Written by: Alexander O. Cuaycong in addition to Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Strategy RPG
Price: $39.99
Fire Emblem Gaiden celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Having debuted inwards March of 1992, Gaiden equally a whole was received rather good past times gamers at the time, in addition to was considered a fairly successful entry inwards the then-budding Fire Emblem series. While never officially released exterior of Japan, Gaiden has been available to play past times avid gamers via the usage of emulators in addition to fan translations. While even so good, Gaiden’s gameplay has non aged well, in addition to electrical flow gamers boasting of no experience amongst older Fire Emblem games volition undoubtedly larn frustrated trying it, equally past times today’s standards, it is both clunky in addition to slow.
However, amongst the unloosen of Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, the jewel that is Gaiden is at 1 time accessible to the novel generation of gamers. Echoes is, inwards essence, a remake of Gaiden, but fifty-fifty equally Intelligent Systems has tried to hew it equally closed equally possible to its source, it likewise feels apt for 2017 standards for gaming. Very fiddling is unlike from the two, in addition to yet Echoes manages to add together mechanics that distinguish it from Gaidrn, featuring explorable dungeons, a globe map system, in addition to challenging multiple-army battles.
The inquiry does remain, though: While Echoes may hold upwardly a adept reimagining of Gaiden, how does it stand upwardly equally the latest Fire Emblem game?
The answer: Extremely well.
Follow the adventures of Alm in addition to Celica, charismatic leaders who strive to correct what is incorrect inwards their province of Valentia. Guide them through v chapters (with a 6th equally post-game content ) along many locations, from pirate ships to haunted graveyards to forgotten shrines to vast battlefields. Along the way, explore dungeons in addition to grade up, forge items, in addition to steel them to human face upwardly the evil god Duma inwards his lair on the other side of the continent.
While these concepts induce got existed before inwards previous Fire Emblem games, the deviation is inwards how Echoes implements it. It isn't only that this grade of smoothen has never before existed inwards a Fire Emblem title. It’s the means Echoes is presented equally to lend unparalleled uniqueness.
Expanding on what lore Gaiden has already made, Echoes features an updated storyline in addition to makes liberal usage of voiced cutscenes in addition to dialogues. This fiddling addition, spell seemingly unproblematic in addition to obvious, adds a layer of believability to the events inwards the story. It makes the narrative catamenia amend in addition to sets upwardly the atmosphere quite nicely, equally players are non solely able to hear the characters speak, but are likewise able to empathise amongst their hopes in addition to their fears spell they explore the diverse locations Valentia has to offer. The dialogue is memorable in addition to delivered good plenty to brand a grade inwards players who listen, in addition to spell the story itself powerfulness non induce got many twists in addition to turns, the lineament inwards how it’s delivered stands out, for certain miles higher upwardly how older Fire Emblem games usage song cues equally a substitute for narration.
All told, these changes aren’t necessarily bad, but long-time fans volition experience the alter inwards mechanics. It’s a witting conclusion on Intelligent System's part. The bottom draw is that Echoes even so plays similar a Fire Emblem game, in addition to a real polished 1 at that, but it definitely takes to a greater extent than or less fourth dimension getting used to.
Make no mistake. Echoes is non perfect. The game’s worst flaw is its susceptibility to pacing issues. Some levels larn real grinding in addition to thence cash inwards one's chips far from fun to play. Celica’s maps, inwards particular, are both extremely ho-hum in addition to dreadfully tedious. Being forced to slog through swamps spell an endless pelting of summons batters the operate instrumentalist doesn’t experience similar strategy; it feels similar a bear witness of patience.
Some enemy types (such equally the Mogul in addition to the Witch) are frustrating to human face upwardly inwards battle in addition to makes progressing through the grade to a greater extent than of a work than a challenge. Worse, still, is the fact that, compared to Fire Emblem: Fates, the series' immediate-past release, the levels inwards Echoes are all of the linear “rout/destroy all enemies” type. Gone are the creative "defend" maps in addition to interesting grade designs. Most battlemaps inwards Echoes are big, wide, in addition to opened upwardly -- and, regrettably, uninteresting.
While these negatives practise serve to dampen Echoes, overall, they’re fiddling to a greater extent than than tyke annoyances to an outstanding experience. The phonation acting, the gameplay polish, fifty-fifty the unique animations each graphic symbol has upon winning a battle all but speaks to how much attempt in addition to attention went into Echoes. Fans of whatsoever Fire Emblem game would practise good to pick it up, in addition to anyone looking for a enterprise turn-based strategy or role-playing game volition abide by plenty to dear inwards Echoes. While lacking inwards to a greater extent than or less mechanics that induce got defined the to a greater extent than modern Fire Emblem games, it to a greater extent than than makes upwardly for it amongst its grade of quality.
THE GOOD
- Superb storytelling
- Fine balance
- New in addition to unique (and interesting) mechanics
- Very polished experience
- Postgame content likewise interesting in addition to fun
THE BAD
- Has to a greater extent than or less ( real ) tedious levels
- Expensive DLC
RATING: 9/10
Share This :
comment 0 comments
more_vert