Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Reviews
Its story has a few plot twists, though most are telegraphed well ahead of time.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia proves that looking back doesn't mean missing something. In fact, this will definitely go down as one of the greatest Fire Emblem games in my opinion. Great characters, powerful story, challenging combat, this game has it all.
While it won't be for everyone, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a fun remake that showcases the history of the series with a brand new look. Seasoned fans of the games will find themselves slightly out of it with missing mechanics, but as the game's difficulty has been toned down since the original, it will appeal to more players. A fitting last instalment for the 3DS, the game is worth a look for those craving tactical RPG battles, or for long-running fans wanting to see the evolution of the series.
Overall, while I don't feel at all qualified to really place this game above or below others in the series, I feel confident that it's an interesting title for series veterans who never got to play Gaiden and newcomers alike. With a blend of old school and also lacking many of the modern nuances of today's games, it gives players a straight-forward, yet stout challenge.
Shadows of Valentia helps Gaiden gain relevance in this day and age by infusing it with some of the best parts of recent Fire Emblem games, even if some of Gaiden's outdated elements bring the game down.
Fire Emblem Gaiden is full of great ideas, but they don't make up for the huge amount of boring or tedious maps.
It's hard to say if the changes made in Echoes will be for everyone, especially fans that may have started with the more recent entries. Even so, it's refreshing to have a Fire Emblem game that feels so different, even though it's actually a remake of a 25 year old game. The spirit and backbone of Fire Emblem is still present, and it's an experience that only gets better the more you play.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia really surprised me. What I thought would be a simple spin-off game ended up being arguably the best Fire Emblem game I've played.
On the one hand Shadow of Valentia takes us back in time, paying homage to the golden age of JRPG, on the other hand the new gameplay features give a more modern feel to it. Shadow of Valentia is an atypical Fire Emblem that differentiates itself from the franchise in order to give a fresh approach to the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fire Emblem Gaiden had explored different approaches, which appear even bolder through this remake on 3DS thanks to an absolutely epic staging, a more developed narrative and many modern gameplay adjustments, while staying true to the original Famicom version. Despite some relics from the past and a less strategic philosophy, Echoes : Shadows of Valentia proves that these pragmatic concepts are still relevant today, indeed for the future of the franchise.
Review in French | Read full review
As the last Fire Emblem chapter on Nintendo's heroic handheld, Echoes delivers a perfect swan song for the series' 3DS days. This is a satisfying, deeply strategic adventure with an engaging, personal story and beautiful presentation, full of appealing art and lovely details that come alive as you play. But more than that, it's also just delightfully different from its predecessors, in ways that only broaden its appeal.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia isn't just an old game with a new coat of paint that brings everything from cinematics through to voice acting into a more modern age of gaming. It's also a prime example of how the fundamentals of a classic game can still resonate today with newer audiences. Good game design stands the test of time, something that Shadows of Valentia has plenty of.
It's funny how a remake of a game that never originally hit the West can feel like such a step forward. There are a couple questionable choices, like the removal of the weapons triangle, and series purists might grumble over some other changes like dungeon exploration, but overall Shadows of Valentia feels like the next great step in Fire Emblem.
Despite its strategic depth and craft, you can't help but feel that Fire Emblem has had its run on 3DS. This isn't a criticism per se, and it's more remarkable now than ever that the handheld console with a low-rent screen and barely any processing power is still able to churn out such deep and engrossing experiences. Intelligent Systems is likely looking to Nintendo Switch for its next big strategic adventure – but for now, Shadows of Valentia is great enough to warrant dusting off your indestructible little pocket toy for one last hurrah.
But how should you take all of this? If you are a regular Fire Emblem fan and have previously experienced the other Nitnendo 3DS adventures, you are going to have an absolute blast with Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. However, without the high bar of quality we've seen in the previous two games, Echoes may not hook newcomers the same way.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a great remake of the classic Fire Emblem Gaiden of 1992. Its old mechanics and level design, works perfectly with a modern look.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The game thoughtfully uses the opposing philosophies of its lover protagonists, Alm and Celica, to color its warfare.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia provides the best of both worlds by serving up classic tactical gameplay in a modern, more visually pleasing presentation. Some fans might decry the absence of the Weapon Triangle and romance options. All in all, however, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia does a commendable job in re-imagining an old game for today's times. It's a great example of a remake done right.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a worthy entry to the series and a great way to hold you over until Fire Emblem comes out on the Switch, despite some questionable DLC policies.