Joystiq impressions: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

by Randy Nelson { Oct 6th 2008 at 6:45PM }

Released in Japan on August 7, the DS remake of the original Famicom strategy title, Fire Emblem, is coming stateside in 2009. A largely localized version was on-hand at Nintendo's Fall Media Summit – and turned out to be one of the most-played games of the event.

What we found was expected: pure and simple strategy-RPG combat. We were most intrigued by things that we couldn't try out, namely the Wi-Fi play – a first for the series – and the online shop. Nevertheless, we ventured through the game's prologue and found an appreciation for the characterization and development of individual units.

Gallery: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

While the story was rife with cliches, the dialog was quality stuff. We thought the art style used for combat sequences was a bit odd, though. Rather than detailed 2D sprites, it almost looks as if the artists drew over pre-rendered CG animation frames (or like low-detail sprites were blown up). The combat animations were nice and smooth, at least.

More than anything, we were enthralled by the gameplay we experienced, which seemed woefully simplistic at first but had us yearning for more when our time was up. The game definitely seems to lend itself well to portable play, and we can see its Wi-Fi play – complete with voice chat – being a real draw. (That and finally getting some background on one of Super Smash Bros.' mainstay characters, Marth.)

Tags: fire-emblem, fire-emblem-shadow-dragon, hands-on, joystiqfeatures, nfms08-hands-on, nintendo-fall-media-summit-08

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr ESC,Lives Again. @ Oct 6th 2008 6:53PM

I can't wait to play the Japanese version when I get my American DSi..Oh wait.

(Do want,really)

Fernando Rocker @ Oct 6th 2008 7:06PM

Dude... please.

The DSi is only region with DSiWare titles... DSi specific titles.

Regular DS games are still region free. You can still play japanese DS games on an american DSi.

Gun Barrier @ Oct 6th 2008 6:56PM

Its, Its Marth!

Foetoid @ Oct 6th 2008 7:13PM

Marth is single-handedly the one reason i can find to say that Smash Bros Brawl is woefully unbalanced. My brother is so good with him it's atrocious and he's unstoppable.

Moptimus Slime @ Oct 6th 2008 7:17PM

whatev, Ike is way better (if you can handle him)

TFoK (Naked Peach Defense Force) @ Oct 6th 2008 7:43PM

Put him online, I'll set him straight with Solid Snake.

Marth's not as good as he used to be. Certainly not as unbalanced as he was in Melee.

Yourself @ Oct 6th 2008 7:43PM

I don't really think Marth's all that unbalanced, or that it's really the general consensus at all. He's nowhere near G&W or Falco level, at least.

Regardless, I quite look forward to playing his original FE appearance, as both a huge FE fan, and an occasional Math player in SSBB.

Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 7:56PM

Really? IMO Marth was totally unbalanced in Melee, but was gimped in Brawl

Ike was the unbalanced one in Brawl. Heavy Hitter, smash attacks that cover an incredible range, perfect set of special attacks. Him and Wolf.

Foetoid @ Oct 6th 2008 8:13PM

TFoK. If that is a challenge, my brother will happily accept. We'll have to rent the game again and get SSBB online for the first time, but it won't matter, he'll be dead keen.

WiiFTW @ Oct 6th 2008 8:37PM

I didn't find Marth that gay in Brawl, same with Ike, although you can just run around, running A and smash everywhere with Ike and win. One of my friends played Olimar in a really annoying way. Wolf can just smash/running A all around and still win against novice brawlers. I personally didn't like Snake in brawl, I just find it frustrating that a freaking rocket launching smash attack has about as much range as Kirby's arm.

TFoK (Naked Peach Defense Force) @ Oct 6th 2008 10:13PM

"I personally didn't like Snake in brawl, I just find it frustrating that a freaking rocket launching smash attack has about as much range as Kirby's arm."

Then it's a damn good thing his tilt moves and aerials have the speed of tilt moves but the strength of smash attacks and near the range of Marth's sword. Snake is without a doubt the most unbalanced character in the game.

Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 6:56PM

Awesome. I would totally be for it anyway, but this only sweetens the pot.

NoA generally does a very good job at localizing, when they actually care to (cough*fatalframeIV*cough)

Badger_badger_badger @ Oct 6th 2008 6:59PM

hehe, rapier

Foetoid @ Oct 6th 2008 7:04PM

/copies Killjebus

My eyes, they cannot handle teh lack of HD. I need my HDs ARGH! It look like a NES game, or worse, omfg. WITHOUT HD, I CANNOT LIVE! *head explodes*

Dingo @ Oct 6th 2008 7:08PM

I must say those Wii graphics make me want to play with scissors.

Foetoid @ Oct 6th 2008 7:11PM

The originality that spews from the site is incredible. You sir are the funniest man alive.

Fernando Rocker @ Oct 6th 2008 7:13PM

This is a DS title ¬ ¬

Dingo @ Oct 6th 2008 7:13PM

Thank you. I knew this already, but I like you to say it.

David @ Oct 6th 2008 8:45PM

I guess he has a PS3 with no games, or a Red ringer in the shop! Oh, I'm good.

StrangeBum @ Oct 6th 2008 10:05PM

"Maybe the Dingo ate your baby"

Red Leader @ Oct 7th 2008 1:27AM

@ Dingo

+1 for epic comment.

&rew @ Oct 6th 2008 7:12PM

Finally, a game I actually have a chance at not sucking at on online play.

Mr Khan @ Oct 6th 2008 7:44PM

Seriously. While it's possible to optimize your team, or to abuse your Jeigans (sorry if its an in-term, meaning units that start with a much higher level than everyone else and are thus tempting to abuse), at the end, unless you are blessed by the almighty Random Number Generator, you can't have a ridiculously over powered team

It's impossible to power-level, so its all about strategy. It'll be a neat leveler.

Noshino @ Oct 6th 2008 7:52PM

Mr. Khan,

you CAN have a "ridiculously over powered team", thing is, it is hard as hell to achieve that, and that is what makes it so freaking awesome...

Dovi @ Oct 6th 2008 7:19PM

So do I get my characters back if the die during online play?

Noshino @ Oct 6th 2008 7:53PM

Hopefully not

Josh @ Oct 6th 2008 8:01PM

Ugh, I hate the name of this game. After knowing it as "Darkness Dragon and the Sword of Light" for so long, seeing just "Shadow Dragon" makes it look like a massive typo, as if they completely forgot to type the second half of the subtitle.

And "Darkness/Shadow Dragon and the Sword of Light" simply sounds so much better and tells you so much more than just "Shadow Dragon", anyway.

Paviel @ Oct 6th 2008 8:36PM

Nothing new here, Josh. "Trail of Blue Flame" became "Path of Radiance", "Goddess of Dawn" became "Radiant Dawn", and now "Dark Dragon and Sword of Light" has become "Shadow Dragon."

The changes to the title may be utterly arbitrary, but... well, there you have it.

WRE @ Oct 6th 2008 8:37PM

Oh, my name is Josh, I like the whole game explained in the title!

Josh @ Oct 7th 2008 1:45AM

WRE, my point is that it just sounds abrupt, and wrong. Like "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina" or "Phoenix Wright: Ace".

And Paviel, the previous name changes were really mostly name *changes*. "Shadow Dragon" is more like a name *truncation*.

WRE @ Oct 7th 2008 2:15AM

Josh, dude, it was just a joke.

Josh @ Oct 7th 2008 2:20AM

Text and sarcasm don't mix.

Hmmm...Was that sarcasm just now?

WRE @ Oct 6th 2008 8:38PM

Holy shit! Joystiq fixed my comment system!

Foetoid @ Oct 6th 2008 9:28PM

What do you mean by 'hopefully not' Noshino?

Foetoid @ Oct 6th 2008 9:30PM

ARGH @ COMMENT SYSTEM LOL

Josh @ Oct 7th 2008 1:48AM

fake

Suichimo @ Oct 6th 2008 10:10PM

I've been playing it for a while, although I stopped for a bit to play some other games. I just want to see the people who know Marth only through SSB give their reactions to Marth in FE.

Suichimo @ Oct 7th 2008 12:49AM

Wow. I just noticed this but without the help of stat boosters Marth is literally incapable of hitting the 60 HP cap. The max he can hit is 47, 18 starting and 29 level ups.

You guys should get some pictures of Marth's stats to see if he is just all maxed out.

Also, the story may appear cliche by today's standards but I'm pretty sure it wasn't all that cliche back in 1990.

Megadanxzero @ Oct 7th 2008 6:11AM

'We thought the art style used for combat sequences was a bit odd, though. Rather than detailed 2D sprites, it almost looks as if the artists drew over pre-rendered CG animation frames (or like low-detail sprites were blown up). The combat animations were nice and smooth, at least.'

I'm glad I'm not the only one... The sprites in this game look apallingly bad compared to the GBA games. Personally I think the animations are less smooth too, which is a shame because the amazing battle animations were one of my favourite things about the GBA games. Still a definite buy for me though, but I really hope it's better than the Gamecube and Wii ones, which were a huge disappointment...

Krawwl @ Oct 7th 2008 4:18PM

Do you "have " to play with Marth or can I just let him die and go through the campaign using better characters?

Because I kinda hate marth, a lot.

Suichimo @ Oct 7th 2008 11:12PM

Marth is a 100% required unit on every single map. This is nothing new for Fire Emblem. The Lord has always been required. Yeah you can leave Marth in the rear and not let him do anything but good luck taking out the final boss.

Also, if you let him die then its Game Over and you have to restart the chapter.