Support NeoGAF

[Mpl90]

IGN - 9,6

THE VERDICT

Fire Emblem Awakening is the most fluid and stunning strategy RPG experience available on a portable, and features the best storytelling and production value of any 3DS game to date. The strong tactical gameplay and strikingly diverse visuals are only part of the equation - the strength of the game comes from the strength of the characters. The desire to protect them and progress their individual story arcs drives home the weight of your decisions, and makes you feel more involved and invested than most games ever come close to. I found myself going to great lengths to keep all members of my team alive - not due to the compulsive need to collect all the warriors, but because I truly cared about these people. That’s rare for a videogame, where death is often a temporary and inconsequential occurrence.

While many of these concepts aren’t new to the Fire Emblem series, never before have they been presented in such a refined and easily accessible package. In this way, Awakening exceeds all prior installments for a game that is at once a Fire Emblem lover's dream come true and a brilliant entry point to both the franchise and the genre. This isn’t just a Fire Emblem game, this is where Fire Emblem finally awakens from its deep slumber as a cult favorite and steps up as one of the Big N’s big franchises, no longer shackled by its niche origins. And it didn’t achieve this by sacrificing its identity either, but rather by refining the franchise’s already solid foundation so that its accessibility and caliber should easily qualify it as a quintessential portable experience, right up there with the likes of Super Mario 3D Land or Pokemon Black and White 2.

If you have access to a 3DS, don’t deny yourself this truly special and incredible experience

Destructoid - 9

The Verdict

Superb: A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage to what is a supreme title.

Gametrailers Review - 8.5 [WARNING! It contains spoilers]

Joystiq - 4.5/5

Most importantly, though, Fire Emblem: Awakening resembles a soap opera in how thoroughly addictive it can be. Once you get hooked on the combat and these characters and their stories, you'll feel the overpowering need to keep checking in on them. Instead of an hour a day, though, you can visit Fire Emblem at any time, pulling out your 3DS on the bus or on your lunch break or before dozing off at night.

It's a portable, omnipresent obsession that will devour dozens of hours if you let it. And when, unlike a successful soap opera, Awakening's story finally comes to an end, you can start over again and focus on the characters you let die the first time through. Unlocking the dozens of conversation chains will keep you busy until the next Fire Emblem, assuming it arrives sometime before 2016.

Gamexplain - 4/5

Gameinformer - 9/10

Fire Emblem impresses with its large, colorful cast. For me to care about individuals in such an expansive roster is a huge feat. Between battles, characters that were placed next to each other may interact in skits called support conversations. The banter gives an interesting look at each character’s personality, revealing unexpected foibles. Get two characters’ support level high enough and they marry, but even more thrilling is that later in the game, you’ll find their children in side quests that you can recruit into your party. This creative feature is just the quirk Fire Emblem needs to stand out.

During my time with Awakening, I always had a reaction to what was going on around me. My heart raced as I watched enemies close in on an injured character, and I found myself devastated if I executed an action that cost me the match. Awakening made me scratch and claw for victory, and I savored every moment.

EGM - 9/10

SUMMARY: Aside for some minor annoyances, this is probably the best Fire Emblem to come to the States yet. Strategy fans everywhere should rejoice.

THE GOOD: As pure a strategy experience as you’ll get anywhere.
THE BAD: No simple way to restart battles.
THE UGLY: The 3D character models look like they were designed by Rob Liefeld.

Wired

I never thought myself to be the romantic type but I was enthralled with this. I loved playing matchmaker with my favorite characters and watching their interactions. I purposely sent them into battle together whenever I possibly could and I meticulously manipulated the parents’ stats so their children could be as powerful as possible.

As a result, I found myself more attached to my army in Awakening than any previous Fire Emblem. One of Fire Emblem‘s defining features is that any characters lost in battle are permanently dead. But for me in this case, the stakes were higher than ever because your characters have real emotional weight. They have families, lives. So any time one of my units died, I immediately reset the game to try from my last save point.

NWR review - 9.5

Summary

Pros

+ As accessible as Fire Emblem can be
+ Interesting and well-told story
+ Relationships add a whole new dynamic to playing
+ Some amazing level design

Cons

- Character creation is limited in terms of gameplay
- Character sound effects are grating

GamesRadar's review - 4.5/5

YOU'LL LOVE
Strategy mixing relationships with tactics
Clever Street Pass options
Large number of sidequests and other content
YOU'LL HATE
Occasionally grating attempts at humor
Dying a lot in the later levels
Somewhat brief compared to other Fire Emblems

Nintendo Life - 9/10

Fire Emblem: Awakening's masterful tightrope walk between luring in curious onlookers and appealing to the hardest of cores is a sight to behold. It doesn't matter whether you've been strategizing with Marth since the NES days or only know him as the weird blue-haired guy from Super Smash Bros: Fire Emblem: Awakening's tale of heroism, colorful cast of characters and richly rewarding gameplay are sure to sink their talons in for a very long time. Who knows, with practice a beginner might even come around to the whole perma-death challenge thing. While the multiplayer options may be a little iffy depending on your circumstances, the sheer amount of quality content and replay value make this one icon sure to spend a long time on your 3DS menu. Have no fear: Fire Emblem: Awakening is here.

RPGamer - 4.5/5

Fire Emblem: Awakening does an awful lot right, and seeing some of the things it incorporates from the rest of the series is a treat for veterans. Whether Nintendo's positioning of the game as a tentpole release in North America will pay dividends remains to be seen — just because this is more accessible than most for newbies does not make it any less of a tactical game, hardly the best-selling genre in the gaming world. Awakening is nevertheless a genuine treat for anyone seeking a deeply rewarding tactical title on the 3DS, and a fine return of the series to the English-speaking world after the last game missed out.

 

[Refyref]

Do Gametrailers reviews ever not contain spoilers?

 

[eternalb]

All good scores. If this is my first one, do you guys think this is the best one to start with? The gamexplain guy liked it even though it's his first one too, so yes? Or should I start with an older one?

 

[Chrom]

Do Gametrailers reviews ever not contain spoilers?

What's being spoiled in their review?

 

[Sendou]

Looks good. Maybe the anti-yolo mode makes it easier for some reviewers get into the game?

All good scores. If this is my first one, do you guys think this is the best one to start with? The gamexplain guy liked it even though it's his first one too, so yes? Or should I start with an older one?

Definitely the best one to start with.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Do Gametrailers reviews ever not contain spoilers?

Technically every part of a video review would be a spoiler

But one can certainly choose what they show

If you show a principal character getting killed or something, that'd probably be too far.

 

[Currygan]

goddamn...

 

[miksar]

Is it likely to become the most critically acclaimed game in the series?

 

[iavi]

Looks good. Maybe the anti-yolo mode makes it easier for some reviewers get into the game?



Definitely the best one to start with.

OK. 'Anti-yolo' mode killed me.

 

[marc^o^]

The best thing to hit the 3DS

Spoiler

since Super Mario 3D Land

 

[Chrom]

Is it likely to become the most critically acclaimed game in the series?

Already.

 

[Wiz]

Is it likely to become the most critically acclaimed game in the series?

Yes. IGN scored it 0.1 higher than FE GBA (9.5).

 

[Currygan]

NWR review: 9.5

has this game been given a solid EU release date yet?

 

[Derrick01]

This is the game that makes me wish I had a 3DS. Love the FE series.

 

[SteeloDMZ]

3DS' library keeps getting better.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Is it likely to become the most critically acclaimed game in the series?

Of the games released in the west, it is already far and away the most critically acclaimed one.

Maybe Fire Emblem 7, but the rest didn't get reviews nearly this good.

 

[Askherserenity]

I think having the mode called "Anti-Yolo" would have increased sales. Missed Opp.

 

[Mr.Fresh]

The best thing to hit the 3DS

Spoiler

since Super Mario 3D Land

I agree!

 

[Chrom]

NWR review: 9.5

has this game been given a solid EU release date yet?

No.

 

[Tunavi]

Goty

 

[Currygan]

No.

 

[RM8]

Intelligent Systems is not capable of making games that are not good, I am convinced. Except for maybe Mario Kart for GBA.

 

[eternalb]

GamesRadar's review

 

[zroid]

Nintendo Life: 9/10

Fire Emblem: Awakening's masterful tightrope walk between luring in curious onlookers and appealing to the hardest of cores is a sight to behold. It doesn't matter whether you've been strategizing with Marth since the NES days or only know him as the weird blue-haired guy from Super Smash Bros: Fire Emblem: Awakening's tale of heroism, colorful cast of characters and richly rewarding gameplay are sure to sink their talons in for a very long time. Who knows, with practice a beginner might even come around to the whole perma-death challenge thing. While the multiplayer options may be a little iffy depending on your circumstances, the sheer amount of quality content and replay value make this one icon sure to spend a long time on your 3DS menu. Have no fear: Fire Emblem: Awakening is here.

 

[LiK]

Mark MacDonald is fapping to these scores right now.

 

[Franklinator]

Pretty sure I'm gonna pick this up around release. It'll basically be my first Fire Emblem, I've only dabbled in the series before.

 

[Roman]

NWR review: 9.5

has this game been given a solid EU release date yet?

Only April...

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Woooo. Who cares.

We all know Fire Emblem rocks!

 

[Chrom]

Intelligent Systems is not capable of making games that are not good, I am convinced. Except for maybe Mario Kart for GBA.

Shadow Dragon, and the DSiWare WarioWare.

 

[Chairman Yang]

I'm sad that none of the previous Fire Emblems I've tried ever clicked with me, especially considering how much I love the Advance Wars games. I didn't like the lack of character customization, the "trap" characters that absorbed XP, and the way most matches boiled down to carefully calculating each way enemies could permakill your party members and then trying to avoid that.

Will this installment address any of my problems with the series so far?

 

[Cosmo Clock 21]

I think having the mode called "Anti-Yolo" would have increased sales. Missed Opp.

Can we get the tag on the OT / this thread changed to this tia

 

[thetrin]

THE UGLY: The 3D character models look like they were designed by Rob Liefeld.

HAHAHAHAHA oh god, priceless

Intelligent Systems is not capable of making games that are not good, I am convinced. Except for maybe Mario Kart for GBA.

Super Paper Mario and Shadow Dragon.

 

[Hot Coldman]

THE UGLY: The 3D character models look like they were designed by Rob Liefeld.

Knew this would come up. :lol

Hnnngggg, fuck you NoE

 

[Tokieda]

Intelligent Systems is not capable of making games that are not good, I am convinced. Except for maybe Mario Kart for GBA.

Heresy!

 

[Chrom]

I'm sad that none of the previous Fire Emblems I've tried ever clicked with me. I didn't like the lack of character customization, the "trap" characters that absorbed XP, and the way most matches boiled down to carefully calculating each way enemies could permakill your party members and then trying to avoid that.

Will this installment address any of my problems with the series so far?

All of them.

 

[RM8]

Shadow Dragon, and the DSiWare WarioWare.

I think it was okay. Worst Fire Emblem game doesn't mean a ton in my book. Haven't played that WarioWare game, though.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

IGN praising the character writing gets me excited. I am in the mood for another character-centric game.

 

[Netto-kun]

RPGamer: 4.5/5

Fire Emblem: Awakening does an awful lot right, and seeing some of the things it incorporates from the rest of the series is a treat for veterans. Whether Nintendo's positioning of the game as a tentpole release in North America will pay dividends remains to be seen — just because this is more accessible than most for newbies does not make it any less of a tactical game, hardly the best-selling genre in the gaming world. Awakening is nevertheless a genuine treat for anyone seeking a deeply rewarding tactical title on the 3DS, and a fine return of the series to the English-speaking world after the last game missed out.

Two months wait for Europe aaaaaaaaaaah.

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Other than the no feet thing, I really liked what I played of the Japanese version. I got sidetracked like 6 hours in, though. I need to go back to it soon.

 

[Reluctant-Hero]

So this thread is basically informing GAF to buy Fire Emblem: Awakening, right?

If so, I support this message.

 

[Roman]

Nobody should be compared to Rob Liefeld...come on...

 

[Cosmo Clock 21]

Wonder if some outlets are avoiding giving it a 10 because it's a handheld title.

Edit: bear in mind I haven't read any of the reviews yet.

 

[eternalb]

Intelligent Systems is not capable of making games that are not good, I am convinced. Except for maybe Mario Kart for GBA.

Super Paper Mario and Sticker Star say hi.

IGN praising the character writing gets me excited. I am in the mood for another character-centric game.

A bunch of them are, but gamexplain said it's a little long-winded. Hopefully not as bad as the aforementioned Super Paper Mario!

 

[zroid]

Mark MacDonald is fapping to these scores right now.

 

[mollipen]

Looks good. Maybe the anti-yolo mode makes it easier for some reviewers get into the game?

Having never played a previous Fire Emblem, I decided to go with the "character's aren't gone permanently" mode when I played. The thing is, it never mattered—any time I lost a character in a battle, I'd just reset anyhow. *heh* So in my case, that mode did nothing to make my play-through easier.

That's one of the negatives I'd bring up about the game, though: the only way I could find to easily restart a battle was to literally go to the 3DS home screen, close the game, and open it again.

A bunch of them are, but gamexplain said it's a little long-winded. Hopefully not as bad as the aforementioned Super Paper Mario!

One of the reasons I've been enjoying FE:A so much is that I think it's way less long-winded than other SRPGs I've tried to get into (FF Tactics, Tactics Ogre, etc.).

 

[Deleted member 17706]

Nobody should be compared to Rob Liefeld...come on...

Seriously...

The no feet thing is stupid, but that's the only thing the art shares in common with Rob Liefeld's anatomical abominations.

 

[jackal27]

This game man... I haven't been jonesing for a game like this in a long long time. My local Gamestop said that copies should come in today, so I'm hoping that they break the street date.

 

[Chairman Yang]

All of them.

Then I'm intrigued. Any particular reviews you'd recommend that run down the changes that alleviate my concerns?

 

[Nocturnowl]

Hnnngggg, fuck you NoE

Our arduous wait will be "rewarded" with a reworked script that is noticeably worse like with Advance Wars: Days of Ruin/Dark Conflict.

I'm not even sure if i'm joking coming to think about it.

 

[Mr. Fix]

Oh my. Hahaha, well deserved, baby!