Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
    Welcome to Nintendo Forums. We hope you enjoy your visit.


    You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


    Join our community!


    If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

    Username:   Password:
    Add Reply
    [ROTM Winner]Fire Emblem; A Review
    Topic Started: Mar 24 2005, 10:14 PM (362 Views)
    Duke of Fenmark
    Koopa
    [size=7]Fire Emblem[/size]

    Category: RPG
    System: GameBoy Advance
    Players: up to 4
    Release Date: November 2003
    Developer: Intelligent Systems


    Fire Emblem, a series that first appeared on the Famikom in Japan and has been popular there ever since, was finally published by Nintendo for North America. As it turns out, us westerners liked the game just as much as our Japanese friends.

    I'll go over these basic categories:

    Gameplay
    Story
    Sound/Music
    Graphics
    Controls
    Multiplayer
    Replayability


    Gameplay

    Intelligent Systems did a very fine job with this game, living up to their reputation.
    In this game, you act as the tactician of the group, advising them in battle. The player chooses his units, gives them the proper weapons, and plans the best strategy before battle. Gameplay is turn-based. The player can attack a single enemy unit with his own if it is within striking distance, or move to a spot, equip the proper weapon, and prepare to counter-attack during the enemy's turn. In combat, you are not required to push any buttons: you just sit back and watch the fight. Once a unit's HP reaches zero, they become destroyed. Be careful! Once one of your units is destroyed, there's no way to recover him/her!
    As you progress through the game, you must choose certain units of your liking and recruit them. Units gain experience points for engaging in combat, and they level up when they gain 100 xp. A character's attributes, such as strength, skill, speed, defense, luck, and resistence, increase every time you level up.
    When a character reaches lv. 10, they may change classes, providing they have a special item, such as a Hero's Crest. There are many different kinds of units, each possessing its own unique characteristics. From Mages to Paladins and Archers to Lords, you must discover each units' strengths and use them to your advantage to gain the upper hand on your enemy.
    There are 31 missions, or chapters, that the player must complete. The goal of the chapter differs from one to the next. The player may be required to capture the throne, protect someone, or just destroy every enemy in sight. In certain missions, potential allies may present themselves, and its up to you to recognize them and have the right character speak with them to pursuade them to join your cause.
    Some characters can interact with each other, and if you send them into battle side-by-side, you might gain yet another advantage over your enemy, not to mention humorous conversations between characters.
    FE's gameplay is one of the most outstanding features of the game. Its not that hard to master, either.
    Guiding your troops into battle, knowing that one small mistake could be your demise... its an experience that's not to be missed.

    Gameplay-- 9.5/10


    Story

    Three young lords: Eliwood, Hector, and Lyn, are caught up in a mysterious conflict with a foreboding, evil force. Its up to you, their tactitian, to see them through to the end, no matter where that may be.
    FE's storyline is deep, twisted and emotional. Filled with backstabbing and deciet, it will leave you reeling in some places. As you follow these young lords as they pursue their goals across the continent of Elibe, you will run into many surprises.
    I can almost guarantee that you will be on the edge of your seat until the very end. I'm not going to spoil it for you; its up to you to see how it all wraps up in the end.

    Story: Perfect! 10/10


    Sound/Music

    The sound of this game is everything it needs to be. In battle, you'll hear everything: the sound of weapons hitting flesh, weapons clanking against armor.... The sound of a magic spell being cast.... The sound of the horse's hooves as a knight charges, the rattling of a general's heavy armor.... It's all there.
    As for the music, one couldn't ask for better. It matches the battle sequences and flows with the setting of the chapters perfectly. The music will have you holding your breath as you are hoping for the final blow on a difficult boss, yet you will not notice the music standing out; everything good music should do.
    The music is the perfect compliment to the emotionally-charged storyline.... Trust me: you'll love it.

    Sound/Music 9/10


    Graphics

    Fire Emblem's graphics are fairly simple, but that doesn't stop them from being beautiful. In combat, your character faces his enemy, and they exchange blows. They have backgrounds that match the terrain, and the characters themselves are fluid and clear, not choppy and vague, and are in vibrant colors. On the battlefield, you'll move your characters through plains and forests, across beaches and bridges, though fortresses and between pillars, sometimes under rain and snow. The outcome of battle often is affected by where your units are located: forests offer a small bit of protection, where fortresses allow your character to recover a small amount of hp over time... Overall, I'd give this game's graphics...

    Graphics 8.5/10


    Controls

    At first, all the things you must remember about this game's many controls may be a bit overwhelming. After time, however, you will grow familiar with them, and then you'll discover how good they really are. This game's controls allow you to have complete control over all of your units, and more. you can view the attack range of your opponents, examine what weapons they carry, and see all of their stats with a touch of a button. Battle flows along quite smoothly, and you'll never get a headache from trying to figure out how to do what you want done.

    Controls 9.5/10


    Multiplayer

    In multiplayer, you choose up to five characters from a save file, give them the weapons they need, give the team a name, and fight. You can practice on your own against other teams you've made or go head-to-head with a friend (providing you both have a game-pak). Its kind of a last man standing thing. Nothing special. I've found the multiplayer to be rather fun. When I've beat the game, I compose a team made up of my five best characters from that save file. That way, I can have a record of how I did and who I leveled up after I've deleted the save file. I find this to be pretty useful, not to mention fun.

    Multiplayer: 7/10


    Replayability

    Fire Emblem has great replay value. After you've completed the game, new quests are unlocked, and when you've beat these, a Hard mode is unlocked (hard mode is very difficult and, imo, tedious). Also, it's always fun to go back and beat the game again, catching the extra characters, weapons and chapters that you missed before, and experimenting with different units, training them and making them into powerhouses and finding the characters that fit your strategy best. I've just finished beating the game for the sixth time, and it's still as fun as the first, although the story has lost its flavor by now.
    Its a joy to play again and again.

    Replayability: 9/10


    Now, lets sum this up:

    Gameplay: 9.5/10
    Story: perfect 10
    Sound/Music: 9/10
    Graphics: 8.5/10
    Controls: 9.5/10
    Multiplayer: 7/10
    Replayability: 9/10

    As you can see, this game really doesn't have any outstanding weak points, which is not a bad thing. Now, overall, I'll give this game a....

    Overall: 9/10

    A well rounded game, Fire Emblem is a must-have for all fans of RPGs or those that crave a little adventure and emotion.
    Posted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Mitch
    Member Avatar


    Nice revew.
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Duke of Fenmark
    Koopa
    Mitch
    Mar 24 2005, 11:55 PM
    Nice revew.

    :D thanks!
    Posted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Canttouchthis04


    Very nice review! It was easy to read, had a lot of info, and I could actually sit through it cause you made it interesting :) Good job ^_^
    "I arrested a man-lady once... who was legally named Phuck."
    Posted Image
    Posted Image

    Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image
    Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Duke of Fenmark
    Koopa
    Canttouchthis21
    Mar 25 2005, 01:29 AM
    Very nice review! It was easy to read, had a lot of info, and I could actually sit through it cause you made it interesting :) Good job ^_^

    hey, i try. ;)

    glad you liked it!
    Posted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Prydinho
    Gay
    very good
    gay
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Sontailsic
    Member Avatar
    Chelsea FC Champions 55-05-06-10

    Thats a top contender for ROTM :D very well done.

    Posted Image
    Posted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Prydinho
    Gay
    yer i hope you get it good review
    gay
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    NIN10DOH DS
    ChuChu
    Very good review.
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Wings_of_Fire
    Goomba
    NIN10DOH DS
    Apr 6 2005, 02:49 PM
    Very good review.

    'Bout what I'd give it, since I *wuv* it. :heart: Nice review.;)
    Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Prydinho
    Gay
    very funny wigy well done my frriend the story is perfect well done
    gay
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    reaperrev92
    Goomba
    Perfect Review. Looks like you took your time, I enjoyed reading it. !!!
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Duke of Fenmark
    Koopa
    thanks, everybody!

    heh, its been a while since ive come here...
    Posted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Sontailsic
    Member Avatar
    Chelsea FC Champions 55-05-06-10

    I want my dukey back dukey back dukey back rabs, I got my dukey back dukey back rabs. :D wb dude!

    Posted Image
    Posted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    Duke of Fenmark
    Koopa
    Sontailsic
    Apr 16 2005, 07:41 PM
    I want my dukey back dukey back dukey back rabs, I got my dukey back dukey back rabs. :D wb dude!

    xD yep.
    Posted Image
    Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
     
    1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
    « Previous Topic · User Video Game Reviews · Next Topic »
    Add Reply