A REVIEW OF NINTENDO 3DS GAME, FIRE EMBLEM ECHOES: SHADOWS OF VALENTIA, FOR VOXX MAGAZINE (26/05/2017)

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, the latest title in the Fire Emblem series on Nintendo 3DS, is finally with us. It’s fair to say Fire Emblem has had its ups and downs, and here in the west we never even got to experience it for the first time until many years after the concept was first created. Still, it is a great thing that it reached our territory, as the depth of story and the distinct strategy battle style were something I feel we really needed. Fire Emblem Awakening (2014), also for 3DS, still seems to be considered the defining Fire Emblem title of modern gaming, and in a way it was by preventing the entire franchise from being cancelled, so the question that keeps being asked is “Can its success still continue three years on?”

Fire Emblem Echoes is a reimagining of Japanese classic Fire Emblem Gaiden, and it does wonders at pulling at your heartstrings while offering plenty of combat-based gameplay. The story follows estranged childhood friends Alm and Celica, who each set off on a journey to find each other again and put an end to the war that has befallen their country. We begin with Alm and his friends from the village, summoned by The Deliverance of Zofia to fight with them to reclaim their castle and land from the Rigelians.

Right from the off, we are already getting to learn about each character’s distinct personality and relationship with their comrades, and we also have the ability to choose the classes of four of our units so we can have control over crafting our ideal teams. As the story develops, the army grows and tensions rise between them, mostly based on the social divide between nobles and commoners, which gives it an authentic touch. Then suddenly, we leave Alm behind and meet Celica, who has a whole new army of her own in an entirely different corner of the country, switching out brigands for pirates. It’s easy to miss the characters you’ve been raising and building attachments with so far, but this really just means you almost get to play two games in one as Mae, Boey, Genny and Saber are added to the mix – and when the groups finally come together, you have an extensive character bank to create an unstoppable force.

Gameplay runs very similarly to that of past Fire Emblem titles, with an overworld map to move through and combat stages that consist of a grid-like turn-based battle of strategy and wits. Added to the mix are the various dungeons and shrines throughout the story, which see you taking third person live control of Alm or Celica as you run around taking on enemies and collecting supplies. This is a new feature that we didn’t see in the other games, and it adds more interest to the dynamic.

The triangular weapon advantage system has also been scrapped, creating a greater reliance on strength and resistance in battle, as have custom support relationships – relationships here are canon however you play, so if you’re looking for more shipping, you’re out of luck. But while the gameplay is extensive and exciting, it’s the beautifully executed cut scenes, support conversations and just the overarching story in general that is the real selling point. It’s amazing how attached you get to these fictional sprites in such a short space of time, which makes the thought of losing them even harder.

Yes, the series’ staple “permadeath” is back. Permadeath basically means that when one of your units dies in battle, they die for real, as in gone forever and never coming back. This is not only heartbreaking thanks in large to the magnificent voice acting involved (Boey’s voice when Mae dies though!!), but it also makes strategy even more crucial, as you’re going to need to keep as many units alive as possible for later fights. Too intense? Worry not. Much like in Awakening and Fates before it, you have the option of turning this feature on or off. Casual mode sees your units recovered after every fight, dialling down the pressure considerably. You can also choose between difficulty levels, tailoring your experience to make it a challenge for veterans while still accessible for novices.

I still stand by the characters being the most immersive part of Fire Emblem, and though we’re stripped back to basics here with the exclusion of Awakening’s relationship and marriage system, it’s still so easy to fall in love with the pre-determined pairings, both romantic and otherwise – and we can actually focus on playing the game to win, rather than to build support between two characters who really don’t work well together in combat. For example, villagers Tobin and Gray are best friends, and if Tobin survives, Gray fights for the kingdom, but if he dies, Gray turns to the bottle instead. It’s the little details that don’t affect how the game is played as such, but that affect how the characters feel about each event and how their lives turn out following the war. This adds a more human element, making the experience all the more meaningful.

If you enjoyed Awakening, you’ll probably enjoy this one, but having played both I can confidently say it is a very different experience. While playing matchmaker has its charms, this game allows you to focus on more on what’s important. I also feel the storyline itself is more solid and more structured (partly because they haven’t had to factor in elements like time travel for it to make any sense), like it really knows what it wants to be and sticks with it rather than trying to cram in as many elements as possible – plus, postgame content, enough said. Don’t get me wrong, I am a genuine fan of the series as a whole and so I naturally thought Awakening was an awesome game and spent countless hours playing it, but the fact of the matter is that this is just better; cleaner and more polished. In fact, Fire Emblem Echoes has quickly become one of my favourite games of all time – completely addictive in the moment, and then one that stays with you long after the end credits roll. I would most definitely recommend it.