Despite having a FE itch since Heroes released, I didn't expect to enjoy this remake so much given how unremarkable the original experience was. The story, the full voice treatment with competent actors, the classic RPG experience with perfectly executed story, characters and world building (the best since Radiant Dawn, although the bar was not exceptionally high in this regard), the more basic battle interaction, etc. It was just right up my alley after Awakening and Fates and personally one of the best remakes I have ever played, close to 10/10 in my book. I wish Archanea got something more fleshed out like this instead of sticking so much to NES amount of dialogue.
I love how offensive the command arts make the game, since they can only activate in your turn and prevents silliness like heroes soloing maps with Aether in other titles. The Mila Turnwheel brings the best Tactics Ogre mechanic to recreate the "authentic" (note: ironic) nostalgic Fire Emblem experience for those like me who started with emulators back in 2000 and gives you a few chances to fight back screwy RNG situations. The quirky battle mechanics like the warps, the spawns and summonings that can turn an uninspiring battle into something interesting. Towns and quests, with those little nifty investigation sections that spawn a bit of dialogue. Dungeons are a fantastic idea that begs for lots of improvement in future games. The art style is exceptional, best one in the series so far. The whole package is amazing and much more balanced than in recent games and push the series forward, even if gameplay took a hit here and there.
And the soundtrack? Holy cow, I had never realized until now how fantastic the original score was this good, but the epic orchestra and chorus puts it in a completely different level. In goes in crescendo I was constantly getting goosebumps from Act 3 onwards all straight to the very last battle. The variety and quality in map themes is fantastic and the only low point was that the battle theme stops the song, they should go back to what previous 3DS titles did from now on.
Overall, a much refreshing and much needed take in the series after the 3DS games. I can only fantasize with the kind of experience that FE Switch is gonna be. I now want a story, soundtrack and characters this amazing with full voiceover, with open map, towns, better dungeons and so on. Alm, Celica and the whole cast end up being memorable because every one gets his time to speak and shine, whether in the main story, supports, villages or flashbacks, with Clive, Berkut and Ferdnand being a highlight for me given how much I like knight stories.
If they manage to get it right, FE Swith could be something really special. I have only high hopes for it. In the meantime, I'm going back to Echoes to try again the post game, since I got screwed in one of the lowest floors of the secret dungeon and spent my 12 spins of the turnwheel trying to save as many characters up to turn 3 to retreat and then evacuate with minimum loses lol.