained working together in 3H and learning from the criticism fans had about 3H helps them in their future FE project.
As a fan of both Fire Emblem and Samurai Warriors I wished them continue success and wait eagerly excited for their next collaboration. And should they announce it being a FE4 remake I have faith in them and believe they will do it justice.
“The alliance members were meant to always be at each other’s throat”....sounds like Lorenz is the only remnant of that plan
Well even that has caveats. There's lines in the games data which give away that you could fight and kill Lorenz even in VW.
I mean, it's still true of the Alliance itself to some extent, as the paralogues and the bridge mission on most routes tend to try to point out with the recurring Alliance villain noble that doesn't deserve me remembering his name. Pretty much every fight that takes place on that that part of the map is because of some Alliance noble scheming to harm or under support some other noble or trading company.
@@Shalakor yep. I think it's nice that the Golden Deer try to fight the alliance problems by being good themselves and not wanting to create drama over Alliance stuff. It definitely made me like them more.
I feel like it’s a shame that most fe games’ stories get lost in development, and how you mentioned in a previous video that the writing ends up getting rushed or cut down to some extent. :(( I love three houses so much, it’s such a fun and unique game but I really hope that one day intelligent systems will be able to make an entry to the series that really incorporates more of the risky ideas that they want to incorporate without feeling the need to dial it down or rush it (I’m mostly intrigued by the Leicester Alliance’s development, verdant wind has always very obviously seemed kind of empty to some extent but there are so many hints of a “shadier” Claude littered throughout the first half that never get explored, and I think it would have been really cool to see a Golden Deer class with more violent history with eachother
Basically I hope that the next entry will be given more time for development, as nice as the new installment every 4 years or so system is I just hope that the next one will be able to have a more grounded and consistent story that befits the intentions of the writers!
I think the problem isn't only the time for development, but also the medium. A story for video-game must limit itself, even more with a narration like Fire Emblem (chapter/battle by chapter/battle, heavly focus on the hero, etc...).
I wish they will do trans-media things a day...
@@evanpereira3555 that’s a really good point, I agree!
@@evanpereira3555 the problem isn't that video games are bad for story telling. Look at games like Dragon Age Origins. The problem is that these are character driven stories with perma-death. Now don't get me wrong I like perma-death in FE games. It's part of what makes them Fire Emblem games. However there is no denying that the fact that at any given point almost anyone in the cast could be dead does limit storytelling options. That's why the games with multiple game over characters tend to have better, or at the very least more ambitious, stories. That's also why there are usually 1 or 2 characters in every game who are immune to death. When their HP hits 0 they become grievously wounded and retreat and from then on they're no longer deployable but they still show up in cutscenes.
@@sr71silver @sr71silver I didn't say "video games are bad for story telling" but video game have story made for its media, which is logic, it's like you don't write a film (straight 2h) like a serie (lot of "short" episode), and that Fire Emblem have a very rigid storytelling.
Actually I didn't even think about permadeath since even when it could be a problem, we can better integrate it. Different line for consistency, and make the "immortal" character (which never bother me) disable.
But mainly, this is why I want more cross-media FE, which can get rid of this problem and kill nearly any character and build the story around this (I like permadeath in FE, so if we get like... an anime one day, I also want permadeath in).
Ghast has been spoiling us lately
John am watching your old persona 5 series
oh my gahd it's jimmyamazing
@@bunni2583 That's gotta be the best knockoff name I've seen in a while
Yeah, really wish he warned me ahead of time about Avengers Endgame.
So have you, with that sweet SMT V content.
What happened? Well, it's quite obvious what happened, the game once again pushed Fire Emblem into the spotlight and introduced another generation of fans to it. Unfortunately, I think the game's experimental nature will give many newer fans whiplash when trying any older games (and I do include the 3ds games, as they are older, just not "THE older" games), or if any new games follow the older, more traditional formulas. Its one of the most different games in the franchise, so what it did was gather new fans, but at a weird spot, mechanically speaking.
Yep and this was my first FE game and I loved it
This game reinventing the formula again is a double edged sword. It definitely keeps things interesting but I gotta wonder how many times they'll do it before settling on something. Even fates which is critiqued for being awakening 2 still did things like add a multiple story paths and change the properties of several weapons as trade offs for them being unbreakable.
Well as a new fire emblem fan the first game i played was three houses. i liked it so much i played sacred stones afterwards and i’m currently playing echoes right now! no whiplash here, just love and enjoyment. though i can’t speak for all newer fans.
It’s an interesting question to explore. How far can they deviate from the origins of FE and still call it the same series? At the moment it feels like three or four distinct series stapled together for the sake of pedigree, but with little binding them together. And as you say, the further they stray, the more they reinvent the series, the less that pedigree means - both for incoming and existing fans. Would you give a person who started with 3H a copy of Sacred Stones, and expect them to enjoy it? What about a Fates fan with PoR? Some may well, as above - but I wouldn’t expect that to be the case for most people - and the gulf will only widen if they don’t nail down what modern FE is.
@@wotintarnation7990 Of course, if it turns out the fans who started with 3H ARENT getting all that whiplashed by it, then that's a good thing! Glad you're having fun!
So interesting the school was inspired by Sigurd Quan and Eldigan. A shame the inciting incident for the split happened before the timeskip rather than after like in fe4. Definitely would've appreciated a "let's meet up for wine, Edelgard" but oh well.
Koei Tecmo: "Okay, so we have 3 game series based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and one that is literally just called that. What should we base this game on that we're collaborating with Intelligent Systems to make?"
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms probably"
"Yeah, it just seems right"
Have fun figuring out which FE kingdom is which then lmao
You'll be there forever trying to figure it out. Leicester is kind of like a vague Yuan Shao if you want my opinion. Yuan Shao would have certainly become one of the three kingdoms if he hadn't lost to Cao Cao.
@@ramenbomberdeluxe4958 Well ACKSHUALLY
The "three kingdoms" resemblance more or less only stretches to the fact that they are three kingdoms at war. That's it - by nature, each kingdom aren't very similar to the three in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms". Of course, if you really were to put them that way, it isn't that difficult.
- Adrestia (Wei): Arguably the strongest in military strength, values military expansion, and is secretly controlled by people in the dark (the Sima clan).
- Faerghus (Shu): Their ruler (Dimitri | Liu Bei) looks to be the wisest in the start, but eventually goes a little batshit crazy after certain events (Edelgard's reveal | the brothers' deaths).
- Leicester (Wu): The chill dudes who represent the 'third' side the most, not aggressive but not passive; just there, balancing the other two out.
Well, let's see. Alois randomized into himself twice, Nemesis randomized into Mercedes TWICE, and Dimitri took his quest to KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM so far that he randomized into Nemesis.
Gotta say, I’m so glad that there are tons of save slots. One of my favorite features by far
I hope the FE team took some lessons on writing multi-route stories. Dimitri's was by far the best while Edelgard and Claude was oozing with potential but fell short on the execution. Definitely, would have loved to see more of Claude's amorality
Yes
And like 3 more chapters for edelgard
@@danielcanto9920 At least one extra chapter where she tackles the Slithers. Let me give her gauntlets and punch Thales in the face repeatedly.
But I also think that the Kingdom route had more potential. You have the DImitri speech about crests early in the game and the music and all makes it seem like a key scene just for it to be not touched upon at all ever again. You could have done something there too.
@@YingofDarkness oh, I really despised how we hear Edelgard's plan for TWSD on a Hubert's support conversation. They were definitely guilty of displaying key moments such as Dimtri dying to the Empire on Claude's route as exposition points
The original concept for Claude was so much better than what we ultimately got in the final product.
The multiple routes were pretty cool, I liked how you got to see different sides of the story
I really like games with branching routes/timelines
If only all the routes were equal in quality.
I would disagree. I would take one long, decently written story with one protagonist and a proper, satisfying ending over four out of which only one really manages to tackle all plot threads.
@@matmil5 sometime i just don't know If it was "one path" than it will maybe not tackle all plot threads way more... ( also "satisfying ending" just seen bore to some)
@@aydengarcia9073 Ideally we could choose two paths, but no more then that. IS needs to starts focusing on finishing ONE story and doing everything they want with it before thinking about adding in branching paths. Best case scenario we get something like the Trails game where every different set of games takes place in a different country all dealing with the same war (kind of)
Feels weird how the dlc support just abruptly stopped when the 3DS games got quite a few waves of content. Then again 3H is a far bigger game than the 3DS fe games were.
The DLC was always 4 Waves, but they were so baffling that it feels like it was only 1. The first Wave was an alternative outfit for Byleth, Released at Launch. Second was Altenative Uniforms for all characters and Extra Auxilary Battles along with Extra Sidequest, which was not much. Third wave was the Maid/Butler outfits, Anna and her Paraolouge. Anna is oneof the most dissapointing characters in the game and her Paralouge is just extra gold. A Decent amount but Not worth 20 Bucks. Then finally, the main meat of the game, and many think that Ashen Wolves was Lackluster.
Overall, The DLC was very weak and only considerable 20 bucks if you want the ashen wolves characters and classes. Could have been miles better but I'm guessing they want to focus on FE17 or some other projects down the line.
I think it's frankly a good thing. The game didn't change much after a year, and there wasn't as much pay-to-win as there was in the 3DS games.
In terms of playtime to experience all routes 3H is the biggest game in the series, in terms of actual content Fates is overall bigger because most of that content in 3H is recycled content that you will literally have to play part 1 3-4 times to experience all the routes with very little changes outside of what students reacts to the story, while part 1 is also over half the game regardless of what route you chose...
@@ChillstoneBlakeBlast I loved the cindered shadows campaign personally, but even with that said I agree the dlc was not worth the price.
@@ChillstoneBlakeBlast If the maid/butler outfits were actually a new class added it would alone add tons of value. Then again those classes would feel wrong without daggers/shurikens so ehhhh
I bought this game thinking, "I don't care for strategy games and I didn't get into previous Fire Emblems, but I kinda want to check this out. It'll probably give me at least some entertainment."
It's now my fourth most-played game on the Switch (after MK8 Deluxe, Smash Ultimate, and Super Mario Odyssey), with over 120 hours total. I finished all four routes and the Cindered Shadows DLC (not to 100% completion, because I have better things to do with my free time), and have heard all four of Anna's lines probably ten thousand times.
It literally took me like 3x longer to beat all 4 routes omg
@@rhettmitchell Yeah I'm a terrible gamer. I have spent more hours than OP and I still haven't beaten two of those routes (Ashen Wolves and Blue Lions)
That’s tight man
Hearing how the developers were heavily inspired by FE4 I can’t help but think that an fe4 remake is inevitable at this point. It’s just a matter of time
I hope so. I'd love to be able to play FE4 without a need for an emulator and English patch.
@@777Roxen Same.
I like that they made Crimson Flower easier to trigger, I did it by accident on my first playthrough and didn’t realise there was another route until my 4th playthrough
9:05
Oh my god the Devs intended for the debates about Edelgard to happen.
I honestly think this is what 3H did so well compare to Fates. The side you're on always feel like the right path.
@@archwing3441 Unfortunately this has led to some fans being absolute pricks and claiming that if you support x person, you’re a bad person and have dammed Fodlan for supporting them. FE fans were clamoring for deep gray characters and once they got it they turned it into a shitshow to discuss.
Everybody is supposed to be right for different reasons. Literally every ending is depicted as a happy one that steers Fodlan in a different direction.
@@heavydonkeykong5190 Yeah that’s what I always say, but some people just don’t like others enjoying a different route from theirs. Some people say CF will cause the collapse of Fodlan due to Meritocracy. Some say AM will cause another war to spring up since society is reliant on nobles and the King being a good person, which the story has shown not to always work out well. Some say SS and VW will only go wrong since Byleth is left in charge and they have 0 experience in ruling a nation.
All in all it doesn’t matter because the developers made it so that in every route, Fodlan and its people are in a better place. Only people still hung up on it are just trying to ruin the fun for everyone else.
@@Mister100Percent I do understand preferring one outcome over others (I have my own preferences) but demonizing any of the endings requires headcanon, a good deal of which is disproved by the game itself.
It's pretty clear, that there were some corners cut, CF clearly was supposed to get at least one more cutscene (that Chapter 12 event is the last one in the list of events), and I doubt, VW was supposed to be as much of a copy of SS as it turned out. I don't necessarily fault Koei Tecmo for this and more the deadlines. On thing, that I do fault them for though, is the SS abyss lines being copied from VW and not even aligned correctly after Gronder, I mean seriously, at least let the NPC talk about, what Claude would do if he were here in the present and not in the past.
Yeah, I would like to know where the writers wanted to go with the route if there was time, the layout of the level, also I would have loved if the month cutscenes were available to be rewatched
It's already like that in the vanilla game, with some SS characters acting like Judith is still with them and Flayn acting as though they personally fought on Gronder. Based on data mining, it seems like the early sections of SS, VW, and AM were made at the same time, with the later parts of AM being done later. They probably re-used character objects and whenever lines were changed for one, it affected the other.
Though to be honest, I get the feeling they just gave up on SS since there's a scrapped Gronder Chapter in the game's data and some of the route feels unpolished. And I don't just mean the story, there's several weird moments in cutscenes--particularly unfitting music choices--that I'm sure they would have corrected if they bothered reviewing their rough draft of SS.
@@q-tip9962 If it helps, all the data surrounding Crimson Flower (mostly monastery exploration & quest data) points out it's short lenght was set up in advance and on purpose.
@@moltz4866 hmmm, really though? I thought developers talked about wanting to make CF longer
@@rhettmitchell Nah. They said the complete opposite, actually: 13:38
So basically Edelgard is Cao Cao. Dimitri is Lui Bei. Claude is Sun (pick a Sun, they keep dying often).
Well. That would explain why I don't care nearly as much for Dimitri, Claude (Sun Ce) or Rhea (Sima Zhao). Liu Bei was far too idealistic over reason, the Sun family spent nearly all of the Three Kingdoms fighting each other and turtling. And Jin were a bunch of traitorous turncoats who lead China into the foundations of the mess it's been SINCE the Three Kingdoms. I've said before and I'll keep saying it till I'm stage lefted: "Cao Cao and Cao Pi should have won."
Yea they chickened out with Claude who was supposed to be a twist on the treacherous duke archetype to compliment the emperor and mad king types. Should've backstabbed Byleth in act II which would be a catalyst for character development. Instead we got good hearted but bland intelligence asset that has unlimited access to his homeland's treasury - just like intelligence agencies in real life.
Claude: We will attack on the same day every month. I am a tactical genius.
@@archwing3441 Claude, the tactical genius who asks Dimitri for help (despite Dimitri trying to kill him two months ago) when he could've just called in the Almyrans like in CF.
I'm really enjoying these deep dives into Three Houses' background and every week I can't wait to see what you do next! The new insights are making an already great game even better.
I think it's funny that some people want to point at 3 Houses' Story or the Graphics and use those things as justification for calling the game awful or terrible (because there are people like that). People want to pretend that if there are any flaws or things lacking in a game at all, that is an indictment on the game as a whole. Bottom line, 3 Houses is an amazing game and earned all the praise and accolades it received. Were their elements within the game that could potentially have been better or fleshed out more? Certainly. But should we necessarily hold these perceived flaws as more important than what went right during development; I would argue no, absolutely not.
At the end of the day, while I think Three Houses is a great game, I don't think it's a good Fire Emblem game.
Not necessarily due to the rushed development or plot holes, but due to choices regarding gameplay and mechanics such as:
-the open promotion system
-wide open maps that aren't built around any challenge or obstacle and are designed to be used more than once
-the fact that there's only 10 unique maps that you only see once while the remaining 88% of the maps are constantly reused
-the fact that gambits and combat arts are kinda nebulous and unnecessary when gauntlets exist
-Letting any class use any weapon class and the removal of the weapon triangle erases the point of multiple weapon types even existing
-Lack of difficulty even on maddening since enemies only have higher stats and not skills that would make them a genuine threat
Things like that bring the game down for me. I still think it's a great game and it has absolutely excellent writing, but it doesn't have any of the bite that I look for in a Fire Emblem game.
Agreed. Three Houses has flaws (like all games do) but it excels in spite on those flaws and lays some good groundwork for Intelligent Systems to hopefully build upon and improve for later games.
@@GreekDudeYiannis What's wrong with the promotion system? Last time I checked Gauntlets don't hit multiple enemies at once, break monster barriers in one hit(Dragon Claws don't count) or give you special effects like counterattack or blessing. Combat Arts only do one of those things, and for the most part are the complete opposite of Brave attacks.
Dude, if your story and graphics aren't there, that's two pillars of your game already gone. And with gameplay that hasn't really changed much over its entire 25+ year lifespan?
Like, look yeah, they're not the absolute end-all-be-all for games, but if it's unfair to have two of your pillars of game design drag down the entire game as a whole, then I think it's also unfair to pretend like Fire Emblem should get a pass because it's only competing against itself.
@@elliotflores723 Their comment still stands, without the "pillars" you made up.
Yo man you work fast!
Anyways, it's wild to think 2019 was the final date they set themselves up for the game. Guess that explains why delaying the game for a third time in a row wasn't an option.
YOU work fast !!!
10:15 and yet, people still love to claim that one route is the 'correct' one and that another is the 'incorrect' or even 'bad' one. Go figure.
Honestly your right but oh well My fav is the blue lions but the others are important too too me no route is the wrong path yeah we may have are favs or disliked but at the end of the day its all important ^~^
I'd like to hear a canon route for future games to be based on in the same universe, but I digress.
I mean... Causing a war is objectively bad.
@@matmil5 I'm not saying it's not, but acting like all of the people who enjoy that route are bad and pro-war is a stupid ass thing to say. It's a game for crying out loud.
Edit: I realized after writing this that some people are mainly against Edelgard. I respect this opinion, but I don't agree with it, because it's a game. And as a character in a game, we can appreciate them even if they start said war. Because the writers included a convincing and interesting (to some, not all) reason for her to start said war.
@@Robin-234 I mean. It is the objectively shortest and most misable, cut corner route so... There is an argument to be had here.
While people cannot really be criticised because it is their game that they paid for, characters should be criticised and shouldn't be dismissed as just wanting to do good.
The calendar paintings reminded me of the "Labours of the Months" collection for the Tres Riches Heures, specifically. (Took an art history class a year before 3H came out and went "OH! Neat!")
I really like all the development and insight videos. I would be very interested to see a character or story video where you talk about what changes you would make or would like to have seen more of for the characters and story.
"No one person can claim to truly understand what was going on in the game"
Guess that's why we need guys like Ghast lol.
Spill the tea sis
At 12:28, I initially thought you said "Dmitri having an iPad" . . . that would be a pretty advanced kingdom!
Rhea banned iPads
LOL!
Dimitri making use of that Agarthan technology.
No One:
Ghast at the start of the video: This channel is on a fucking RAMPAGE.
I want them to add more stuff to this. I really enjoyed this game but it definitely had its issues. Not really having anything to do in the monastery in part 2 was a big problem
Yeah, it was kinda there as just the hub. Like, location wise, I sorta get what they were doing. But it is just a place anyone could potentially guess as a "Yeah, our opponents are there. The place is already kinda beat up."
Would have liked to be able to invest into it's repairs to potentially act as a sanctuary for those negatively affected by the war, I think it would work thematically.
I'm kinda baffled that Crimson Flower used to be HARDER to get.
The interviews never directly touch on why, but I have this massive hunch they intended to trick as many players as possible into doing Silver Snow first.
@@moltz4866 I liked that, I have never felt more betrayed when I found out edelgard would be the villain, especially because she was my MVP.
I agree. Or, at the very least, I get the impression that Crimson Flower is the "you weren't supposed to do that" option. I imagine originally, should you teach the Black Eagles, the game has a "teacher deals with traitorous student" plot that became Silver Snow. Contrast with the standard "beat the wicked empire" of Azure Moon and the "spanner in the works" in Verdant Wind.
@@emilygillock3803 for me, edelgards path feels like a “play as the villain path”, a bonus path. Partly due to its length in comparison to the others.
@@moltz4866 The interview gives an explanation as to why actually. The Empire and Edelgard were created as the antagonists of the story and were actually going to be a bigger hindrance to Byleth during WC. So the reveal of Edelgard's betrayal would have hit harder as she'd have been directly responsible for the tragedies in WC. Knowing that Byleth would have been against her as they would never agree to side with someone who actively causes misery to Fodlan. Furthermore the story was created with SS in mind the idea of joining Edelgard came later.
Khalid means immortal by the way :)
In which language?
@@Fermin-hw5pd Arabic :)
Thats so clever...til you have the option to kill him >:)
@@justinianthe1st790 You are a sick and twisted man and I like it. 👍
• Blue lions having a split route
• Rhea having battle lines/growth attributes was probably intended to be playable but cut
• CF being only 18 chapters
• The cutscenes are unbalanced more was planned but cut
So many things I could name. 3H needed another 3months but Nintendo wasn’t going to give IS anymore time. I always thought the game feels a bit unfinished.
I'm just disappointed their wasn't a path where Dimitri and Claude could team up
I'm more dissapointed about their not being a edelgard and claude team up, their goals are so similar heck claude even admits he might've started a war if edelgard didn't, what's even the point of sparing him in CF when it affects nothing at least give us failnought
I mean . . . Azure Moon does exist to give us the bread crumb version at least.
I also don't think Edelgard and Claude would ever work together. Neither are trusting enough and Fodlan's not big enough for anyone but Edwlgard's ideas according to her.
@@toriwork8891 yeah thats their big problem, there was one scene in golden deer part 1 where they had the perfect opportunity to at least start to work together but trust issues got in the way
I can't see Edelgard and Dimitri teaming up since their goals are opposites, but I could see potential situations where Claude can team up with either of them since his goals can coexist with theirs.
We almost got that with both CF and AM, but Claude never returns in CF even if you spare him, and AM... kind of botches Claude in my opinion.
I am a fan of silver endings.. funny enough in the interview it was stated Claude surviving all Routes is canon. Lol
wait... so if the whole ashen wolves thing happens before Byleth comes around then how does Aelfric appear in the main quest asking you to get flowers for your mother's grave? is he a ghost?
I believe Cindered Shadows is considered "non-canon" in relation to the events of the game. The lore it provides is canon, but the events aren't canon to the main story, sort of like an alt timeline.
One NPC from abyss in the early game mentions Aelfric was kicked out of the church due to a "scandal", which implies that in the game's main universe, his plan didn't get far enough before Rhea and the church stepped in.
@@FlyingWalrus ... but don't they join you above ground after the story??? Thereofre it would be canon
@@therealsamtheman The characters are canon, but what happens in the side story isn't. Additionally, despite joining you, none of them have any clue who you are.
@@FlyingWalrus Cindered Shadows is just another timeline.. It is canon
I still get the feeling some stories ended up... let's say "controversial", because the developers wound up liking Edelgard and especially Claude more than originally intended. I think some of those issues could've been fixed by leaning into that more.
On SS, given Lorenz defects to the Empire anyway, it could've an earlier collapse of the Alliance. From there, it could've had Claude hiring out the Alliance and Almyrans as mercenaries, and could've addressed his real name there, showing him to be shadier if you don't get to know him, but wiser if you do. Plus it would've added to the idea outright stated by Seteth, that Edelgard isn't just ruling by force.
On CF, sparing Claude could've been the default, and with Alliance reinforcements, you could've actually brought the fight to TWSITD. Plus on All non-AM routes, Edelgard and Hubert are willing to work with Claude and or Lorenz's factions.
On VW, they could've actually had Claude address his heritage as what helps him bring people together, with Byleth being the deciding factor of showing he doesn't have to hide his background.
To be honest, my main issue with the game is that the Golden Deer Route ended up losing its focus in my opinion. In the end, it ended up as "Revelation" as it is the only route that truly ends the fighting, both in Adrestia's and Fearghus' ending reveal that after the game there will still be fighting.
Nah, see the Claude/Byleth ending, where it shows that there's still fighting. Plus, other endings in VW has an indication that the Imperial army remnants still fight.
CF just confirms that the Agarthans are fought, and Jeritza/Byleth ending confirms their total destruction.
@@0axis771 I nevr paired them together, so I won't know. But my point remains: In my opinion, the focus of anti-discrimination and equality was lostin the story. What is the Golden Deer route? The Blue Lions route is the "Emotional Route", Black Eagles is the "Evil Route" in a way. With Claude's main aspect, being a strategist and dirtly player basicly cut out of the game (except for a few events that don't influence the game at all, especially in the War Phase, as seen by the similarity to the Blue Lions route) and it being the only route with one of the Lord characters and the only one where you fight Nemesis, it can be seen as the "Perfect Path" as no conflict of moral occurs (no war with countless deaths or a better world? Helping Dimitri who kills like there's no tomorrow? Fighting alongside Rhea or Edelgard when Edelgard betrays the church?) And it is the only path where the True Enemies (TWSITD and Nemesis) are defeated during the game. To even add to it, the fact that you also fight Edelgard as End-Boss in the BL-route, but you also fight her in the C-route and the GD-route, but not as final boss, makes it even worse. But while Rhea as final boss as plot twist in C-route creates at least some kind of conflict, Nemesis can be clearly identified as bad and evil.
@@nick3805 Themes weren't handled as well as they had hoped. And nah, Edelgard route is anything but evil.
But yeah, VW is more the "lore" route if anything.
@@nick3805 I still don't see Nemesis as the " True Ememies" in 3 more path he just dead.
@@0axis771 actually according to the developers, Edelgard’s route is supposed to be the antagonistic route and there’s nothing wrong with that
7:17 The Part 1 Paintings and narration is one of my favorite aspects of the game.
Also, hot take, but I do not find Edelgard compelling as a character. I can see how they tried and why some would, but even in her own route she is the villain (I compare it to Fates: Conquest, because while Garon is clearly the villain - not the true villain but certainly the instigator of the war - he is the ruler of Nohr and thus by siding with him you are effectively siding with "the Dark Side").
Makes sense, but also theres a lot of specific perspective that you have to force yourself to get behind to understand her. It sucks how sloppy her writing was, but depending on how you see it, she's sacraficing lives now to ensure that innocents will never be lost in the future again. Comparing her to garon seems a bit harsh tho even for her
@@carter4619 Honestly, you have to dig a bit for it, but Garon's story is a lot more tragic than Edelgard's. He lost his first wife, Xander's mother, ended up becoming a bit of a womanizer as a result, but dearly loved each and every one of his children- however, his concubines used their children as tools to ascend to the throne, going as far as to kill the other mothers and even the other children, in some cases (Camilla's) using their children as the assassins. Garon had a lot more than four children- Xander, Camilla, Leo, and Elise are just the four that *survived*.
Given the fact he genuinely loved his children and seeing how they were all killing each other just to have the mothers become the next queen, his heart was poisoned and ended up being susceptible to possession by Anaktos. His free will, his love for his children, everything that he was ended up subsumed by a power he couldn't fight against, his very soul was in effect destroyed. Like Nergal from FE7 though, most people don't know that because they can't/don't read and therefore don't put in any footwork towards uncovering the backstories behind the "zomg so evul villain, wow, make them compelling maybe, like our cute pwecious uwu female student who works with kidnappers and murderers and transforms human beings into soulless beasts of war to fight for her uwu"
(No I don't like Edelgard and I especially hate her fans, how could you tell?)
@@om3ga109 "you have to dig a bit" followed by a kurt dismissal of a characters (the hero of the story no less) entire arc. You are correct in your self assessment at least. Maybe mortally complex story's are a bit much for you. Back to peppa pig mate.
@@om3ga109 this was making sense until you said the word female bro if ur gonna hate edelgard u gotta detach your issues with women
@@om3ga109 Yet we're not actually shown those things
What sucks about them not making a unified route at any point even after the original production is the fact that they made a mutual enemy for everyone by creating “those who slither in the dark”
Even though you all know who’s who did get help from them
That’s the whole point of the game though. There is no “Golden Route” in a war. They spend a good deal of the game saying that “War has no winners” as well. Having a “Good ending” defeats the main point of the game
@@jasendrileck2322 yes, I understand, it’s just to the people who believe that one or two routes are “bad endings” instead of choose your canonical route
And to my comment I think it’s funny in a way that they made a “unanimous” enemy with ‘Those Who Slither In The Dark’ but they are such a “behind the scenes” group the war blinds everyone from working together in ANY way against them like how in the BE route they only deal with that group in the epilogue where you can’t take control of the fight or even experience how it plays out.
The only way there could conceivably be a way for a “Golden Route” would be something like after completing all routes the ‘4 Byleths’ could maybe do a divine pulse that links them together to go back to the very beginning of the game retaining all of their combined experiences to prevent the war from breaking out to begin with because they will be fully aware of how events could play out depending on who they side with.
But anyway I just got that idea but that would be a MASSIVE project that no one would that would take who knows how much time and effort that would take and either way that still goes against what Three Houses even is just like you said
The events in Cindered shadows taking place before Byleth shows up in the main story makes a lot of sense. It would also explain why Jeralt isn't around. Would have been less confusing if they explained that in game somehow.
the Japanese name for the game I think references the 4 routes, which means byleth isn't the one being mentioned, instead rhea is.
I say that as fuukazetsugetsu 風花雪月wind flower snow moon all reference one route of fe3h. Wind is referencing verdant wind, which is claude's route. Flower is referencing crimson flower, which is edelgard's. Snow is referencing silver snow, which is rhea's route. Moon references azure moon, which is Dimitri's.
The title card references the four major players (Claude, Dimitri, Edelgard, Rgea) of the story and their own storylines. Byleth isn't mentioned as he is the player insert, and even though his influence in the story is very high those four players' reactions to Byleth is the thing that makes the story. fe3h is a tragedy as we are able to see all four characters' perspectives, and the knowledge that we have from the perspective of the player through byleth especially highlights this (no golden route = best choice).
I've always thought that Radiant Historia would be a good model to follow to further explore the branching routes thing. Wherein Byleth is actively going between different timelines and trying to use the knowledge from both/all those routes.
Not sure there's much to cover, but how about a video on Echoes?
FE3H was the reason why I bought a Nintendo Switch in 2019, Istg it's the very first in 23 years that I was absorbed into a game and I spent one and a half month only thinking and playing and listening to this game
How to revitalize a franchise for a second time 101
I'm really enjoying this series of behind the scenes videos
Just wanna say; Thank you for all this hard work Ghast, subscribing to you was more than worth it.
I really wish they would return to this game and finish whatever content they had planned, i don't care if i have to pay for it.
The game itself is still amazing but it could have been so much more.
I understand it's better the way they made of not having a "golden route" but i would buy a dlc paralogue that makes you have a version of each lord of when their respective routes have been finished so i cold see each one of their supports it would be nice
I think the "different" routes were much too similar. It felt like we were replaying the same game over and over, instead of playing different paths. It should be more like the 3 scenarios of Shining Force 3. Different people going to completely different places for completely different reasons, which all interconnect into an overall narrative. I didn't get that with 3 houses. It was more like minor story tweaks to the same exact events.
3H may have had better writing than Fates, but I much prefer Fates as a game because every single route was actually almost completely different in both story and maps, while 3H recycles much of both. It took me a month or two to beat every Fates route for the first time while it took me over a year to beat every 3H route. It wouldn't have taken me as long if I knew I was in for something completely different every time, but that was unfortunately not the case.
In fairness, thats kind of the point...to an extent. By you choosing a side, you WILL alter what is ultimately the same general storyline. Thats how alternate routes work, and as Crimson said, Fates kinda did that better in a hilarious way.
@@ramenbomberdeluxe4958 I disagree that that's the point. Look up Shining Force 3. You don't just have a slightly altered story; you have different events in different places that are happening alongside the other events. All events take place, no matter which side you're on; you're just witnessing certain events depending on which side you're on.
Different routes is an incredible concept, but it needs a lot more budget to be pulled off enough.
@@guruthosamarthruin4459 but the point of routes is that events only happen in the route you picked ffs🙃
This video was both informative and entertaining, far more than what I expected. Had fun watching.
As a huge Romance of the three kingdoms fan I am shocked that I never consciously realized that the connection
fe3h is such a hyper fixation. thank you for yet another awesome video to help fuel the obsession.
Ahh, so thats why CF was criminally short. Gotcha.
/s
The game is more like 2.5 routes instead of 4 since golden deer is nearly the same as blue lions. Not to mention the whole first half lf the game is identical
Imo golden deer is similar to crimson flower
Blue lions is different cause dimitri goes through his whole phase
You meant Silver Snow, instead of Azure Moon? Literally the only chapters that are completely different between Claude's route and the Church route are the Gronder Field Battle chapter, and the final boss chapter. Wish they put a little bit more effort for my man Claude (as much as I love the ending to Verdant Wind)
@@akaikitsune0627 Yeah they somehow managed to make VW likeable and good enough despite wasting soooooo much potential
@@akaikitsune0627 OOPS. YEAH YOU’RE RIGHT, My apologies
why did I say crimson flower 😂😂
"The theme of Edelgard's route is literally 'military rule'."
Thats not what Edelfans like to tell me... quite aggressively I might add
I don't think she was for communism
@@AkameGaKillfan777 What she wants is equality, but the system of government she sets up is doomed to fail as it is just unachievable for humans to keep for long. It will fall after her passing, and in its place will either being an absolute monarchy or a dictatorship. Communism it definitely will not be though.
The theme of Dimitris route is to be a emo sheep. Be the rightful king and keep everything the same even if it’s wrong. His story was so bad
@@YingofDarkness >"Doomed to fail"
>"dictatorship"
Sounds like communism to me desu~
@@MNtoCali That's not it at all but you are free to think of it as you like. Just how I am free to think of Edelgard's route and actions as completely pointless and not worth what she does (minus getting rid of the Slithers) because her idealistic government plan is doomed to failure.
This game's lore was actually really good. Sadly most of it is only referenced once or in optional text and supports.
If only they had used a proper engine...
the game is flawed but goddamn did their effort overall pay off. the game feels really grand not only in raw content but also the world itself.
Cool to hear more information about the development!
I love this! And I was wondering, could you do something like this for the other games?
To describe the two routes, Crimson Flower and Azure Moon, as "Military rule" vs "True Righteousness/Righteous Government" just makes me like Azure Moon even more.
While I like Meritocracy, I don't like appointed Meritocracy. The reliance on righteous beings (which I personally only consider one such being) calls to me a bit more. Though, I care little about the "government" part to describe Azure Moon, as I like Theocracy, and I consider any government seen over by humans as not being righteous and can never truly be; you can get close, but it'll always have flaws.
I kind of reacted similarly to be honest. The idea of a meritocracy sounds nice on paper but it is way to idealistic to think humans can ever achieve it for more then one generation if that. Edelgard's version of meritocracy is even worse imp because she removed all checks on the leader's power. Nobody is stopping her next appointed emperor/ress from getting stabbed in the throat and then replaced. Assuming the massive amount of power and influence doesn't naturally corrupt them.
Azure Moon's ending opens up the path for a representative government which more closely follows my ideals. It is best when multiple people are taking part in the government and making decisions. Some will become corrupt obviously, but it isn't as quick of a descent then it could otherwise be if only one person had power. Humans just aren't perfect beings and we are fine like that. We just always need to keep these flaws in mind and do our best.
@@YingofDarkness Yeah, the problem with Edelgard's system is that all it'll take is one Emperor with bad intentions to send everything down the shit hole. There will be nothing to stop them nor anything to stop them from choosing another corrupt individual to succeed them.
Dimitri's system isn't perfect either, but it at least keeps the power more spread out.
@@YingofDarkness Not to mention that Claude is still alive in AM and likely left to take up his throne in Almyra. So peace talks between Almyra and Fodlan are quite likely to happen after AM as Dimitri and Claude parted ways on good terms.
@@33link333 Now that is a little more debatable. In the sense of whether Claude inherits the throne in Azure Moon.
In Verdant Wind, it's stated that he uses his success in the war as a claim to Almyra's throne. He doesn't have that in Azure Moon, which leaves it up in the air. He certainly does return to Almyra, but whether he gets the throne in AM is another story.
@@MrSentinel07 I actually have a theory that Claude has either multiple siblings or multiple cousins who are all vying for the throne (which is why he felt he has to prove himself to begin with), and that in AM he does not prove himself capable enough to take it. However, I don't think Claude would ever be okay being pushed to the side and so will still try and get a high government position.
When news of Dimitri's victory and unification of Fodlan reach Almyra he will probably make his case for being able to open diplomatic relations between the two nations, and use that to try and gain both political favor and a higher position. Of course this is all one big gamble, as Dimitri can just as easily screw things up for him but we will all know Dimitri will at least hear Claude out. I also doubt he would be against opening up diplomatic relations between the two so Claude will get what he wants, and use that to kick start a political career in international politics. Which would only grant him more and more power in the long run.
I played through twice as I didn’t care for Claude. Now I’m going to play it again for all the new content. I always force a couple years before replaying something as I want the same magic so to speak hit me through the story
.....
Wait...
They Remember Fire Emblem 4!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??
(A single tear falls to the ground.)
I want a remake soooo Bad!
Fun fact I sometimes pronounce Fódlan as Foodlan since in my language ó is pronounced as oo
They did my boi Claude wrong but it’s not like it wasn’t expected either. CF ending was abrupt and I’m disappointed that SS was just a carbon copy of VW and viceversa. I was really hoping the dlc would expand on Claude’s side of things as well as others, but it didn’t.
They did _everyone_ who isn't Dimitri wrong.
Dimitri's redemption arc really should've been longer too. It feels like it ends mere moments after it begins.
12:18 holy shit! imagine if Edelgard could go back in time turing her turns too omg that'd be so crazy, what a missed opportunity to blow some minds
If there is anything I want from FE17 its that I want a protagonist that isn't a blank slate but is done incredibly well like Shulk from XC. Plus whyyy more map options and different battle objectives as well as proper exploration.
Elaborate
Tfw Edelgaerd was clearly designed to be the antagonist, yet people keep insisting she was right, says a lot about the FE fanbase.
Probably has to do with how each route is basically their own propaganda for that house. When choosing CF, the player gets to see the most sympathetic and endearing side of Edelgard while none of her ideologies are questioned or opposed. It makes sense for the player to fall in love with their route’s lord when they’re shown in the best light, pretty sure that’s what IS was intending at least.
@@oddcupcakegaming8924 Probably done in response to how Fates was received to an extent. Not a lot of people liked how Nohr was clearly the nation in the wrong during Conquest. Crimson Flower is basically TH's version of Conquest, except it's written to make Edelgard and the Empire more sympathetic to the player.
@@MrSentinel07 I know the Nohrians were the ones definitely in the wrong but honestly, that just made me want to play their route more. The whole medieval darkness aesthetic mixed with the siblings’ designs just really sold me into playing Conquest over Birthright.
I like her BECAUSE CF is the way it is. It's a villain route that isn't actually a villain route, and I'm glad we got to play as the revolutionist character who got her hands dirty without them being demonized or depicted as wrong in their own story line.
If CF didn't have a happy ending or, if it portrayed Edelgard as a villain protagonist rather than an anti hero, it would have ruined the routes concept for me.
Your point?
Man I wanted more 3houses content. 300+hrs and I just wanted more time with these characters and their world.
I cant believe how early I am.
Love your videos Faerghast! And I can't wait to see where your channel goes from here.
Wow, Trickster Edelgard looks bomb. That color scheme is great.
Thanks for the detailed video. Great work, both from you and the various developing teams behind FE: Three Houses. Looking forward to more!
Also, here's to improving your odds with the almighty Algorithm :)
I thought it was super weird how the Ashen Wolves story was disconnected from the main story, especially with cardinal appearing in the main game in the cemetary in white clouds. I find it hard to believe that it happened before you arrive as they say. Honestly I can't make sense of it all as actually being a thing that happens in the same story, there are too many contradictions.
I always felt the game was originally the blue route. In Part 1, every single story beat involves a blue student, and the route is most similar to a traditional Fire Emblem storyline.
Based on the thumbnail i assume they killed someone to get Dimitris actor
I still think IS could add an additional part of the story, as it still feels a little incomplete. The way Byleth works in the narrative is perfect for a "Planescape: Torment" -ish route, in which they talk their way out of a conflict with the two houses the player chose to oppose but no peace or "happy ending" occurs. Three Houses also has many other similarities to other older games that I can point out, but it would take a long time.
Narratively what is the most sound/fleshed out route? I believe Silver Snow but what do all of you think?
If you want a route that focuses on the main lord specifically then Azure Moon and if you want a route where you want the most lore about the story then Verdant Wind
What the guy above me said, playing both SS + VW pretty much gives you the full lore of the world, which is why it sucks that the two routes are so similar, it makes CF seem better to play despite that route giving some misinformation
@@insertname8721 so if I were to only time to play a single route then which would you recommend
@@willsword8100 It really depends on what you want you want original maps crimson flower, a story that is very focused on the war and Dimitri's character Azure Moon, If you want Lore and Hilda then Verdant Wind. I enjoy all the routes and it really depends what you want from the game even though part 1 for all the houses are the same
@@insertname8721 I have a 4 sided dice ill roll it.
Loving the recent vids
i have like 570 or more hours atp in Fe3H 😭 y replayed it so many times 2019-2022 and got sick of it until a month ago, replaying it again and it feels so refreshing and really gorgeous, the charm of this game is definitely the characters
Next FE game i hope they don't add quests and complicated recruiting
Fantastic video, just subscribed
ye
My old bank was with Alliance & Leicester
I know Three Houses sold like gangbusters, and I don’t begrudge anyone who loved it, but I just hope the next entry goes a more “classic” route. And for the love of God, NO AVATAR CHARACTER. Just focus on real characters.
Why no avatar character? The more 'classic' FE game (the one on Gameboy, I believe) also had avatar character. Granted, it was a green unit, but it was there nonetheless.
Than most of us will just see " main character = avatar" by most of the games.
if nothing else. make the 'avatar' feel like a real character. haha.
Is "gangbusters" a way of saying enough for the series to continue?
@@Esiaa Only one GBA game had an avatar and they could be opted out of. Generally a lot of fans don't like them because avatars rarely add anything to the story (and can arguably make it worse).
Would hidden weapons like daggers and knives made an impact or not? I’m just at a loss of what more could’ve been added because there’s a lot of good stuff already and I’m left wanting more. Maybe if they really wanted to, Koetechmo and IS can make another Warriors game like how we got Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity except we explore the five year war during Byleth’s slumber.
lol. they said that having several routes being the same would be boring, but that's exactly what they did.
I have actually not done The black eagle house or the secret fourth choice the church yet. I finished the blue lions and golden eagles and loved them both. I am planning on playing the other two tho. Oh I didn’t get the dlc as well. It’s a huge game hehe.
Never was a fan of routes. I want a complete story in one go. Too much is left out on each route and the beginning part 1 is so fucking repetitive. It was a huge slog. Would rather they go back to the radiant dawn style were you play as multiple independent groups in the same playthrough. Imo the most fun part, gameplay wise, was the dlc as it cut down on the monastery type part in size and had a great difficulty.
I would also add the function to start at the point where the routes start to differ. I would also like the Radiant Dawn Style as alternative to the routes, I liked it in Echoes. However, I do think that the routes play a huge factor in replayability and they are well suited to expand each characters stories as that would make one single route with multiple parties too long (for some, I mean for me, I would have no problem with 50 chapters) but you get what I mean. Especially Fates and especially Relevation which tried to deepen the characters had a huge problem with throwing things and facts in your face but not extending and building upon it at all due to too much content (2 novel-length books) spread on too few chapters. Imagine how it would end up with no routes at all.
@@nick3805 i cant see that start at where part 2 begins working since you pick a new house and all of the dialogue changes throughout part 1 plus they'd have to auto level characters in specific classes which would greatly limit the amount of time to make your students whatever you want
@@starkillahx True, but don't they do the same anyways if you recruit characters from other houses?
Or you could make it that way that there is a menu where you can give them the classes you like, and they'll level accordingly? Also, dialogue changes are an aspect, but I would argue that epecially when you replay the routes you might not even want to see them and to be honest, my impression is that they are more often the same then not, often the wording used is just different to express the same thing. Mostly key scenes offer different dialogues (such as DImitri's Talk with Byleth about crests, or Claude's about discrimination) but in the form the game was released I wouldnt say these are as important as they were supposed to because all routes except the Black Eagle routes lose their focus during their time. Crests, for example, are basicly a topic after time-skip in the Blue Lions route and since Claude is a complex character that was shortened to the extent that him being a foreigner and the concept of acceptance and understanding I also would argue that his speach also isn't as important.
PREACH
As someone who appreciated the game in its entirety, I can understand why they avoided a Golden Route, the main problem with this is unlike Fates, where you don't get to really get attached to the characters, you actually appreciate just about everyone in this game, they all are given enough supports to better understand them and the paralouges given to them strengths more their background, or character development. Than again I realized that not everyone would be a fan of having a Golden Route and prefer to chose one route to be their canon route. Either way, this still doesn't change my mind on having more reasons to play Three Houses. Great video as always.
When it results in the kind of blind, ignorant rabid fans we have in the FE3H fandom? I dunno, maybe having a Golden Route would've been a better idea. Not a fan of the option to "choose" a canon route myself, it's caused waaaaaaay too much hate to be thrown around and no one camp is exempt from it.
Honestly I kind of detested this game's cast, sure you got to know everyone but a lot them are are so arrogant, hypocritical, character development happens off screen, etc... I would have enjoyed a route where you kill everyone you please far more than a Golden Route.
@@emberhermin52 that's not very hard for you to do. It's called Silver Snow solo run, you can literally kill off almost everyone in that route and only play as Byleth.
@@emberhermin52 For real, an Agarthan route would've fit better than treating Edelgard's half-baked unfinished route as the villianous default.
Can’t wait for the next FE to see what theyre gonna do!!
KT really shone with this game I hope they get the opportunity to work on more FE games in the future.
Khalid. . . .wow, I wish they could have thrown that in
Amazing video!
I always wanted to know the development of three houses
Good video, it's always interesting to see the creative process that goes into making a great game. Except the devs still have yet to answer one vital question: WHY can't Byleth romance Anna? She's playable, you can do activities with her, she has her own paralogue. It's not a dealbreaker, but still. Anna for best wife. :P
Does this video have both Black Eagles route spoilers?
Fore real though ashen wolves is so difficult I stopped playing the route from getting stuck. It's so different from other routes.
I still wish we could've seen Edie mess with divine pulse.
The game has a lot of problems, but as someone who never played a Fire Emblem game before Three Houses, and were used to more traditional JRPGs like Persona, the Trails series and Xenoblade Chronicles, Three Houses was just the right combination of traditional and new, making me take the plunge into my first Fire Emblem game!
Although, the name Fire Emblem was a real mystery to me at first, as nothing ingame ever gets refered too as a Fire Emblem, with the Crest of Flames being the closest i could find, but it never gets refered to in any larger context... It is explained elsewhere why the game is still called Fire Emblem, but as someone who pretty much hadn't even HEARD of the games before getting a Switch, the name was a big source of confusion until i caved and looked it up...
It's not a huge issue, but they really should start trying to expand on the whole Fire Emblem mythos in the next game, to at least explain to new players why the series is called Fire Emblem.
Explaining why the series is called that would be bit hard considering Fire emblem takes many forms that sometimes it's a sword, sometimes a shield etc etc.
@@V-Jes I mean, just explain their relations to ancient dragons and such, not a giant infodump or anything...
As i said, Three Houses was my first game in the series, so i just assumed that the dragons in it was just for this game...
@@skynet0912 and that would be hard because every Fire emblem has it's own lore because most games don't take place in the same timeline/world as the other games, with some games not even having a Fire Emblem in it at all.
@@V-Jes True enough... It's just a bit weird when a games title makes next to no sense given the content of the games, and they keep it simply because "that's what they have always been called", regardless of it making sense or not...
@@skynet0912 The crest of flames IS the fire emblem of Fodlan so there is nothing wrong with the title
And if you want I can list all the fire emblems of the other games