Fire Emblem: Awakening
Publisher:
Nintendo
Developer:
Intelligent Systems
Platforms:
3DS
Genre:Role Playing
Release Date:Japan:April 19, 2012. NA:February 4, 2013.
Fire Emblem: Awakening is an RPG for Nintendo 3DS and is the eleventh original game in the Fire Emblem series.
It made for the Nintendo 3DS and has already been released in Japan on April 19, 2012. The North American version of the game was released on February 4, 2013.
It will also be available digitally via the Nintendo eShop. Fire Emblem: Awakening will be the first Nintendo developed 3DS game to feature downloadable content.
The game is developed by Intelligent Systems for Nintendo.
In the game you can command army of soldiers in a series of epic turn-based strategy battles. [reference]
Development
The game was first announced before the 2011 Tokyo Game Show at Nintendo’s 3DS press conference. Nintendo earlier detailed the spot pass and street pass functions. [reference]
In addition to content that can be purchased from within the game, Nintendo will also distribute new content via SpotPass for free. SpotPass content will be distributed in the launch time frame and will feature new maps with new storylines, characters and items.
Fire Emblem Awakening players can set up a StreetPass Team and exchange certain game data with other players. The StreetPass Team is made up of 10 units from an existing team in story mode. Players can also edit team names and create custom messages for other players to see.
StreetPass characters will randomly appear on the world map, giving players the option to recruit the team leader with gold, buy any weapons or items the team is carrying or battle and win to recruit the leader for free. Like the random battles in the main story mode, the player will have full control of battles in StreetPass mode. Players will also earn “renown” based on battles won. A players’ “renown” is visible to other players through StreetPass.
They also released information about the downloadable content. The first downloadable map will be available for free for a limited time only and will serve as an introduction to the steady weekly stream of additional maps. The additional maps will be offered at different price points.
Players with a copy of Fire Emblem Awakening and a broadband Internet connection will be able to access the downloadable content through the Outrealm Gate located on the in-game world map, which will be unlocked after the player completes the fifth mission in the main story mode.
The content will include additional information about new class types, skills, playable characters, maps with new storylines and special maps that let players earn more experience points, gold or other rare items. [reference]
Gameplay
It’s a turn based strategy game and you will command army of soldiers You get to move characters within a grid. The game involves moving characters into positions in order to attack the opposing enemy side, or defend against their attacks.
When characters’ health points are depleted they die. It’s the normal JRPG gameplay mechanic, you need to kill your opponent before he kills you. The game contains an incredible amount of characters, heroes and other characters and we have listed all the playable ones below.
There are three difficulties and two modes to set a challenge that suits you. Classic mode lets characters respawn in case they die and classic mode means the defeated characters cannot be respawned. There’s also a free map feature that lets you visit previously explored battlefields, shops and more.
Story
The world is ruled by the Dragon Naga, with a fondness for humans, and the Fell Dragon, Grima, destroyer of humans. [reference]
Prince Chrom of the Halidom of Ylisse and the Shepherds, his personal militia, find you collapsed without memory. They help you to your feet, so you join them on their journey.
The Risen, undead soldiers of unknown origin are plaguing the land. A mysterious warrior wields a second treasured Falchion, which should not even exist. The neighboring theocracy of Plegia is populated by worshippers of the wicked dragon.
Are these troubling events connected somehow? As you fight alongside Chrom and his Shepherds, you are pulled into a major conflict that will change the world forever.
Characters
Character level-ups that increase their stats are well known, but the interesting part is the changing of classes with Seals. Master Seals upgrade a character’s class, such a Knight which can become a General or Great Knight.
Secondary Seals allow characters to change their classes entirely, and then subsequently upgrade to higher classes. [reference]
Here are the number of playable characters in Fire Emblem: Awakening.
- Chrom
- Avatar
- Lissa
- Frederick
- Sully
- Virion
- Stahl
- Vaike
- Miriel
- Sumia
- Kellam
- Donnel
- Lon’qu
- Ricken
- Maribelle
- Panne
- Gaius
- Cordelia
- Gregor
- Nowi
- Libra
- Tharja
- Anna
- Olivia
- Cherche
- Henry
- Say’ri
- Tiki
- Basilio
- Flavia
Reception
The game has a really high Metacritic score, sitting pretty at 91% which only elite games can reach. A lot of sites have given it a good score. Notable sites like IGN and others have given it over 95 score, which not a lot of games get, and it is a testament to the game’s quality.
The game sold 242,600 units in its first week of sales in Japan, selling 81.63% of its original shipment, although the sales count doesn’t include the Fire Emblem: Awakening 3DS bundle, according to Media Create.
It has also sold a lot as per Nintendo’s Q3 results, which places it over 2 million. [reference]
It is most successful 3DS games yet with a lot of critical and commercial acclaim.