Absolute a must-buy, must-play game.
Review 182
Released: November 3, 2003
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Sys.
Game Genre: Fantasy Turn-Based Strategy
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
ESRB Descriptors: Violence
Story: 30%
Gameplay: 40%
Graphics: 20%
Durability: 10%
Story (10/10)
I find no flaws with the story of Fire Emblem. As always, I refuse to spoil any part of the storyline, but you start as a tactician found unconscious on the plains by a woman named Lyn. Bandits attack and this starts your relationship with Lyn, which leads to saving the world, eventually.
The storyline was implemented very well. The game is separated into chapters. Before each chapter, the storyline progresses, after a chapter the storyline progresses, and even in the middle of a battle, the storyline progresses. There is never a lull in which you feel the game is getting repetitive.
Gameplay (10/10)
Excellent, perfect, incredible. I'd like to stop there, but that would be a pretty sucky review. I cannot believe how great this game is. It's a strategy game, so you get the basic idea of the gameplay. The player moves their characters, then the enemy gets their phase, and so on and so forth. As the game progresses, you pick up more character, each with their own abilities.
Each weapon has its strength and its weakness. Fire Emblem contains a 'weapon triangle'. Swords are strong against axes, axes are strong against lances, and lances are strong against swords. Magic also has this triangle. I believe the three magic types are light, dark, and anima (light being good against dark, dark against anima, and anima against light). Bows are not strong or weak against anything, but if a character with a bow is attacked directly, it cannot counter.
One feature that I enjoyed (that many may hate) is that if a character is defeated, that character is done. For good. You cannot use them again in battle. They will still stay along in the storyline (usually using a broken limb as an excuse to not fight). I think this gives the gamer a great sense of caution and keeps the difficulty level up. Otherwise, with the weapon triangle, decent strategy would make the game insanely easy if characters came back in the next level after being defeated.
Graphics (10/10)
The graphics could not be any better on the Gameboy Advance. They are very clear, very smooth, and a few 'cutscene' pictures are very cool. The graphics and animations in battle are pretty freakin' sweet as well.
Durability (10/10)
This game lasts quite some time, and can easily be played twice to be able to use some characters you didn't quite make it through with the first time through. Also, some sidequests and characters can be easily passed by on a first play. The difficulty is up there in some levels, but is balanced well by a lower difficulty in other levels. It never becomes too frustrating to play, except in one case. If you do not level your characters smartly throughout the game, the final level will be impossible. The main characters are a bit harder to level than the others, and it can be easy to just max out a few stronger characters. However, only the main characters will be effective in the final chapter…just keep that in mind if you plan to play the game.
Overall Score (10/10)
Final Thoughts:
Absolutely a must-buy, must-play game if you have ever considered yourself somebody who likes to be entertained. There are very few games that have captivated me like Fire Emblem has. I can't wait to play the sequel.