Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn
From Conservapedia
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is a controversial video game for the Nintendo Wii. It was moderately popular at its release, but recently has come under scrutiny from various conservative groups who claim it is full of liberal, anti-creationist, anti-American propaganda.
Contents |
Plot
The plot of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is divided into four parts.
Part one:
In this first part of the story, you take control of a band of freedom fighters/thieves known as the Dawn Brigade, fighting for the freedom of their fictional home country of Daein (which, bear in mind, was the country of the last game’s ENEMY). The story reveals that in the years after Ike (the hero of the previous game, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance) overthrew the Mad King Ashnard (who wanted to use a demonic amulet to start the world over with a government system which could appropriately be called a “powerocracy”, where the physically strongest are the rulers, and might makes right), Ike’s allies, the theocracy of Begnion, decided to occupy Daein and rule it with an iron fist. The Dawn Brigade steals food from Begnion camps and gives it to destitute Daein citizens. Throughout the entire first part, the Begnion generals and high Priests are portrayed as irredeemably corrupt and manipulative tyrants.
Eventually, the Dawn Brigade finds a young teenager named Pelleas, who is the son of Ashnard (again, the last game’s ENEMY), and there is much rejoicing that Daein may soon be free of Begnion’s iron fist of oppression. The day before the final confrontation between the Dawn Brigade and the rebel Daein citizens versus the occupying Begnion troops, the Begnion general attempts a nighttime ambush to murder Micaiah, the “Silver Haired Maiden”, a magical girl who is the leader of the Dawn Brigade, and whom the citizens of Daein look to as a beacon of hope, and essentially treat like a female Jesus. Just as Micaiah is cornered in a dark forest and about to be killed with a lance, she is saved by the enigmatic Black Knight (An absurdly powerful knight who was one of Daein’s four greatest soldiers, who also killed Ike’s father and is responsible for nearly half of the suffering inflicted on the heroes of the previous game). The next day, the Begnion forces are driven out, with the help of the Black Knight, and Pelleas is crowned king.
Characters
Micaiah
The leader of the Dawn Brigade. She is a Branded, with a Heron-Laguz parent, and because of this she can heal others with her own life force. She has silver hair, and a long life span characteristic of all Branded. She eventually gets possessed by Yune for the majority of the final part of the game.
Sothe
A theif, and Micaiah's best friend. He is one of the few humans who accepts Micaiah even as a Branded. The default (and almost unavoidable) ending has Sothe and Micaiah married after the war.
Ike
The hero of the last game, the leader of the Greil Mercenaries, and main character of the 3rd and 4th parts of the game. Although he fought to crush Daein with the help of Begnion during the events of Path of Radiance, he decided to side with the Laguz armies and fight Begnion with the eventual help of Daein, a truly hypocritical act. It is also heavily suggested that he is gay, as he never returns, or even acknowledges, the affections of the numerous girls who try to win his heart. Simultaneously, he has a very close relationship with Soren, a male Branded, ultimately ending with Soren in tears and Ike comforting him.
Elincia
The newly crowned Queen, and sole ruler, of the kingdom of Crimea. While she has a kind heart, her emotions continually cloud her judgement, and having been raised in secret her entire life, she is clearly unfit to rule. She is almost overthrown by a band of Rebels over her Pro-Laguz acceptance policies, but is ultimately kept in power by the intervention of Ike's mercenary band.
Examples of Propaganda and Questionable Content
The fictional world which the game takes place in is inhabited by two main races: The Beorc, who are the humans, and the Laguz, who are creatures that VAGUELY resemble humans, but can transform into a certain animal depending on their breed. The latter parts of the game claim that the (two) GodDESSES of the world created both races EQUALLY, as the children of wisdom (Beorc), and the children of power (Laguz), suggesting that humans are not inherently above animals.
Beorc and Laguz are capable of interbreeding, creating Beorc-Laguz hybrids known as “the branded”. Such a union appears to have little to no consequence for the Beorc, but the Laguz loses his or her ability to transform. This abominable practice is fortunately highly frowned upon, and “the branded” forever live with a mark on their bodies to symbolize their parent’s shameful act. Many believe this union to be a metaphor for various forbidden unions, including homosexuality, which would be problematic as the game repeatedly portrays these unions as acceptable and not wrong.
Attacks on religion
The game also makes repeated attacks on religion, as the final boss and ultimate villain turns out to be the goddess of order, named Ashera, who turned nearly all of the world’s inhabitants to stone and nearly sentenced them all to death, while the “heroes” were assisted by Yune, previously thought to be the “Dark God”, who turns out to be the goddess of chaos, and is shown to be quite benevolent. Additionally, Ashera is killed in the final battle by Ike, with the assistance of Yune. Yune then prepares to leave, saying “This world has no need for gods”. While Ike insists that Yune stay, he acknowledges the “truth” of what Yune said.
In addition, with only 1 exception, the only people in the game constantly portrayed as irredeemably evil are the religious people of Begnion. For example, Begnion is shown to practice in Laguz slavery, and employ the use of a sinister document called the “Blood Pact”, which forces one of the signing parties to do whatever the other party says, or risk the mysterious gradual death of everyone they care about.
Not only that, but it pokes fun at the certainty of religious establishments on the intentions of God. When a Branded asks Yune why she and Ashera condemned the union of Beorc and Laguz, Yune says in shock that “Neither of [them] said anything about that,” a statement which highly insinuates the idea that God may not actually condemn homosexuals.
Furthermore, The first Laguz parent of a Branded is revealed to be Sephiran, a Heron-morphing Laguz and direct assistant to Ashera. While he loses his ability to become a Heron, he keeps the infinite lifespan of all Heron Laguz. In the final confrontation with him, he tricks the “heroes” into thinking that he was responsible for everything that caused them suffering. Enraged, they all fight him, and eventually kill him, which turns out to be what he intended. His dying words reveal that he was grateful to finally be able to die, as he was so powerful it seemed impossible. This has the disturbing message that an eternal life (such as the one offered in heaven) might not turn out to be a blessing.
