The Fire Emblem roleplaying franchise has been around since 1990. But with the release of Fire Emblem Awakening in 2012, a new feature was added: the ability to pair up your characters.
Benefits to pairing together characters include fun interactive stories as well as stat boosts in battle. But some of these pairings go beyond stat boosts. Some offer an “S” level of affection. This “S” level allows you to pair up these characters romantically so long as they interact often enough.
And some of these romantic relationships are shocking in more ways than one. Here are the eight most shocking relationships from the Fire Emblem games.
Corrin/Rhajat
In 2015’s Fire Emblem Fates, you have multiple options right from the onset. The first is selecting the gender and appearance of your character. The second major choice is which faction you are going to side with. This is determined by the version of the game you purchased, Birthright or Conquest.
If you’ve chosen a female Corrin (the default name for the protagonist) and you’re playing Birthright, you have the option to romance Rhajat. And what makes that unique in the Fire Emblem universe is Rhajat is also a woman. This is the first lesbian pairing ever to be featured in the Fire Emblem series.
Corrin/Niles
Similarly, in the Conquest version, you have the same two choices. If you choose to play as a male, the default name is still Corrin. And if you have also chosen the Conquest game, you have the option of romancing Niles. As is the case with Rhajat, what makes this unique is that he is a man. This is the first gay pairing explicitly stated as such in the Fire Emblem series.
Corrin/Any Sibling
Regardless of which gender you choose for Corrin, you will find that all of your siblings are romanceable options. As the game advances this makes a bit more sense, as it is revealed that Corrin is not related to his/her siblings by blood. But still, having a relationship with someone you’ve thought of as your brother or sister your entire life seems more than a little off.
Anyone paired with Sakura or Elise
No matter which side you choose in Fire Emblem Fates, you have a set of siblings, including two sisters named Sakura and Elise. Although their ages are never clearly stated, Sakura is a shy, young teenager. Elise is even younger and more immature.
Yet, the game allows you to pair them with any number of men between the age of 18 and 25. They have children. You can even pair Elise with the main character if you play as a male Corrin, despite your status as adopted siblings. It’s seriously messed up on a number of levels.
Dorothea/Manuela
The game following Fire Emblem Fates is Fire Emblem: Three Houses, released in July 2019. Taking notes from the success Nintendo experienced with Fates, they expanded the same-sex options. There are multiple same-sex relationships available to your protagonist. But unique to this game is that the same-sex options aren’t exclusive to the main character. Some pretty blatant flirting goes on between side characters Dorothea, an opera singer, and her idol Manuela as well.
What’s shocking here is that you aren’t able to put Dorothea and Manuela together as a couple. Their last scene together has Dorothea blushing and telling Manuela she hopes she never finds the man of her dreams. The voice acting, new to this game as well, makes it even more obvious that she’s hoping for a more-than-just-friends ending.
Robin/Lucina
This one gets a bit more complicated. In Fire Emblem Awakening, you have the option of choosing your gender. In this game, your default name is Robin. If you choose to play as a man, you have the option of romancing a girl named Lucina, who appears relatively early on.
Later on in the game, you discover that she’s actually the daughter of Chrom, your best friend. So, basically you end up marrying your best friend’s child, whom you held as a baby. It’s more than a little creepy.
Anyone paired with Nowi
Nowi is a playable character from Fire Emblem Awakening. Technically, Nowi is over 1,000 years old, but she both looks and acts like a 10-year-old. Except for her outfit, of course: a string bikini with a cape and thigh-high boots.
Perhaps the provocative nature of her clothing is supposed to make her look more mature. Instead, it just leaves the player feeling more than a little dirty about marrying her off.
Olivia/Gregor
Look, I like Olivia. I like Gregor. But the two of them together sends shivers down my spine.
Both playable characters in Fire Emblem Awakening, Gregor is a mercenary and Olivia is a dancer. When Gregor, who is definitely an older man, proposes to Olivia, he has to all but talk her into it.
She seems uncomfortable, not just shy. And Gregor’s dialogue doesn’t help. “For old man like Gregor, being nursed by a beautiful woman is best medicine of all.” Yikes.
Which Fire Emblem pairings are your faves? Sound off in the comments below!
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