Why Robin is Underrated and Overlooked
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- Опубликовано: 11 май 2023
- Fire Emblem Awakening has a number of strong points, and amongst them is the writing of its three main characters; Chrom, Lucina and Robin. However Robin is more often treated as an afterthought compared to their fellow stars and is mainly seen as just "the avatar." But I've always believed Robin to be more than that and is a fully-fleshed out character in their own right who deservingly lives up to their place alongside Chrom and Lucina, by supporting both them and Awakening's story. So I think it's their turn for me to explain why I think they're underrated.
Gameplay by justonegamr, omegaevolution, Linkmstr, Ok Dude, Raikaien, Phoenixmaster1 and poledoo.
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One thing I love that you kind of touched upon is the slight difference between male and female robin. Male Robin is a fucking dork, and Female Robin is funnily short tempered. She gets offended and threatens Chrom with a rock when he implies he doesn’t see her as a lady, she throws figs at Lon’qu from a distance when he refuses to train with her. She has such a strong personality.
the figs 😭
Fr everyone overlooks female Robin ,when she is actually one of the funniest personalities in awakening.Just because of their hate for avatars
@@guinnmyahslaysstaymad As a character, I think so yeah. Though F!Robin is probably one of the strongest units in Fire Emblem history (I think pretty much only behind FE8 Seth) thanks to easy Galeforce access (M!Robin is still cracked though).
It's indeed funny how fundamentally different they are and you can imagine my dissappointment in later installments when the Avatars were just carbon copy of each other.
Female Robin is a strong go-getter with a surprising short fuse and is not afraid to be a total bitch.
The male one is more like a fluffy Teddy bear in comparison, who seems to have endless patience, unless you do hit a very specific sore spot (comparing him to his father that is, thanks Aversa, real classy of you). He's supportive, helpfull and modest whereas the female one is more loud and and sure of herself.
A thing i really love about Robin klling Grima is that it's the first action in the game's plot that definitively beats fate. The idea that destiny is unchainging is introduced in awakening from the prologue, where Robin despite being passed out, amnesiac and even suspicious for knowing Chrom's name despite his lack of memories, still befriends Chrom and joins the shepards. Despite all the changes that Lucina caused, Emmeryn still died, Chrom and Robin still faught Validar in the same way. Even when Robin "beats fate" by not killing Chrom and Basillio surving, the fell dragon revives anyway, and Basillio and Chrom are still set to die, even if it's a bit later. Chrom sealing Grima at the end can still be viewed as just delaying destiny, since eventually he will be freed. But when Robin kills Grima, that's it. The future changes. Robin challenged his fate, and won.
It's also the first time the game let's us choose, all the other times they "offered" a choice it was shot down.
One thing that Robin has over the other avatars is the slight tang of evil he has that turns him into a mad genius rather than just a genius. Like when he chooses to burn down half their fleet to burn/drown the majority of Walharts army. Fitting that s/he is a spawn of the games dark sorcerer.
Let's not forget that they willing choose to have his entire army fight on an active volcano to kill his enemies.
Fun fact: that fire ship attack probably killed anywhere between 20 to 200,000 or more people. Roughly similar amounts two both atomic bombs dropped in world war 2 on the high end.
At that point I think we need to ask if Robin is the real flame emperor
@@ranger24ff That man/woman is not afraid to commit warcrimes and most likely has the highest headcount of dead people of all playable fire Emblem characters due to this alone.
I love Robins analytical take on things and need to form an identity. And controversial opinion alert, I liked the twist regarding who Grima was in this timeline and the final sacrifice.
I also love that all the ID songs: Id beginnings, id dilemma, id sorrow, id darkness, id return, id purpose, and id serenity, represent a stage in Robin’s life (after meeting Chrom) and how the final song is ID hope. Robin, after being revived, now embodies hope. Hope, which is what Chrom gave him when despair started seeping into him after he learned of his lineage and his destiny. The very thing that saved his world and what he gave to the world after his sacrifice.
To have Fates (which I think is the game that introduced the song) and echoes use ID hope as his theme after everything he’s been through, is really freaking awesome. So glad he won CYL this year right after Chrom, and can’t wait for his Brave alt next month.
Actually ID Hope was introduced in the Future Past DLC! It's the theme that plays when you fight the bosses for all three maps, meaning both of the Morgans, and finally Grima themselves
I'm so happy this video exists! I've always loved Robin! Their amnesia, their need to form an identity, their frequent interactions with every member of the cast... everything about it is top-notch.
I swear I got shivers when I saw that future timeline DLC. I had no idea it existed, and gods, the amount of angst that must be there is staggering😨
Yeah... All videos i watched about FEA were a several years ago
Am I the only one that thinks that Robin is not only a loyal friend, but a devoted spouse towards Chrom as well as a good parent to Lucina and Morgan?
No, you are not alone.
One of my favorite supports is Robin's B Support with Frederick. Depending on when you have it, Robin can either feed him 2 day old bear meat or 2 year old bear meat. XD
In the 10 years of playing that game I had literally no idea. What a crazy fun detail
Usually when a game has an avatar/blank slate protagonist, they just have this vague personality where they stare off with this disinterested look. I get that the idea is the player can project themselves onto the avatar, but when I play these games, I don't feel like I'm in the room with other characters. I feel like I'm looking at this one bland character who sticks out like a sore thumb among the others.
I found it a lot easier to connect myself to Robin, and I think that's specifically because they have a more fleshed out personality, but still leave enough room for you to put a bit of yourself in them. The only other avatar protagonist I can think of that really strikes a nice balance between a distinguished personality and a blank slate is Joker from Persona 5. All in all, this video felt pretty validating, lol.
On a side note, Robin also gets points for having hands-down the best character design out of any FE protagonist. I am not accepting criticism at this time.
Robin x Crom is an extraordinary team... Yes male robin is a best bro for crom... But romance between female robin with crom is the reason why i love this game... And i think many people agree that Crobin is a good pair
Those lame supports say otherwise, at least, from his female counterpart.
@@germ2648 I disagree. They aren't lame at all.
It's almost funny how the support makes it seem that male Robin has alot more affinity towards Chrom than the female Robin. :D
But then the story wouldn't work, so that's a bit sad.
Robin was fine, pretty inoffensive and not too in your face, versus Corrin's creepy barefoot dragon and Byleth not getting to talk in a fully voiced game. The only one I really hate out of the Avatars is the most recent toothpaste one...mostly because they are just really fing weak statwise etc next to Robin, Corrin, and Byleth.
I wonder if Alear was some attempt at course correction in terms of "cracked avatars" (since Robin and Kris especially were some of the most broken growth units of all time) which is even funnier given their "dragon Jesus" status in-game.
This is just a theory but I think another reason to why Robin is overlooked by fans when compared to Lucina and Chrom is because Fire Emblem Three Houses and Fire Emblem Fates sold even better than Fire Emblem Awakening did. Because of this, any fans that have the latter 2 games but not this 1 may view Robin as "another avatar character" which, assuming is true, is a massive shame.
"Robin is only the Avatar" is definately a little unfair IMO. The only "Avatar" thing about them is the gender, appearance, and romantic interest (if you want Morgan, it's a must). They have their own opinions, interests, interactions, and mission to form an identity for themselves. Female Robin is actually one of my favorite game characters because I love how she (or Robin overall) isn't perfect and, despite everything they've accomplished, still sometimes doubts themselves. I haven't played the Fates series, but i think this is something that waa lost with Byleth being the literal embodiment of a "self-insert Avatar". I love Three Houses, but Awakening is always going to be my favorite in the FE series.
Edit: I say female Robin is my favorite of the two just because i haven't played as male Robin and most of her interactions just make me crack up😅
Also the choosing a romantic interest isn't even an avatar thing, it only is after fates since in 3ds you can choose everyone's pairing.
As a big Robin AND Azura fan, I gotta watch this and that other video 👀
Hooooly heck you captured what I've always wanted to say about this character for a long time. Robin is one of if not my favorite character in gaming at the moment. I connect heavily with how much they care for their friends and the people who are important to them. I've been told that liking their personality is invalid (though those aren't quite the words said) because they're meant to be a blank slate and a self insert, which I seriously don't get, but couldn't coherently explain why. I've mostly seen them as their own character from the beginning, heck, not really knowing they were an Avatar character at first (My intro to them was in Smash 4), so I don't understand why I would like them if they were just a puppet for the player. Speaking of puppets, I was practically, annoyingly fuming at how Grima kept getting most of the spotlight *literally in their place* (if we're talking about Heroes, because they're represented under Robin's name) for four years straight because it felt like even their creators didn't see them for who they were and basically threw away their story and character arc. I'm glad things are looking up for... At least 'him' (FRobin can't seem to escape it still ;m;), and I pray it keeps up ^^.
I find Robin very relateable (male Robin specifically) the avid reader who has trouble reading the room, trying so hard to overcome what has been thrust upon him the day he is born, etc. His character inspired me to buy books related to strategy and tactics and eventually play chess. He is just one of the many fictional characters that inspire me and have a very distinct pattern. I'm glad they're getting the recognition they deserve
+a❤
Many things about Awakening fell off for me, Robin is not one of those.
One misconception people have about them is Robin stealing the spotlight. Uhm, no? Chrom's character development is done with Walhart AND he had two arcs already. Is it really that bad if the character you can shape in any role you like is the main focus of one third of the game? Expecially when his relationship with Plegia and Grima has been built on before you meet Lucina?
I like Alear and expecially Shez over Robin but I'll always have a place for the latter in my heart
This really highlights everything I myself love about Robin. Nice video
I always loved Robin, I've cosplayed as the male version, met the voice actress from the female version from Heroes, always been one of my favourite characters
Couldn't agree more with everything that was said. Robin's the one character I find most relatable out of all the fiction I've ever consumed, and I think the writers did a fantastic job at making them relatable to most people since they assumed the player would be into tactics and strategy if they were playing such a game in the first place. Awakening was my first FE game, and I was largely unaware of the support mechanic beforehand, which is now one of my favourite features of modern FE games. I think my fondness of the support mechanic grew over time in a similar way to Robin's relationships with their friends and allies, and it inspired me to change as a person -- I value my time with other people irl a lot more now than before Awakening, as corny as that sounds. From Robin and Chrom's first meeting to their final parting, it somehow felt like I had experienced an entire person's life -- and a fulfilling one at that -- from the game alone. There'll never be another character like Robin.
Robin is my favorite Fire Emblem character, not just avatar and while I'll admit that over the years I have started to take his character development and journey in Awakening for granted, its not for the reasons you bring up. I am utterly fascinated by how it is strongly implied that Robin's mother tried to save him by taking him to Elibe (ergo Mark and Robin is one and the same) and how Corrin is heavily implied to be a previous life of Robin. The expanded narrative for Robin, especially with the inclusion of Blazing Sword, just brings so much to the table in a bittersweet way.
This was a very nice video, as Robin's my favorite avatar. I know a friend who would really like this video!
If you're taking suggestions for a character for a future video, may I suggest Luthier from Gaiden/Shadows of Valentia?
I always liked robin for being almost a side character until the very last arc of the game. Yeah, yhey are important, vut Chrom is the real protagonist
another reason is because hes one of the few characters in smash bros that requires actual bran cells to play respect for Robin players
i really like robin as a character its why when i replay the game causally i just call him robin i like what he is just his own character and a good one at that corrin and alear should of taken notes
This is basically the same idea process I had when thinking about this game, what's even funnier is that when Lucina AND Robin were added in smash 4, I thought it was unnecessary for Lucina to be there since she's just Marth but more well-rounded. Admittedly them adding both Robin AND Corrin was a bit much though Corrin playstyle is very fun. While many will complain Byleth wasn't needed and was just oversaturating the FE representation in Smash I say Chrom was the breaking point people should've complained about, the dude was already in Robin's final smash.
All the avatar characters are more unique than the copy pasting of Roy (even if he's our boy), Lucina AND Chrom.
It feels like hes an actual avatar he represents the player someone who has thier ups and downs
Other game series’ protagonists wish they had this amount of character
I wonder if people have Robin with the male Robin with a I and the female Robyn with a Y.
I’m also a big fan of robin the fact that even as avatar there supports are still so fun to read says something but yeah robin great character
Wow, I had no idea out of the three protagonists of Fire Emblem Awakening.
Robin was treated as the red headed stepchild.
good video
Well as this is my first fire emblem game I like Robin
there's one ending where Robin does something REALLY frikk'in Epic ,i won't say it here
Hello
I very much disagree with that title
Who?
Ehh, Robin is better compared to Corrin, and Byleth, and probably Alear depending on who you ask, but I wouldn’t exactly call Robin underrated.
Robin’s biggest advantage over other characters is a defined personality, but a lot of FE characters do have defined personalities and defined goals, there are people who like Camilla’s personality. (I can’t say there’s not other reasons some people might like Camilla, just that some people who aren’t me, do actually like her personality.)
In my experience Robin kind of just fell flat because Awakening’s story fell flat on me thematically, I don’t care about “bonds that can change fate.” Because I don’t even believe in fate, and the story’s theme is filled with caveats, fate can be changed, as long as your time traveling daughter warns you of the future, and her warning results in your bald warrior king friend playing dead instead of actually dying so that he can switch the gems in your jewelry for fakes, and as long as your friend can resist their dad’s mind control enough that when they stab you with lightning, it’s not enough to kill you.
And there’s also the fact that Lucina’s doomed future still exists, she didn’t wipe it by going back in the past, and it’s only because future Grima followed her that grima isn’t in that doomed future anymore.
And I don’t think awakening supports do very well to characterize characters outside of what we already know about them. Beyond supports just being a bad way to for characters to interact for a few reasons
“Don’t believe in fate”; bro, you DO know this is fiction, right? And there’s a thing called suspension of disbelief? Like, I’m an atheist, but you won’t see me saying FE’s got lackluster stories because I don’t believe in gods (of which there are many in FE). That’s just such a weird thing to criticize.
And also, the status of Lucina’s future is left unknown by Awakening’s conclusion. It’s only confirmed as still existing in Fates’ DLCs (and maybe Awakening’s, but I don’t think it does) which contradicts plenty of Awakening’s plot. So whether it effects the integrity of Awakening’s story lies solely on your judgement.
Also also, the bonds that challenge fate thing is probably supposed to be taken as more metaphorical. Like this RUclipsr said: Robin’s friendships gave him to courage and will to fight back against his fate, rather than run from it.
@@Hewasnumber1 I want to preface this by saying that I really don’t have to justify my opinion.
Media criticism is subjective, I could believe something you might think is ridiculous, for ridiculous reasons, and I’d have that right to.
So I shouldn’t have to defend my opinion about stuff like this, my opinion can’t be wrong, it’s a subjective belief I hold, and whatever you believe doesn’t effect that.
Anyway, you could tell me that I should’ve played Awakening understanding that it was a story about fate, and that even though I don’t believe in fate I should give it credit for what its story says, but not only is that something I can’t force, but even considering that, it doesn’t change how I actually experienced the story, it was impossible for me to relate to the theme, and why should I force myself to care about a theme I don’t care about.
And there’s a difference in the role fate plays in awakening and role gods play in other FE games, in Awakening, fate just has things turn out certain ways, but it’s inconsistent, Emmeryn is supposed to die, and she survives because her assassins are fought off, only for her to die by her own will, in a completely different scenario, so the impression is that she died because fate wanted her dead but the important thing was that she died and not the specifics, but Basilio breaks fate by playing dead, and no other tragedy occurs to him, fate wanted him dead, but clearly not that badly. There’s basically no rules to it, so the idea of “fate” in awakening is completely ill defined, it’s not really a clear force in awakening as much as it feels like a justification for the bad things happening in the story, a justification it didn’t need as a story, Emmeryn could’ve died without being fated to.
You basically could remove fate as a concept from Awakening and you’d lose nothing.
Whereas gods in FE games are often literally just very powerful characters, it’s not like their inclusion is the game exploring an equivalent to real faith. Yes in FE SoV Alm kills duma, and one of that game’s themes is humanity can stand on its own without gods, but the gods are basically just monarchs with god-dragon powers.
The reason it’s important that I don’t believe in fate is that because awakening’s theme is about fate I can’t relate to the theme of the story. And that’s something I understand is specific to me.
As for lucina’s future, awakening’s time travel is not terminator style. (The time traveling characters’s actions in the past lead to the future in which they time travel back.)
It’s not the kind of time travel where if you kill your dad you disappear, considering that lucina at no point disappears after the defeat of Grima, she wouldn’t have gone back into the past unless Grima was around.
The best candidate is parallel universe time travel, where the future you come from is its own timeline and moving to the past just causes a branching timeline. It makes the most sense and is made cannon by fates.
The effects of anything on the integrity of any story story lies solely in any individual’s own judgment.
The bonds that change fate at its best is just a reskin of power of friendship, which can be done well, but I don’t think awakening does it particularly well, especially considering that in the original timeline, apparently Chrom and Robin just… didn’t have those bonds, even though they presumably went through similar things, just they had a worse time without lucina.
@@samkeiser9776 Why are you assuming I’m trying to invalidate your opinion? Have you never heard of discussion, or civil arguments? I am not trying to attack your person by pointing out what I perceive as flaws in your logic. If you don’t want your opinions questioned or challenged, do not speak them. It is hypocritical of you to both argue against the RUclipsr’s opinion by posting your own negative one, yet throw a hissy fit when someone else does the same to you.
Grow up.
@@Hewasnumber1 The reason I felt like affirming my opinion is because you came off as trying to say my opinion was wrong, “you DO know this is fiction, right?”
Yes, I knew that, you seemed to not understand what I was even trying to say, I even said as much that my opinion was based off my own experience with the game, I probably could’ve explained myself in a more understandable way.
But when you replied and told me that I should’ve had suspension of disbelief, I saw that as you trying to say that my opinion was invalid, so that’s why I replied while reaffirming that I don’t need to justify my opinion.
What’s the point of “pointing out the flaw in the logic of my opinion.” other than to say “there’s a flaw in your opinion.”?
Opinions aren’t based off logic, they’re based on emotion, and it’s not like we’re talking about objective things, like the laws of nature, where someone’s opinion can be factually wrong, we’re talking about fictional media, where there is no objectivity.
I never “argued against the opinion of the RUclipsr.” I had only assumed that stating my differing opinion wouldn’t have been taken as an attack against someone else’s opinion, maybe you could see my comment as me typing pretty “matter of factly” but I felt I hadn’t attacked the opinion in the video, because I felt like I made it clear I was speaking about myself, unless you see me stating my own differing opinion in general as an attack against the one in the video.
I don’t think I should have to make clear that when I’m only talking about my own opinion, I’m talking about my own opinion.
@@samkeiser9776 Opinions aren’t formed off of emotion, they’re formed on a difference of perspective. I was pointing out that I believe your perception to be flawed, and was trying to skew that perception to more align with mine. That is what discussion and debate is for. Do not use subjectivity as an excuse to never challenge your own viewpoints. It never fails to aggravate me when people use opinions and their subjective nature to deflect any dissenting rationality. You wouldn’t be bringing any of this up if I agreed with you; this entire tirade of yours is solely to protect yourself from considering a different perspective.
based af
have to say, though F!Robin is so infuriating and I hate her, MRobin is really good
I think that's probably because Robin is canonically male . I have a preference towards him because he has better supports and shows up more in smash bros and warriors making me more familiar with the snow white haired gentleman.
@@user-ij6py2zi9bRobin doesn't have a Canon sex considering both appear in multiple media. Like she's in smash and warriors too. Male Robin just shows up a bit more but there is no confirmed definitive