Fire Emblem: Awakening (Nintendo 3DS)

A well done game
Warning I tend to write heaps so be Warned!

I also won’t be talking about the DLC too much, this review is aimed at the bare bone game directly:

Fire emblem awakening as if its reviews on the net haven’t already said so is a very solid and well thought through game with some people arguing its worth the 3DS alone

The fire emblem series is a fairly unique series which is primarily a grid based strategy game some RPGs elements mixed in and in depth individual character both main and supporting acting as the players units with the players main goal usually to defeat the opposing force with occasional twist here and there depending on the mission. As mentioned previously each unit is a individual character and thus if killed they wont return thus discouraging the player from throwing away troops during battle. Alongside these strategy elements are some RPG styled elements such as troops having their own classes, skills stats, weapon types, spells etc and can gain exp through various actions and improve themselves overtime. Finally the game combines this with a in depth story the player will follow alongside as they go through the games

Fire Emblem awakening does just that but adds new feature and enhances current ones for the greater good for the series

The positives

Regarding new features the game now gives the option of newcomer mode where is a character dies they will return or the series tradition classic mode where if a character dies they stay dead for the rest of the game which can make battle more intense. This is a great feature to attract less experience players to the game though I would still recommend Classic as it teaches you to be more careful and can make things more intense and rewarding.

Speaking of accessibility the game even on its default can be challenging but fair and will reward player for playing correctly and being patient. For more daring or insane players there are the higher difficulties to test you skills that provide a great challenge. For newcomers I would suggest normal but the options is there which is good as it pleases everyone

The story is well done at sometimes predictable sometimes surprising and satisfying once the main story is beaten. People new to the series will not need to keep up to date with the previous installments as the game only references it since the game itself takes part in a different timeline thus making the game further accessible to newcomers The story is complemented by a diverse roster of characters most of which being ingame units for the player to use each with their own different skills, classes. The character are also fairly well done and while at a glance they only seem to have a simple gimmick to then there is a LOT more depth to them through the ingame support system which encourages players to build further support between their units. A f

Another new feature to the game is the ability to make your own character who comes with a set personality and can support with any character in the game and has plot relevance thus making you more part of the game. This character also comes with even further customization than the ingame characters allowing players to customize their personal character to suit their needs

Units that are adjacent or paired up together can support each-other thus providing stat bonuses and other useful perks and will build support if capable which unlock support logs of dialogue between the two characters which increases support levels leading to further bonuses. Some character of opposite genders can even marry which shows bonuses as the game progresses.

Another final positive with the characters is customization through the use of ingame items you can change their classes allowing character to fill different roles making every character viable in someway.

Outside of the story and character gameplay is good there is a diverse amount of classes and methods available to secure victory making the combat tactical This is all well animated and satisfying especially when a character gets a critical. Speaking of visuals the graphics ingame are adequate but the cutscenes and art style is very well done I just wished there were more ingame cutscenes.The soundtrack is also great again a diverse amount of soundtrack that can nail some scenes perfectly and they can be listens too from the bonuses section on the main menu

Finally on the positives here is a heap to do ingame as alongside the main story there of random spawns such as merchants, or enemies to fight in areas you have previously completed, occasionally side missions which are most of the time rewarding such as a new character, a good shop with good gear etc. There is also lots of useful DLC which I would leave till after you beat the game as most are intended for higher level characters. Alongside all this spotpass is also implemented into the game and adds even more including 5 new missions, unique items, item rewards for longer playtime and more. You can even encounter other players computer controlled teams to fight, make your own and have a shot against the games self made teams which feature characters from previous fire emblem installments.

there is probably more I can cover regarding positive so onto negatives there is not many but will note them below

The negatives

Some characters could have more supports which becomes more evident later in the game

The game does give you choices rarely but there isn’t many differences between them I would have liked have seen decision making that affect the ingame world

The game is fairly DLC heavy which can be seen as a downside to some though most of its is good and some useful to the player. Regardless I would refrain till after beating the game as most of is aimed at late game players.

Game can require some experience grinding at times especially on higher difficulties though there is a cheap DLC that can deal with the problem

The final negative I can really think of that it does required lots of playtime to get the most out of it so it may not be suitable for those with tight time schedules

The games complexity and story may make it less suitable for very young 3DS owners

Overall though I think its a good purchase its very addictive, appeals to a wide selection of people and offer plenty of customization for the user and plenty of things to do ingame, I would recommend i