Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
- May 19, 2017
- 90h median play time
It's 2017, and the 3DS is in its sunset years- but Fire Emblem Echoes stands as one of the best additions to its library yet, and one of the best games in a year that has so far been full of fantastic games.
"Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia" is a single-player turn-based strategy game with an intriguing story of heroes Alm and Celica. The game features outstanding mechanics, combining classic and modern Fire Emblem gameplay, and a beautiful soundtrack. Explore 3D dungeons, engage in challenging grid-based battles, and discover secrets in action-adventure style.
Nintendo 3ds
Reviews
- Engaging story with well-developed characters and fantastic voice acting.
- Unique gameplay features such as dungeon exploration and the Turnwheel mechanic enhance strategy and replayability.
- Beautiful art style and a great soundtrack that elevate the overall experience.
- Lacks some modern Fire Emblem mechanics like the weapon triangle and support conversations, which may disappoint some fans.
- Map design can feel dated and repetitive, leading to tedious gameplay at times.
- Some players may find the grinding necessary for character progression to be frustrating.
- story128 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in this game is widely praised for its engaging narrative, well-developed characters, and high-quality voice acting, which enhances immersion. Players appreciate the dual perspectives offered by the two main armies, allowing for a richer storytelling experience, despite some criticism regarding the predictability of certain plot elements. Overall, the combination of a captivating high fantasy tale, beautiful character art, and a fantastic soundtrack makes it a standout in the series.
“The story is well done, the voice acting was really good and helped to captivate and immerse me into the game.”
“Great voice-work accompanies an engaging story and a motley crew of characters with complimentary skills.”
“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.”
“The major let down was the story.”
“Alm and Celica have the most predictable story I've seen in years and their conflict is totally contrived.”
“I figured out most of the plot twists within the first few hours, and then I looked them up online to confirm that the game wouldn't be so incredibly stupid; unfortunately, it was that stupid.”
- gameplay79 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the latest Fire Emblem title is a blend of traditional mechanics and new features, appealing primarily to veteran fans while potentially alienating newcomers due to its simplicity and lack of modern elements like the weapon triangle. Players appreciate the tactical depth and challenge, with diverse terrain and enemies, but some criticize the game for its reliance on older mechanics and a trial-and-error approach to learning. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and retains the classic Fire Emblem feel, it may not satisfy those seeking the complexity of more recent entries in the series.
“The gameplay itself is what veteran FE fans will love about this game most - the terrain and enemies are diverse and challenging, but Mila's turnwheel lets you retry if you misplace a unit or underestimate an enemy's range.”
“Traditional Fire Emblem gameplay we know and love with a twist!”
“Absolutely amazing soundtrack, fully voiced with a performance on par with the famed Xenoblade Chronicles, addictive gameplay.”
“Three Houses suffers from a lot of mechanic bloat; Fire Emblem games are known for having almost minimal need to customize your party, but Three Houses takes this to the extreme and is not nearly as satisfying as FE: Awakening.”
“You end up fighting in recycled spacious maps; certain unit types are broken, and the dungeons just feel like an irrelevant gimmick to the core gameplay.”
“The gameplay isn't any better; the maps are all terrible, they aren't interesting or fun to battle on, and they aren't particularly difficult either. Most of them barely have any features, and though they aren't remotely hard, they are incredibly tedious.”
- music24 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in "Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia" is consistently praised as fantastic and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its immersive soundtrack and high-quality voice acting. Reviewers highlight the music's ability to complement the game's narrative and art, making it a standout feature that appeals to both newcomers and veterans of the JRPG genre. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a significant asset that contributes to the game's emotional depth and enjoyment.
“I love the music and feel that it is very atmospheric and immersive.”
“The cutscenes are great (although a little off-putting at times), the choreographed battle sequences are amazing, and the music is fan-freaking-tastic.”
“Absolutely amazing soundtrack, fully voiced with a performance on par with the famed Xenoblade Chronicles, addictive gameplay.”
- grinding23 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often described as tedious and repetitive, particularly for completionists. While some players find it manageable with casual play, many express frustration with the lack of engaging content and the minimal experience gains from weaker units, making the grinding feel excessive and unfulfilling. Overall, those averse to grinding may find this game less enjoyable.
“The game played well, the game itself is a wonderful game although it's definitely on the grinding side if you're a completionist.”
“There is a lot more grinding and fluff and filler than is generally expected nowadays, possibly the worst Fire Emblem gameplay of the 3DS era.”
“Grinding for experience is a pain as weaker units offer minuscule experience gains.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their beautiful and colorful art style, which enhances the overall presentation and storytelling. The voice acting is noted as well-executed, albeit occasionally campy, contributing to a rich audiovisual experience that rivals previous titles in the series. Overall, the game's graphics and artistic direction are considered some of its strongest aspects.
“All of this coupled with an incredibly rustic art style easily makes it one of the best stories/presentations in video games for 2017.”
“Fire Emblem: Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is on par with Fire Emblem Awakening and, in my opinion, better than Fates. The voice acting is pretty good and the graphics are nice and colorful.”
“The art style is very beautiful and the voice acting, while not always free of campiness, is well done.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight an impressive soundtrack and strong voice performances, comparable to those in Xenoblade Chronicles, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience. However, some users note a slow start to the game, which may affect initial engagement despite the overall quality of storytelling and character development.
“Absolutely amazing soundtrack, fully voiced with a performance on par with the famed Xenoblade Chronicles, addictive gameplay.”
“Despite its slow start, Echoes tells an engaging story, propped up by likable characters, strong performances, and some challenging battles.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for being significantly improved compared to its predecessor, "Fates," and is considered comparable to "Awakening." Players appreciate the depth of the story and the engaging character arcs, which are complemented by strong character design and voice acting.
“The story and character development are far superior to its predecessor, Fates, and on par with Awakening.”
“The story and character development are far superior to its predecessor, Fates, and on par with Awakening.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a lack of replayability, with users expressing disappointment compared to previous titles like Fates. Many feel that the game does not offer enough incentive or variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“I personally don't see anywhere near as much replay value as Fates, sadly.”
“There's no replay value here.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, largely attributed to the captivating music that enhances the overall experience.
“I love the music and feel that it is very atmospheric and immersive.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its charming characters and witty dialogue, which contribute to an enjoyable storyline reminiscent of other Fire Emblem titles. Players find the comedic elements to be a significant part of the game's appeal.
“It's a really fun game with charming characters and funny dialogue, as well as a fun storyline that really reminds players of other Fire Emblem games.”
Critic Reviews
The Rigelian Empire Strikes Back – Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Review
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.
90%Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia 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: if you loved Awakening and Fates, this is close enough to be comfortable but with plenty of tweaks and additions to feel exciting and fresh; if you didn’t like those entries and yearn for a more ‘traditional’ Emblem experience, you’ll love Echoes’ throwbacks and unique touches; and if you’re a JRPG fan who’s never understood the appeal of the SRPG chessboard, explorable towns and dungeons make this a perfect point of entry to crossover.
90%Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Review
This is decidedly a very classic feeling Fire Emblem, with enough freshness to captivate even veterans of the franchise and comes with a welcome accessibility that makes it the easiest for newcomers to get into. This entry goes to show that there's room within the franchise to make different looking Fire Emblem entries that still feel true to the series but which also dare to not only tread new ground, but to do so in a great way. It's a well rounded package that is well balanced to please the majority of its audience, like the entire trilogy of Fire Emblem Fates before it, but while keeping it all confined to just one game with the complete epic story being accessible just from buying this one piece of software instead of it being spread out, and that's something to be thankful for. Overall, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, while feeling like an older entry, might very well be moving the series forward in certain aspects that could potentially return in future outings.
90%
