After playing the game for 17 hours and 24 chapters, Fire Emblem is a pure joy. It is an interesting and successful mix of strategy and RPG that works out really well. When the game begins, you are an unconscious traveler taken in by a young woman with green hair. This knocked out strategist progresses through the story meeting new and interesting individuals, both comrades and rivals, as you defeat everything from axe-wielding bandits to javelin-hurling generals to wyvern-mounted soldiers. The story begins 1000 years after a great war between dragon and man called The Scouring. Two knights join a girl named Lyndis, and they set out to save Lyn’s grandfather who is being poisoned by an evil mysterious group. After Lyn’s story, the tactician follows the story of Lord Eliwood, a young nobleman set out to find his missing father.

If you have previous experience with a turn-based strategy game like Advance Wars, the concept is generally the same in terms of moving units and attacking. There is something new to learn about the game almost every chapter, which keeps it away from being a boring, repetitive game. A chapter consists of the tale unfolding with dialogue between characters, followed by a battle. After the battle, the hero(s) have a sort of debriefing and continue their journey. A twist to this game that differs from most RPG’s is that if you lose a character in a battle, they are gone forever. There is no way to revive them or heal them, and you either must carry on without the character, or restart the chapter to try to do better the second time. The first few missions will have tips and hints to help you out, but I suggest turning them off after awhile because it can get annoying having a tip screen pop up so often.

The graphics are quite similar to that of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The animations are quick but fluid, and it works out nicely. There is nothing too elaborate, yet nothing too simple. Sound quality is excellent. In battle, scuttling across grassy fields sounds different from pursuing an enemy across a desert, and the swish of your broadsword will ring in your ears as it strikes through the Nomad’s armor. There is music constantly throughout the game: during dialogue, in battle, and on the Start menu. As for controls, some of it may get a bit tricky when using certain items and trading between allies, but after some practice and tips from the game you will be fine. Example: Select your unit with A, move to where you want to go with the arrows and click there, then select the unit, friend or foe you want to act upon (it isn’t all attacking, you know), and select which weapon or item you would like to use and use it. Truly, it is not that challenging.

It takes tactics to be victorious with minimal casualties, such as studying unit stats and staying just out of range of your opponent. The game will require more advanced methods as your band progresses, and the enemies get stronger. Here are a couple helpful tips. If facing a powerful melee unit, attack from a distance to at least weaken its defenses before you move in to take it out. Also, use your weapons wisely, because weapons can break and you will have to buy new ones. It would be helpful to keep two or more weapons in a unit’s inventory especially if they are prone to run out. Check to see if your opponent will strike twice; you may want to think twice about attacking certain units. Finally, if your character spins his arrow or begins to charge with his lance, they got a critical hit and will most likely knock out the enemy in one shot.

On the whole, it is an excellent game if you dig the genres of strategy or RPG. If you have a GBA SP and want an addicting game that will provide some good entertainment for plenty of playtime, then pick it up, gosh darnit!