Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Reviews
While it's definitely atypical for the series, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a polished masterpiece, and an absolute joy. Not only do I hope to see other earlier Fire Emblem titles given the same loving remake treatment, but I'd love to see some of the fine-tuning carry over into the next brand new title too.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is an enjoyable game despite a few changes to the gameplay. While some strategic elements were eliminated, the game still maintains a lot of what made the series enjoyable in the past, plus throws in some new elements such as the third-person dungeon exploring. If you don't mind the strategy being dumbed down a bit, Fire Emblem Echoes is still a great game worth checking out for fans and first-timers alike.
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.
'Fire Emblem Echoes' combines a wonderful blend of modern and legacy gameplay in a package that successfully introduces the world to a title that never made its way to the West. With a well-written plot and brilliant characterization, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a remake of the highest caliber, with welcome additions that still manage to stay in tune with the original.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia brings a lesser known chapter in the franchise's history to the forefront. Its compelling gameplay, top notch presentation, and captivating cast of characters make it one of the best entries in the 27-year-old franchise.
Shadows of Valentia is a remake done right. The aesthetics are charming, the characters are lovable, and everything that made the original stand out is retained. Rather than mess with the base too much, Intelligent Systems stayed wholly faithful to the core of Gaiden — and with a few minor exceptions, it paid off. It was a joy from start to finish, and I found myself satisfied by almost every aspect along the way.
Despite being a remake, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is one of the most outstanding games to come to Nintendo 3DS this year. Also it's one of the best deliveries of Fire Emblem thanks to inclusion of novelties as exploration in 3D and classic elements of the saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Fans of the series will find a lot to love in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, and if the over complicated nature of the series acted as a deterrent to you before then there has never been a better entry to jump in on. Intelligent Systems takes a good game and adds an insane amount of polish.
Fire Emble Echoes is the perfect fit for long-time fans, who will appreciate the second Famicom title of the series, never previoulsy released in the West. At the same time, newcomers won't find a better game to start one of the greatest turn-based tactical series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Fire Emblem Echoes' combat and exploration work so well that you won't lament the absence of the series' recent dating-sim whims.
My one wish to Nintendo is that they either keep the Echoes sub-series going or consider applying some of these changes to new Fire Emblem games; they're really that good, and what's been concocted here truly deserves to be more than a series one-off. The charming, reliquian nature of the nature of the game may not appeal to everyone, but if you like Fire Emblem, strategy, and can appreciate gaming history, then there's absolutely zero reason not to pick this up.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia manages the remarkable trick of remaking one of the oldest entries in the series, and making it feel fresh. The major differences from the other 3DS games may take some getting used to, but long time fans will relish the return of some purity to the tactical action, while this is easily the best-told story the series has ever seen.
A game which is both old and new. And that's why it works so good even after all this years.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Built around a captivating story told from two sides, the usage of a world map together with the classic style battle system makes Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia yet another must play game for the franchise.
Put aside any misconceptions you have about strategy RPGs, Shadows of Valentia demands your time and will make you feel good for it.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a quality Fire Emblem game, no doubt about it. It'll feel strange at first for those who started with Blazing Blade or a later title, but not in a bad way. Once you get used to its little quirks, any Fire Emblem fan will love this game. It's got an engaging story, likable characters, and multifaceted gameplay that stands together with the rest of the series in some ways and sets itself apart in other aspects. Whether you were looking for a change of pace or just more Fire Emblem, this game is sure to satisfy.
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.
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 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.