Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance - What a lot of RPGs fail to do...

[Link Antilles]

Man, Fire Emblem is definitely becoming one of my all time favorite series. Dare I ask… could it over top Final Fantasy? O_o Time will tell.

For those who don't know, Intelligent Systems -- a company that always delivers sharp writing and great localization to all their games, developed this game. They were the fine folks who brought us not only the great Fire Emblem series on the GBA, but also Advance Wars and the non-Square Mario RPG games. So, it's easy for me to say Intelligent Systems is one of my favorite developers.

Anyway, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance doesn't disappoint. This is a great Tactical RPG, which accomplishes what a lot RPGs fail to do. That is; offer an excellently written story alongside deep, rewarding, and strategic gameplay.

I could rave on and on about the game's characters and gameplay, so I'll talk about some of the changes that I'm sure will catch the attention of Fire Emblem fans. First off, are skills… like Advance Wars Dual Strike you can now equip skills to give your characters special abilities. Second, most classes don't need a special item to advance to a new class. All you need to do is raise them to lvl. 21 and they automatically change class. Third, characters can now be awarded bonus experience at the base. Meaning, after a battle you receive extra experience points in which you can award to any character. Sure, it may sometime feel like cheating and doesn't logically make sense, but it makes it easier to experiment will characters.

However, this console Fire Emblem may not win over any new fans....

-It's still true (and expected) that when a character dies in this game, they are gone. But, true be told, I like this feature. It makes character feel more important and not expendable conscripts, not mention makes the game feel open-ended and battles ever so more rewarding when victory is yours.

-While the graphics are nice and the artwork is beautiful, the animation leaves something to be desired. Nevertheless, I turn off the battle animation off anyways, because they take so long.

-There is a lot of reading. While it's not at all a flaw on Fire Emblem's part, because the writing is so sharp, it’s more of a caution. I'm sure IGN still wants voice acting, but if you ask me, I really really don't want it. I think it'll do more harm then good.




So, enough of me rambling.... anyone here picked up it, yet? What did you think?

[Tommy]

I don`t care how deeply Nintendo is involved, I want this game on PS2!

This may only be me, but Fire Emblem games tend to sneak up on me such as....

2003:
"Hey Tom, I got this cool GBA game that`s just like FF Tactics called 'Fire Emblem'" says my friend. "What?! That series in in the U.S."

Two years later....

"Hey Tom, I got the new Fire Emblem game."
"Uh, dude that`s not coming out till the end of this year and plus you don`t have a Gamecube, you have an Xbox."
"It`s on GBA. It`s called "Sacred Stones".
"Oh...."

Then I went to Eb this weekend and picked up DragonBall Z Budokai 3 (good fighting game and it`s a game that`ll take you longer to beat 100% then most RPGs) and some kid just takes Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance and purchases it.

Me: "That`s already out?"
Person behind counter: "It`s Been out."
Me: "How long?"
Person: "Like almost a week."

I must have this game! The one thing I don`t like about Fire Emblem is that the storyline is good but nothing compared to most RPGs. I also disliked in FE that you couldn`t go back and train if you were stuck on a Chapter and I`ve only played one Stradegy APG where you can walk around a town and that`s ArcTheLad: Twiight of the Spirits.

[mastersquirrel]

Well sorry Tom, you've got FF and we've got Fire Emblem.

Anyway, I agree with ya Link, this game is downright awesome. My brother purchased it while I was away, so I was pleasantly surprised when he turned on the Gamecube and there it was.

I'm really enjoying the game thus far, though I haven't really gotten much into it. I can't wait for the weekend to come! Glee!

[MasterDias]

Don't have it yet, but it is next on my list.
This is the first console Fire Emblem in quite a while...

-It's still true (and expected) that when a character dies in this game, they are gone. But, true be told, I like this feature. It makes character feel more important and not expendable conscripts, not mention makes the game feel open-ended and battles ever so more rewarding when victory is yours.

I don't have a problem with this either. I guess people are too used to using Pheonix Downs/Revives whenever someone dies in other RPGs.

[Tommy]

What did I say about FF? I love Fire Emblem.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Well sorry Tom, you've got FF and we've got Fire Emblem.

I got both =D

looks good but I have these other games in mind! Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen 4, Jump Superstars, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, and possibly the Bleach game for the gamecube. I also want black and white 2... the fact that they are all imports (except for black and white) means they will cost extra T_T

so much I want... no money T_T

[Fireproof]

I borrowed the Original GBA Fire Emblem from a friend and enjoyed every second I played it. I laughed, I cried, I sent up a clenched fist in victory. Sweet game. I really need to buy one of them now. >.>

[Tommy]

I borrowed it from my friend. The Fartherst I made it was the part whe n you have to save the prince and Jafaar would fight off most of the guys but then a random woman with a staff would just smite leila and I had to start over. Does Jafaar join your party later on? That guy rocked but I couldn`t get over the fact that he shared the Disney villian`s name. BTW, Fireproof, nice Avatar.

[Myoti]

I'm really wondering whether to get this or not. It looks and sounds pretty cool. I dunno...

Then I went to Eb this weekend and picked up DragonBall Z Budokai 3 (good fighting game and it`s a game that`ll take you longer to beat 100% then most RPGs)

So would SSBM, and it's much better.

[Link Antilles]

I'm really wondering whether to get this or not. It looks and sounds pretty cool. I dunno....

Oh, it's a superb game........ if you are a patient RPG player. Pretty much bulk of all the complaints are really dependent on the player's patience. The amount of reading, the long battles (can only save between missions), character death, and draw-out animations (you can cut those off).


If you enjoyed tactical RPG elements of Final Fantasy Tactics and the game play of Advance Wars, I recommend picking it up --or at the very very least, rent it. It's a nice fantasy fix til' Zelda is *finally* released. Very rewarding game experience.

[Myoti]

Well, I liked FFTA... at first, but then I just felt bogged down by it for some reason. Since then I just haven't been one for Tactical RPGs. I mean, I know alot of them are great, but I guess I'm typically not that patient. Still, I might try it just to see how it is.

[TurkishMonky]

I just borrowed the old Fire emblem for GBA from a friend, and beat all three campaigns (Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector) it's a great game, and the new ones look sweet as well. (But the best part was that he had the game for a year, and my characters as of 1 month pwned his chars in the link arena - like pwned so bad only one of my characters even took damage (I used Hector, Oswin, Wallace, Sain, and Guy, who got damaged but had the 65% chance of critical with 10 attack on my friend's strongest character)

He wants the game back so he can build up a team that beats mine now....

[Hitokiri]

I would like to get this. Since I stopped subscribing to Nintendo Power and that last video game I bout was a year ago almost, I am out of the loop GameCube wise.

I looked at some screenies, videos,a nd reviews and by all accounts it looks like a intresting RPG.