Lucina (Fire Emblem)

Lucina originates from the Nintendo and Intelligent Systems video game Fire Emblem Awakening, an entry in their long-running Fire Emblem series of video games. Internally, Awakening was treated as a last-ditch effort to save the series, as declining sales had led Nintendo to deem it the last game in the series if the game did not meet sales goals. Lucina was part of the team's efforts to rework the series' arch-typical medieval fantasy setting and revamping it using elements of time-travel; Lucina travels backward in time from a world in ruins to help her father, Chrom, work towards a different future.[2] Lucina's mother is dependent on the player's choices in the game's relationship and marriage system, another revamped system for the game.[3] Early parts in the game see her dressing up as her ancestor Marth, the protagonist from a number of earlier Fire Emblem titles.[4] Nintendo described her in the game as "an unwavering warrior with a strong sense of justice and commitment to her family...Her power, determination, and wisdom gained from watching the destruction of her world are priceless strengths."[5] Lucina and the rest of the cast were cited as standout aspects of the game that helped in saving the series; Awakening posted strong sales in multiple regions and allowed Nintendo to greenlight further entries in the series.[2]

Lucina later appeared in Awakening's follow up, Fire Emblem Fates, though only as an additional downloadable content (DLC) character, not a core character to the game's story.[6] She is also a playable character in Nintendo's mobile entry in the series, Fire Emblem Heroes,[7] and Fire Emblem Warriors, a Tecmo Koei developed musou action game spin-off.[8] Tecmo Koei originally wanted to drop her from the game's story, citing both issues with her time-travelling backstory conflicting with the new story they were trying to tell in the game, and the perception that there were already too many sword-bearing characters unbalancing the game's gameplay.[9] This idea was rejected by Intelligent Systems and Nintendo, deeming her too important to the franchise to be cut from the game.[9] In Fire Emblem Engage, Lucina appears as an Emblem Ring (guest character) alongside other past Fire Emblem protagonists.[10]

Outside of the Fire Emblem series, Lucina was also included in a number of other Nintendo-related games, including the Super Smash Bros. crossover fighting game series. Lucina was a playable character in 2014's Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as part of the game's core fighting cast, using moves similar to Marth's.[11][12] Around the same time, she also received her own Amiibo figure from Nintendo.[13] She also appears in the series' 2018 entry, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, now designated as Marth's "echo fighter".[14] She is also playable in the 2016 tactical role-playing crossover game Project X Zone 2, appearing as part of a pair unit with her father Chrom.[15] A downloadable addition to the Japan-only Monster Hunter Frontier G allowed for the player to dress their avatar as Lucina in the game's Wii U version.[16] Lucina is featured as a bonus playable character in Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., where she is made playable upon the player linking their Amiibo with the game.[17]

Good Smile Company launched a figma figurine based on Lucina in 2014.[18]