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Best Turn Based RPG Game on the Wii

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: January 22, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This is probably the only option you have if you consider that there are no Turn Based RPG games released on the Wii, hence it's high score. I have to admit I simply love the Fire Emblem series. It's ridiculously hard (since when your character dies that's it, they're gone forever...except for the main character). This game is similar to the Gamecube game where the controls are not adapted for the Wii but for the Classic control. That doesn't mean this game isn't any fun as it is still great for those who are into Turn Based RPG games or those who love just about everything RPG (which I am). Note of warning, this game is no easy game. Though there is a learning curve which does not take a while to learn, the AI is not stupid as they will target characters who are in serious danger to finish them off. The length of this game is fairly long (considering it is an RPG) and it can take anywhere from 35-45 hours pending on how skilled you are for this type of game. Graphics wise it is a bit better than the Gamecube released game but other than that not too notable in the same way like Mario Galaxy. Music is beautifully composed, and the controls are simple. My only gripe is the decision to not include the use of the Wii Remote as it would have made the game more easy to move troops around (hoping the next game will include this).

Game Score (Based on a 1-10 Scale):

Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Controls: 8
Value: 9
Overall: 9 (not a average)

Very good game considering this is your only option for turn based RPGs unless more are released later on. Highly recommended for fans of RPG, others might not like the challenge or the long dialogs.

Excellent idea, somewhat poor implementation.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: March 25, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Starting this game, the first thing I discovered was just how difficult it was. It's easy to lose a unit, especially a healer or ranged attacker, in a single hit if you're not careful. This was a welcome change from many games where it's so easy that you have difficulty losing a mission.

The other major plus was the fact that units actually -perish-. This means that if a unit is killed, it actually disappears from your team forever. It makes it far more difficult to complete missions with zero losses, as a unit lost won't simply return at the end of battle.

This game is a turn-based strategy, which is one of my favorite genres. The tactics involved are fairly refined, but have a few issues.

First of all, units can retaliate an infinite number of times. Though this isn't a major concern, it is odd that you can attack an enemy with as many as twelve friendly units, and it will retaliate twelve times. It would add a level of tactics if each unit were limited in retaliations in some way; be it by character speed or positioning factors.

Secondly, weapons don't function quite the way you may expect. Though it would make sense that lances receive bonus damage on the charge, or against mounted units, this simply doesn't happen. Again, this is more of a realism issue, and can be ignored during gameplay for the most part.

The biggest problem I had in the game comes from how the teams are set up. There are multiple sections in the game with different main and secondary characters. Each section is fairly short, and you often don't get time to build a team the way you would like before they replace your team with a new one and you must start over again. Though this is a personal preference, I would far, far prefer being given a team that will persist through the entire game, allowing me to customize my group with characters that I like, and feel like there is a connection to them. In fact, in several missions sets, I wasn't able to build any support relationships in my entire team because of how quickly the mission set ended.

The game is also extremely short. I finished it in two weekends of gameplay; roughly about 15 hours worth, not counting restarts to avoid character deaths. This time would have been greatly increased if I were to sit and watch through the cutscenes that occur, but as I felt absolutely no connection to the characters (usually due to having little time with them on my team), it became a chore to watch the exceptionally long and fairly pointless cutscenes. I'm considering playing again on a higher difficulty setting, as I played through on Easy the first time; this may increase the game length, but only artificially through longer battle sequences and more restarts.

Overall, this game was passable. I'd have paid $20 or so for it, but considering how short the game was, and how there is little opportunity to customize a team, it pales in comparison to truly great games of the turn-based strategy genre such a Final Fantasy Tactics, or Fallout Tactics.

Good only if you have played and enjoyed previous Fire Emblems

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 14
Date: November 30, 2007
Author: Amazon User

It is non-stop 5 star reviews for this game, but for me, there was just not enough customization or replayability.

Personally, I love SRPGS, Advanced Wars, Dynasty Tactics, Xcom, played them all. Recently, a batch of great SRPG games came out, Jeanne D'Arc, FF Tactics, Disgaea on the PSP, all 3 had it's specialty.

Fire Emblem - Don't see what all the hype and rave reviews are about. After just 1 week, I've already put this down to play Disgaea, it's far more fun.

Characters - too many, so many that you do not feel attached to them, and many of them are unbalanced. Which means some are crucial to the gameplay, some it's better to just leave them or let them die.

Customization - There is none, each character has specific powers. You select a weapon, but there is nothing else you can customize, no armor, nothing. Yes, there is the relationship build up and skill, but it's stil lacking.

Story itself - This is not bad, it's worth taking the time to read thru the text. Though by this generation systems, you expect a little more graphical power or design flair, it's a tad bit boring presentation.

How to generate funds / bonus items - It's done thru fixed talks with NPCs. There's no point to read thru those text, just click + and skip to the end and receive the funds or item. IMHO, this is done poorly.

Gameplay - Some characters are absolutely critital if you want to advance thru the harder levels. It's easy to get killed, and I think most of us would like to keep all charactere alive. To do so, you will need to reload the game A LOT. Here's the problem, there is NO LOAD GAME option, you have to quit to Wii menu and start over. This alone makes the whole process painful.

Overall - If this game came out at the beginning of the year where there was absolutly no SRPG games, then it would be a solid 5 star. Just in these few month, you get 3 awesome tactics games: Jeanne D'Arc, FF Tactics, Disgaea, Fire Emblem just doesn't hold it's own. If you don't have a PSP and love SRPGs, then Fire Emblem is the definitely a good choice and only choice. For sure I'll play it later when the SRPG games dry up, but for now, Disgaea is a far more fun.

I can't stop playing this game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 19, 2008
Author: Amazon User

If you like turn-based rpg's, this is a must-have title. I saw this on the lightning deal on Amazon and had to pull the trigger quickly. I'm glad I did - this has become one of my two favorite games. I find myself playing this game for hours at a time and not being able to walk away from it - the storylines and the battle strategy keep me coming back from more.

A solid game, in a genre where solid isn't good enough.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: April 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

"Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn" (hereby dubbed "FE:RD") is the latest in a franchise of turn-based strategy games of the "FE" brand. This is my first foray into the series, and my impression is that the game really does nothing wrong. It is solid strategy, with adjustable difficulty (and a huge "cheese" factor - more on that later), a passable story, a decent combat engine, some good extras, etc.

The problem is that turn-based strategy has been done so much better, so many other times. It is a genre that is packed to the hilt with incredible games. For example, there are the gold standards of "Final Fantasy Tactics" and "Disgaea," as well as the less-well-known, but equally impressive "Vandal Hearts." There are also unique turn-based games, such as "Dynasty Tactics" and "Phantom Brave," which don't have the "oomph" of the games cited above, but carry nice innovations which manage to distinguish them from the pack somewhat.

Unfortunately, "FE:RD" doesn't reach the upper echelon, and has no real innovation to speak of. It just...is. The story, while passable, is lackluster compared to the marvellous epic of "FFT," or the humorous but immersive "Disgaea." Moreover, the dialogue is annoying, and often juvenile. Since much of it is delivered via text, this forces one to actively read some bad writing.

The combat engine is OK, but opens itself to criticism, particularly due to the fact that battles tend to have surprise attacks out the yinyang. In the early going, it is merely annoying, as the game will end and one simply needs to replay the battle. Later on, though, it is incredibly frustrating, as soldiers will appear from a place that should have been secure and kill your healers/spellcasters, which are gone FOREVER. I like the use of battle tactics in a game, but only when the computer plays fair.

Another annoyance is the movement from map screen to battle screen. Every time I attack an enemy, I have to sit through a pointless transition to a battle screen. The time spent loading up the screen is nontrivial in the end, and adds quite a bit of unnecessary length to the game.

The graphics are pretty good, but not particularly vibrant. In fact, I still prefer the pixilated goodness of "Disgaea" and "FFT" to this - the colors were bright. Here, it's not so.

SO, my final review is this: "FE:RD" is a perfectly passable strategy game.However, for those of you who cut their teeth on the masterpieces I listed above, this will leave you wanting more.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: January 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

According to my son. The game rocks. He recommends it to any gamer 12 yrs or younger.

excellent

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: February 08, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Wonderful game for the thinking type. Sometimes I will just stare at the screen until I plan my next move.

Fire Emblem

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: March 29, 2008
Author: Amazon User

We are beginners w/this game and still are learning it. Once we master it a bit more, we will enjoy it more.

Oh Look, Another Fire Emblem

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 15
Date: December 27, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you're interested in the continuing story of the Fire Emblem universe - play this game.

If you've never played a Fire Emblem game before - play this game.

If you're looking for an improvement over the previous Fire Emblems games, possibly involving using the Wiimote's motion-sensitive capabilities - go find something else.

In short, this is a major disappointment. If the game had done something new, I could have forgiven the poor use of the Wiimote. If it had used the Wiimote, I could have forgiven the unchanged gameplay.

Game is great fun

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: January 27, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Tactical game is challenging with a good story line. It is more than fun to play. It actually makes my son think.

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