Fates was released in three versions, each following a different storyline: Birthright, Conquest, and Revelation.
The overarching story follows the protagonist, a customizable Avatar named Corrin, as they are unwillingly drawn into a war between the Kingdoms of Hoshido (their birthplace) and Nohr (their adopted home). Unwilling to return to the king who caused the deaths of countless civilians, Corrin decides to fight to protect Hoshido from Nohr invasion. Aided by Corrin, Hoshido launches their own invasion into Nohr territory, forcing Corrin to confront their former Nohrian family on the battlefield.
The three Fates game releases act a trilogy, with each title branching down an alternative narrative path containing a unique story, maps, chapters, and characters. While some playable characters appear in multiple games, most are exclusive to the title they appear in. In Fire Emblem Fates, the player begins by customizing the main character. Their gender, appearance, and name can be changed to the player's preference. At the game's beginning, there are three difficulties: Normal, Hard, and Lunatic. There are also modes that dictate the fate of characters in battle should they be defeated. In Classic Mode, a fallen unit is subject to permanent death, a recurring mode in the Fire Emblem series that removes fallen characters from the rest of the game. Casual Mode enables units to be revived at the end of a battle. The new Phoenix mode revives units on the following player turn. A new feature introduced to the series is "My Castle", in which the player is able to create a base for their army, where they can establish shops, buy weapons and items, and interact with allied characters. Shops can be leveled up, which allows the player to choose from a wider range of items to buy. Players can run a farm in their base, allowing them to make food.
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