There are killer apps, and there are system sellers. Fire Emblem Awakening is the latter.
There are games about character relationships, and there are games that throw us directly into these relationships. Fire Emblem Awakening is the latter.
There are games that promise consequences for your choices, and there are games that actually deliver on that promise. Fire Emblem Awakening is, once again, the latter.
This is a game that fits many molds. Civilization’s “one more turn” addiction? Check. Dire consequences that change how you’ll approach future missions? Check. Somewhat stereotypical JRPG-style story? Check. But Awakening never feels like a mismatch of games. It’s an entirely cohesive unit, a testament to how well put together the game is.
This should come as no surprise when you consider the rich history of the Fire Emblem franchise. While western gamers have been enjoying the tactical strategy/RPG since 2003, the series started back in 1990 over in Japan. Developer Intelligent Systems has had plenty of time to hone their craft and perfect the gameplay. It shows here. But there’s always been that steep entry level when it comes to the series. As much as fans love it, perma-death scares people away. Controversially, it’s been removed from Awakening. Sort of. You can simply toggle it off and enjoy causal mode and not worry about losing the characters you’ve grown attached to during battle. By simply adding the new difficulty, the game comes 100% more accessible. At the same time, fans will find new goodies to explore, as Intelligent innovates as well.
Companions are able to pair up together on the battlefield, either by instruction or fighting alongside each other. The result is a bonus in terms of stat buffs and extra attack procs. The bonuses can be increased by expanding the relationships between characters, whether by fighting together or talking between battles. The relationship building goes two ways, expanding on their personal relationship as well. The ultimate payoff here is both marriage and parenthood, resulting in your very offspring becoming a usable character.
None of those would work as well as it does if you weren’t an actual part of the game. In the past, we acted as voyeurs instructing characters. Now we become a part of the game, a part of the story, a part of the battle. We’re a plot device, we’re wrecking enemies, and we’re building relationships. It creates an emotional investment into things. Not only could one of your best soldiers die, but that could be your wife/husband/best friend.
Maybe it’s because the rest of the game so good that I find myself disappointed with the voice acting during in-game cutscenes. Or should I say complete lack of. In stark contrast to the beautiful anime cutscenes, in-game cinematics are filled with grunts and short phrase, almost reminiscent of Banjo-Kazooie. It’s annoying, it’s saddening, and it detracts from the story being told.
Few games are able to become more accessible and innovate simultaneously. But Fire Emblem Awakening is one of those games that come along once or twice in a system’s lifespan. Super Mario 3D Land, Kid Icarus, Mario Kart 7, those are all solid titles. But Awakening is a game that’s bigger than the system it’s available for. Buy it for your 3DS. If you don’t own one, buy the Fire Emblem 3DS bundle.
