Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

This entry in the Fire Emblem series is a reimagining of one of the earlier Famicom titles that never saw an English localization. It plays traditionally, with the addition of third-person exploration sections - which are quite fun. The characters are interesting, although a bit samey, and the story is adequate, but not fantastic. The soundtrack is great, as is the case with most Fire Emblem titles, and really helps carry the presentation. The map design, particularly early on, is a headache - a problem that is alleviated as your units become more mobile. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a game that accomplishes what it needs to. I hope that we see more Japanese exlclusive entries brought global in a similar way.

Play it for the:

• Classic Fire Emblem gameplay
• Heroic soundtrack and art
• Persona-esque 3D exploration sequences

Reviewed on 2024-11-20