Buy them both, just wait on a bogo 40 or 50 off deal. This game looks great. Surprised Gamespot didn't give it a 5 or 6 since its Nintendo.
Fire Emblem: Awakening Review
Game Emblems
The Good
As a first time Fire Emblem player, I have to say that I was blown away. Everything was near perfect. A must own!
Easily one of the best games the 3DS has to offer and one of the best games I've played in a while.
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New mechanics and charming characters make Fire Emblem: Awakening a joy to play.
Via the 3DS's StreetPass feature, you also have the opportunity to recruit avatars from other players whose data you have downloaded by either fighting or hiring them, further bolstering your ranks. Additional downloadable content scheduled to be released later also promises reappearances of other beloved characters from Fire Emblem installments past that can potentially join your team. Winning battles against warriors from other worlds increases your renown points, which can be exchanged for rare items.
Since you have considerably more freedom in customizing and building up your units than in other Fire Emblem games, the overall difficulty of a normal-difficulty playthrough is lessened, but that doesn't mean the game is a cakewalk for everyone. Difficulty is customizable from the outset: the harder modes feature downright ruthless enemy fighter AI, and you can choose to play the game with or without the series-hallmark character permadeath. Many players will no doubt gun for the classic "dead means dead" setting in spite of any frustration it may entail. Because you see so much of the characters' personal traits throughout the game--and because you build relationships between them--losing a character can be devastating both gameplay-wise and emotionally.
Though many elements of Fire Emblem: Awakening are both smartly designed and extremely fun, there are a few minor annoyances that bog down the experience. Avatar creation is limited, with limited options to change physical features. Some elements of the game's interface are cumbersome--in particular, the inventory system. Each unit carries its own stock of items, but the game lacks a simple "give" command to transfer items in-between fights, necessitating that you put everything you want to pass along into storage with one character and remove it with another.
More advanced combat information, like the odds of your companions performing guards or follow-up attacks, can be tough to find and isn't shown at all in the default pre-engagement screens. The local multiplayer is also disappointing given both the robustness of the StreetPass features and the history of multiplayer in portable Fire Emblem games. It consists of cooperative battles of three units from each player's team simply fighting a group of enemies one-on-one in sequence for items and renown points. Compared to the full-fledged fights and trades that StreetPass offers, the local multiplayer is ridiculously limited.
Nonetheless, it's difficult to find any glaring flaws in Fire Emblem: Awakening. The fun, tactical combat, the character-driven relationships, and the greater feeling of freedom combine to make Awakening the best installment of this beloved series in a long time. Anyone looking for a fantastic strategy game or a long, engaging adventure perfect for on-the-go sessions should absolutely not overlook this gaming gem.
330 comments
1 Like According to the press, it's a great game, I played the episode " sacred stones " i have liked. I don't have this game, at least not yet. I still hesitate between this game and luigi's manson 2 dark moon, hard choice .
@craickdam78 I can tell you this game is far and away better than Luigi's mansion, and you won't be dissapointed if you still haven't bought it yet.
2 Like I am so glad this game has a casual difficulty. I don't have to restart an entire mission because I made a stupid mistake that cost me a unit. Makes it a lot more fun for me to know that I'll be able to use them again after the battle.
Great game, I'd definitely recommend it.
Still out of stock at EB games. I got mine from Best Buy on the 2nd day after release. Their initial shipment was delayed.
too bad nintendo doesn't support my country
it will takes weeks until retailers will stock this game
unless...
oh that's right i could order from zavvi or blahdvd
@thequickshooter Even if it came to your country it would be near impossible to find. It was very hard to find here in the US, and you would think they make it more available. Maybe they weren't counting on it being in such high demand.
@tightwad34 @thequickshooter well i also forgot nintendo reign locked the 3DS meaning even if i buy the US it won't work since i have a european 3DS
well, i guess i'll have to wait for april 17 (possiably more since this game has high demand)
The game is on the Nintendo e shop as a downloadable game if you don't want to wait for retailer to restock the physical copy. I brought the digital copy myself.
@ux1077 I almost did that, but I don't like downloading if I don't have to. I just ordered it on Amazon and waited for them to ship. It took a couple of delays and a few weeks, but it finally got here.
@snake63 Just order off Amazon and wait for them to get it. May take a while, but it worked for me. That is, if you don't already have it.
It really sucks having to wait another month and a bit for this game. I've been eager to play it ever since it was released in Japan and can't wait much longer! It's clear that Nintendo wanted to sell it in the US first because of sales, but it's unfair making us Aussies and Euro's wait an extra 2 months.
thanks to developers who create this game like resident evil revelations..im fcking sick with the game nintendo like mario shit and donky and any other shitty crap games on nintendo..why ppl like mario that game is for gays and kids..i thnk so
9 Like @xtigrex I'm utterly speachless at just how bad that comment is, you sir, have hit rock bottom
@TheGreatPhoenix I like it how you were trying to be nice and still managed to insult them a bit, and you also were able to call them sir. LOL, good one.
You guys are seriously balling your eyes out about a 8.5 rated game. Go to IGN or something but keep your tears away from here
@Infinite_713 You would probably understand if you had played and loved some of the previous FE games hahaha. I got a massive goose bump just from listening to the familiar FE main theme song in the review video. Getting a 3DS for this game, in any case :)
7 Like oh for f**k sake another bullshit half assed Gamespot 3DS review, surely there is a game better than an 8.5 for the 3DS, sick of this 8.5 crap seriously show some damn variety you biased dicks
1 Like This game... is the best damn Fire emblem ever! I borrowed a 3DS just to play this game XD
1 Like My Gamestop doesn't even have it yet, only the pre-orders came. WHY DIDN'T I PREORDER??? :(
@KJsmashdude Yeah, I know how you feel. I didn't pre-order the new Fire Emblem at either one of the two local Gamestops where I live. The only way for me to get it is download it from the Nintendo eShop.
@KJsmashdudeI found it in a Kmart. they do not sell many games cause that are more expensive than in other stores. $46.99 :S
@KJsmashdude Amazon couldn't fulfill all their preorders, I don't think preordering would have helped.
@KJsmashdude Don't listen to them, they only tell you that only pre-orders came just so you pre-order in the future. They are technically able to sell it to you since 48 hours have passed the release date. Trust me, I used to work there and KNOW how they work.
I work for GameStop, and though the 48 hour rule is in place at GameStop, it's pretty indecent to sell a game that someone whose it preordered.
2 Like Glad to see Tom Mc Shea didn't review it. Finally a fair review that I felt justified the score it was given. The negatives listed at the top I felt were valid points though I don't think they significantly hinder the game as a whole. Too bad more gamespot reviewers aren't this professional.
5 Like I think they should have scored it higher since there seems to be no 'glaring flaws' with the game. Besides, who plays Fire Emblem for its multiplayer?
Wish they can make the graphic like on Wii or Gamecube and excellent gameplay like this one. :)
@Master_cheat001 I agree with Element Zero. This had far more advanced graphics then the Wii or GC.
1 Like Other than the retailers/Nintendo goofing up on the shipments the game is really really really good. I love it so far. Probably my favorite of the series.
1 Like Woohoo! Went to my local Meijer store yesterday (the 5th) and they had it! I can say so far that FE:Awakening is every bit as good as the positive reviews are suggesting. (Not to add insult to injury to anyone who hasn't found a retail copy yet, but seriously, if your Gamestop doesn't have it yet, you might consider checking out a Walmart or some other retail store if you haven't already.)
@Omnichrono I was lucky enough to find a copy of Fire Emblem: Awakening at one of the local Gamestops where I live yesterday. It was the only one I could find at either one.
1 Like thanks gamestop for messing up the order so now I have to wait an undisclosed amount of time since they wouldn't let me preorder 2 weeks before the game came out and gamespot continues to lose my faith by giving fire emblem an 8.5, isn't that what Call of Duty got? Only difference is the people who made Fire Emblem didn't spend 5 minutes updating the maps and actually put effort into it, I could tell from the Demo XD
1 Like @kurisu2233 Well actually the most recent Call of Duty received an 8.0, not an 8.5, but that's beside the point; you sound like you are saying the score of a Call of Duty game determines the quality of other games which receive the same score based on your personal opinion of Call of Duty games. That is not an ideal use of logic.
1 Like One of the best games of one of my favourite series getting released on my birthday...doesn't get much better than that!
Ahhh Fire Emblem, one of my top 3 favorite franchises of all time! I'm still heart broken that I was forced to sell my 3DS two weeks ago due to being unemployed for a long time. Not being able to play the game or even the demo is just excruciating. Sigh. Ahh well, on to the next job interview!
@sacatash Sorry about that, my man. I will pray that you find a suitable job soon. I know it's tough out there. Grace and peace. :)
Europeans have to wait until April for this! :( Oh well, it should be worth the wait, it got 9.6 from ign!
I absolutly love these type of games all the way back to the first shining force from when I was about 8. The problem is I would never buy a hand held system. It is a shame this will never come out for the computer (legally).
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Fire Emblem: Awakening
Not Following
- Publisher(s): Nintendo
- Developer(s): Intelligent Systems
- Genre: Strategy
- Release:
- PEGI: 12+
Fire Emblem: Awakening Navigation
