A return to roots
I've been playing Fire Emblem games for as long as they've been on American soil, and while the series may have its ups and downs, the general quality of strategic gameplay and prolific storytelling has been consistent throughout. When it was announced that the original Famicon Fire Emblem was getting a DS remake, I was excited to see where the franchise got started. The result is more telling than I expected- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon stands shoulder to shoulder with its successors, and does a fantastic job at bringing this legendary title to fans and newcomers alike.
The first thing I noticed about Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon was not how dated it is, but rather, how modern it is. If I had never been told that this game was a remake of a nearly 20 year old title, I wouldn't have even noticed. All of the things that make modern Fire Emblem games so fun are found in abundance in Shadow Dragon. The great strategic battles once again take center stage, and are just as deep and epic as always. They provide stiff challenges that make liberal use of the tools at your disposal, yet remain accessible and rewarding. The characters are exciting to use, and the revamped visuals and animations are top notch. Fire Emblem's iconic musical score is present in the highest quality (at least by DS standards), and never misses a beat. In fact, perhaps the only aspect of Shadow Dragon that feels the slightest bit dated is its storytelling. Fire Emblem games are known for their quality narratives, and while Shadow Dragon's is certainly strong, the actual dialogue feels a little stiff. Otherwise, Shadow Dragon feels like a Fire Emblem game should in 2009.
Whether this is due more to a lack of evolution in the franchise or the clever updates made for the remake is beyond my knowledge. Either way is telling, however. If the original 1990 game was as solid as Shadow Dragon (and thus as solid as later Fire Emblem games), then it was well ahead of its time. Conversely, if mechanics have been updated, then the updates are seamless, and transition the game perfectly to a modern interface. In fact, Shadow Dragon is a tight package all around. Navigation is smooth, the controls map well to the DS, and there are tons of options that cater to a wide variety of players. Multiple difficulty options allow both veterans and newcomers to enjoy the game at their own pace, and the game's length feels appropriate. It does what it sets out to do- no more, no less. As such, Shadow Dragon is an incredibly enticing game. There really isn't anything off-putting about its design, and I can envision all sorts of players finding something to like about it.
The only real downside to Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is that it doesn't improve on anything that's already been done. And while that's understandable for a remake, it will still be extremely familiar territory for anyone who has played a Fire Emblem game before. Even so, Shadow Dragon's overall quality makes it easy to recommend to both fans who are interested in seeing where this long running franchise's roots are, as well as newcomers looking to dip their toes in the water for the first time.
For additional information on my review style and scoring system, click here.
