petro_sino
2006
Being the remake to the first game to include interchangeable job systems, balance in this game is a concept not for the faint of heart. Yes, there will be parts where your choices will kick you in the ribs. Yes, there is a boss where it's pratically mandatory to run Dragoon full party. But the freedom and the sense of discovery I had the first time I played this game was unparalleled. Add QoL improvements and a loosely improved storytelling with some characterization, there is a game you're going to play again and again. It's a bit more streamlined compared to the original, but I don't mind the 3D look, it's not as egregiously slow as IV for DS at least.
Gate between the old and the new, Blazing Blade sits in a spot where it does its job fairly well, having a competent but not stellar cast of characters, a passable story and map design ranging from discreet to depressing. It's outclassed in each and every aspect by the older and the newer games, and I would even recommend it to new blood interested in the saga, if only Lyndis mode didn't exist.
If Lyndis mode was your first taste of Fire Emblem, I am genuinely sorry.
If Lyndis mode was your first taste of Fire Emblem, I am genuinely sorry.
While A Realm Reborn was able to intrigue with Eorzea's mysteries, it could never hold a candle compared to the first expansion to the acclaimed MMORPG. I adored every single part, aside from suffering a little dragging at the end part, and it seamlessly connected the player to the land's characters. For the first time, you're an actual character in the story, not a vessel for plot progression but the plot's main protagonist, between many.
Impressive, by MMO standards outstanding.
Impressive, by MMO standards outstanding.
1992
Genuinely fascinating world and characters, despite the plot ending up quite generic you see Darksol & gang as being quite the haters. Could be a little longer, but the potential of replaying this game with a different roster is there. Domingo is the best caster until Tao unlocks Flame lv 4, fight me.
1998
What a charming little game! It had the worst of luck, with so many RPGs coming out at the same time, yet Guardian's Crusade, despite a simplistic design, has a lot of things going on for it.
No magic? No problem, with hundreds of summons at your disposal though the Living Toys, you can push through any adversity and they work like summons. With a deceptively simple but slick story and grander than life characters, Guardian's Crusade would be good without the Baby, who's not only co-protagonist but covers an entire half of the gameplay section. Be good to him and he'll heal, fight and transform in vicious enemies!
I admittedly grew up with this game, but every time I revisit it there's always something new that I appreciate. Few games make me feel as adventurous and looking for new things to do like Guardian's Crusade.
No magic? No problem, with hundreds of summons at your disposal though the Living Toys, you can push through any adversity and they work like summons. With a deceptively simple but slick story and grander than life characters, Guardian's Crusade would be good without the Baby, who's not only co-protagonist but covers an entire half of the gameplay section. Be good to him and he'll heal, fight and transform in vicious enemies!
I admittedly grew up with this game, but every time I revisit it there's always something new that I appreciate. Few games make me feel as adventurous and looking for new things to do like Guardian's Crusade.
I was never strong enough for the Hello Kitty girl ...
2012
I love everything about this game - except the game itself. Its themes, its fanbase, its atmosphere, but playing through it can feel like a chore. Don't let people tell you it's by design, because it clearly isn't.
Do you feel like a hero yet?
Do you feel like a hero yet?
This review contains spoilers
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
This review will be all about A Real Reborn.
Probably the longest story of all the expansions, despite being quite slow and locking a lot of content behind the MSQ (believe me you better get the mount asap), its most important aspect is the world building and characters. It's less of a drag when you consider the post ARR where it starts to deliver a lot - up until the last.
Probably the longest story of all the expansions, despite being quite slow and locking a lot of content behind the MSQ (believe me you better get the mount asap), its most important aspect is the world building and characters. It's less of a drag when you consider the post ARR where it starts to deliver a lot - up until the last.
Prettiest Fire Emblem to date, presentation, characters, music and atmosphere are top-notch. Dragged down by an uninspired map design from the 90s -literally- it's still a fun experience and something different from the formula we all know and love\hate.
You might not like some character choices by the way.
You might not like some character choices by the way.
This review contains spoilers
I replayed this game for the sake of an argument and I stand corrected, Lyn mode is FINE.
Jokes aside, Blazing Blade stands as the most "fair" Fire Emblem, where difficulty doesn't lie with enemies but rather with the map design, which by the way I appreciated more this time around. The story is fine guys, it just sucks the most important aspects are locked behind support conversations (Renault comes in the second to the last chapter and his conversations are incredible) and a Hector mode only map locked behind Nils achieving lvl 7 in Lyn Mode. 70 turns of Nils playing his flute just to give some exposure to Nergal.
Still, fair game, not its fault some are better. Lowen also exists.
Jokes aside, Blazing Blade stands as the most "fair" Fire Emblem, where difficulty doesn't lie with enemies but rather with the map design, which by the way I appreciated more this time around. The story is fine guys, it just sucks the most important aspects are locked behind support conversations (Renault comes in the second to the last chapter and his conversations are incredible) and a Hector mode only map locked behind Nils achieving lvl 7 in Lyn Mode. 70 turns of Nils playing his flute just to give some exposure to Nergal.
Still, fair game, not its fault some are better. Lowen also exists.
2007
Played this for years up until I was able to beat it, just for the HD collection to drop. The game is old, yes, but it's one of the best and most straight-foward dungeon crawler games out there. I am probably its only fan in a 100km radius and that's fine, the game is not for everyone, yet its art and narrative-free story kept me hooked, curiosity (which definitely killed the cat more than a couple of times) leading the way.
Is it hard? Yes, but it's fair.
Everytime you'll die, you'll figure it was something you hadn't planned for, your resources weren't managed carefully, sometimes it's just dumb luck saving or dooming your party. That's why you always take two Ariadne Threads with you! One for usage, the other just in case you forgot to replace the other you bought. It can be obtuse at times and the other games have a lot of things to offer, but I still come back to the first game's soul.
Is it hard? Yes, but it's fair.
Everytime you'll die, you'll figure it was something you hadn't planned for, your resources weren't managed carefully, sometimes it's just dumb luck saving or dooming your party. That's why you always take two Ariadne Threads with you! One for usage, the other just in case you forgot to replace the other you bought. It can be obtuse at times and the other games have a lot of things to offer, but I still come back to the first game's soul.
I hope the true hardcore bobbleheads won't pop me up but ... I think this game is fine. Story mode I feel is obnoxious and levels feel either fun and exciting or uninspiring and a drag to sit through. Also I didn't expect for the game to have so much dialogue, which I found cute. The multiplayer is pretty cool, even though I never felt like playing through the Space Invaders crossover more than a couple of times. I played this game for some days but I don't think I'll 100% it.
It's still going to come up while playing with friends, outside of beating them up on Mario Kart.
It's still going to come up while playing with friends, outside of beating them up on Mario Kart.
Incredible ensemble of story and characters makes for THE passion project. I might be a bit biased since I have played this game a lot but it truly is a soulful game. It's basically blue rescue team and time rescue team, but way better in everything, from mechanics, which can be tedious I'll admit, to everything else which drips of love and careful design. It's not for everyone, since the dungeon aspects can become tedious in longer levels, but it's a timeless classic for me.
2008
Despite a fundamentally simple idea, it can get quite hard and it's exhilarating to beat some very hard levels. It was great for it time (2008!), yet today there's many more competitors who look better. It doesn't overstay its welcome too much, but it can get repetitive.