This game is so good, I had to write a review!
I'm a huge fan of Advance Wars for the GBA and have always been interested in picking up a FE title because of their association, however, the reviews of FE titles always warned about massive amounts of text sequences that would deter some gamers. I figured that I was one of those gamers until I heard about FE being announced for the GCN, which piqued my interest. To make a long story short I bought the game, and consider it one of the best game related decisions I've made since I got my Mom to buy me Super Mario 3 when I was a kid.
Although this game is great to FE beginners, I can understand why this game lost some marks in the Gamespot review. I guess if I had been a huge fan of past FE games the gameplay and style of this new addition might seem a little trite, and played-out. It must be noted that this doesn't take away from the overall experience, but I can empathize with those complaints.
Graphics aren't perfect, but they suit the needs of the game well. The artistic style is refreshing and makes me feel like I'm playing some video game that is probably well recieved in Japan or something.
Sound is excellent, perfectly matched for the various combat situations and also matches the moods of the characters during stoy telling moments.
Overall the game play is sharp and there are plenty of different scenarios to play through to prevent boredom. Different objectives help keep the game fresh and prevent it from be redundant.
I love this game and am extremely happy I took a chance on it. It's true that it is a text driven game, but if you have the time to sit down for a bit, and have the urge to get immersed in a really interesting story, this game is for you. If you like Advance Wars you'll love this game.