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3DS

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Fire Emblem: Awakening

by Scott Thompson - January 31, 2013, 9:40 pm EST
Total comments: 2

The first batch of DLC is available, and we took it for a spin.

As announced a few weeks ago, Nintendo plans to release new DLC for Fire Emblem Awakening on a weekly schedule. Though the game hasn’t launched yet, the first batch of DLC became available today. I checked it out, and am pleased with what I saw.

After the fifth chapter in the main quest, the Outrealm Gate becomes available on the overworld map. Here, players can browse, purchase, and play downloadable levels. Much like New Super Mario Bros. 2, DLC is handled entirely in-game—you can’t browse the selection from the eShop proper. The only available DLC at this point is Champions of Yore 1, which is free of charge. So that’s nice.

The level sees your created character and Prince Chrom approached by Old Hubba, an aged prophet as perverted as he is challenged with verb conjugation. He warns the protagonists of a group of summoned Einherjar (ghosts) who are chasing him. It turns out the Einherjar are the spirits of some of Fire Emblem’s most well-known characters, including Eirika, Caeda, and Celica. To help vanquish the specters, Old Hubba summons the spirit of Marth to fight alongside you.

The enemy characters are around level 7, which is probably right where you will be when you first unlock the ability to download DLC. Since I’m at the very end of the game, my party killed each unit in no more than one attack, which made the whole experience kind of boring. It’s definitely a good idea to start tackling the DLC right away as you naturally play through the game rather than wait until after you’ve beaten the main story. Still, there were some good items to collect and some funny conversations between the characters of Awakening and the forgotten heroes of Fire Emblem games past. The level even featured amazing chip tune music from one of the earliest Fire Emblem games (I don’t know the exact one, but I’m sure someone will figure it out next week). Best of all, once you complete the level, you unlock Marth for use throughout the rest of the game.

After the battle ends, Old Hubba asks you to continue helping him defeat the Einherjar, which sets up what you will be doing in the next few batches of DLC. Chrom is weary about the request, but accepts with the promise of more recruitable soldiers. All in all, it’s a pretty inventive way to inject new levels and characters into the game without it feeling inconsequential to the main events of the story.

Oh, and after I finished the level, I noticed I had received some items through SpotPass, including two new challenges for the co-op mode and an unlockable character for the main quest, Nino from Fire Emblem (Fire Emblem Rekka no Ken in Japan). So, on top of what will eventually be paid-for DLC, Nintendo will also sporadically provide players with free content through SpotPass.

Nintendo’s DLC and SpotPass plans are an interesting way to continue supporting Fire Emblem Awakening over the weeks after release, and based on the unlockable characters, it should be a real treat for longtime fans of the series. As long as the price is right, this seems like a no-brainer for players who can’t get enough of grid-based combat.

Talkback

VahneFebruary 01, 2013

Just to let people know, the first batches of DLC aren't really worth it unless you're a really diehard fan.

StogiFebruary 01, 2013

I only played the first Fire Emblem that came to the states on GBA. And like your fellow staffer, I played it during class.

Out of all the games coming to 3DS, this one makes me want to pick up the system. Just wish the battery life wasn't so poor still.

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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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