Fire Emblem

Fire Emblem is a series of video games released by Nintendo. Although the first few games have been released in Japan, many of the Fire Emblem games have been released in America. Many of the games are tactical RPG, and use a combat system where the player must give a set of commands to units on a battlefield. It was turn based, similar to Lord of the Rings: The Third Age in combat.

Recurring elements[edit]

Plot: The stories are usually based around the quest of a group of nobles called lords. They go through a number of chapters which include an introduction to the chapter, an initial dialogue, a battle (which can also include dialogue), and an ending dialogue. The lords can recruit other people (through various means) to fight with them. In combat these people were expendable while the lords had to survive. These lords usually had two specialty weapons a piece that only they could use.

Gameplay: The game had several unique aspects that are not seen in any other games. First there was a weapons triangle. This meant that axes were strong against lances, lances were strong against swords, and swords were strong against axes. Bows were a weapon that was neutral in the triangle but had special characteristics that the others didn't have. In a similar way there was a magic triangle where anima (nature) magic was stronger than light magic, light magic was stronger than dark (or ancient) magic, and dark magic was stronger than anima magic. Magical staves were used to heal people or confer a status ailment but were not usable in conventional combat.

The player could recruit people by talking to an enemy and convincing them to switch sides, or meeting an ally and convincing them to fight under your command. Some new units could be found in villages that were on the battlefield. Often times these units would have their own personal stories that could effect the game in some way. These new units would stay with the party until the end of the story or they were defeated in combat, in which case they would either be too heavily wounded to fight anymore or they would be dead. This was another unique feature of the game.

List of American titles in chronological order[edit]

Fire Emblem: Sword of Seals/The Blazing Blade was the first title released in America. It's initial story was about a power struggle between an heir apparent (Lyndis/Lyn, she was also a lord) and her corrupt uncle. The second story was about a lord's (Eliwood) search for his father. After his father dies the story evolves into a struggle to stop a war between Humans and Dragons. This story is also played through the perspective of another lord (Hector) who helps in Eliwood's quest, and the story is seen through his perspective. It was released for the Game Boy Advance.

Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones was about twin lords (Eirika and Ephraiem) who (among others) fight to defeat the Empire which invaded their home nation. This evolves into a war to keep the Demon king from coming to life and ruling over humanity. It was released for the Game Boy Advance.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance was about a lord named Ike. Unlike the other lords he is not of noble blood. It was released for the Nintendo GameCube.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn centers around two heroes; a leader of a small group of Daein liberators - the Dawn Brigade - and Ike.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a remake of a the first Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, which was exclusive to Japan. It tells the story of the Hero-King Marth in his fight against the Empire of Dohlr.

Fire Emblem Awakening is a Nintendo 3DS game. It centers on a descendant of Marth, named Chrom, and his ally Robin as they protect the country of Ylisse.

Fire Emblem Fates is a Nintendo 3DS title consisting of two separate games; both are centered around a new lord named Corrin, whose alliance depends on the game. In Fates: Birthright, Corrin is allied with Hoshido, but in Fates: Conquest, they are allied with Nohr.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the first Fire Emblem game on the Nintendo Switch. It centers on a professor named Byleth who teaches young adults.

Super Smash Bros.[edit]

Marth and Roy (Eliwood's son) are playable characters in the fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee. Ike, from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, makes his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, three more Fire Emblem characters were introduced, Robin, Lucina, and Corrin. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Chrom is introduced as a playable character. Since January 2020, Byleth from Fire Emblem: Three Houses has also become a playable character.