Fire Emblem Awakening

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 26 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Fire Emblem Awakening Game Cover
Fire Emblem Awakening stands as one of the best representations of all that is good about gaming.
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Fire Emblem: Awakening is a single-player fantasy role-playing game known for its good story and graphics. As an inevitable war looms, players command Chrom's army, planning strategies and choosing weaponry on the battlefield. The Pair Up and Dual systems allow for character development and support among allies, adding depth to gameplay.

  • Nintendo 3ds
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
story18 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions
  • The Pair-Up system adds depth to combat, allowing for strategic advantages and character interactions.
  • The graphics and animations are impressive, especially in 3D mode, enhancing the overall visual experience.
  • The game features a variety of characters with unique personalities, and the character customization options are extensive.
  • The story is clichéd and filled with plot holes, making it less engaging than expected.
  • There is a significant amount of grinding required to progress, which detracts from the strategic elements of gameplay.
  • The fanservice elements can feel excessive and detract from the overall narrative quality.
  • story79 mentions

    The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it cliché and predictable, often highlighting its shallow villains and plot holes. While some appreciate the character interactions and support conversations that add depth, others feel that most characters lack substance and that the overall narrative fails to be memorable or immersive. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers engaging gameplay and a variety of characters, which can enhance replay value, but the story itself is generally viewed as lacking the epic quality found in other classic RPGs.

    • “A beautiful game with a great story.”
    • “The gameplay and story will keep you glued to this game for hours.”
    • “I found the story very compelling and it just had me hooked from the beginning.”
    • “But no amount of pretty visuals or decent voice acting can make up for such pointless moments in the story, if there is a story.”
    • “The main story, while a 1000% better than Pokémon Conquest which had nothing, is kinda generic and predictable.”
    • “The story itself is nothing to phone home about, but it suffices, even if the 'twists' can be seen from a mile away from anyone who's ever played a JRPG before.”
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics, engaging turn-based strategy, and impressive graphics, making it one of the best entries in the Fire Emblem series. However, it suffers from a cliché story, unbalanced difficulty, and some characters lacking depth, which detracts from the overall experience. While the casual mode and character customization are appreciated, the reliance on grinding and DLC content can make the gameplay feel tedious at times.

    • “Gameplay: the gameplay is a classic turn-based chessboard kind of game, with a lot of strategy, and a little luck. You move all your units, the enemy moves theirs, and you get a little overview detailing your odds of winning or losing before striking the enemy.”
    • “The gameplay and story will keep you glued to this game for hours.”
    • “There's a lot of customization, fun gameplay, and a great story that you'll definitely remember.”
    • “There's not much to complain about the looks of the game, other than that the transition between dialogue or cinematics and gameplay feels out of place.”
    • “This ruins a lot of gameplay time where you're training the characters and you can't wait to class change them. It makes it very boring to keep fighting through the levels, and boring to watch the animations.”
    • “Over the past 12 games, the gameplay was the same and a little stale.”
  • music15 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its charm and ability to enhance the gaming experience by matching the emotional tone of various scenes. While some tracks stand out as memorable, others are considered less impactful, serving their purpose without leaving a lasting impression. Overall, the soundtrack is described as fitting and effective, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.

    • “The music is charming and fits the setting of the game, and I don't need to explain why.”
    • “It really brings you into the game, like music should.”
    • “The background music and soundtrack is also fantastic.”
    • “I wouldn’t go so far as to say this game has one of the worst OSTs since the songs aren’t annoying or bland.”
    • “In fact, 'id (purpose/serenity/sorrow)', 'divine decree (ablaze)', and a couple of songs I can’t name are the only few that stood out to me.”
    • “The sound overall is fine and the music serves its purpose while the voice acting... well, the English voice actors did their job alright enough, but the included Japanese option is always the one I opt for in this game.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their impressive quality, vibrant art style, and smooth animations, particularly during battles and cinematic cutscenes. Many reviewers noted that the visuals are a significant improvement over previous titles in the series, making the game visually appealing even on a handheld system. However, some criticism arose regarding the lack of depth in character design and the overall story, which detracted from the otherwise stunning graphical experience.

    • “Graphics: the graphics are amazing, any screenshots and videos you've seen don't do the game justice.”
    • “The artwork and graphics are just amazing; I can't complain there.”
    • “But no amount of pretty visuals or decent voice-acting can make up for such pointless moments in the story, if there is a story.”
    • “The graphics are jaw-dropping for a system that weighs only a couple of pounds and has tiny little cartridges.”
    • “While I did find the game as a strategy role-playing game decent enough, there are some other spots of the game that just don't seem to do it for me.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    The reviews highlight a mixed perspective on grinding in the game. While some players appreciate the depth it adds through character customization and skill development, others find it tedious and excessive, detracting from the overall strategy and enjoyment. Ultimately, the experience of grinding seems to depend on individual player preferences, with some embracing it and others feeling overwhelmed.

    • “I'm spending most of my time grinding and building character stats and relations to recruit more characters that in turn make me do more of the same thing all over again.”
    • “There are just so many ways to customize a fighter that you'll spend dozens of hours grinding your characters for that perfect combination of skills and class.”
    • “If you like grinding then you'll like this; if you don't like grinding, it is not necessary.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game's replayability is rated positively, particularly for players interested in exploring different marriage options, though some reviewers note that the lack of unique character experiences can diminish the overall value. While it is considered one of the most replayable SRPG series, the repetitive nature of the story may detract from the experience for some players.

    • “Replay value (8/10) if you like to explore other marriage options, then that may get you to replay the game's story.”
    • “It's the most replayable SRPG series since the old Ogre Battle / Tactics Ogre titles.”
    • “O replayability: excellent.”
    • “It kills replay value, knowing that everything is exactly the same and the characters lose all uniqueness aside from their face.”
    • “It sure adds more replay value, but affects the feel of the story in a bad way.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Reviewers express disappointment over the presence of DLC and microtransactions in a first-party Nintendo game, especially given the significant advertising campaign and the franchise's legacy. However, they acknowledge that the additional content is focused on gameplay rather than cosmetic items, which softens the criticism.

    • “I'm unhappy to see so much in the way of DLC/microtransactions in a first-party Nintendo game, but to be fair, it's all standalone, gameplay-oriented content (no alternate outfits or other fluff here).”
    • “I'm unhappy to see so much in the way of DLC and microtransactions in a first-party Nintendo game, but to be fair, it's all standalone, gameplay-oriented content (no alternate outfits or other fluff here).”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is primarily delivered through character relationships and backstories, which adds depth and comedic moments. However, some players find the humor attempts to be occasionally grating, and overall, the comedic elements are considered less frequent compared to other titles in the series.

    • “The relationship conversations add depth to the characters, allowing the story writers to inject a lot more humor into the game.”
    • “The humor in the game is a delightful surprise, enhancing the overall experience and making the characters more relatable.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally well-received, featuring a user-friendly interface, impressive graphics, and a variety of characters, which enhance the overall experience. However, it suffers from issues such as unbalanced difficulty, a lack of substantial DLC, and a reliance on grinding, which detracts from the strategic elements expected in a role-playing game. Additionally, some character designs and fanservice elements are criticized for being shallow or overly targeted towards a specific audience.

    • “The pair-up system adds a layer of strategy that enhances the gameplay experience.”
    • “The user interface is reliable and friendly, making navigation through the options menu a breeze.”
    • “The character customization options allow for a personal touch, ensuring that players can create characters that resonate with them.”
    • “The optimization is lacking, with unbalanced difficulty and lackluster maps that make gameplay frustrating.”
    • “Grinding is required to handle tougher challenges, which eliminates the whole point of strategy in a strategy role-playing game.”
    • “Most characters lack substance or a reason to be there, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report a high level of stability, noting the absence of graphical glitches or significant issues.

  • character development1 mentions

    The game excels in character development, effectively integrating voice acting, plot, and cut scenes to create a well-rounded experience that enhances player engagement and strategy.

    • “Overall, the game had a great balance of voice acting, plot, character development, cut scenes, special moves, and strategy.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game features a decent storyline enriched with touching moments, complemented by charming characters that enhance the emotional experience for players.

    • “The game features a compelling storyline filled with touching moments that truly resonate with players.”
    • “The characters are incredibly charming, making the emotional experiences even more impactful.”
    • “I was deeply moved by the emotional depth of the narrative and the connections I formed with the characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

92% average critic score

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