Mobile developer Niantic has a strong thing going with Nintendo-themed AR games.Pokemon GOis an ongoing, successful part of one of the biggest multimedia franchises of all time, and its latest venturePikmin Bloomrecently hit two million downloadsafter a few weeks on the market. It’s unclear what the studio will tackle next, but if it wants to adapt another Nintendo property,Fire Emblemseems an apt choice.
The jury is out on how longPikmin Bloomwill remain active, though afterNiantic announcedHarry Potter: Wizards Unitewill be shutting downit seems this partnership with Nintendo is Niantic’s main focus. Its work so far has had different aims, withPokemon GOcentering the “catch ‘em all” moto of its home series andPikmin Bloombeing a more casual, exercise-focused app. If Niantic wants something with more of a competitive edge, perhaps based on controlling plots of land akin to its original productIngress, Intelligent Systems’ tactical RPGs could offer a good baseline.
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Fire Emblem’s Success on Consoles and Mobile
Fire Emblemhas become more of a powerhouse franchise under Nintendo’s umbrella in recent years. For all the jokes that circulate aboutFire Emblemcharacters being too prevelant inSuper Smash Bros., the extra marketing is warranted to an extent.Fire Emblem Awakeningrevitalized the franchise in 2012, and 2019’sFire Emblem: Three Housesbecame the best-selling entryacross 30 years of games. Another hallmark ofFire Emblem’s growing audience is the success of Intelligent Systems' mobile gameFire Emblem Heroes.
Heroesis a gacha game first launched in 2017 that encourages players to spend an in-game currency called Orbs in order to summon characters from various entries in the franchise - sometimes wearing unique costumes. Its gameplay is a simplified microcosm of the tactical systems in averageFire Emblemgames, with part of the appeal being a chance to mix fan-favorite personalities from different cultures in the fantasy universe. Its ongoing success proves the property can work on mobile, and while Niantic might not want to retreadPokemon GO’s approach by letting players recruitFire Emblemcharacters from the main series, they could be crucial to building a virtual war in the real world.
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A Niantic Fire Emblem Game Could Blend the Best of Its Predecessors
One integral facet ofIngressandPokemon GOthatPikmin Bloomabandoned was letting players choosing a side for overarching goals.Ingresshas two factions: The Enlightened and The Resistance; meanwhilePokemon GOhas three teams: Mystic, Valor, and Instinct. ForPokemon GOin particular, one’s team influences the other trainers they work with to take on facilities like Gyms set in real-world landmarks. It’s up to each individual to raise a Pokemon team strong enough to back up their allies in battle.
A theoreticalFire EmblemNiantic game could take a similar approach. The franchise centers war and political intrigue, with characters recruiting soldiers in order to tackle despotic empires or otherworldly horrors. Niantic could making original characters to lead different warring armies and have players serve as their generals, but it would also make sense to crib conflicts from the source material. A triad of options immediately springs to mind with theBlue Lions, Golden Deer, and Black Eagles fromThree Houses. Other viable options includeFates' Nohr and Hoshido, or even playful conflicts likeSacred Stones' siblings Eirika and Ephraim.
To better capture the idea of conquering territory, Niantic could transplant its existing landmark map and have players hold fortifications alaPokemon GO’s Gyms. However, the units used in that conflict could work more likePikmin Bloom, with players able to find generic soldiers during walks that fit one ofFire Emblem’s many weapon types: swords, axes, lances, bows, magic, and more - ideally with the traditional rock-paper-scissors weapon triangle intact. Special units could be named characters, or soldiers with powerful weapons. Once a fanbase is established, Niantic could introduce the series' many dragons or demons as collective challenges; ones the warring factions take on by setting their differences aside.
Intelligent Systems has been willing to experiment in recent years with games likeFire Emblem Heroes, the Koei Tecmo hack-and-slashFire Emblem Warriors, andAtlus’Shin Megami TenseicrossoverTokyo Mirage Sessions #FE.An AR game by Niantic could be a perfect companion if the mobile developer continues working with Nintendo, and it’s not farfetched given Niantic has dealings with The Pokemon Company. Perhaps a competitive-drivenFire Emblemspin on mobile games likePokemon GOwould turn some heads.
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