In 2004, I slotted a game called Fire Emblem into my GBA SP. It immediately captivated me and I have bought every single Fire Emblem game since then.
Fire Emblem is a turn-based tactical RPG, set in medieval fantasy times. The game flows easily as it is separated into chapters, each beginning with dialogue between the characters before switching to a tiled map upon which you'll have to complete a certain task.
You have all the generic classes you would expect, such as mage, cleric, archer, swordsman, knight, cavalier and so on. Each class has its own unique ability and weapon set of choice.
There is rock-paper-scissor type element to the combat system, giving certain weapon classes advantages over the others while some cancel each other out.
They range from the characters essentially getting to know each other to their deepest and darkest secrets being shared, or even a confession of love. In some cases, these conversations change the ending of the game, so they are worth exploring.
Secondly, characters can die. Permanently. If someone's HP hits 0, that's it. They are gone for good and in 95% of cases they are completely erased from the game unless they are a semi-pivotal character. But even those will never take to the field again.
This is where Fire Emblem gets to you. You will grow attached to your little pixel people, you will feel anger when they die. You may even reset your game and lose half an hour's work, just to revive your fallen comrade.
That's the joy of the game though. It immerses you as you feel for the characters. You truly become the tactician as you attempt to help them win battles and survive.
I could honestly just sit here and type about how diverse all of the elements in the game are but it's something you should experience for yourself to truly appreciate it.
Thanks to Ford-James Stanbridge for his review. If you would like to get a review published on ONM, just submit a review of your favourite Nintendo game on the Reviews and Buyer's Guide forum or email your entry to Thomas East East
love this game , started playing it when it came as an ambassador game and have hardly stopped playing since
Yes, Fire Emblem is special. I first met the characters through Smash Bros. Melee and then Brawl. After showing an interest in the franchise, my mum got me Shadow Dragon for my Birthday. Although it was awfully hard and a pain in the rear, I loved it! Then, last Christmas, my sister got a copy of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, which I found easier and the storyline was more entertaining for me ^^ Now, my top three characters are all from the Tellius series:
1. Haar
2. Rhys
3. Tibarn
Nice review of the game but a little more depth of the characters would of been nice.
This is my one and only favourite of the Fire Emblem games manly because I, the player, was a tactician that Lynn, Eliwood and Hector came to rely upon for help in the up coming battles. This is how you get immersed, Lynn really felt like she was asking for YOUR advice, like you were there in the battle. I don't think any other Fire Emblem game did that which is why Sacred Stones and the remake of the original did not impress. That breaking of the 4th wall of sorts really impressed me.
The game felt very well balanced too. Sure it was hard but finding out you could recruit characters along the way and level them up to be ultimate fighters was a joy. They evolve kind of like Pokemon after level 10 if you give them a specific item. My favourite character was the weak Pegasus Knight who continually died at even the slightest hint of trouble. But with some help at understanding the game mechanics it was suggested she was one of the strongest characters of the game. All that effort paid off for the final fight!!
There was also tonnes of secrets like the support conversations and finding out how to recruit new members, secret items on squares and extra enemies if you waited around long enough or if you were taking too many turns.
All in all I really want to see a return of Fire Emblem as good as this one, here's hoping the 3DS one will be.
Never played it before it was an ambassador game, now I totally love it. My favourite of the ambassador games, it's a great story
I owned Shadow Dragon before but could never properly get the hang of it.Then I got Sacred Stones as an ambassador and I got hooked. I'm on the final chapter now so I'll go back to Shadow dragon once I finish it.
Got this as an ambassador and its my favourite one.I havent played much(chapter 8 I think) but it is a true gem.