Fate/Grand Order
Fate/Grand Order
Overview
Fate/Grand Order is a free-to-play “gacha” style MMORPG for iOS and Android developed by Delightworks and published by Aniplex. The game was released in Japan in 2015 and an English version followed in 2017. The game makes use of turn-based battles and has over 240 characters and a strong narrative. The game has seen massive popularity both in Japan and abroad, with worldwide revenue for 2019 totalling $4 billion. Because of its popularity, its story has been adapted into a range of other media including anime, films, and manga.
Plot
Humanity is on the brink of eradication, and the threat seems to be linked to Fuyuki City and the events of the Fifth Holy Grail War. Ritsuka Fujimaru is a member of the Chaldea Security Organization, which has predicted an extinction event will occur the following year in 2016. Using Rayshift technology to travel back in time, Ritsuka and their Servant, Mash Kyrielight, must restore the Foundation of Humanity by retrieving seven Holy Grails spread throughout the ages.
Gameplay
Fate/Grand Order is a turn-based RPG in which players act as Masters and command Servants in battle. The player is able to have a party of six Servants in battle (three active and three reserve), and battles play out by the player issues commands to their Servants by drawing and playing cards they have collected. There are three types of cards: Buster (heavy attack), Arts (medium attack that charges a Servant’s Noble Phantasm gauge), and Quick (light attack that generates Critical Stars, which increase the chance of getting critical hits on the next turn). Servants and Masters also both have special skills that can turn the tide in battle.
Players obtain new Servants through a random “gacha” mechanic. Saint Quartz is the main in-game currency used to summon Servants and purchase "Craft Essence" which give additional effects in battle. Saint Quartz can be acquired by playing the game or making in-app purchases using real money. Friend Points are the game’s second type of currency and are used to summon lower star Servants.
Servants can be leveled up by acquiring Embers from combat. Each Servant has four stages of advancement, called Ascension, and each unlocks a new appearance and new skills. Servants also each have their own narrative stories and scenarios, which the player can progress through by strengthening their Bond Level with their Servants by using them in combat.
Other Media
TV Anime
A TV anime film Fate/Grand Order: First Order, which adapts the game’s prologue, aired in Japan on Dec. 31, 2016. The movie spans 74 minutes and was directed by Hitoshi Namba, with scripts by Ayumi Sekine, character designs by Keisuke Goto, music by Ryo Kawasaki, and anime production by Lay-duce. It stars as its main characters Nobunaga Shimazaki, Rie Takahashi, and Ayako Kawasumi. A follow-up to First Order, Fate/Grand Order: Moonlight/Lostroom, aired in Japan on Dec. 31, 2017. The short anime was directed by Hitoshi Namba and Takuro Tsukada, and written by Fate creator Kinoko Nasu with music by Ryo Kawasaki.
The series has also received a special short anime adaptation titled Fate/Grand Order x Himuro's World: Seven Most Powerful Great Figures Chapter. The anime is directed by Takahiro Miura and written by Eiichiro Mashin with character designs by Masato Nagamori, music by Go Shiina, and anime production by Ufotable. The 14-minute anime was released in Japan on Dec. 31, 2017.
Fate/Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Front: Babylonia adapts the Babylonia arc of the game and premiered in Japan on Oct. 5, 2019. The anime is being directed by Toshifumi Akai with scripts by Futa Takei and Ukyo Kodachi, character designs by Takashi Takeuchi and Tomoaki Takase, music by Keita Haga and Ryo Kawasaki, and anime production by CloverWorks. The opening theme song is “Phantom Joke” by Unison Square Garden. The first ending theme is "Hoshi ga furu Yume" by Eir Aoi. Artist milet performs the second and third ending themes, “Prover” and “Tell Me.” The series will run for 21 episodes.
Films
Fate/Grand Order - Divine Realm of the Round Table: Camelot is a two-part film that will adapt the sixth chapter of the game. It is being produced by Production I.G and Signal.MD. Staff includes Kei Suezawa directing, Ukyo Kodachi penning the script, and Keita Haga and Hideyuki Fukasawa composing the music. Character designers Mieko Hosoi, Kazuchika Kise and Nakaya Onsen will adapt Takashi Takeuchi's original designs for both films. The first film, subtitled Wandering; Airgetlám, will be released in Japan in late 2020.
Manga
Several manga have been made adapting the game’s story. The first, Fate/Grand Order mortalis:stella is written by Shiramine and began serialization in Ichijinsha's Monthly Comic Zero Sum magazine in July 2017. One tankobon volume has been released to date. The second, Fate/Grand Order turas réalta is written by Takashi Kawabuchi and began serialization in August 2017 in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine. To date, two tankobon volumes have been released.
The Epic of Remnants arc has also been adapted into four manga each of which began serialization in 2019. Subspecies Singularity I: Malignant Quarantined Demonic Realm Shinjuku is written by Shonen Sasaki and serialized in Monthly Shonen Ace, Subspecies Singularity II: Legendary Subterranean World Agartha is written by Hideo Takanaka and serialized in Young Ace, Subspecies Singularity III: Scene of a Deadly Battle Shimosa is written by Rei Wataru and serialized on the Magazine Pocket app, and Subspecies Singularity IV: Taboo Advent Salem: Salem of Heresy is written by Aoi Ohmori and serialized in Comic Rex.
Another manga adaptation is Fate/GUDAGUDA Order, a parody manga published online. It is written by Keikenchi and features characters by Koha-Ace.
Learn with Manga! FGO is a parody informational manga written by Riyo and published online. The manga covers the lore of the game including the myths surrounding each of the Servants. It has received a sequel titled Learn More with Manga! FGO which is also written by Riyo.