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Fire Emblem Series

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NYCrooner

Member
I've never played the Fire Emblem series before even though I'm fully aware how well received it is. So tonight I tried the Fire Emblem Awakening demo a little while ago and though it wasn't terribly long I really enjoyed it. So I'm thinking about maybe getting into the series.

I have the ability to play Wii, Wii U, DS and 3DS. Any recommendations on where to start keeping these systems in mind? Does it have to be chronological? FireEmblemGAF do with this thread as you wish.
 
Awakening is a good entry point.

Path of Radiance is the best on the systems you have, and Radiant Dawn is imo better than Awakening.. but a messier experience.

edit: if that's a DS lite then Fire Emblem on GBA is also in the top 3, Sacred Stones is good but not great - it does feature the best class system though.
 
Fire Emblem Awakening was the first game in the series I played, and I loved it. Only drawback, is I think some of the newer systems they added in that game, make it kinda hard for me to wanna go back and play the older games, where some of the systems in the 3DS game were not in place yet.
 
Awakening is probably the best place to start, to be honest. It's a pretty forgiving game and it has the no perma death toggle. It's also the most fleshed out in the series mechanics wise.
 
I say handheld for now. The console ones are great too, but this series is well designed for on the go. I haven't played console version since gamecube (last nintendo console I owned), but path of radiance was kick ass.
 
The gba ones are great. The ds one is garbage and the 3ds one has creepy waifu shit and boring maps.

Console ones are decent but feel a bit slow
 
Personally I think Awakening is a great place to start. I really only had played the GBA Fire Emblem right before (it was an ambassador game), but I really felt Awakening was a great game and I don't think I really gained much by playing the GBA one before.
 
Awakening is the best entry point for a new fan. If you're worried about chronology, don't. Most of the games are unrelated and while Awakening takes place after the original game (which has an "okay" remake on the DS) the time gap is large enough that it's not a big deal at all.
 
You can play the games in any order fe9 and fe10 as radiant dawn is a sequel to path of radiance story wise. The rest of the games released in English are like Final Fantasy where each game is separate. This isn't true across the entire franchise though if you ever try out the fan translated patches.

I'd say start with FE7 on the gba (just called fire emblem in the west) as it's designed to be a entry point into the series for westerners. Fire emblem 9/path of radiance for the gamecube and fire emblem awakening for the 3ds are also great starting points. I personally think path of radiance is the best classic style fe while awakening is great but very different from the rest of the series.
 
Thanks guys. Seems pretty unanimous. Pretty upset I can't find the $15 copy at Best Buy. Question, will I even want to play the older versions after Awakening or is just a being recommended because it has less of a steep learning curve?
 
wii and DS gives you access to GBA and gamecube (depending on which models you got) so that opens up even more fire emblem games.
 
You might want to play the others if you like the gameplay. Of note are the GBA games and Path of Radiance which you may or may not be able to play depending on the versions of the Wii and DS you have. Awakening just has options unique to it that allow for new fans to ease into it unhindered, as well as being excellent on it's own.
 
NYCrooner said:
Thanks guys. Seems pretty unanimous. Pretty upset I can't find the $15 copy at Best Buy. Question, will I even want to play the older versions after Awakening or is just a being recommended because it has less of a steep learning curve?
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Path of Radiance, Radiant Dawn and GBA are all better games from a mission design, challenge and plot standpoint. However the options and optional character development are weaker or almost non existent.
 
Note: I've only played FE7, 9, and Awakening.

I started with FE7 on GBA (simply "Fire Emblem" in the States), which is both the first US entry and widely regarded as the best place to start, and I'd say start there if you can. Each game brings something new to the table, but FE7 is not too simple or too complicated like some other games, and strikes the right balance in just about everything.

From there, well, it can get expensive. FE8 (Sacred Stones, also on GBA) is regarded as one of the lesser and easier entries, and most people will probably tell you to skip that.

FE9 (Path of Radiance, Gamecube) is one of the best games in the series, but it's incredibly expensive. It's also the first half of a duology with FE10 (Radiant Dawn, Wii), but I think FE10 is supposed to be a long, hardcore FE game that's more for fans of the series. I think it's also a bit pricey.

Then there's FE11 (Shadow Dragon, DS), which is a remake of the first FE with Marth - this one's supposed to be too simple and a step backwards in many respects. It's rather bland, but a used copy shouldn't be too expensive.

FE12 (Heroes of Light and Shadow, DS) was only released in Japan, and it recently got a fan translation. It's supposed to be pretty good.

FE13 (Awakening, 3DS) is the latest, although if you ask me, not necessarily greatest. It's got a ton of content and fanservice, and really throws in almost every feature that's been in FE games, but its map designs are a bit lacking (probably only noticeable if you've played the earlier games).

TL; DR

Hunt down FE7 if you can be bothered to do so, FE9 if you loved FE7 and you can afford it, then Awakening.
 
Buy all of them.

Seriously. The series at its worst (Sacred Stones, Awakening) is really good. At its best (PoR, Radiant Dawn), there aren't many better games period.

Only downside is that it'll be tough to find some of them for palatable prices.
 
Awakening is a good starting point. However, I didn't care much for the world map or the pairing systems. I still think the game is really pretty good.

My favorite titles are Fire Emblem for GBA (Rekka no Ken) and Path of Radiance for GCN. They feature chapter by chapter gameplay, so you can't 'grind' or use everyone - there's only a limited amount of EXP to go around and you have to use characters appropriately. That's actually what I enjoy most about the series. I also personally like to replay games often, and I find myself replaying those two games because I can use a different character set as I go through the game. I also think both have better map design than Awakening.

Radiant Dawn for Wii is a fun continuation of the narrative and characters set in Path of Radiance, but it has poor character balance. You are limited to specific characters in a large number of the chapters, and several characters are just not around enough to be useful additions to your main team. Sacred Stones (GBA) is somewhat similar to Awakening because of the world map.

All in all I really enjoy the series, and I think all the games I mentioned are solid games and worth playing. Fire Emblem is easily my favorite Nintendo series. However, some of the older titles might be a tad harder to find and more expensive.
 
NYCrooner said:
Thanks guys. Seems pretty unanimous. Pretty upset I can't find the $15 copy at Best Buy. Question, will I even want to play the older versions after Awakening or is just a being recommended because it has less of a steep learning curve?
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Awakening has the whole "no permanent death" option, so if you get too used to that going back might be a chore.

Anyways, you're good as long as you stay away from shadow dragon. Everything else is worth playing, despite some having minor flaws.
 
NYCrooner said:
Thanks guys. Seems pretty unanimous. Pretty upset I can't find the $15 copy at Best Buy. Question, will I even want to play the older versions after Awakening or is just a being recommended because it has less of a steep learning curve?
Click to expand...

While Awakening is a decent starting point just by virtue of being new and also really really easy on normal difficulty, I wouldn't say that it's the series's highest point. It's still awesome, but not the very best.

The 5th game, Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 for SFC, is the title I'd call the best, and the 2nd game, Fire Emblem: Gaiden for FC, is my personal favourite. Both are Japan-only, however.
Of the English-released games, I'd probably say that the 9th game, Path of Radiance for GC, is the best overall, with Awakening following closely behind.

...By the way. Anyone saying Awakening is in the bottom tier of FE games has not played 1 or 11. Simple as that. I'd also put it above 3 and 6, and maybe even 8, but those choices are arguable.
 
Awakening is amongst the weakest of the Fire Emblem games, but it is also at the same time one of the easiest for newcomers...so I guess it's a good starting point
 
Dougstyles said:
Buy all of them.

Seriously. The series at its worst (Sacred Stones, Awakening) is really good. At its best (PoR, Radiant Dawn), there aren't many better games period.

Only downside is that it'll be tough to find some of them for palatable prices.
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Replace at its best with Seisen no keifu and FE7( I have not played radiant dawn though) and we are in agreement, its my favorite franchise.

Ultima_5 said:
the 3ds one has creepy waifu shit and boring maps.
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Its literally the most unoffensive waifu shit ever, I would not even consider it a fault, agreed on the maps though.
 
Top 5 for me:

1.) Path of Radiance - Just great pacing, great characters, excellent story, good system.
2.) Fire Emblem - classic with the 3 lords.
3.) Awakening - Good cast, story's a little bland, maps are boring, music is excellent.
4.) Radiant Dawn - Good sequel to Path of Radiance, the split narrative didn't quite work for me.
5.) Sacred Stones - I recently replayed it. It's OK. Kind of unmemorable.

Shadow Dragon looked unappealing so I skipped that.
 
Well at least starting with Awakening means you have nowhere to go but up after. Just don't let it colour your perception of the rest of the series and you should be good
 
Don't listen to everyone saying Awakening. Play FE7 on GBA first. Then the rest. The attack animations on the GBA games have yet to be bested by any other FE generation.

Eliwood_lord_sword.gif

Jaffar_assassin_animation.gif

Mercenary_animation.gif

Sniper_animation.gif

Linus_Hero_Sprite_%28FE7%29.gif

Lucius_monk_magic_critical.gif

Lyn_bladelord_solkatti_critical.gif

Lyn_lord_sword_critical.gif

Lyn_lord_sword.gif

Bladelord.gif

Athosanimation.gif


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tibhK8tjLyI

Also Hector

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qpwCNTxUTw

2D FE > 3D FE
 
Awakening is a masterpiece, play it. But FE7 is one of the 3 greatest games of all time, so you should play it too. All others are great, except shadow Dragon for RD, that's only ok.
 
Awakening left a bad taste in my mouth, but I imagine it would be good enough (perhaps, preferable?) for a new player to the series/SRPGs and wants an excuse to play something on the 3DS. I like the two recent console games the best though. All the games seem get rare after some time, no?
 
Not assuming anything here but at first blush all the FE7 praise sure does seem like it could be chalked up to "my first Fire Emblem= best Fire Emblem" like so many opinions on franchises. Anyone feel like disputing that?
 
shadyspace said:
Not assuming anything here but at first blush all the FE7 praise sure does seem like it could be chalked up to "my first Fire Emblem= best Fire Emblem" like so many opinions on franchises. Anyone feel like disputing that?
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My first was awakening, then I played FE7 and got into the famicom ones.
 
shadyspace said:
Not assuming anything here but at first blush all the FE7 praise sure does seem like it could be chalked up to "my first Fire Emblem= best Fire Emblem" like so many opinions on franchises. Anyone feel like disputing that?
Click to expand...

well my first FE was the original FE, and I still feel like FE7 is top tier, so there's that
 
I like my Fire Emblems good and broken, full of crazy options. So my personal favorites are probably a little weird, with an alternating Awakening and Radiant Dawn at top, followed by Sacred Stones. (I've played all the English FE games+Shin Monshou no Nazo.) I'd say just go for Awakening, especially because IIRC a lot of the older games got hit with the old inflation stick (thank god Melee got me interested in the series, haha).
 
Otakumegane said:
FE7 is so goddamn expensive though.
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Oh. Didn't take that factor into account... :(

shadyspace said:
Not assuming anything here but at first blush all the FE7 praise sure does seem like it could be chalked up to "my first Fire Emblem= best Fire Emblem" like so many opinions on franchises. Anyone feel like disputing that?
Click to expand...

It looks that way, but when you compare FE7 (and FE8 as well)'s combat to every other FE title out there it becomes visible that the later titles lack the visceral feeling of combat that the GBA games offer. Story and characters are all subjective.
 
I haven't played Awakening.

Path of Radiance is the most consistently fun of the rest of the games released stateside though.
 
shadyspace said:
What's everyone's favorite FE story?
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I don't really care about any of the stories, only balance/map design and mechanics. But I guess Path Of Radiance, although I thought Awakening was kinda cute, and I have heard nothing but good things about seisen's story but I can't read japanese.
 
How many Fire Emblem games were on the Wii?

I gotta admit, the one I played on the Wii really didn't interest me one bit. Is Awakening a much better experience?
 
I know SNES isn't on your list, but FE4 is IMO by far the best game in the series. And from what I can tell, it's generally most people's favorite FE if they've played it. It has a really different feel from other games in the series, as the battlefields are so much larger. The 2-half structure is genius, and overcomes the pacing problems that crop up in other games (you spend too much time being too powerful). Amazing soundtrack as well. If you can, make this game your top priority.
 
Anustart said:
How many Fire Emblem games were on the Wii?

I gotta admit, the one I played on the Wii really didn't interest me one bit. Is Awakening a much better experience?
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Radiant Dawn is a direct sequel to the prior game in the series and is fairly brutal for those unfamiliar to the series.
 
shadyspace said:
What's everyone's favorite FE story?



Sorry, yeah, why you prefer FE7
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Oh well my fave is Thracia, but I liked FE7's story better as I felt like you got to get closer to the characters. There were also great maps and enemy placement to make everything work together smoothly.

My main complaint is more of just not like what Awakening added. Support conversations I felt were a fine way of doing things, but it's fine either way. I don't like the changing of classes because it feels less of following heroes on a journey and more of customizing a bunch of "units" to me. I just felt like it takes away something from their backstory and personality. My biggest complaint is probably support links, as now they have been powered up in effectiveness to such an extent that even lunatic+ seems to be the equivalent of just "hard" in earlier games. To add to that...I disliked what FE8 has which is retained in Awakening, which is the ability to grind levels. I just feel like it removes most of the difficulty from the game as it could also get abused.
 
Josephl64 said:
To add to that...I disliked what FE8 has which is retained in Awakening, which is the ability to grind levels. I just feel like it removes most of the difficulty from the game as it could also get abused.
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I think the grinding is there to accomodate streetpass feature of the game. Streetpass revolved around customization of your units, without freedom such feature wouldn't be exist. What I suggest for the future is that "free level" unlocked after you finished the game.
 
Seda said:
My favorite titles are Fire Emblem for GBA (Rekka no Ken) and Path of Radiance for GCN. They feature chapter by chapter gameplay, so you can't 'grind' or use everyone - there's only a limited amount of EXP to go around and you have to use characters appropriately. That's actually what I enjoy most about the series. I also personally like to replay games often, and I find myself replaying those two games because I can use a different character set as I go through the game. I also think both have better map design than Awakening.

Radiant Dawn for Wii is a fun continuation of the narrative and characters set in Path of Radiance, but it has poor character balance. You are limited to specific characters in a large number of the chapters, and several characters are just not around enough to be useful additions to your main team. Sacred Stones (GBA) is somewhat similar to Awakening because of the world map.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of this. Thanks for typing, so I didn't have to.
 
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