This game is like PaRappa the Rapper 2 of numbers go up gameplay to me. I know what is going to happen to a degree that I can plan and prepare in advance to the timing and requirements of the game that I can start to deviate in planned execution for imaginary stylish points on combos like "Used an Archer 4325 + A Healer got Mag on Level Up 1356 + Sent the Flier down mid 3693".
The plot is just as engaging as PaRappa the Rapper 2's plot as our lordlings do battle with an ancient evil in a medieval setting where once again a red haired boy must become a red haired man through watching those closest to him die. In some cases, this refers to the story, in all cases. I hate giving experience to Eliwood.
Let's talk about the logo and North American Box Art. Strong start as it shows us an axe, a sword but then, a staff? Not a Lance? What were they thinking??? Also we have some of our aforementioned characters, none of these characters matter unless your names are Hector and Lyn. They forgot to add Mark! These two hit on a good cadence of dialogue as Lyn is just constantly dunking on him for being a big slow guy. Well guess what Lyn, Hector gets the last laugh because they made a character that feels like playing as Sundowner with reactive tank armor shields, therefore, Axes (as a stat block of a weapon) are BACK BABYEEE.
Sadly, the only axe units you'd consider have to compete with Raven holding an axe. Doubly unfortunately for Axe stocks, the only woman that can use axes in this game is Isadora, which just doesn't hit the same as Echidna's hero sprite. Also, the number of cool special axes is lacking. High ranking Axe units now have the exciting options of: Hand Axe 2: We fit 6 Might in 2 Weight, Look Mom! Dorcas can Double! But wait there's more, connect your copy of Mario Kart Double Dash and we'll throw in these Emblem Weapons absolutely free! So it turns out axes aren't back, but Hand Axes are good and Hector having 20 Def with relative ease is good. Bust out the hammer for hard mode, or train any of the multiple viable magic units in the game oh thank god Pent showed up.
The support conversations in this game allude to various past events that while they hold no relation for the main plot, fill out the world with systems of power that make their moves in the shadows. You also get the strongest sense of character driven vignettes as they talk about their present on the battlefield, their pasts laden in conflict of one another or their circumstances, and the future which they hold within themselves or others It's really funny when Hector tells Serra she's annoying. It's really sad when she cries about having to hope she has a noble loving family looking for her, and Hector clumsily tells her she already found one. I originally thought to make a jokey joke in this text dump about the game not having voice acting, being outdone by Namco in August of the same year with that glorious GBA sound quality. But I held out, typed that part about the healer girl and realized that this game's script is being refreshingly sincere with relatively simple presentation of talking heads against a background. I'm glad the series got a period of this tone where a game for game boy advance audience could get a swords and sorcery setting adventure. So no, it doesn't need voice acting. Do the voices in your head you bitch.
In addition to making me cry when Wil makes Rath laugh, something he's forgotten through a traumatic childhood of exile, the game is also fun to play. It's a decently sized campaign of resource macro and micromanagement. HP, Weapon Durability, War funds, turns before the thief escapes with the treasure. The game gives you a gratuitous numerical gap with which to slide between objectives to make your army stronger and thus make future encounters less daunting. It becomes a very engaging song and dance by which you are investing into your future success by weighing the benefit against the immediate risk of failure. And then you send Florina at the problem and win.
In summary. This series established a very strong title to warm up audiences to the idea of actually doing math in an rpg. As the series branches out in novel directions. This will always stand as "the one you start with if strategy games are not your wheelhouse". Give it a try if you haven't, but more important than seeing the ending is seeing the cool crit animations.
The plot is just as engaging as PaRappa the Rapper 2's plot as our lordlings do battle with an ancient evil in a medieval setting where once again a red haired boy must become a red haired man through watching those closest to him die. In some cases, this refers to the story, in all cases. I hate giving experience to Eliwood.
Let's talk about the logo and North American Box Art. Strong start as it shows us an axe, a sword but then, a staff? Not a Lance? What were they thinking??? Also we have some of our aforementioned characters, none of these characters matter unless your names are Hector and Lyn. They forgot to add Mark! These two hit on a good cadence of dialogue as Lyn is just constantly dunking on him for being a big slow guy. Well guess what Lyn, Hector gets the last laugh because they made a character that feels like playing as Sundowner with reactive tank armor shields, therefore, Axes (as a stat block of a weapon) are BACK BABYEEE.
Sadly, the only axe units you'd consider have to compete with Raven holding an axe. Doubly unfortunately for Axe stocks, the only woman that can use axes in this game is Isadora, which just doesn't hit the same as Echidna's hero sprite. Also, the number of cool special axes is lacking. High ranking Axe units now have the exciting options of: Hand Axe 2: We fit 6 Might in 2 Weight, Look Mom! Dorcas can Double! But wait there's more, connect your copy of Mario Kart Double Dash and we'll throw in these Emblem Weapons absolutely free! So it turns out axes aren't back, but Hand Axes are good and Hector having 20 Def with relative ease is good. Bust out the hammer for hard mode, or train any of the multiple viable magic units in the game oh thank god Pent showed up.
The support conversations in this game allude to various past events that while they hold no relation for the main plot, fill out the world with systems of power that make their moves in the shadows. You also get the strongest sense of character driven vignettes as they talk about their present on the battlefield, their pasts laden in conflict of one another or their circumstances, and the future which they hold within themselves or others It's really funny when Hector tells Serra she's annoying. It's really sad when she cries about having to hope she has a noble loving family looking for her, and Hector clumsily tells her she already found one. I originally thought to make a jokey joke in this text dump about the game not having voice acting, being outdone by Namco in August of the same year with that glorious GBA sound quality. But I held out, typed that part about the healer girl and realized that this game's script is being refreshingly sincere with relatively simple presentation of talking heads against a background. I'm glad the series got a period of this tone where a game for game boy advance audience could get a swords and sorcery setting adventure. So no, it doesn't need voice acting. Do the voices in your head you bitch.
In addition to making me cry when Wil makes Rath laugh, something he's forgotten through a traumatic childhood of exile, the game is also fun to play. It's a decently sized campaign of resource macro and micromanagement. HP, Weapon Durability, War funds, turns before the thief escapes with the treasure. The game gives you a gratuitous numerical gap with which to slide between objectives to make your army stronger and thus make future encounters less daunting. It becomes a very engaging song and dance by which you are investing into your future success by weighing the benefit against the immediate risk of failure. And then you send Florina at the problem and win.
In summary. This series established a very strong title to warm up audiences to the idea of actually doing math in an rpg. As the series branches out in novel directions. This will always stand as "the one you start with if strategy games are not your wheelhouse". Give it a try if you haven't, but more important than seeing the ending is seeing the cool crit animations.