After some distance, I'm pleased to say......I still hate this design. Like, is this how people who hate Rex's design feel. It's so ugly.
At this point, I'm hoping for two things.
1. This leak is fake
This wouldn't shock me as there some things that just seem odd. Like why would the leaker reveal more information after giving the screenshots, instead of giving it all at once. It feels like they just wanted to fan the flames they had already started. Plus, I just can't fathom why IS would go with these character designs after Three Houses went out of its way to tone down the weebiness due to the reception of Fates. The positive reception to SoV would also have let them know that fans want more grounded tone for the characters. Going back to Fates-like design would be like making another cinematic metroid game after the reaction to Other M. Surely they've read the room right? RIGHT????
2. This is just a mobile adjacent game
You're telling me IS wanted a mainline FE game out in 2020, only a year after 3H and a few months after the DLC. That just seems hard to believe. When exactly did the development of this game start? 2018? And if so, how is there a FE4 remake that's been aimed for the Switch since 2018 that's nowhere near in sight yet. You're telling me a remake is taking longer than a new built from the ground up game. The only way I can conceive of a 2020 release is if this just another mobile game, which considering the thrash designs would make sense, or a game that's meant to interact with FE Heroes. The Pokemon Let's Go of Fire Emlem if you will. Which also makes me think that whenever this gets shown, they will specifically market this as a spinoff like experience for the casual fans and then show FE4 as the game for the core crowd. Again, similar to how Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee were showcased.
For the sake of my sanity, which anyone reading this could tell ain't too well, I hope either of these cases turns out correct.
I don't remember them every saying that they toned down Three Houses designs due to Fates feedbacks. Also Shadows of Valentia might be well received but sales wise it underperformed compared to Fates and Awakening (sure, it was late in the lifecycle, but those are the numbers)
I think it depends more on the setting (it makes sense for students at the monastery to not wear sexy outfits) and the artist's vision.
At first i was a little hesitant on the screenshots and the whole leak, but the new image of the main characters makes it all more credible. You just don't fake a design like that.
While as for number 2 it's possible that it started that way and to an extent maybe still is: the summoning mechanics for returning characters sounds like Heroes, and maybe they want to replicate the formula on a proper console title.
I'm very curious how that works, it's possible the emblems will be like core crystals in Xenoblade 2, essentially free loot boxes, or maybe it's all less random, one emblem for each character.
What we do know from past interviews:
1) Intelligent Systems collaboration with Koei Tecmo went super well so far from the start, they always praised the work they've done together. Kusakihara has worked with all KT major studios (Omega Force and Team Ninja for the Warriors games, while Kou Shibusawa's team for Three Houses) except Gust.
2) Koei Tecmo studios are very fast at making games. So if they wanted to make this alongside other projects, again it would be a good option to go with them.
