The best RPG available on the DS? Perhaps…
• Replayability
• Stylus integration
• Simple, yet satisfying story
• Character ability progression
Cons:
• Some technical presentation elements
• Under-developed or cookie-cutter characters abound
• Limited connection to the majority of characters
• Limited ability to develop reserves
Breakdown:
****Aspect Summary****
Graphics (8):
Essentially, the visual presentation gets the job done for this installment of Fire Emblem. The visual presentation is definitely good enough to serve its purpose, particularly with a NES-era strategy RPG that has been brought into the 21st century on the DS. While some improved texturing would be preferable, and the optional battle scene graphics are really underwhelming, most of the visual presentation is ultimately appealing enough. The anime-style portraits presented for each character are particularly striking, and there is some nifty artwork that conveys story elements between battle sequences. In summary, the graphical quality is no tour de force, but then again, it didn't need to be. Therefore, the graphics have received a solid 8 rating from me.
Sound (7):
Truth be told, I mostly played Shadow Dragon with the sound muted for various reasons. So while I can't make the most effective commentary on this area, I will say that I did listen to enough to receive the impression that the sound is mostly ordinary and predictable. It was predictably upbeat when appropriate, dire during desperate circumstances, and dramatic during climactic sequences. I will note that critical hits and other combat-oriented sounds did have a nice ring to them. Similar to the visuals, Shadow Dragon's audio quality is not overwhelming, but it also didn't need to be. However, unlike the visuals, the sound failed to add much of anything to the experience.
Story (8):
My only prior full-game experience with Fire Emblem was with Path of Radiance for the GameCube. And I have to say that, while simplistic, I was impressed with story and character progression elements of that game. Now I can see from where Path of Radiance procured its plucky, yet expansive, narrative style. Shadow Dragon shares story-telling qualities with its successor game, Path of Radiance. However, as might be expected for an older entry in the series, Shadow Dragon's plot is simplified even further, featuring less ambitious and sprawling elements. Moreover, characters not named Marth or Nyna are barely developed and explored, leaving you wanting more and wishing you felt more attachment to your stud Paladin or Caeda, for example. Snippets of in-game interaction do help lend insight into certain character personas, but regrettably those instances are too few and far between, and too narrowly focused on a select cache of characters. I was tempted to give Shadow Dragon a 7 for this category, but ultimately settled on a 7.5 (rounding up to an 8) because the plot has ingratiating RPG elements, logical progression, and a satisfying conclusion.
Gameplay (10):
This score is essentially a 9.5 rounded up to a 10. While the gameplay is not perfect, as the score might indicate, it is still deep and ingratiating enough to be graded within orbit of a 10/10. Gameplay is an overwhelming strength of the game, so if you like strategic RPGs and you own a DS, then this is a necessary purchase for you.
To start, this game features one of the most effective incorporations of stylus use that I've seen on the DS. Granted my DS experience is limited to about a dozen games, but many of those games seem to include the stylus as an afterthought to varying degrees. My best frame of reference with respect to stylus use is from Final Fantasy Tactics A2. That game is a prime example of stylus under-utilization. One could use the stylus, but it was user-unfriendly to the point of being prohibitively difficult. In contrast, Shadow Dragon can be effortlessly controlled using the stylus; in fact, it seems to control better with the stylus than with the buttons. The only game that I can recall with superior stylus controls is the Phantom Hourglass.
As with other Fire Emblems, this entry features a refined package of turn-based battle strategy, character leveling, weapon discovery and customization, and a wealth of other features specific to strategy RPG. The party combination possibilities are endless and very fun to explore. That being said, you'll inevitably gravitate towards your favorites by mid-game, lacking motivation to explore other characters or classes unless necessary. Moreover, there seems to be a great disparity in how effective certain characters are, which can be deflating if you really like a character's portrait or weapon skills, only to find out that their abilities at level 7 aren't much better than a newcomer at level 3. It's a minor nuisance though, and it was barely noteworthy during the course of my two playthroughs.
As with most Strat-RPGs, there is nothing more fun than "going back to the lab" to develop characters, formulate teams, and acquire and exchange armaments. This installment of Fire Emblem does not disappoint, with varied classes, logical progression elements, and a satisfying array of armaments available. Both character customization and progression may feel slightly "stripped down" and basic, but it's also intuitive and very satisfying. The game deserves credit here, particularly when considering its age. Finally, the game features a good degree of replayability, due to some hidden character exchanges, items, and mission branches, along with the ability to increase the level of difficulty on subsequent replays. The game is challenging enough to begin with, so if you enjoyed your first complete game, you'll be tempted to "up the ante" and challenge yourself at increasing difficulty levels.
Atmosphere (10):
For those familiar with the anime, Shadow Dragon conveys a very Record of Lodoss War vibe. It's very much appreciated on my part as it hits the fantasy note very well. It's easy to get lost in the adventure, as the presentation of environments and plot concepts is very intriguing. It's not an overwhelming plot, but everything about this game feels solidly crafted, from the menu interface to the stylus control. The bottom line is that you'll feel immersed while you're playing it, possibly losing track of time on several occasions, and you'll find yourself tempted to return to this game upon completion.
*Extra Thought
In my experience, this game makes an argument to be the best RPG available on the DS, even when including non-strategy RPG heavyweights like Final Fantasy 4 and The World Ends With You.
****End Summary****