Fire Emblem Engage has a surprisingly inclusive theme
Fire Emblem Engage came out this January and has already solidified itself as a beloved and inclusive game for LGBTQ+ gamers. This is partially due to the fact you can romantically S-Support some characters within the game — no matter your gender.
However, romance isn’t the only way the game strives to be open-minded and accepting. In fact, being inclusive is baked into the very essence and theme of Fire Emblem Engage.
During an interview between Nintendo Life and developer Intelligent Systems, several exciting things about the world of Fire Emblem Engage were revealed, with most of the conversation focusing on the game’s DLC and expansion, all of which came out in the space of 4 months after the game’s release. However, that wasn’t all the developer spoke out about.
Nintendo Life asked a question about Rosado, the cute but deadly wyvern warrior who values cuteness above almost all else. Rosado instantly ensnared fan’s hearts due to his cute and feminine look, as well as how his gender identity was respected in his in-game supports and lore text. It was these supports that revealed Rosado comes from a village where people are able to live freely and present how they want without worrying about things like gender.
For context, the full quote from Rosado is “[the village is] a place of wonder. Beauty beyond the silly expectations that come with stuff like gender. […] Everyone accepts everyone there. However you see and present yourself, you’re beautiful. That was my normal, growing up. It was a big shock when I left─seeing how different I was! But I realized I love being different. And I want everyone to know being different is amazing.”
It’s easy to see why Rosado – among many other characters in Engage – feel so relatable to queer players. According to Intelligent Systems however, Rosado isn’t the only character they had in mind when establishing the theme for the latest Fire Emblem.
“The theme we chose for Fire Emblem Engage is that whoever you were born as, and wherever you were born, if you live your life as the person you want to be, your dream will come true.” Intelligent Systems told Nintendo Life. “Alear and Rosado, and to some extent, all of the characters in the game reflect the theme of living as the person they want to be. So while many of the characters might contradict the first impression they give, we hope you can discover who they are through support conversations and so on.”
This isn’t the first time that the Fire Emblem series has referred to inclusive themes, or even included LGBTQ+ characters like Rosado and the majority of the Engage cast. In fact, the series has a varied and longstanding history with queerness, but who doesn’t love a reminder that inclusivity and diversity is valued within the gaming space? We know we do.
About The Author
