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53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better Sequel to a Great Game, June 2, 2005
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
It is a time of peace, suddenly, your country of Renais is attacked by your ally, Grado. They are after the Sacred Stone, but why would they want the very thing that sealed the Demon King away centuries ago?
Welcome back to the realm of Fire Emblem. This installment had nothing to do with the other game (which is a little disappointing) but it still is as good as the first. So, what's new this time around, well first off, there's a difficulty selection available from the start (you had to unlock it in the first). There's beginner, which explains the game and has a tutorial, normal, for those of us who played through the first one and know much of the controls, and difficult, for those who want a challenge.
I got to say that I'm glad that they've added this feature so we don't have to listen to the idiotic tutorial (its good to look at it if your a beginner, but its still annoying). Anyway, the core of this game is essentially the same with some added features.
These added features include that of choosing what you want your character to turn into. For example, in the first game, thieves could only become an assassin. However, in this game you have a choice of an assassin, which is a killing machine (if you have the Killing Edge equipped), or become a Rougue, which is a thief who doesn't need lockpicks to open doors and chests. This adds a lot to the game too.
The other neat feature is the ability to walk on the world map and choose where you want to go. This system, I would compare it to that of FF Tactics Advance because you can run into monsters who are also new to the series.
There's also a Tower of Valni that is like an endurance round. You can leave whenever you want to, and its not required that you go there.
The storyline this time around is predictable but still can be classified as good. I mean I figured from the start what was going to happen, and most of your predictions will come true.
My favorite thing about this game are the main characters, Eirika and Ephraim. They are twins but seem to be complete opposites. Eirika is the peace loving princess who hates war, and Ephraim is the one who runs off trying to find pride in fighting.
So, should you pick up this game? Yes, if you liked the first one, but wanted more or if you haven't played the first. No, if you are tired of the gameplay from the first game because all you are going to get is the recycled form of the original.
PROS
- Good game with good stratergy ideas
- You have the choice to choose if you want the tutorial
- The added walk on the map feature is very useful
- The ability to choose what your unit will become
CONS
- The story is way too predictable
- A lot of this game is recycled from the old game (can be good or bad)
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Entertaining and Engrossing RPG, May 28, 2005
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
If you've played the first Fire Emblem, then you already know that this is a must have. But it doesn't matter if you're new, because the stories are unrelated.
The story is good, but a little cliched. There once was an evil monster who terrorized the world, but then he was sealed up by the Sacred Stone. Fast forward to the present. There are six kingdoms, five of which keep the Sacred Stones. The country of Renais has shared a friendly relationship with the Grado empire, until one day Grado invades. The prince and princess of Renais, Ephraim and Eirika, go looking for help from other nations, and eventually find out that the Grado emporer is trying to destroy the Sacred Stones and release the evil of old upon the world. So of course, they have to stop him.
Now on to the gameplay. It's excellent. It's pretty much the same as the first Fire Emblem. You direct your units on the field, but you have to be careful of the enemy's range. The weapon and magic triangles return, which, if you're not familiar with it, is like a game of rock-paper-scissors. You can upgrade your characters' classes when they get to a high enough level, as in the last game, but now you can choose between classes. For example, a myridian can become a swordmaster or an assassin. Also, if your characters are too weak, there are optional battles with monsters, and places where you defeat monsters floor by floor.
Graphics are good overall. The field animations are average, but the battle scenes are nice and fluid. All the characters look beautiful. No pretty cutscene stills this time around, though.
And the characters are wonderful. This is my favorite thing about Fire Emblem. Each unit is an individual with his own face and personality. Then you have supports. When you put two compatible units together for a while, they can have a support conversation. Through this you learn a little more about the characters, but it also improves their stats when they are near each other on the field. Even more interesting, if you have a high enough support between a male and female character, they'll probably get married in the end. There is, however, a down side to the characters' individuality. It makes it so you don't want to lose any of them, so every time someone dies, you have to start the chapter over. Unless you just want to beat the game and aren't concerned about the characters.
Let's see, what else? Oh yeah, sound is great. The music is good, and appropriate for whatever the situation is. And the sound effects are nice, especially the one for a successful hit. THWACK!
The replay value is good. Ephraim and Eirika split up during the game, and you'll need to play both scenarios to get the full story. Plus if you're like me, you will want every single support conversation for the archive, which takes a very long time.
Nice extras. There's a sound room, and after you beat the game you can view the support conversations you've unlocked. There are also multiplayer options.
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is one of my favorite games. It is excellent, and although it is somewhat easier than the last game, it's still hard. A must for RPG fans, but be ready for a challenge.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Game, June 30, 2005
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
This game is a lot of fun, and it's my first Fire Emblem game. You commandeer about 10 different characters in this story, and you fight against a variety of characters as you progress through the story. You must supply your soldiers with weapons (which break over time) while still managing your slim budget. The two main characters are Eirika and Ephraim, and you must choose between whom you wish to play. The storyline and characters are very interesting and if it didn't have such a plotline I probably would've just passed it up as another Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (which, I must say, was rather a boring game.)
The pet peeves about this game, however, are numbered few. The most annoying things about this game is that if a charcter other than Eirika and Ephraim die, they're gone forever. However, you can choose to restart the chapter, but that gets kind of annoying if you keep dying. A second annoying thing about this game is that your weapons break. Not too big of a deal, but annoying still.
Overall, I think this game is great and should be a part of any gamer's collection. I've been playing it nonstop since I got it; it was worth the money.
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