There's a certain level of uncaring oozing out of Thracia 776 that I can't help but admire. Beating this game without having my eyes glued to a guide would be not only extremely tiresome, but also extremely frustrating. Getting ambushed from the impassible, pitch black fog-of-war? Should've played around that. Healing staff misses at critical moments in the early game? Should've gotten better level ups. Being softlocked at the literal final chapter because you didn't bring enough Door Keys? Fuck you, you should've known you needed those. It's refreshing to play a strategy game that doesn't let up, one that punishes you heavily for tactical errors, even if those errors may not be clear when you make them.

Thracia masterfully communicates an almost hopeless tone through all of its different design choices in a way which almost completely removes any ludonarrative dissonance from the plot. There's never a point in this game where you feel truly in power like you do in prior and future entries of the series. Thracia's soundtrack, which I believe may be the best soundtrack in the Fire Emblem series, lacks a certain bombasticity present in other titles. It's very dramatic, and communicates tension very well. Battles in Thracia are not wars fought by powerful generals (at least, not on your side), they're brutal struggles between common people and tyranny.

Through all of Thracia's jank and unforseen bullshit, I found myself connecting with Leif on a deeper level than other Fire Emblem protagonists. It never felt as though his quest was sure to succeed, just as I never felt victory over the opposing armies in each chapter was guaranteed. Thracia was a deeply enjoyable experience, although I'm not sure I'll want to replay it ever again.