One of the Better RPG Entries in Recent Memory.
Cons: Could do without a few ‘cookie-cutter’ aspects, particularly with regard to villainy. Graphics are better than most tactical RPGs, but still not where they should be, as they can still be bothersome to behold at particular bad points.
Breakdown: My first experience with the Fire Emblem series was a distinctly positive one. Simply put, this is the second best tactical-strategy type of RPG I've ever experienced, next to the original Final Fantasy Tactics. That experience includes games like Disgaea and Front Mission 3. Here's the breakdown, in no particular order of importance:
****Aspect Summary****
Graphics:
This area is probably this game's ultimate weak point. While this genre certainly is not known for cutting edge graphical quality, I feel that by this point, the genre should have experienced some general improvement in this area, and Fire Emblem doesn't really show that, at least not all across the board. Granted, there are a plethora of fantastic anime-style dynamic character portraits to be seen, and equally impressive still imagery, but most of the functioning mechanic, and particularly the 3-D close-ups of certain units(ie. Generals), are fairly weak. Still, the graphical quality isn't that bad at said bad points, and it is rather enjoyable when it's good.
Sound:
They almost had it right with the sound, but as it was, I would have liked to have seen a bit more variety. It seemed like Fire Emblem would change sound to be consistent with thematic progression of the story, which is fine in concept, however some battle themes just began to wear on me as a function of time and repetition. That said, there were a few inspiring, memorable pieces that really fit the mood of the action.
Story:
While the story never floored me, it did keep me motivated to press onward. The story reminded me a bit of the anime 'Record of Lodoss War', which is meant as a compliment. I also appreciated that the game dealt with some more mature, politically-oriented themes dealing with social division and hierarchy. Additionally, I appreciated the ‘international relations’ dynamic that was highlighted and updated periodically throughout the missions. I feel this element is sorely lacking or simply underdeveloped in many RPGs, not just tactical ones. The over-arching principle of the story was somewhat cliché, but never really bothersome. While this area was a not a tour-de-force, it was satisfying and motivating enough.
Gameplay:
This is the outstanding strength of Fire Emblem, in my opinion. From intra-battle mechanics and tactics, to exterior customization and management, Fire Emblem is simply a ‘fun’ game to play, which is obviously the most important part. One of my favorite aspects of battle completion was to be able to ‘get back to the lab’ and manage everyone, from re-arranging and upgrading weaponry and magic, to awarding experience and skills. That’s not to say I was rushing out of battle, though, as the battles themselves were generally challenging and diverse enough to really encourage a degree of thought to complete, especially if one is something of a perfectionist, which I found enjoyable. The only changes I may have made would have been to implement a more aggressive AI(which may be resolved when I do my next play through at the most difficult level), and allowing for something of a ‘random encounter’ arrangement, whereby the player can further refine and develop their characters, a la FFTactics.
Atmosphere:
As I previously stated, the over-riding impression I received from the story was that of 'Record of Lodoss War', for those who are familiar with the anime. As such, the entire atmospheric feel is actually pretty similar, as a result of graphical, musical, and plot-oriented experiences, as well as dialogue encounters and character interaction that the player is privy to. Fire Emblem ‘feels’ like how high fantasy should be stylistically emulated by anime. As such, I feel that Fire Emblem succeeds in promoting a believable and credible climate of fantasy, danger, and intrigue for the gamer to be able to immerse themselves in.
*Extra Thought
This game has one of the best intro movies to an RPG since Suikoden 3.
****End Summary****