The Fireplace Emblem sequence was correctly revived with the discharge of Awakening again in 2013, and it’s solely gotten much more standard since then. Which implies that it’s time to rank all eight essential Fireplace Emblem video games which have been launched up to now.
Word: This checklist is just for the Fireplace Emblem video games which have been launched in North America up so far. There’s additionally a spoiler warning for a lot of the titles listed right here.
10. Fireplace Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2008)
Shadow Dragon launched on the Nintendo DS, however is definitely a remake of the very first recreation that launched on the Famicom in 1990. Even with a contemporary coat of paint and a few enhancements Shadow Dragon nonetheless has some items that really feel dated, making it extra of an expertise to see the place the sequence began.
Shadow Dragon focuses on Marth, the prince of Altea, as he tries to retake his kingdom after an allied nation betrays them. In conventional Fireplace Emblem type, you collect a gaggle of comrades with completely different expertise that can assist you by means of battle. The place Shadow Dragon exhibits its age probably the most although is with the story, as the sport is extremely mild on story moments particularly in comparison with a number of the later entries.
There are some upgrades added into the sport, just like the weapon benefit triangle. There isn’t the identical form of array of various models that you just see afterward, although. The wonderful factor about Shadow Dragon, is how extremely nicely it holds up for a 20-year-old recreation, even taking upgrades into consideration. It could not have the depth and complexity of later titles, however Shadow Dragon is nice for seeing the place the sequence began.
9. Fireplace Emblem: The Sacred Stones (2004)
Sacred Stones was the second Fireplace Emblem recreation to launch in North America on the Sport Boy Advance. The most important addition was the inclusion of a world map that had non-compulsory battles together with story ones, letting gamers degree up and practice models at will as a substitute of getting to prioritize which models to coach.
The story went to a brand new land known as Magvel and options twins Ephraim and Eirika as its essential characters. The pair has to uncover the reality as to why a neighboring nation abruptly invaded their very own, and discover out some startling secrets and techniques a couple of childhood buddy alongside the way in which.
Sacred Stones has fewer chapters than the earlier recreation, and is a bit simpler. Many missions function monsters because the opposing military, as a substitute of human models, who’ve their very own stats and methods of combating. Gamers now had the flexibility to choose between two completely different paths when characters degree up and are able to advance.
Though a lot of what Sacred Stones added helped diversify the sport, not all of it was a wild success. Being able to combat random battles lowered the problem a level, and monsters weren’t almost as efficient as going through down human opponents. The story additionally feels a bit extra unfocused from the earlier recreation, and though help hyperlinks are nonetheless current, social gathering characters don’t really feel almost as nicely rounded as earlier than.
Sacred Stones is a good Fireplace Emblem recreation that comes near reaching the heights of its predecessor, however falls barely wanting the place the primary one landed.
8. Fireplace Emblem: Radiant Daybreak (2007)
Radiant Daybreak is a direct follow-up to the massively profitable Path of Radiance on GameCube, and it’s additionally the longest Fireplace Emblem for higher or worse. Packing in a whopping 42 chapters, this recreation picks up just some years after Path of Radiance. Sothe, a minor character from the final recreation has now develop into one in all two essential characters, the opposite being a magic-user named Micaiah.
The problem in Radiant Daybreak will be aggravating at occasions, as there are big issue spikes between ranges and it’s straightforward to get utterly overwhelmed.
Apparently, Radiant Daybreak combines two completely different playable events. Ike and the Greil Mercenaries return and play an enormous function, however they’re largely unseen for the primary third of the sport. Earlier than that, you spend time as Micaiah and Sothe constructing a military and drafting characters, till the angle turns to Ike and firm. The next missions are a number of the greatest within the recreation as Ike and his mercenaries really feel like unimaginable powerhouses, lending a plausible quantity of progress to the characters in between video games.
Radiant Daybreak continued the pattern from the earlier recreation of getting a extra fleshed out camp expertise. Earlier than battle, you may discuss to your models in camp, purchase weapons, and distribute expertise factors as you see match. It additionally added an elevation system into fight, the place the unit with the next elevation will get a definite benefit. Different upgrades add extra promotion selections to models, and it launched the highest-ranking of weapon but with SS.
Radiant Daybreak could not attain as excessive as Path of Radiance, nevertheless it’s an fascinating sequel. The problem can really feel unfair and occasions and be overwhelming, however there’s loads of recreation to dig into right here with hours of content material.
7. Fireplace Emblem Have interaction (2023)
Fireplace Emblem Have interaction is supposed to be a celebration of the sequence’ most beloved faces and characters, and for probably the most half, it really works. That includes an entire new forged of characters, acquainted icons like Marth, Ike, and Leif make a return within the type of specters you may summon from Emblem Rings, as they help you in battle.
The sport isn’t with out its flaws, as the brand new characters and story really feel awfully milquetoast and bland for probably the most half. That mentioned, the gameplay does save the day right here, as the brand new Have interaction mechanic provides a enjoyable dynamic to the basic Fireplace Emblem gameplay everyone knows and love.
6. Fireplace Emblem Fates: Birthright and Conquest (2016)
Fireplace Emblem Fates was the primary recreation to launch after Awakening basically saved the franchise, and as such it iterates on a lot of what that recreation did. Fates tells the story of a younger lord or woman named Corrin, and their involvement within the conflict between the nations of Hoshido and Nohr.
Fates places an enormous emphasis on selection, notably one big selection that splits the sport in two; whether or not to face along with your true household in Hoshido, or facet along with your adoptive household in Nohr. At launch, Fates was cut up into two completely different video games, Birthright and Conquest, with a 3rd DLC state of affairs known as Revelation launching shortly after.
Whereas at first look the 2 video games would possibly simply look like completely different variations, they’re truly utterly completely different video games. Birthright is the better of the 2, with fundamental map design and the benefit of letting gamers grind to degree their characters. Conquest, then again, harkens again to previous Fireplace Emblem video games with some actually distinctive map design, and a a lot a lot more durable issue.
Fates additionally launched a bunch of latest options to the sequence, notably the “My Fort” possibility. This function created your very personal hub fortress that you may wander round and discover, additionally presenting a means for different gamers to try to invade you and fighft your forces.
It was definitely a bit restricted, nevertheless it created a pleasant choice to flesh out the RPG mechanics of Fates. Unit pairing was additionally enhanced, creating extra bonuses for pairing models collectively. After all, the incredible help conversations, similar to in Awakening, have been one in all hte essential attracts in Fates, and each model’s characters have been actually memorable and charming.
With this, the paralogues and baby characters of Awakening returned in the same vein as nicely. Fireplace Emblem Fates stumbles with its story, sadly, however the charming characters greater than make up for it.
With three completely different variations to play it’s an enormous expertise, and one that may enchantment to each new and previous Fireplace Emblem followers in a roundabout way.
5. Fireplace Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (2017)
As a remake of Fireplace Emblem Gaiden, which solely launched in Japan, Fireplace Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia lastly allowed English-speaking gamers to expertise this extremely darkish and somber story about conflict and loss. It positively served as a marked departure from what was perceived as the everyday Fireplace Emblem system in 2017, as newer followers had most likely come to anticipate extra lighthearted scenes and help ranks between their characters like in Awakening and Fates.
Whereas Shadows of Valentia might need misplaced a few of that informal attraction, it made up for it with two actually sturdy protagonists in Alm and Celica, and a formidable supporting forged of characters. It additionally did away with the weapon triangle, and opted for a stats-based system that made a lot extra gameplay sense, at the very least in my view.
For newer followers, this recreation will certainly really feel like a big shift in tone, but when you will get previous that, you’ll be rewarded with a really partaking story that by no means lets up from begin to end.
4. Fireplace Emblem (2003)
The very first Fireplace Emblem recreation in North America, was truly the seventh recreation within the sequence and titled Blazing Sword in Japan.
Fireplace Emblem launched the west to the sequence, and gave us one of many most interesting tactical RPGs round. It had a large number of models to make use of, and applied the weapon triangle. Swords beat axes, axes beat lances, lances beat swords after which different weapons had their very own stats like magic and bows.
One of many novel issues about Fireplace Emblem, is the way in which the story was introduced. There are 30 chapters, however they’re cut up between two completely different character’s tales. The primary 10 episodes centered round a younger lady named Lyn as she finds out she’s the granddaughter of the lord of Caelin, and tries to retake her land from her deceitful granduncle.
Lyn’s story works as a form of tutorial piece of the sport, with the primary few missions being straightforward and the problem ramping up all through. This manner gamers are launched to the concepts and guidelines of the sport, having time to apply them earlier than being put into the following story. Two different characters Eliwood and Hector function into Eliwood’s subsequent 20 chapters, and Lyn performs a considerable function as nicely.
Degree design throughout the board is nice, environments between ranges are visually and functionally various with the target switching up often. When you beat Eliwood’s story, an choice to play the sport as Hector is unlocked altering the angle of the final 20 missions, and even altering some cutscenes and dialogue.
Fireplace Emblem was positively difficult and launched us to the thought of permadeath for characters. Nonetheless, there’s no higher place to start out with the sequence than this stellar first title.
3. Fireplace Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005)
Path of Radiance lastly introduced Fireplace Emblem into the 3D realm, taking out 2D sprites and including in absolutely voiced animated cutscenes. The story contains a nation underneath assault named Crimea, however completely different from different video games it begins with and focuses on a gaggle known as the “Greil Mercenaries.”
This band is led by Greil and his son Ike, who come across a girl that seems to be the princess of Crimea. After being pursued by the opposing forces of Daein, Greil is killed by the enigmatic Black Knight. From right here Ike should assume the mantle of management with the mercenaries, and assist the princess on her quest to reclaim Crimea. Ike was additionally the primary character in a Fireplace Emblem recreation who isn’t a noble.
Ike and his mercenaries all the time felt extra like a household than like a troupe. There’s context supplied of the daily life they undergo, and every character has a well-defined function within the group and in fight.
The continent of Tellius within the recreation is separated between two completely different races, the human-like Beorc, and the shape-shifting beast clans often called Laguz. These two races have very unhealthy blood, and stay on separate components of the continent. At factors, by means of the story Ike meets numerous Laguz who be part of his social gathering. Racial tensions flare between Beorc and Laguz although, and this comes out with characters each in your social gathering and never.
Laguz have the flexibility to rework from their human kind into beasts. There are three completely different tribes; beast, chook, and dragon. Every clan has their very own strengths and weaknesses, however persistently Laguz characters are tanks that may take the brunt of a frontline assault.
Path of Radiance was a grand transition to take the sequence into 3D, and featured a number of the most memorable characters and difficult fight within the sequence. A few of the themes like racial rigidity, additionally assist diversify the story, making it among the finest video games within the sequence.
2. Fireplace Emblem: Three Homes (2019)
The Fireplace Emblem sequence noticed a essential revival with the discharge of Awakening on the 3DS, and I feel it’s secure to say it’s lastly hit its stride with Three Homes.
Certainly, out of the new-school entries which have been launched within the 3DS period (together with the superb Shadows of Valentia), there’s little question that Fireplace Emblem: Three Homes is probably the most polished and well-written recreation we’ve seen to this point.
The fight system has been reworked to make the weapon triangle much less pervasive, permitting extra lessons to shine in their very own means. This permits for some good selection in roster setups, and each unit has an opportunity to shine.
Three Homes’ college setting can be a surprisingly nice match for the sport’s vibe, mixing collectively social parts akin to the Persona sequence into an natural instructing system and month-to-month calendar that settles you into a pleasant loop. Assist conversations are longer and extra fleshed out than ever, which implies that your facet characters truly really feel like actual folks, and never simply trope-ish caricatures.
And we haven’t even talked in regards to the plot and writing in Three Homes, which simply could be the most important surprises of all. Fireplace Emblem: Three Homes is without doubt one of the most formidable RPGs we’ve performed in 2019, including huge replay worth within the type of viewing Fodlan’s nice conflict from a number of, distinctive views.
Three Homes is a superb entry level for newcomers, and a nice return to kind for sequence veterans.
1. Fireplace Emblem Awakening (2013)
Awakening is unquestionably probably the most intricate however most accessible Fireplace Emblem recreation so far, and is broadly thought of one of many best video games on the 3DS. Surprisingly, Awakening takes place in the identical world as Shadow Dragon however is ready 1000 years later. It has two essential characters; Robin, a player-created avatar who has their very own persona, and the sword-wielding Chrom. A mysterious warrior named Lucina additionally elements into the story, and he or she takes on the look of the legendary warrior Marth.
Awakening tells one other story of nations at conflict and underlying machinations. This time round some segments of participant selection are added in, and essential moments are highlighted with beautiful cutscenes.
The connection system is fleshed out with extra dialogue and interplay between characters than ever earlier than. This method additionally closely influences battle, as characters who’re subsequent to one another can affect each other if their relationship is excessive sufficient. This consists of issues like stat boosts and cooperative assaults.
Some characters that construct sufficient of a bond might even fall in love and have kids. That is the place one other essential addition to the sport is available in. The thought of lineage performs out inside each gameplay and story. The youngsters of characters find yourself time-hopping, defined by means of the story, and develop into members of your military alongside the mother and father. Kids can construct help relationships with mother and father and have completely different stats relying on who their mother and father have been.
Awakening is definitely probably the most accessible recreation of the sequence. It has some nice scaling issue modes that enable new gamers a secure strategy largely giving them the story, whereas veterans of the sequence can provide themselves a critical problem. Awakening was additionally the primary Fireplace Emblem to function DLC help, with weekly battle maps and the prospect to battle “heroes” from throughout different Fireplace Emblem video games.
Awakening is actually a recreation that makes you’re feeling invested in each little bit of it. The battles are difficult however in the end rewarding. You’ll spend hours simply constructing social hyperlinks, making an attempt to see each help dialog with each character. It makes you care about why its characters are doing what they’re doing, and ensuring that you just plan further fastidiously so any characters you’re keen on don’t perish in battle. Fireplace Emblem Awakening is actually the boldest, most accessible and engrossing title we’ve seen come out of the sequence.
