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3DS

North America

Fire Emblem: Awakening

by Alex Culafi - June 13, 2012, 11:00 am EDT
Total comments: 18

It's finally coming to America, and we're gonna give you all the juicy details.

After months of waiting, pining, and speculation, North American 3DS owners will have the chance to play the thirteenth game in the Fire Emblem series, FE: Awakening.

Though an original game in the turn-based strategy series, Awakening reportedly borrows elements from previous entries, while offering improvement in other areas. Perhaps the most notable inclusion in Awakening is its new "dual" system, which acts as a refinement to the rescue commands of the past. Initially, rescuing was used to effectively move units around the map, but at the cost of lower stats and greater susceptibility to attack. In Awakening, units can join forces, and receive stat boosts for doing so. Additionally, attacks can be conducted with both joined party members at once, as can dual blocks, which have the ability to occasionally negate enemy attacks. Even if two units aren't doubled, they can perform dual attacks and blocks if they simply stand adjacent to each other.

Plenty of versatility exists within the dual system. Units receive different stat boosts depending on who's doubling up on who: using a general can offer a defense boost to another player, while a sword master can buff fellow units with a speed increase. Units can also trade items, and the player can drop, swap, and change the position of characters at will.

Apart from its deep new feature, though, the game is still Fire Emblem, and, supposedly, still hard as nails. With three difficulties (and an unlockable fourth for those especially skilled few), Normal, Hard, and Lunatic, the game is said to challenge even the most weathered of series veterans to some extent over a 40-chapter campaign. The ultimate difficulty tier, Lunatic, reportedly requires near-perfect mastery of the mechanics, and the risk of immediate and utter defeat.

In past iterations of the series, grinding acted as something of a difficulty softener, making the challenge more manageable to the uninitiated. Such grinding is almost entirely absent in Awakening, which features a far more limited number of skirmishes available between chapters. Another alteration comes in the return of the generation system, a feature prevalent in the Japan-only Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu. The premise: when female units build a strong enough bond with a partner, their children later become recruitable as soldiers. The mechanic is especially deep since which two parents originally partnered up influences the skills of the children.

Perhaps the coolest thing in Awakening is its position as the first 3DS game in Japan with paid downloadable content. Among that content (offering new characters priced between 250 and 400 yen) is Marth (who was originally free for a month), Roy, Leaf, Alm, Micaiah, Erika, Celice, Ephraim, and Elincia.

Returning from the seventh Fire Emblem game (released on the Game Boy Advance in 2003, and the first Fire Emblem to come to both Europe and North America) is the "My Unit" class, which allows the player to use an avatar of him or her self within the game, and offers the ability to marry and have a (recruitable) child. Of course, players can also expect plenty of new classes to choose from in Awakening.

Like its predecessors, Awakening is built around a narrative of war and relationships. Fire Emblem-focused site Serenes Forest summarizes the plot of the game:

"The story focuses on the trials of Krom, the prince of the Holy Kingdom of Iris, and his companions during a turbulent era. When the neighboring nation of Perezia starts acting suspiciously, Krom commands the vigilante force to keep his country at peace. Soon, he encounters an unholy force plaguing the lands and a masked swordsman claiming to be the Hero King of legends."

Of course, from the presence of downloadable content, Awakening looks to include many crossovers from throughout the series.

The title features a dynamic music system, which shifts in correspondence to the player’s position on a map, as well as in battles. For instance, as a battle starts, the relatively calm, piano-focused track for a given map would quickly shift to a more intense percussion and bass version of the same arrangement.

Following the divisive graphical style of Shadow Dragon and its Japan-only follow-up, Awakening combines smoother 3D sprites in battle with simple yet traditionally charming units on the map. In the case of character designs, the game somewhat adheres to those of past entries, but carries a slightly more anime look.

Although a release date hasn't been pinpointed, the game could come out this year. With three major Nintendo releases coming out and the game not being featured at the recent software showcase, though, I would place my chips on Awakening hitting stores early 2013.

Talkback

Pixelated PixiesJune 13, 2012

I wouldn't have called myself a fan of Fire Emblem up until I played Sacred Stones for retroactive. Now, I'm really looking forward to Awakening.

C-OlimarJune 13, 2012

The game was confirmed for 2012 in Europe :P

My money is still on it coming out in 2012 in NA and Europe.

DrizztJune 13, 2012

God I hope it's better than Shadow Dragon with it's game breaking online shop and ability to change any character into any class. Seriously though I'm excited.

leahsdadJune 13, 2012

Quote from: Pixelated

I wouldn't have called myself a fan of Fire Emblem up until I played Sacred Stones for retroactive. Now, I'm really looking forward to Awakening.

Hell yeah.  Same here.  I also started playing the series (and Sacred Stones, in particular) for the retroactive.  I'm still playing it.  I've put maybe 80 hours into it, mainly because I'm being completely obsessive and reloading the level whenever I lose someone.  Or lose treasure.  Or fail to recruit someone.

Quote from: NWR_Neal

My money is still on it coming out in 2012 in NA and Europe.

I pray you're right, Neal. My damn Fire Emblem itch hasn't been scratched in a good 3 years now. It's just...when would it release? If Wii U and Paper Mario are November most likely, NSMB is August (and it sure as heck isn't coming out before then), and Luigi's Mansion/Pokemon will probably be October, do you think they would release it in September with very little notice? Unfortunately, there is no way to predict either way, as FE games have launched in NA at all parts of the year.

Pixelated PixiesJune 13, 2012

Quote from: leahsdad

I've put maybe 80 hours into it, mainly because I'm being completely obsessive and reloading the level whenever I lose someone.  Or lose treasure.  Or fail to recruit someone.


That's a dangerous and maddeningly frustrating path to go down. I played Radiant Dawn that way, and I think that's one of the reasons why I didn't enjoy it all that much. If you enjoy playing that way though, all power to you. I just don't have the patience.


With Sacred Stones I tried my best to avoid deaths, and on a few occasions when I made a stupid mistake I would restart in order to save a character; but if I lost a character in a way which felt righteous, or perhaps if the death felt symbolic or affecting in some way, then I would live with it and move on. My last battle in Sacred Stones was an absolute blood bath. I didn't choose to bring in my strongest characters necessarilly. I chose the characters I wanted to have by my side, not the ones who hit hardest. It was pretty epic.

Quote from: Webmalfunction

Quote from: NWR_Neal

My money is still on it coming out in 2012 in NA and Europe.

I pray you're right, Neal. My damn Fire Emblem itch hasn't been scratched in a good 3 years now. It's just...when would it release? If Wii U and Paper Mario are November most likely, NSMB is August (and it sure as heck isn't coming out before then), and Luigi's Mansion/Pokemon will probably be October, do you think they would release it in September with very little notice? Unfortunately, there is no way to predict either way, as FE games have launched in NA at all parts of the year.

We still have a Layton game that should be coming out this year, and maybe even Animal Crossing. I think in year's past, Nintendo seemed to release games at a steady "every two weeks or so" clip.

Here's 2011:

9/9 - Star Fox 64 3D
9/19 - Kirby Mass Attack
9/19 - DQM Joker 2
10/2 - Tetris Axis
10/17 - Layton IV
10/24 - Pokemon Rumble Blast
10/24 - Kirby Wii
11/13 - Mario 3D Land
11/15 - Fossil Fighters Champion
11/20 - Zelda SS
12/4 - Mario Kart 7

If we've got Wii U pegged for late November (safe bet), then I'd say you'd have room for a marquee 3DS title (Paper Mario/Luigi's Mansion) in early November and early December. You also have room for a bunch of mid-tier stuff (Fire Emblem, Layton 3DS, Animal Crossing) throughout September/October/November, as well as Pokemon B/W2 (I'd say that's Sept/Oct).

Remember: 3DS is their only active system for the majority of the fall. They better support it.

Of course, they could treat the fall like they do the rest of the year, and literally release a game a quarter for 3DS. *grumblegrumble*

ToraJune 13, 2012

Neal how could you forget Zelda Skyward on that list 0_O

Personally, I'm really excited for Fire Emblem.  I think this will be by far the best game yet. 

OblivionJune 13, 2012

Because that was a 3DS list. Last time I checked, Skyword Sword wasn't on the 3DS.

PhilPhillip Stortzum, June 13, 2012

Quote from: Oblivion

Because that was a 3DS list. Last time I checked, Skyword Sword wasn't on the 3DS.

Kirby Wii isn't on the 3DS either, nor are several of the DS titles mentioned.  :P:

I don't know what list you're looking at, but the one Neal posted right above you has Zelda on it.

Yea, it was meant to be a full system release list.

leahsdadJune 14, 2012

Quote from: Pixelated

Quote from: leahsdad

I've put maybe 80 hours into it, mainly because I'm being completely obsessive and reloading the level whenever I lose someone.  Or lose treasure.  Or fail to recruit someone.


That's a dangerous and maddeningly frustrating path to go down. I played Radiant Dawn that way, and I think that's one of the reasons why I didn't enjoy it all that much. If you enjoy playing that way though, all power to you. I just don't have the patience.

Yeah, I don't know if the word "patience" best describes my gaming personality....that makes it sound like a positive thing.  But I definitely don't mind playing things again and again, many many times, until I get it right.  I'm on level 5 of Shinobi right now, having a blast.  Since each level is only about 15 minutes long, you'd think I've only put about an hour and a half into the game.  Not so.  My 3DS activity log tells me 12 hours 34 minutes.  For just 5 levels.  And back when I was still playing Uprising, well, let's not get into how many hours just the first few levels took up. 

OblivionJune 14, 2012

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

I don't know what list you're looking at, but the one Neal posted right above you has Zelda on it.

LOL, Tora and I both failed.

FreudianLemurJune 15, 2012

Quote:

Awakening combines smoother 3D sprites in battle with simple yet traditionally charming units on the map

...Hmmm...
Do you mean they're sprites made from pre-renders, or do you mean 3D models?

Fiendlord_TimmayJune 16, 2012

Quote:

I've put maybe 80 hours into it, mainly because I'm being completely obsessive and reloading the level whenever I lose someone.  Or lose treasure.  Or fail to recruit someone.

Hey, a kindred spirit! That's how I've played every Fire Emblem game. For a handful of levels, it has led me to near insanity (Shadow Dragon Chapter 10, trying to recruit both Maria and Minerva without losing anyone... O_o Or how about FE7 Chapter 26 - recruiting both Nino and Jaffar in the Fog of War mission with no casualties! *cries*), but I'm one of those masochistic gamers who loves the brutal difficulty.

Nothing to be ashamed of, you've earned your bragging rights if you've endured playing FE that way. :)

HellsAttackJune 16, 2012

I just hope they release it soon, A) because I love Intelligent Systems games and B) the sooner this (and Paper Mario) are out, the sooner Intelligent Systems can begin work on the next ADVANCE WARS! I love those games. I need a 3DS version soooo bad.

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Fire Emblem: Awakening Box Art

Genre RPG
Developer
Players1

Worldwide Releases

na: Fire Emblem: Awakening
Release Feb 04, 2013
PublisherNintendo
RatingTeen
jpn: Fire Emblem: Kakusei
Release Apr 19, 2012
PublisherNintendo
Rating12+
eu: Fire Emblem: Awakening
Release Apr 2013
PublisherNintendo
aus: Fire Emblem: Awakening
Release Apr 20, 2013
PublisherNintendo
RatingMature
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