Saturday, 8 March 2014

Hardin and Zephiel: Fallen Heroes

Hardin and Zephiel: Fallen Heroes

Fire Emblem is a turn based strategy game in which you control a small group of various soldiers to face off against a far larger army. It's all about survival and strategy. Every move counts as if someone dies they stay dead.

These games plots are very formulaic, large army attacks small city or nation, small nation fights back only to reveal there's something bigger operating behind the scenes. Whilst these games do both plot and gameplay well it has its archetypes. You can see the archetypes coming from a mile away but that doesn't stop it being intriguing.

The best example is the Hardin Archetype. Named after Hardin,a cavalier from the first game, the Hardin as a noble man with a strong sense of Justice who through circumstances beyond their control fall into a corruption and become a great threat later on.

Hardin was a prince who fought alongside the heroes and was in love with Princess Nyna who did not love him back. However the two married at the end of the first game anyway.

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Hardin expressing envy over Nyna handing the hero Marth the Fire Emblem. Subtle foreshadowing to Hardin's weaker side.

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Hardin's start of darkness. A combination of grief and heartbreak turning him into a tyrant.

When Hardin found out the truth he was heartbroken and distraught, he locked himself away and had no contact with anyone except for a single merchant who gave him a jewel. Suddenly Hardin was changed, gone was the just ruler and in his place was a man the people called "The Dark Emperor". Hardin was supposed to heal the wounds of the last war not start another.

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Hardin's transformation into a villain note the corpse like skin and red eyes.

Eventually Hardin was slain and the truth was revealed, the merchant was a sorcerer named Gharnef and the jewel was a Darksphere which corrupted Hardins soul. The sphere destroyed Hardin and lead to another terrible war. As he lay dying he asked for forgiveness and and cursed his weakness dying a tragic figure. With Hardins demise the continent was now ruled by King Marth the hero of the game who also ruled Altaneia.

In regards to how Hardin fits the theme of dislocation the fact is that Hardin archetypes are expected to bring about great peace normally end up making things worse. They're expected to be great rulers but something beyond their control goes wrong making them a tragic figure.
But none are more tragic than Prince Zephiel.

Zephiel is the main antagonist of the sixth Fire Emblem game, Binding Blade, he's misanthropic, ruthless and unbelievably cruel to his enemies but the game keeps making hints that he wasn't always like this.

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Zephiel as he appears in Fire Emblem 6: Binding Blade

When Blazing Sword the seventh game was revealed to be a prequel we learn the truth and suddenly everything he is about to commit is more tragic than it really should be.
Zephiel appears as a youngster and the game makes he's an excellent swordsman, loved by the people and a compassionate person in General. The exact opposite of his petty tyrant of a father Desmond.
Zephiel wants nothing but his fathers love but he will never receive it. He finally realises this when Desmond tries to kill him.... Again.

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Zephiel in the ending of Fire Emblem 7: Blazing Sword

Zephiel snaps and along with his retainer Murdock fakes his death. When Desmond looks over his sons casket Zephiel emerges from inside and kills him.
Zephiel in his madness initiates a war with the other nations killing countless innocents and inevitably destroying the continent when he dies. The exact opposite of what he was expected to do.

The Hardin archetype is about hope and the inevitable chaos that follows when that hope is lost. When a potential hero falls from grace and the destruction that follows. The knowledge that there was a chance to stop this only making things worse.

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