When I decided to host the mega again a bit ago, I had no idea what to make it about (of course). So it fell between two topics: a post on the importance of sleep, or a post on just how much I love Fire Emblem: The Sacred Echoes. Well, I felt like the importance of sleep was well-known, and could always wait for the next time I host a mega. I wanted to make sure I hit the Sacred Echoes iron while it's hot, because I've almost finished my play through at this point, and it might genuinely be one of the best games I have ever played.
Sacred Echoes feels so polished, considering it's a fan-made romhack of Sacred Stones, with the goal of bringing the 3DS game, Shadows of Valentia (SoV), to the GBA. Everything about the game aesthetically is very well-done, from the portraits, to the battle sprites, and literally anything else that could be thought of about a game. This includes new character writing, which helps the game in areas where Shadows of Valentia was a little, well, off. That's what I want to go over first, and although I've made a post before, I had only played a little bit of the game. Being at the end, I've noticed more things, and grown to appreciate this game even more than I already did.
Let's start off with the relevant (and interesting) bits: Sacred Echoes actually does a really good job at representing a variety of backgrounds, while also being diverse in a way that doesn't feel like it's simply to have a token character. This game doesn't suffer from the cracker curse, for example. Although most of the characters are white, there is more than one person of color (
) . In terms of LGBTQ+ representation, it's even better. There are many gay/lesbian characters, whose sexuality actually plays a role in the plot and how they interact with others. There's also an aroace character, Lukas, who goes through a whole arc of self-discovery in his support conversations (support Python). It's good stuff, and not things I would normally expect from a Fire Emblem game. I hesitate to bring up the (possibly) only trans character in the game, Jesse. HOLD ON, NO HESITATION AT ALL! I just decided to do more research, and I wasn't just projecting. He is 100% trans, and it's in supports, and it's relevant to his plot and backstory, so it's just like the rest of them, thank goodness, I was worried he was a token. So yeah, support Clive and Jesse. Good stuff, and good luck getting to the end of the game so they can actually meet, one fights for Alm and the other for Celica...
This is Jesse
Here's some dialogue between Clive and Jesse, in the context of a will:
Clive: Only the following will be yours - your mother's wardrobe, her jewelry box, and all corresponding contents.
Jesse: Urgh. Even from halfway in the grave he's trying to tell me what to wear. So yeah, he's still the same tyrant he always was. Hasn't changed a bit.
In terms of character background, it's more diverse than one would think, and it addresses the issue of feudal class. Not all of the characters are nobles, and one of the main characters is a commoner from a random village. The plot regularly deals with the fact that nobles and commoners do not get along. However, it does not try to redeem most nobles. If they aren't proving themselves with their actions, they're probably shitty. Even if they are supposedly "one of the good ones", there's usually some underlying prejudice that comes out when you might not expect it. I love it so much, and I am extremely impressed that the plot doesn't try to redeem nobility as a whole, but rather allows the noble characters within the cast to have character development that feels less like justification and more like re-education.
Pictured is the class traitor Lukas absolutely destroying Fernand
For other details about the story, I'll link my original post. I don't want to drag this on too long, and I mention most of the improvements there. It also includes where to find the patch for the game, and how to play the game for yourself. If you enjoy SRPGs, or are new to the genre, I recommend this game. It has an easy mode for the newbies, and hard mode for those of us who hate ourselves (/s), and a normal mode for everything in-between 
The Echoes cast is amazing, and I love how they interact with each other and the world. Each character stands out, and they feel unique in their relationships with the other characters. Even characters that suffer in SoV, like Faye and the Masked Knight (has a name but it's spoilers), benefit from the Sacred Echoes writing, making them actually enjoyable characters. The villains of the game are also great. I don't want to go too deep, because I don't want to spoil too much, but they aren't just pure evil, and for that I applaud the SoV writers. Berkut is probably the highlight of the game, being the heir to the throne of the empire. I am once again asking you to play the game, because IT IS SO GREAT, and I would not have expected these good of villains to pair with Alm and Celica, as well as their armies.
Pictured is the Masked Knight being a gay little guy. The other guy (Saber) is threatening his life...
Everything about the game design is also amazing. It's GBA Fire Emblem, so the animations are peak and the pixel art is stellar. The maps are improved from the original SoV maps, and they are definetly much better, and much less repetitive. Classes in the game are fun in how they work, each character being able to promote 2-3 times. Mages also work really uniquely and well in this game, with spells costing HP to cast. They learn spells as they level up, rather than by purchasing tomes, which makes for (in my opinion), better gameplay. Sacred Echoes also adds the GBA weapon and magic triangles!
All in all, Sacred Echoes is a great game, and even if you never ending up playing it, you now know of its existence. It stands out as a great romhack, as well as a great Fire Emblem game, AND it has the gay. Can it really get better than that?
If you want my original (and more in-depth) analysis, check out my original post. It's mostly about what Sacred Echoes improves upon the original Shadows of Valentia.
Hope you enjoyed my little nerd-out session, and have a good week everyone! 
DOWNLOAD SACRED ECHOES: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/o9v75blehaid1re2i8qou/ALhV8LN1A59jdFIP6HYRH3c?rlkey=d7fl1m8qh9gl7ztmnim33euu1&e=1&dl=0
PATCH TO AN EXISTING SACRED STONES ROM: https://www.marcrobledo.com/RomPatcher.js/
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I am curious about a couple of intersectional things about neurodivergence/a-spec identities, just simple things ig like "Would you classify yourself as 'neurodivergent'?' and 'are you a-spec' etc.
Not sure if that's appropriate for a survey like this, though
I feel like it would be a landslide because neurodivergent is kinda vague. Like, is anxiety/depression neurodivergent? If so pretty much every trans person is without doubt
Having an anxiety disorder can be classed as a neurodivergence. Depression isn't classed as such though there are co-morbidities.
I mean I dont know if its too personal and such, but I was more thinking about things like autism/ADHD specifically since that overlap is a curiosity of mine thats AFAIK not very well studied? (I heard a number like 30% of gender-non-conforming people somewhere meet criteria for autism, so am always curious)
But like no pressure of course
There is a high number for all lgbt+ people but I don't have the figures. Also not sure if the studies break down acespec specifically either.
link That's for autism but there are high figures for other neurodiverse people which include adhd also
Wow, that study is endlessly fascinating. I do have some spicy thoughts about some of their methodology, but even if so it seems that professionally diagnosed autistic people are like 6 tines as likely to self-identify as trans. Since they tried to exclude self-diagnosis (by asking for info on who diagnosed them), and because of the existence of "trans broken arm syndrome," my question is how many people come to consider themselves trans first and never discover the autism (me for many many years)?
This is an in general question I have all the time since like 1. I thought all my problems were caused by being trans/dysphoria/depression/anxiety and 2. I was passed over because when I got diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, AuDHD was not a thing, thats's a much more recent discovery, apparently. I uh even asked the psyc about it "I meet the criteria for Asperger's actually..." And he chuckled and went "no you're not." Set me back ten years lmao
I'm shocked that only 10% of people would classify themselves as asexual, but its possible that since this was in 2021 that its due to lack of awareness of what it is (thats what happened for me, at least). Also, if I'm demi, would I put "asexual" or "other"?
Gonna be some real full re-education camps, the way all these "medical professionals" get on...
If not for my wife I probably would never have looked into it or done 3 years research into it lol. But I know that there are a large amount of self diagnosed neurodivergent people. I would also add to that there is a very good possibility that a fair few trans people also don't suspect either though it is something some may suspect but not look into it in a serious fashion.
Many such cases unfortunately. It is incredibly hard to be taken seriously as an adult.
It is a general lack of knowledge and could also have some who don't know they are Ace. Demi is a sexual orientation on the asexual spectrum so asexual.
Yep, I only looked into it again due to ND therapist too, many many such cases...
Fascinating, I am once again surprised that so few people identify. I think Ash had the right idea, lol
Theres also a lot of stigma and phobia around being ace, lots of misunderstanding and fear of being ace. So I wouldn't be surpised if some of that occured too.
Same experience for me. I mask too well I guess, "understand social norms" :agony-shivering:
I've heard it's quite common for people in our position to get told that because we're able to talk, or make eye contact, or that we're not male, that we can't be autistic. It's frustrating, and part of why I haven't been too keen on official diagnosis.