Gaming's Greatest Remakes #10: Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon

On 02/14/2017 at 10:56 AM by The Last Ninja

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Original Game: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light (1990, Famicom)

Developer: Intelligent Systems

Remake: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2008, DS)

Developer: Intelligent Systems

The entire Fire Emblem series was a mystery to anyone outside Japan. The world would not know about it until Marth and Roy were featured as fighters in 2001's Super Smash Bros. Melee. Because of this, we finally got a Fire Emblem the next year for GBA. But we had missed out completely on all the Famicom and Super Famicom games in the series. So in 2008, the first game was remade for Nintendo DS. The original game returns with a fresh coat of paint as it follows the story of Marth, who has become the face of the series. This game is a great place to start for anyone new to the series. The concepts behind this game are as timeless as they are intelligent. It is strategy with a steep learning curve, but the rewards for victory are always satisfying. This is one of the better examples of turn-based action on the DS. Also, Intelligent Systems is remaking the second game in the series for the 3DS, which should prove to be another great remake.

Cary Woodham

02/14/2017 at 11:07 AM

Readers of Nintendo Power would've known about Fire Emblem long before Smash Bros. I remember reading about the series in the RPG section when I was big into RPGs. They made it look like it was coming out over here, but it never did back then.

SanAndreas

02/14/2017 at 11:15 AM

Yeah, I saw a couple of reviews of the Super Famicom games and a few pieces of Fire Emblem fan art in NP in the 1990s. I always wanted to play FE Thracia 776 in English.

Awesome series. I just wish they'd kept making console games like Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn. That's one reason I'm hyped about the Switch and why I like the PSTV. Handheld is nice, but I'd really like the option to play on the big screen at home.

The Last Ninja

02/14/2017 at 04:32 PM

That's interesting because I know a lot of fans prefer playing on the go. However, it's great to see them bring the series back to consoles, and with the Switch, you can play it at home OR on the go, so that's cool.

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/14/2017 at 11:55 AM

Marth is the face, yet I definitely used Roy in Melee a lot more. I was great with that character.

02/14/2017 at 04:33 PM

I love using Roy too, especially in the new Smash. It's because of the Smash games that Marth has become the face of the series, plus he was the very first protagonist.

jgusw

02/14/2017 at 12:29 PM

Didn't know this was a remake.

Now you know!

KnightDriver

02/23/2017 at 01:01 AM

I'll rent the new remake when it comes out for sure.

02/23/2017 at 01:17 AM

Rent? You should just buy it, dude.

02/23/2017 at 01:20 AM

Maybe. I didn't like Fire Emblem Birthright that much. I should go back and play Awakening though. I bought it and then didn't get to it, darn it.

PixlBit