For better or for worse, Fire Emblem today is a different beast to what it was a decade ago. Fire Emblem Engage brought back the weapons triangle, a combat-first focus, and the wonderful Engage mechanic, but at what cost? The social aspect (one of the biggest selling points in previous games) takes a tumble in the most recent entry. The central hub (The Somniel) is much smaller, character interactions are lessened and, most importantly of all, there is no marriage.
Ten years ago, Fire Emblem: Awakening came to the 3DS (in the US, at least) and opened our eyes to the prospect of in-game marriage. Evolved from the 'Love System' which debuted in the Fire Emblem: Geneology of the Holy War on Super Famicom, no longer was the game's romance something that you had to read into, oh no; this time around it was front and centre and came with a number of genuinely beneficial perks based on who you decided to partner up with.
There were conversations to unlock, skills to be shared and, as you progressed through the game, children to be had and recruited into your squad. The abilities that these children would inherit became a precise chemistry in working out the perfect couplings to build some kind of super-child — yep, it sounds creepy when we phrase it like that, but let's not pretend we didn't all do it.
Even though we now love Fire Emblem Engage for all of its 'fight first, talk later' attitudes, we can't help but look back fondly on the marriage mechanic that was introduced in Awakening ten years ago. Below, some of our writers have come together to share their Awakening marriages which once were. We are only focusing on who we (Robin) [Who? - Ed.] paired up with rather than our entire marriage bracket, but this always was the most special partner, after all.
Have a read through our lovers of old and then take to the comments to let us know which fighter you chose to settle down with!