Yesterday, it was revealed that the Western release of Fire Emblem: Fates would change a controversial scene from the Asian release. In the game, one of the characters – a bisexual lady who fawns and feints over “cute girls” – has her drink spiked with a powder that sees her attracted to, and fall in love with a man. For many, this scene caused controversy for two reason; it’s just a step away from date rape, and also suggests that homosexuality is a thing to be cured.
I wholly understand why Nintendo might want that changed. Naturally, there have been cries of censorship, and accusation of leftist politics from gamers who want things left as they are. In a statement to Siliconera, Nintendo’s clarified why they’ve made the changes.
“When we localize a game we do so in order to make it appropriate for that particular territory. All our choices were made from that point of view.”
The last Fire Emblem, the excellent Awakening didn’t feature same-sex relationships at all, as the marriage mechanic was essentially a vehicle for creating in-game children. This time, it’s a bit different.
“In the Conquest edition a male main character created by the gamer can pair up with another male character (Niles) which ultimately leads to marriage. Similarly, in the Birthright edition, a female main character created by the gamer can pair up with and eventually marry another female character (Rhajat). Like married couples of the opposite gender, these same-sex couples enjoy the stat boosts that come with marriage, which means when they are paired up in battle they are stronger than when they are apart or paired up with another character.”
“In the third edition, Revelation, that will be released as DLC in the eShop on March 10, a same-sex marriage is possible regardless of the sex of your main character, as both Niles and Rhajat can be encountered in this edition.”
I applaud Nintendo for tailoring games to suit different audiences, and I think the extricated “gay conversion” storyline is a bit rubbish anyway. Besides that, it’s ten minutes in a game that will provide countless hours of enjoyment, so I don’t really understand the fuss over its removal in the first place.
Fire Emblem Fates is out in the US on February 19.
Last Updated: January 22, 2016
Raptor Rants
January 22, 2016 at 09:38
So…. a love potion. That’s not curing. That’s enchanting. But hey, let’s say it makes it look like it’s “curing”
Original Heretic
January 22, 2016 at 09:43
Apparently it’s a bit deeper than that. The potion actually makes her see all the women as men and vice versa. So when she falls in the love with the man, she’s actually convinced that he’s a cute girl.
Raptor Rants
January 22, 2016 at 09:47
So still enchanting. Magic. A mechanic that’s been in gaming for years.
I can understand it’s sensitive so it’s removed. But I still think people are making abit of a mountain out of a mole hill kind of thing
Original Heretic
January 22, 2016 at 09:49
Fully agree. The way it’s going to be presented makes it seem to me as if the message is “Doesn’t matter what your preference is if you truly fall in love.”
HairyEwok
January 22, 2016 at 09:57
We wouldn’t have this problem 10 years ago in gaming…. When games were just exactly that, games.
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 22, 2016 at 09:58
^This
Jan Prins
January 22, 2016 at 09:44
Yeah. What I would like is some context to the scene. Who does the doctoring of the drink, being one.
And date rape? If the potion was meant to make the person fall in love?
Umar
January 22, 2016 at 09:48
Don’t know….I think this very overblown….To me, the scene didn’t seem like homosexuality curing and date rape…but in any case…I could care less about the scene. They did the same with Xenoblade, but it doesn’t affect the game at all..
Jan Prins
January 22, 2016 at 09:55
But here’s the thing:
Gay and Bisexual people have been fighting for inclusion for yonks now. Now that it is finally happening, and they are being represented/used in plots that have been around for ages, this is now not good enough or downright evil. Am I missing something?
Umar
January 22, 2016 at 09:57
This game has gay marriages, yet people are saying the scene implies that homosexuality can be cured…Seems like unfair outrage taken out on the game for a scene that has little to no impact on the overall story.
HairyEwok
January 22, 2016 at 10:05
It’s all about the Hermaphrodite these days it seems…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 22, 2016 at 11:56
SJWs are ruining everything!
Hammersteyn
January 22, 2016 at 10:00
This is just stupid
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 10:31
You’re face is stupid!
Hammersteyn
January 22, 2016 at 10:40
It goes well with my grammar…. no wait, that’s not right
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 10:40
HAHA
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 22, 2016 at 11:54
Your face is stupid!
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 12:03
At least I have a face, emoticon bot!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 22, 2016 at 12:05
You take that back! :/ :{ :E
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 12:06
Sorry, CTRL+ALT+DEL? *RUNS
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 22, 2016 at 12:07
{ Blue Screen }
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 12:08
Error 404?
HvR
January 22, 2016 at 10:01
Just realized Cupid assists with date raping #mind_blown
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 22, 2016 at 10:03
The plot thickens
Raptor Rants
January 22, 2016 at 10:06
The thick plottens
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 22, 2016 at 10:11
The plotter is thick with paper
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 22, 2016 at 12:06
{ insert wity comeback }
Jan Prins
January 22, 2016 at 10:03
Yeah. But what do you expect of a naked cherub shooting arrows at people? Sanity?
HvR
January 22, 2016 at 10:15
Actually ad a cupid to the the cut game scene with a bit of urolagnia and you have a South Park episode.
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 10:32
Hey. Careful. That’s was a large group belief structure you are criticizing:P
Jan Prins
January 22, 2016 at 10:38
Was referring to the Cherub, not the people believing in said Cherub and… ag I’ll just file this under Free Speech! Free Speech!
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 10:40
You just remember that free speech for later 😉
Jan Prins
January 22, 2016 at 10:43
Oh you can speech for free all you want. I have learned to ignore stupid people and gingers! 😛
Hammersteyn
January 22, 2016 at 10:06
Please PLEASE someone put something like this in a game!
The Grand Admiral Chief Prime
January 22, 2016 at 10:12
That was a weird ass movie, had some good lolz
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 10:33
So much win!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 22, 2016 at 11:55
Kingsman was awesome! One of my favourite movies from last year!
Loftus
January 22, 2016 at 10:09
I have found that “cure potion”
RinceThis
January 22, 2016 at 10:31
Urgh. GITFS.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
January 22, 2016 at 11:59
Sigh! I’m getting so tired of the offendatrons! Nothing makes them happy! They’re never content! This isn’t even “gay conversion”. Aaaarrgh!
Days like this, I actually wish for a large meteorite to just end humanity.