All I can say is this: Finally! After 14 years, with the exception of Super Smash Bros. Melee, Fire Emblem has arrived on the North American shores at last. Why so long, you ask? Nintendo was worried that FE would prove to be too hard for us "dumb" westerners. (Not an actual quote, so don't take too much offense to it.) However, the success of Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising prompted Intelligent Systems to make an easier Fire Emblem for an English release, and that's exactly what they did.
Well, before I get into the introduction, let me provide a background on the series:
The first Fire Emblem game was made for the Famicom (that's the Japanese NES for all you people that haven't been playing VGs as long as me) back around 1990. The game, which starred Marth, became a huge hit in Japan. However, as mentioned, the game was fairly hard, and was never released stateside. That would hold for the next five games in the series. (FE 1&2 were for the Famicom, 3-5 for the Super Famicom (SNES), and 6 for the GBA) After AW and AW2's success in the US, IS made Fire Emblem 7: The Blazing Sword easier, and was translated into an English version and released in the fall of 2003.
Fire Emblem is a tactical RPG, meaning you actually have to move your characters around in order to get some damage in. However, unlike other games in the same genre, such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Shining Force, there's a lot of different aspects to the game. For one, the game's battle engine can get very deep and complex. Besides attacking, you'll be actively trading items between your units, protecting injured units until they can get some healing, (Also known as "rescuing") and even starting conversations that increase the bond between your units. (Also known as "supporting") Another important note is that there are no godly powers in this game, and as a result, anyone who dies on the battlefield STAYS dead. This also means if one of the main characters fall, it's game over!
Anyways... I've dilly daddled long enough. Now to take this game apart piece by piece.
Storyline:
Fire Emblem 7 is a continuation of the series' main storyline. (One of the only game series that I know of that keeps the same storyline through almost all its games, not like some that are more popular... *coughfinalfantasycough*) Chronologically, this game takes place 20 years before Fire Emblem 6: The Sword of Seals, which starred everyone's favorite Fire Emblem Character, Roy. This game puts you in the role of the younger version of Roy's father, Eliwood, who is going to search for his father, Lord Elbert. (Starting to see a repetitive storyline plot? In FE6, Roy has to return to Pherae because Eliwood fell ill.)
However, you don't start with Eliwood's story right off the bat. It first starts you on the far side of the continent with a tribeswoman (is there such a word?) named Lyn. (Or more formally, Lyndis.) The story starts when Lyn finds a tactician (which happens to be YOU), lying unconcious in the plains of Sacae. She takes you back to her house... er... ger... until you come to. However, your introduction doesn't last long, as the bandits that killed off her tribe six months ago come again for another attack! This starts her story, which acts as a tutorial for the game. It won't be long before her mission changes, though, as she finds out from two knights from a territory deep within the Lycian league that she is part of their noble line, and that her grandfather, Lord Hausen, has fallen ill due to poisoning from his power-hungry brother, Lundgren. Lyn's story will take you through until Lundgren's defeat, while you learn the ins-and-outs.
After that, you'll go onto the main story, which starts with Eliwood setting off to search for his father, as mentioned before, but his plans change soon enough, as the disappearance of his father, along with his territory's best infantry, is linked to a huge plot by the evil Black Fang to try to bring dragons back into their continent. I can explain why in greater detail, but then I'd have to tell the WHOLE Fire Emblem story, and that would just be boring.
One of the things that completely impressed me is how the game puts you, the player, into the storyline. Try putting your real name and gender down for your tactician information. Believe me, I found it embarrasing at first, but when I would see something like...
Lowen: And who's this person over here?
Eliwood: Oh, him? That's Adam. He's our tactician.
...it gives you a sense of importance. It's not like you're some kind of god just telling people what to do, it's more like you're actually a character in the game!
Final story remarks: After hearing the introduction to Fire Emblem 6's storyling, I started to think that it was a bit on the repetitive side after a while. However, as you go deeper into the story, you'll find that it has quote the twisting plot! If you're looking for a story that you won't know what the heck is going to happen next, take FE7 for a spin.
Rating: 16/20
Play Control:
Really, there's nothing special for the play control. The controls remain the same throughout the game: Press the control pad to move the cursor, press A to confirm, press B to cancel, and press R to view a unit's stats. Simple enough? There isn't really much to comment about that, really. I will mention, however, that it is quite responsive. ;)
Final play control remarks: Basically, the play control is simple enough that a two-year old can master the controls of this game and know how to work it. Need I say more?
NOTE: Because of the simple play control, it will not be rated. As a result, it will show as a 10/10 when calculating the final rating.
Rating: N/A
Graphics:
Don't get too excited about the intro, title screen, and menu graphics, that's as good as they get. Most of the graphics are kept pretty simple. Cutscenes normally involve character face graphics (with animated mouths, and sometimes they turn their heads towards the screen when they're talking to you specifically) with word bubbles, on top of a nicely decorated background. Sometimes the face graphics move around and such, but that's about it. Some of the battle backgrounds and animations, given that you have them turned on, are just great, though. If you're squeamish, though, be warned: some animations show weapons being thrusted through their target, bashed into their skulls, etc, (and somehow, they still survive) but you'll also be relieved that there's no blood from that, just a white flash. (Although maybe a red flash would be nice... probably North American censorship)
Final graphic remarks: Once again, they're decent enough. You can't really judge a GBA game by its graphics, since they're only around 32-64 bit graphics. You can recognize everything, so I guess it's all good.
Rating: 3.5/5
Gameplay:
Well, first of all, let me say that there tons of gameplay in this game, and the gameplay you do have is fairly deep. First off, there are three different stories, all of them with a normal and hard mode. Once you beat Lyn's story, Eliwood's story (the main story) becomes available, and takes you through to the end of the game. After finishing the game, Hector's story becomes available. Now, Hector's story is along the same lines as Eliwood's, only it's a bit harder and there are a few different chapters.
Also, once you finish the game, you can play any of these stories under hard mode, which is pretty much what you would expect from any other Fire Emblem's normal mode.
You also have to be innovative with your strategy, down to who should attack who with what. Why, you might say? Because maybe one of your units is better suited to attack a certain type of enemy unit. For example, a unit with a high Max HP, defense, and avoid, would be best suited to take on a Beserker, because they're most likely to survive critical hits. (Beserkers' weapons have the highest critical ratings of all weapons/classes) Also, the weapons being used by both you and your opponent fall under a hirerarchy. This is known as the "Weapon Triangle". In this "triangle", swords best axes, lances best swords, and aces best lances. (Think "Rock, Paper, Scissors.") Most of the time, this only effects the hit-rate (chance of hitting) for that attack. The advantaged weapon would gain a hit-rate bonus, where the disadvantaged would have a lowered hit-rate. There are also weapons that manipulate this triangle. One of these weapons would be the lancereaver, which is a sword that bests lances, but is bested by axes, basically reversing the Weapon Triangle.
The same also holds true for magic: the Trinity of Magic. In this hirerarchy, Anima (fire, lightning, wind, ice) magic bests light magic, light bests dark, and dark bests anima. Also, note that staves (staves is the plural for "staff") is not included in the T.O.M., and bows aren't included in the Weapon Triangle, since staves are only for supporting your units, and most direct combat weapons can't counterattack bows. (But bows can't counterattack direct weapons either.)
As a unit uses a weapon, their skill with that type of weapon increases. Not only does this increase their attack power with this weapon, it allows that unit to use stronger weapons of that type. (For example, a unit with a C skill level in lances can't use a lance with a skill level of A; that unit needs a skill level of either A or S to use it.)
Also, as weapons are used, they become less durable, as noted when you select a weapon to attack with. Weapon durability decreases with each successful hit, and magic durability decreases every time the spell is cast. When their durability reaches 0, it breaks. This means you'll want to make sure you have extra weapons put aside. (You do get a merchant at a point in the game, and you can store items, weapons, etc. with him.)
One of the more interesting features is the "support" feature. You'll notice that every character has an elemental affinity. If you keep two units of the same affinity in adjacent spaces for several turns, you might notice the "support" option coming up on the menu. This starts a conversation between the two units, increasing their support level. What does that do, exactly? Well, if two units have a support level between each other, they'll experience a slight stat boost when they're within 3 spaces of each other.
Also, as mentioned before, it pays to watch the health of your units, because if their HP is depleted, they DIE. And when I say they DIE, they DIE! This isn't Dragon Warrior, where you can revive a dead party member, this is Fire Emblem. If one of your units die, they STAY dead. There are a few exceptions, however. Well, first off, if a lord dies, (Lyn, Eliwood, or Hector) it's game over. If a plot-critical unit is defeated in battle, they don't die, since they're needed for the plot, but can't fight. Normally, with the FE fans that I chat with, we have a little button combination we like to press when a unit dies: We call it "A, B, Select, and Start." (Basically the game boy equivalent of CTRL+ALT+DEL)
Final gameplay remarks: Take it from me. The gameplay will keep you from putting your GBA down. The game doesn't look to be all that professional graphics-wise, but you'll become addicted before you even get through half of Lyn's story. You'll definately want to play this through to its end.
Rating: 35/35
Sound
Okay, don't ask what's wrong with me, because I've purposely recorded sounds from the game to make a Fire Emblem desktop theme. Just call me crazy. Anyways...
Once again, we're talking Game Boys here. Game Boys never had decent audio capabilities unti the GBA days, and it still ain't perfect. The sound is kind of mediocre, although you might find the sound of a killing blow oddly funny. (After my shouts of "HUMILIATION!" when one of my units kills an enemy on a conterattack.) The sound effects of your units moving around the map are fairly good, much like they are in advance wars. It still kinda sounds cheesy along with the unit movement, though.
As for the music, two thumbs up for the composers! First off, if you've heard the original soundtrack for the first Fire Emblem, you'll realize that quite a couple of tunes come straight from the first. And yes, the two songs that make up the Fire Emblem theme in Super Smash Bros. Melee are there, too. (Together, We Ride! and, of course, the main theme).
Rating: 12/15
Replayability:
This game boasts a lot that will make you play again. (And if you're really into this game, you'll play it more times than the Energizer Bunny.) As mentioned before, Hector's story and the hard mode of all three stories become available when you finish the game the first time, and there are many different combinations of armies you can come up with, depending on who you get to recruit. You'll probably have to play the game numerous times if you want to get all the support conversations, (without looking at the support conversations guide on GameFAQs first) and to try to see if the "Random Number Generator" (which eventually determines which stats increase at each level-up) will like you more the next time around.
Rating: 18/20
Final thoughts:
And so, my fellow Canadians and Americans... it has arrived.
We've finally gotten a piece of Fire Emblem, and after playing this game, you'll no doubt agree that it beats out any other tactical RPG game or game series out there. (Unless you're a Final Fantasy n00b who has only played FFT and FFTA and says they're both the best. ) After starting with this game, there are times where you just can't put it down... not for school, for work, to eat, sleep, watch hockey, or even to go to the bathroom. There may also be times where you just get so frustrated where you won't want to play it again, but you will, because you're up for the challenge and it's just a sweet game.
So, if you have Fire Emblem, you've made a wise decision. If you don't, BUY... IT... NOW!!!
Final Rating:
Storyline: 16/20
Play control: 10/10
Graphics: 3.5/5
Gameplay: 35/35
Sound: 12/15
Replayability: 18/20
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FINAL RATING: 95.5/100 - Rounded to a GamingMoz score of 9.6/10
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