The first Fire Emblem game released outside of Japan. The second produced without the series creator, Shouzou Kaga. The third Fire Emblem I’d ever played.
Blazing Blade is a good game. To prematurely summarize my feelings, I believe it is the most quintessential and “standard FE” in the series. Not Shadow Dragon, this game, feels like it exemplifies the very very core of Fire Emblem without a ton of extra flourishes for better and worse.
While I did say this was the third FE I played, it was the first I fully completed, I only made it to the Ghost Ship of Sacred Stones as a little kid, and not far into Mystery of the Emblem after. I bring this up because I think Lyn Mode is a fine enough tutorial and boosts up a new player’s confidence by giving them so many tools, even if you’re not a Fire Emblem master by the end of it, you feel like you learned a lot and completed a big story objective. It’s a great tutorial, even if too easy for veterans.
I like the variety of map objectives in this game, the general character balance, and the characters. It might be nostalgia talking on the last two but this game’s immense presence in online circles around unit discussion and character writing sticks with me.
The plot itself is just fine to me. It’s not my favorite, but it’s good enough. As I stated earlier, it’s very standard. The standouts are the trio of main characters, Eliwood, Lyn, and Hector. They’re always fun to see interact and their differences in personality are entertaining, Hector especially. To be honest I feel that way about the soundtrack too, there aren’t many standouts to me but I don’t dislike it, the whole OST is just “fine”.
However, a big comparison that doesn’t often come up, is how often this game rips straight out of Tear Ring Saga, you can find an analog to damn near every plot element from this game in Tear Ring Saga, except that game has better map design, more fun mechanics and units, and a more compelling story. I could list them all out but I don’t want to bloat this review too much, however if anyone’s interested I could list them in replies.
I do have a big soft spot for Fire Emblem The Blazing Blade. It is a very fun game, solidly designed. The biggest flaw this game shows is just, not being super standout. It’s good but not exceptional. Definitely worth a checkout and the one I always recommend as a perfect starting point for the series.
Blazing Blade is a good game. To prematurely summarize my feelings, I believe it is the most quintessential and “standard FE” in the series. Not Shadow Dragon, this game, feels like it exemplifies the very very core of Fire Emblem without a ton of extra flourishes for better and worse.
While I did say this was the third FE I played, it was the first I fully completed, I only made it to the Ghost Ship of Sacred Stones as a little kid, and not far into Mystery of the Emblem after. I bring this up because I think Lyn Mode is a fine enough tutorial and boosts up a new player’s confidence by giving them so many tools, even if you’re not a Fire Emblem master by the end of it, you feel like you learned a lot and completed a big story objective. It’s a great tutorial, even if too easy for veterans.
I like the variety of map objectives in this game, the general character balance, and the characters. It might be nostalgia talking on the last two but this game’s immense presence in online circles around unit discussion and character writing sticks with me.
The plot itself is just fine to me. It’s not my favorite, but it’s good enough. As I stated earlier, it’s very standard. The standouts are the trio of main characters, Eliwood, Lyn, and Hector. They’re always fun to see interact and their differences in personality are entertaining, Hector especially. To be honest I feel that way about the soundtrack too, there aren’t many standouts to me but I don’t dislike it, the whole OST is just “fine”.
However, a big comparison that doesn’t often come up, is how often this game rips straight out of Tear Ring Saga, you can find an analog to damn near every plot element from this game in Tear Ring Saga, except that game has better map design, more fun mechanics and units, and a more compelling story. I could list them all out but I don’t want to bloat this review too much, however if anyone’s interested I could list them in replies.
I do have a big soft spot for Fire Emblem The Blazing Blade. It is a very fun game, solidly designed. The biggest flaw this game shows is just, not being super standout. It’s good but not exceptional. Definitely worth a checkout and the one I always recommend as a perfect starting point for the series.