Fire Emblem: Awakening

 3DS
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 1633 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,475 out of 1633
  2. Mixed: 78 out of 1633
  3. Negative: 80 out of 1633
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Aerokii
    Sep 23, 2013
    10
    I'm a long time fan of the series, having played each game available stateside (and several that typically aren't, thanks to fan translations.) This is why I can say without hesitation that this game is easily the best in the series. Crisp and stunning graphics, solid and spot on game play, and writing/humor that's unparalleled in the genre.

    The biggest addition to this game over the    I'm a long time fan of the series, having played each game available stateside (and several that typically aren't, thanks to fan translations.) This is why I can say without hesitation that this game is easily the best in the series. Crisp and stunning graphics, solid and spot on game play, and writing/humor that's unparalleled in the genre.

    The biggest addition to this game over the other titles is the DLC- downloadable and replayable chapters that add a lot of longevity to this title, and remove the need for both bonus experience and arenas from the previous game. Add this to the fun that can be had by battling or buying from people you casually pass on the street, and you can still be playing this months after purchase.

    Other changes from the series include different modes- casual and classic. Classic maintains what's always been important in the series, and that's the importance of each unit you field- in classic, if they fall, they're gone for good. However, the new casual mode allows you to keep units even after they fall, with the exception of certain highly important characters who will prompt a game over instead. This, in addition to the varying game difficulties and ability to save during battles makes the title far more accessible to the more casual audience- while maintaining modes that are incredibly difficult to defeat for even the most hardcore fan of the series.

    Also introduced for the first time stateside is now combat-worthy Avatar unit. In the original GBA Fire Emblem you were able to create a character, but it was more a plot device and NPC than anything else. In Awakening, your character is customizable and treated like everyone else- able to fight, grow, converse and marry. It is also used as a representative for your streetpass team, and able to be recruited by those who can defeat you, meaning your character can exist far beyond your own game.

    All these new additions plus an update to the overall graphic style, an absolutely stunning soundtrack (Four CDs worth!), brilliant writing, and a compelling story make for a fantastic game in its own right- and for Fire Emblem itself, it has seated itself as the jewel of the series. Prepare yourself!    … Expand
  2. Boneax
    Sep 19, 2013
    10
    OUNSTANDING!!! not only one of the best fire emblem games but one of the best RPG´s ever made a masterpiece and a must have if you own a 3DS
    a game with true soul
  3. KriticalChaos
    Mar 25, 2014
    10
    Now this is one of those niche-type games, but don't let that discourage you if you're new to the games. They have made Fire Emblem more accessible than ever with Awakening.
    If you're familiar with the genre, don't worry about the changes this game makes to battles. I was worried at first but pairing up and picking supports is like a puzzle and is good fun. It's also quite the challenge    Now this is one of those niche-type games, but don't let that discourage you if you're new to the games. They have made Fire Emblem more accessible than ever with Awakening.
    If you're familiar with the genre, don't worry about the changes this game makes to battles. I was worried at first but pairing up and picking supports is like a puzzle and is good fun. It's also quite the challenge on classic hard mode. Overall, it's one of my top 3 video games and couldn't think of any better strategy game.    … Expand
  4. K-Star
    Sep 26, 2013
    10
    I absolutely love this game. I have been playing it for some time now and everything charms me, the story, characters, combat system... It's a MUST buy for every 3DS owner!
  5. janic
    Dec 11, 2013
    10
    Take this from someone who has never played a Fire Emblem nay never played a Tactical RPG or JRPG for that matter before: I love this game. It's one of those games that are so perfectly crafted and streamlined that you can enjoy it even without being into the genre. Some highlights in short:

    *Amazing looking cutscenes *No grinding required *Great characters *Great humor: Not many    Take this from someone who has never played a Fire Emblem nay never played a Tactical RPG or JRPG for that matter before: I love this game. It's one of those games that are so perfectly crafted and streamlined that you can enjoy it even without being into the genre. Some highlights in short:

    *Amazing looking cutscenes
    *No grinding required
    *Great characters
    *Great humor: Not many games get chuckles out of me repeatedly
    *No big tutorial, you're thrown into the action with some pointers, the rest is learning by doing
    *Plenty of information is displayed very efficiently
    *Lot of options in battle. You can fast-forward or 'skip' turns and just see the results or completely autoplay turns
    *Intelligent Systems thought of everyone: Noobs like me or veterans who prefer hardcore mode

    With a lot of games I at least partially ask myself: 'Have they even played the game themselves?'. With this one, it's like someone played the game a 100 times and kept nitpicking until every flaw was erased.    … Expand
  6. hierax
    Oct 27, 2013
    10
    Really nice 3D graphics, awesome Gameplay, weapon and spell crafting, good characters and art style, just breath taking cut scenes. There is nothing bad i could say about this game. If you like Anime, Round turned strategy and RPGs, you will love this game
  7. Adam_2411
    Jan 28, 2014
    10
    This is THE best 3DS game, and I don't know what could take over.

    It has an intriguing story, great characters, fun tactical/action game play, a great relationship system, great difficulty, and great visuals/music to entertain you!

    If you own a 3DS, you MUST buy this game.
  8. basilion
    Jan 10, 2014
    10
    First fire emblem game I ever played.
    It's one of the greatest games on the 3DS, a must buy for fans of: rpgs, strategy games, anime, medieval times, anyone with good taste.
    Visuals=perfect
    Sound=perfect
    Gameplay=perfect
    I'm sure the fans of the series will love it.
    My problem, why characters had no feet?
  9. DemKin
    Dec 28, 2013
    10
    Awakening is a proper heir of this fantastic series.
    The game has all the things that made the success of Fire Emblem the loveable characters, the apparently simple but hooking story, the intense battles, the perfect, very rich and yet accessible, gameplay,...
    But this time with the 3DS specs, the graphics have significantly improved. The game is gorgeous, the fighting animations brutal    Awakening is a proper heir of this fantastic series.
    The game has all the things that made the success of Fire Emblem the loveable characters, the apparently simple but hooking story, the intense battles, the perfect, very rich and yet accessible, gameplay,...
    But this time with the 3DS specs, the graphics have significantly improved. The game is gorgeous, the fighting animations brutal and the cinematics breathtaking.
    New elements have also been added to the gameplay, and they are all very well thought. The most noticeable is the possibility to make "duos" of characters, which adds a whole new depth to the battles and tons of possibilities.
    The only bad thing I could say about this game is its difficulty. The Normal/Hard modes are too easy, when the Insane difficulty is ridiculous. Disappointing when we know how well Intelligent Systems did with the previous games, but that's forgivable as the game strikes perfectly right on all other levels.

    I was always confident into Intelligent Systems to offer us a great game for their comeback on the 3DS, and I was right. Fire Emblem: Awakening is up there with the best games of the series.
    I'm more than glad this episode sold well, as it could have been the last according to Nintendo. Fire Emblem is one of the most classic video game series of all time and definitely one of the best, and proves it once again with this great episode.    … Expand
  10. LazyKingSingh
    Nov 1, 2013
    10
    With out a doubt, this is one of the best games I have ever played. Do yourself a favor and buy this game. There is absolutely nothing else to say here.
  11. DarthVader599
    Nov 6, 2013
    10
    I've played the Fire Emblem franchise since its debut in Japan, and I've never loved a FE title as much as Awakening. Excellent strategy combat, combined with meaningful dialogue and some of the best in game music I've ever heard, completes this game. The addition of marriage brings a new flair to Awakening, as you can toy around with skills the 2nd generation character receives. AndI've played the Fire Emblem franchise since its debut in Japan, and I've never loved a FE title as much as Awakening. Excellent strategy combat, combined with meaningful dialogue and some of the best in game music I've ever heard, completes this game. The addition of marriage brings a new flair to Awakening, as you can toy around with skills the 2nd generation character receives. And creating myself as a character was something I'd always wanted to do in game. Simply a top class game, and the best Fire Emblem title ever by far.… Expand
  12. Justkallmekai
    Nov 24, 2013
    10
    Wow this game is amazing. It has a ton of content, great game play with complex battles, and great story. The visuals are amazing especially with the 3D on. The music is phenomenal!!! The characters are great. They have funny, serious, ect. Personalities. Play this game if you have a 3DS. Definitely the best game on the 3DS.
  13. klaptrap
    Jan 5, 2014
    10
    Fire Emblem Awakening is an absolutely spectacular video game that deserves at least a glance from any and every 3DS owner or potential owner. This was my first Fire Emblem game and I must say, I was blown away with how much I fell in love with this game. For this review I'll cover the story, game-play, visuals and atmosphere.

    Fire Emblem Awakening's story is typical Japanese role    Fire Emblem Awakening is an absolutely spectacular video game that deserves at least a glance from any and every 3DS owner or potential owner. This was my first Fire Emblem game and I must say, I was blown away with how much I fell in love with this game. For this review I'll cover the story, game-play, visuals and atmosphere.

    Fire Emblem Awakening's story is typical Japanese role playing game fare. It has plenty of drama and intrigue along with a few plot twists for good measure. There's nothing spectacular in the actual plot, but the character development is something to be commended. By the end of this game you will find a good handful of characters that you'll truly connect with and care about in the heat of battle.

    Awakening is a strategy role playing game with turn based combat, experience points and a level up system. The game is filled with different classes of characters, different types of attacks and rules for each unit on the field. I like to think of it as a very deep game of chess where a pawn is more than just a piece, but is a character that you've followed and watched grow. This aspect of the game is truly endearing and adds to the game in so many ways. The game also features a relationship building system where units can be married and have children. This adds to the game greatly as you can pair units with whoever you want whether your goal is stat gains or just watching a fun pair on the field of battle. Everything is done very well and each facet of the game feels very polished. Game-play is an enormous strength of this game.

    Awakening features four different art styles all in one game. There are the hand drawn images of each unit, the 3D units used in battle animations, the 2D sprites used on the battle field and the 3D renders used in cut-scenes. The cut-scenes are absolutely breathtaking visually. Certainly some of the best visuals on the 3DS. The 2D sprites are charming and fit their role extremely well. The 3D units in battle animations may lack feet but they do their job and are certainly not ugly by any means. The hand drawn art is also very impressive. The graphics of Fire Emblem Awakening are the best of the series and probably the best of the 3DS.

    The atmosphere of Fire Emblem is very interesting. The game is set in a dark fantasy world filled with time travel, zombies, knights, mages and flying horses all wrapped up in a Japanese artful flare. The music is well orchestrated and can really set the mood well. Although the game is very serious at times I've found myself laughing out loud in between battles due to the great character interactions.

    Overall Fire Emblem Awakening is easily a top five game of 2013 and is my personal favorite 3DS game yet. I highly recommend it to anyone that owns a 3DS. If this review hasn't swayed you enough to make a purchase, I understand, but please take a look at this game yourself, it deserves that much. I highly recommend the free demo on the eshop for current 3DS owners.

    Score: 10/10    … Expand
  14. RadicalMADMAN69
    Dec 2, 2013
    10
    This game is definitely my game of the year. It has the best graphics on the 3ds, the gameplay is so addicting, and the story is awesome. The characters are amazing and well developed, it has so much content that is will keep you busy for months, and the wireless features always keep me coming back. There is not a single negative comment that i can say about this game, even if you don'tThis game is definitely my game of the year. It has the best graphics on the 3ds, the gameplay is so addicting, and the story is awesome. The characters are amazing and well developed, it has so much content that is will keep you busy for months, and the wireless features always keep me coming back. There is not a single negative comment that i can say about this game, even if you don't like strategy turn based rpgs you should give this game a go. i recommended it to 6 of my friend who don't really like the genre and they are in love with it and can't put it down.… Expand
  15. Gollygeeanelite
    Dec 5, 2013
    10
    FE:Awakening will have you hooked. I neglected school work after purchasing it because the story drove me to have 4-5 hour binges. It is by far the best game on the 3DS because it appeals to so many different genres. The difficulty modes are perfect and even normal difficulty will have you carefully planning out your moves. Nothing feels gimmicky and animations are smooth.

    I don't know    FE:Awakening will have you hooked. I neglected school work after purchasing it because the story drove me to have 4-5 hour binges. It is by far the best game on the 3DS because it appeals to so many different genres. The difficulty modes are perfect and even normal difficulty will have you carefully planning out your moves. Nothing feels gimmicky and animations are smooth.

    I don't know why you are still reading this review. You should be buying this game instead.    … Expand
  16. Grimmolf
    Dec 23, 2013
    10
    Literally the best game I have ever played. My favorite game of all time. If you like strategy RPG games you are in for a serious treat. Great Graphics, Great combat, Great character build-up, and Great Plotline! That is all I can really say.
  17. pinball123
    Nov 8, 2014
    10
    Amazing game. Must play. Everything in this game is well produced and fun. The story is epic and well written. The gameplay and battles are fun and a great challenge. My only complaint is that they didn't have a sequel waiting for me when I finished this!
  18. guitarguy001
    Mar 23, 2014
    10
    I already did a review for this game, but i felt like it did not do it any justice. This game is hands down one of the best RPG's ever made overall and is one of my favorite games of all time. It surpassed Pokemon Platinum as my favorite RPG (and that my friend is very difficult).

    This is by far the most accessible game in the series. I am a first time Fire Emblem player and i know the    I already did a review for this game, but i felt like it did not do it any justice. This game is hands down one of the best RPG's ever made overall and is one of my favorite games of all time. It surpassed Pokemon Platinum as my favorite RPG (and that my friend is very difficult).

    This is by far the most accessible game in the series. I am a first time Fire Emblem player and i know the others have perma-death that you can't turn off. Awakening gives you casual mode and difficulty levels to make the game easier for new players and it works like a charm. The gameplay is a bit tricky to get used to at first for a newcomer but for veterans it's immediately accessible and it's awesome how you have to strategically place your units so that they can win the battle and not die.

    And speaking of units, the best thing about this game is just how well developed and written the characters are. Every single character is memorable. Chrom is a badass, your unit, regardless of gender, is very well thought out and is really well spoken. I could talk about every character, but i'd spend hours talking about each one. The marriage system makes the character all the more engrossing and engaging and they have children and with all the possible couples you can make, this game will give you hours, upon hours, upon HOURS of content. I have over 30 hours and i have yet to pass the first playthrough AND i have created a new game with a new Avatar. Another thing, even on Normal Casual mode, you will absolutely hate losing characters in the game. Thats how fleshed out they are.

    The visuals are great. The in-game graphics look good but the rendered cutscenes look stunning and gorgeous. The score is among the best scores of 2013, alongside Metal Gear Rising. Id Purpose, Devine Decree and Don't Speak Her Name are among the best tracks of any score i have heard in a video game and of 2013.

    Fire Emblem Awakening is a masterpiece within the realm of RPG and strategy. A great story with fantastic visuals, soundtrack and gameplay with one of the best cast of characters i have seen in an RPG and in a game in general. An absolutely mesmerizing experience and for me, it's one of the best games ever made.    … Expand
  19. SophieR
    Jan 9, 2014
    10
    I have been a fan of the Fire Emblem series for a long time, and I was not disappointed when I played through Awakening when it was first released. It is still one of my favourite titles on the 3DS, and one that I play almost on a daily basis.

    The gameplay is fantastic and offers a variety of options to welcome both new and veteran players; difficulty levels and Classic vs. Casual    I have been a fan of the Fire Emblem series for a long time, and I was not disappointed when I played through Awakening when it was first released. It is still one of my favourite titles on the 3DS, and one that I play almost on a daily basis.

    The gameplay is fantastic and offers a variety of options to welcome both new and veteran players; difficulty levels and Classic vs. Casual consequences. This also gives more freedom in how to enjoy the game; if you are a player who only has a limited amount of time to dedicate to the game, you can still complete the story without worrying too much about losing a few fights here and there between units.

    The class system is fantastic as usual, and the option of infinite leveling as well as summoning opponents from every previous game gives veteran players a wealth of content in order to maximize their units and refine their characters as much as they'd like. The street pass option is also one of my favourites; fighting a passerby's team and comparing your team to those around you offers plenty of incentive to continue leveling up outside of or beyond the main story.

    The DLC is also very well made and beneficial, however it is in no way necessary to complete the story or maximize the units as mentioned above.

    The support and marriage system is very innovative, and highly useful in combat. It also adds to a player's connection to the units in the game as they grow together through the story, combat, and levels helping each other out on the way. Although the conversations between characters and the marriages can be rather cheesy or unbelievable in certain cases, it also adds in a comical balance to the dramatic gameplay that keeps the game fresh and fun throughout.

    Finally, as always, the story, cutscenes, voice acting and graphics do not fail to disappoint. It is well told and fully developed, with additional difficult challenges available for free with a wireless connection.    … Expand
  20. SpyXDemon
    Jan 21, 2014
    10
    Let's start with WOW. Fire Emblem not only turns in its best game ever, but they also made its tactical RPG genre into something everybody could enjoy. The voice acting is right at the top
    (Next to Kid Icarus) , the graphic are phenomenal 2D and 3D, and overall just makes you want to play all day and night.
    I'm a guy who's played all Fire Emblem games and I think that this game is a    Let's start with WOW. Fire Emblem not only turns in its best game ever, but they also made its tactical RPG genre into something everybody could enjoy. The voice acting is right at the top
    (Next to Kid Icarus) , the graphic are phenomenal 2D and 3D, and overall just makes you want to play all day and night.
    I'm a guy who's played all Fire Emblem games and I think that this game is a great place to start for Fire Emblem Beginners since there's only one returning character (But its explained in the game).
    If you own a 3DS and you don't have this game, i don't know why but get it as soon as you can.    … Expand
  21. Bananaman_2
    May 2, 2014
    10
    This game is beyond perfect and my personal favorite it's an 11 out of 10. On top of it's breath-taking graphics, amazing gameplay , perfected mechanics, and tons of variety and replayability, the game's story and characters are so well-written, it outclasses even the best animes and movies out there. It's one thing for a game just to be a masterpiece in one aspect like the Legend ofThis game is beyond perfect and my personal favorite it's an 11 out of 10. On top of it's breath-taking graphics, amazing gameplay , perfected mechanics, and tons of variety and replayability, the game's story and characters are so well-written, it outclasses even the best animes and movies out there. It's one thing for a game just to be a masterpiece in one aspect like the Legend of Zelda, but Fire Emblem Awakening is a masterpiece in many, that's why I consider this game the best game ever.… Expand
  22. Vivifyingly
    Jan 25, 2014
    10
    I don't suppose it's unreasonable to call this the crown jewel of the 3DS lineup, and a must-have for any owner's collection. From the sales figures to the overall critical acclaim, no Nintendo employee or owner of this title can possibly refute the success it is for its system and its 40+ hours of playtime. Those interested in DLC, higher difficulty levels, and fully hashing out the manyI don't suppose it's unreasonable to call this the crown jewel of the 3DS lineup, and a must-have for any owner's collection. From the sales figures to the overall critical acclaim, no Nintendo employee or owner of this title can possibly refute the success it is for its system and its 40+ hours of playtime. Those interested in DLC, higher difficulty levels, and fully hashing out the many conversations between all the possible marital, filial, and civil relationships can easily find themselves at the 150+ hour mark. A success as an RPG in its metagame mechanics, a success as an epic in its storytelling and beautiful cutscenes, and a success as an overall work of art, it reigns king even approaching its first anniversary.… Expand
  23. fireemblemfan13
    Jan 29, 2014
    10
    Fire emblem awakening is a really fun JRPG with great cast of characters, great story, graphics. The overall game is astounding and has taken the series to a new level. The DLC is also very nice some examples are getting new classes, skills, weapons, gold,and even challenging yourself. Wi-fi would have been nice but i can see Intelligent Systems and Nintendo put lots of time and effortFire emblem awakening is a really fun JRPG with great cast of characters, great story, graphics. The overall game is astounding and has taken the series to a new level. The DLC is also very nice some examples are getting new classes, skills, weapons, gold,and even challenging yourself. Wi-fi would have been nice but i can see Intelligent Systems and Nintendo put lots of time and effort in it so that makes me rate this game a 10.… Expand
  24. The3DSCube
    Feb 2, 2014
    10
    Fire Emblem Awakening is currently my favorite game on the Nintendo 3DS, and my all time favorite game. I own Radiant Dawn on the Nintendo Wii, which I received several years ago. Never got into the game much, so I was skeptical about picking up FEA. I was not disappointed in the slightest. Beautiful graphics, soundtrack, and characters. The story is more on the cliché side, but stillFire Emblem Awakening is currently my favorite game on the Nintendo 3DS, and my all time favorite game. I own Radiant Dawn on the Nintendo Wii, which I received several years ago. Never got into the game much, so I was skeptical about picking up FEA. I was not disappointed in the slightest. Beautiful graphics, soundtrack, and characters. The story is more on the cliché side, but still good nonetheless. There is a boatload of DLC and you can have up to three files per game for hours of fun. My main complaint with this game is the online features. You can battle teams that meet via SpotPass but they are hardly a challenge, even if their units are stronger than yours. I would have personally liked if there were better online and you could battle people live. You can also play as Fire Emblem characters from previous titles, but their character designs do not differ from the base classes that FEA offers. I would have liked if there was more work put into that.… Expand
  25. FireEmblemFan
    Feb 23, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fire emblem mixes the best graphics you can get on portable consoles and the action packed, dramatic and gripping storyline you expect from fire emblem. The story is one of the most challenging there has been and great for newer players. It just promises EPIC from the title page all the way to the credits and follows it's promises, a credit to Nintendo and games of 2013.… Expand
  26. felixable
    Mar 7, 2014
    10
    No doubt one of the best game I have ever played. The story, game-play and graphics (especially the animation) are perfect combination. Difficulties are suitable for most players with different options to choose from. DLC are available for purchases to extend the awesomeness. Definitely worth every dollar you pay for the game. Nothing much to criticize about and is purely a masterpiece.No doubt one of the best game I have ever played. The story, game-play and graphics (especially the animation) are perfect combination. Difficulties are suitable for most players with different options to choose from. DLC are available for purchases to extend the awesomeness. Definitely worth every dollar you pay for the game. Nothing much to criticize about and is purely a masterpiece. Look forward to a even better game in the future!… Expand
  27. Michael-5
    Mar 11, 2014
    10
    Best SRPG ever made, why? It's just so damn polished and packed with content. From the pre-rendered cinematics, to the 3D effects, to the whole support/marriage system, to the skills/class system, to the extra features such as casual mode (which makes the game so much more accessible), this is just one of the most well thought out RPG's I've ever played.

    It's also really long, I    Best SRPG ever made, why? It's just so damn polished and packed with content. From the pre-rendered cinematics, to the 3D effects, to the whole support/marriage system, to the skills/class system, to the extra features such as casual mode (which makes the game so much more accessible), this is just one of the most well thought out RPG's I've ever played.

    It's also really long, I finished the game in 75 hours with all the side quests, and some DLC. Never have I put this many hours into a hand-held game since the original Pokemon/Advance Wars came out.

    On a technical level, this game is just mind-blowing, when a flock of birds flew past my screen I nearly dropped the 3DS is shock thinking ants were walking on my screen. Graphically this is the best game in the series.

    As a game, there were no compromises made, and Intelligent Systems clearly learned how to make a good formula after all this time. You still get the same 25-40 hour Campaign, but you also get another 25-35 hours of paralogue quests. Character recruitment only occurs in paralogue missions, so you can never miss out on that super unit. Plus now there is a casual mode, so you don't have to pull your hair out when your favorite character dies on the last turn in a level.

    This game is just insane, it's the reason why I bought a 3DS, and after the Chrono Trigger & Front Mission (for me) remakes on the DS, I would argue this is the best hand held game ever made. Which means yes, it's better then the original Pokemon

    This game is now After the Chrono Trigger & Front Mission remakes for the DS    … Expand
  28. Honesth0mbre
    Mar 18, 2014
    10
    Summary of the review: Fire emblem awakening is a very rare type of strategy game. it is one that will be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. Purists will tell you to ignore casual mode, but is in having this mode not ruin the core experience that Awakening has its greatest triumph. You will want this game if you enjoy character relationships, well executed fantasy plots, extensiveSummary of the review: Fire emblem awakening is a very rare type of strategy game. it is one that will be as easy or difficult as you want it to be. Purists will tell you to ignore casual mode, but is in having this mode not ruin the core experience that Awakening has its greatest triumph. You will want this game if you enjoy character relationships, well executed fantasy plots, extensive rosters of unique characters and replay value. There is no way you will regret the purchase, if you want a breakdown of some presentation and gameplay elements read on.

    Presentation:
    for a 3DS title the production values are extraordinary. Small details such as perfectly formatted text boxes and character portrait placement make sure none of the action is obscured. Said character portraits also do a great job of letting the character's personality get across. of course though these story elements are all well and good they would be useless if the bread and butter (combat) was a pixelated mess. On this I will be brief. Combat looks like an early Wii game, not a 3DS game. combat visuals and even overworld graphics actually felt better than fire emblem path of radiance on the gamecube. You will also never mistake any of your unique units even when zoomed out either. No one in this world has feet though, which the detail oriented amongst you may find insufferable due to how detailed the character models are otherwise. the menus are very clear, information is presented to you in two modes. First is an easy mode telling you all you need to know such as hit probability and the damage you will deal. the second is a detailed mode that will give you much more information. Even convoluted elements such as weapon durability are presented in a way that can’t be missed. This ensures that an obscure mechanic hidden behind layers of obtuse menus will never make you feel cheated. Simply put, the menus are not only appropriate visually for the feel of the game, but they actually provide relevant and unobtrusive information to you. Truly one of the best presented games on 3DS. Presentation score 10

    Gameplay:
    When you start the game you will be presented with a few very important choices. Casual or hardcore boils down to deciding if defeat in battle permanently kills the character in question for the rest of the game. The standard easy, normal, hard setup is there as well and it governs how well equipped and aggressive the enemy AI is. Do not let ‘casual’ mode fool you, it will kick your unprepared ass if you bundle it with hard or even normal difficulty (should you get cocky). Harcore mode on easy will likewise not prove all that hardcore if you take reasonable care in battle. You also decide via limited customizability, what your avatar will look like. It won’t drop your jaw with its versatility but will make you feel a part of the world. More pressingly you decide what kind of starting attributes the avatar will have such as their best and weakest stat. Stats are very robust, nothing that needs mentioning if you’ve ever played an RPG. The stats system in fire emblem works well and the best that can be said of it is that it gels so well with the other mechanics that nothing stands out about it. There are a lot of classes, with characters starting as basic classes in most cases and later getting access to advanced classes. An item permits class swaps as well, though they will be rest to lvl one with higher base stats as your reward. To put this another way, every time you change a character’s class they will have their stats cap raised. So you literally get back what you put into a character. The one flaw here is that nothing can stand against you if you really sink time into training your favourites. This a turn based strategy game that strongly rewards positioning, since different classes have different attack ranges and movement ranges. There is also a rock, paper, scissors setup between weapons and classes that works very well. Still, beware that some advanced skills are a bit too useful and potent. Gameplay score 9

    The limited space for user reviews prevents me from treating these as extensively as I’d like so I will be brief. The music is great but there are a few pieces in the mix which I personally found to be truly outstanding. DLC actually contributes to the experience here. I know, shocking. I recommend any of the scramble or future past packs. these provide the best value, for the rest, only those with a love of nostalgia need apply.

    There are several high quality anime cut scenes throughout the game, these will piss you off tremendously and make you wish for an Anime due to how striking they are. A slew of fun extras unlock after the first completion as well, one of which is a theatre to watch the cut scenes in.

    Total score 9.5 ( 10 since metacritic does not permit decimals)    … Expand
  29. bearbishop
    Jul 22, 2014
    10
    I'm just writing this, because I didn't have a Metacritic account when I originally played it, and this game just plain rocks. I had played advanced wars before, but not any of the fire emblem games, so I wasn't too sure going into it. This game will keep you up late at night if you aren't careful. Gameplay rocks the graphics are beautiful aside from the weird stumpy feet. I named my unitI'm just writing this, because I didn't have a Metacritic account when I originally played it, and this game just plain rocks. I had played advanced wars before, but not any of the fire emblem games, so I wasn't too sure going into it. This game will keep you up late at night if you aren't careful. Gameplay rocks the graphics are beautiful aside from the weird stumpy feet. I named my unit Stumpy in honor of those feet. The music is fantastic and the story is pretty cool too. The sense of loyalty Chrom has for the my unit character is really awesome towards the end of the game. Also Lucina and My Unit will be characters in the new smash bros game. KICK ASS (sorry Chrom). Lucina even has her badass mask in some screens! This game is probably still the best game on the 3DS.… Expand
  30. exmordis
    Mar 26, 2014
    10
    I had nearly put my 3DS to rest when February had arrived last year. It was a busy time, and I wasn't getting into games as much as I had in the past. I was this close to storing it and waiting for Pokemon X and Y, the game I thought would be the magnum opus for this system.

    Boy, was I dead wrong. There was something about this game, something that made it all click together. First    I had nearly put my 3DS to rest when February had arrived last year. It was a busy time, and I wasn't getting into games as much as I had in the past. I was this close to storing it and waiting for Pokemon X and Y, the game I thought would be the magnum opus for this system.

    Boy, was I dead wrong.

    There was something about this game, something that made it all click together. First booting up this game, I was skeptical. A strategy game on the 3DS seemed too abstract for me.
    The opening cut scene appeared, and of course it was a sight to see. The 3D capabilities were being used to their fullest.
    Then the menu came up, and I was greeted with a blasting rendition of the Fire Emblem theme. It was nothing less of perfect.
    Jumping into the game immediately, I was greeted with great voice acting, superb gameplay, and of course, an amazing cast of characters. They are what make this game. You immerse yourself into this small screen, and you find a world as big as ours. Intelligent Systems really hit gold on this one, I couldn't believe how hard this game could get a grip on you until I had 100 hours logged in.
    So to review in sections:
    Graphics: 8/10 The weaker part of the game, but altogether fabulously well done for such a system. The 3D feature is used well in cut scene and gameplay alike. Turned off, it doesn't leave that much of an impact, leaving the best of both worlds. While people may not have feet rendered in this world, the artstyle is satisfying and showcases the power of the 3DS.
    Gameplay: 10/10 When I had hit 100 hours in the short span of a few weeks, I had realized that there was nothing this game couldn't do. The strategy-based gameplay allowed for planning and numerous ways to go about a mission. The variety of difficulties allowed for casual and hardcore gameplay, and Lunatic+ will give you the biggest challenge in 2013. Overall, superb and addicting, the actual playing of the game gets my vote for some of the best fun you can have in 2013.
    Sound 10/10: The music is just amazing, it sets the mood perfectly and has a wide range of emotion put into each of its songs. A personal favorite of mine, Id~Serenity, the track that plays when you meet Chrom at the start of the game. It brings peace and sound into the viewer, and it creates that image of happiness that doesn't fade anytime after. Overall, killer soundtrack. I'm baffled it wasn't nominated for any of the major OST awards in the shows this year, but the good never gets the most recognition.
    Story/Characters: 10/10 How can I put this lightly? The story in this game is simple, yet complex. It has the typical medieval setting, but various archetypes of it. The characters look generic, but are each unique. Every character you meet has that special quirk to them that brings them to life. From serious to lighthearted, nothing could beat the giant cast of Fire Emblem: Awakening and their adventures. You will cry at the end, not from a death or anything like that, but because you have to leave the world of Ylisse and all of its amazing characters. Until you replay it. Again, and again.

    Overall: 10/10
    When the major games this year received the recognition they had, I was baffled at how this game got not even a sliver of what they received. It beats out 90% of this years soundtracks, it crushes 99% of this years gameplay, and it is the best story of 2013. It goes to show you don't need ham-handed philosophical lessons or wacky "intelligent" time-travel plots to make a story great. You just need a little soul and love to bring it to our world.

    Fire Emblem: Awakening gets my vote as the Game of the Year of 2013.    … Expand
  31. fanabanana
    May 18, 2014
    10
    Best in the series. The game has a great mix of features and characters, leaving you a lot to do and lots of tactics to explore. The story is fairly interesting. There is DLC available, both free and paid.
  32. snkcake666
    Apr 30, 2014
    10
    I actually created an account specifically to write a review about this game. The combat system was great and the graphics decent, but what I found so incredible about this game was the story, the character development, and the music. These were easily some of the best which I have ever seen in my life as a gamer. You will not regret playing Fire Emblem: Awakening.
  33. cristiadu
    May 27, 2019
    10
    Just an awesome game. I enjoyed every minute of it, just get it for you as well.
  34. breadlofe
    Jun 14, 2014
    10
    This game is truly amazing. After playing Marth in Super Smash Bros. I wanted to see what the games where like, then I bought Fire Emblem Awakening and it quickly became not only one of my favorite Nintendo games but also became one of my favorite games of all time. Me and my brother took a big risk buying a new game from a series new to us but we were both amazed at the great animateThis game is truly amazing. After playing Marth in Super Smash Bros. I wanted to see what the games where like, then I bought Fire Emblem Awakening and it quickly became not only one of my favorite Nintendo games but also became one of my favorite games of all time. Me and my brother took a big risk buying a new game from a series new to us but we were both amazed at the great animate cut-scenes and intuitive game play. This game gets a 10/10 and a Pick It Up As Soon As Possible medal… Expand
  35. teshime
    Jul 15, 2014
    10
    I bought Fire Emblem: Awakening on a whim one day, and as a series newbie, I really didn't know what to expect. I was then pleasantly surprised to find I'd bought one of the best games I've played in recent years. The graphics and CGI cutscenes are incredibly stylish, and as someone who has always fallen flat with turn-based strategy games, I was amazed with how quickly I engaged with andI bought Fire Emblem: Awakening on a whim one day, and as a series newbie, I really didn't know what to expect. I was then pleasantly surprised to find I'd bought one of the best games I've played in recent years. The graphics and CGI cutscenes are incredibly stylish, and as someone who has always fallen flat with turn-based strategy games, I was amazed with how quickly I engaged with and got the hang of it. To more seasoned players I can see how it may come across a bit repetitive and simple, but that simplicity gives it a lot more accessibility, which a wonderful game like this should have.
    The story is interesting, and will appeal to anyone who likes a good fantasy narrative spliced with sorcery and dragons. Also, along the way in the adventure you build a band of beautifully designed, engaging characters who fight alongside you. There's also the support system, which is the icing on the cake; there's lots of lovely character development to discover as the characters get to know each other, not to mention the chance to marry them all off (which I really enjoyed)!
    In all seriousness, this is one of the best games for the 3DS so far, and you won't regret buying it!    … Expand
  36. Ydun79
    Feb 11, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Amazing combat and you get to play with the children of your favorite characters. A must play!… Expand
  37. Syrek
    Aug 9, 2014
    10
    A masterpiece and a work of art, Fire Emblem: Awakening captures the essence of what makes a video game while at the same time becoming something truly amazing, an experience that you will reflect on for years to come.

    I had never played a Fire Emblem game before Awakening. I knew about the franchise from Super Smash Bros: Melee, as I'm sure many other gamers did as well, but I was    A masterpiece and a work of art, Fire Emblem: Awakening captures the essence of what makes a video game while at the same time becoming something truly amazing, an experience that you will reflect on for years to come.

    I had never played a Fire Emblem game before Awakening. I knew about the franchise from Super Smash Bros: Melee, as I'm sure many other gamers did as well, but I was always hesitant or reluctant to dive into the challenging world of Fire Emblem where death is permanent, a gameplay mechanic that was both new and frightening to me. It wasn't until early 2013 when I noticed that a demo for Awakening was on the 3DS e-shop that I took notice of the Fire Emblem franchise. I had heard quite a bit of praise already from gaming websites, youtube reviews and many more outlets across the internet and my interest for the game continued to pique when I heard this entry in the series was the most inviting for newcomers like myself but still providing a challenge for veterans of the series. So I downloaded the demo and I was immediately hooked.

    What happened after I had played the demo, which I played more than several times I might add, is what I can only call an incredible obsession, one that I had no experienced in MANY years. I hadn't been this excited, addicted and invested into to a video game since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I bought the game digitally day one, wouldn't even wait the next day to purchase it physically, and spent the next few weeks absorbed in Fire Emblem: Awakening. Everything about the story, the characters and interactions with the characters, the beautiful and majestic music, the pleasant visuals, and of course, the deep and addicting gameplay resonated with me in a way that is still to this day difficult to explain. I suppose the simplest way to put it is that I viewed Fire Emblem: Awakening as more than just a video game but rather an piece of art, one that stirred so many emotions and feelings and to this day still does, regardless of how many times I play it. It's that freaking good!

    I've invested over 500 hours into Fire Emblem: Awakening and I have not once regretted spending that much time into this incredible game that I now consider my favourite game of all time, and that is saying quite a bit. I NEVER would have expected Fire Emblem: Awakening to garner such praise from me, especially considering I've been playing games for over 20 years now and have many games under my belt in terms of completion or as close to completion. If your even slightly into RPG's, I cannot stress how much you will enjoy this game and even if you don't like RPG's, at least try the demo and see for yourself why this game has become not only the highest rated Fire Emblem game but one of the best, if not the best, 3DS game.    … Expand
  38. anichels
    Jan 1, 2016
    10
    It's a nice puzzle game with a great story and graphics.
    Absolutely love it!
    It's one of those games that I will be purchasing any sequel they release, because I trust the developers that much!
  39. kooltrex
    Dec 22, 2014
    10
    One of the best games I have ever played. GREAT characters,story,music,gameplay,visuals,graphics,dialogue and very addicting! If you like strategy jrpgs or just want an awesome game this is truly a masterpiece!
  40. eyb0ss
    Oct 15, 2014
    10
    This game is quite amazing. When coming to legitimate flaws this game has none. It's Fire Emblem in that it's a tactical RPG with a perma-death system. It's difficult and unforgiving, but with a truly unique and beautiful art style, complimented by competent story telling and likable and characters (except Lucina). The relationship system is the icing on the cake, adding an interestingThis game is quite amazing. When coming to legitimate flaws this game has none. It's Fire Emblem in that it's a tactical RPG with a perma-death system. It's difficult and unforgiving, but with a truly unique and beautiful art style, complimented by competent story telling and likable and characters (except Lucina). The relationship system is the icing on the cake, adding an interesting dynamic and massive amounts of replay ability. And the children, oooooooooh my god don't even get me started on the children. Skills and kids and parents and stats and leveling and the weapon system and uhhhhhh... More stuff. It is hard though.
    Game of the Year
    /5    … Expand
  41. ACM3PTS
    Sep 23, 2014
    10
    This game is a masterpiece, it was my first time playing a fire emblem game and I think its worth buying a 3ds just to play this game. It has an amazing and engaging story, great character development and a deep and rewarding combat system. The art style and music are amazing too, and all the customization options are incredibly vast. Fire emblem games have a feature in which if a unitThis game is a masterpiece, it was my first time playing a fire emblem game and I think its worth buying a 3ds just to play this game. It has an amazing and engaging story, great character development and a deep and rewarding combat system. The art style and music are amazing too, and all the customization options are incredibly vast. Fire emblem games have a feature in which if a unit dies, it stays dead for the rest of the game, but this time there's a casual mode for newcomers to the series. It changes the perma-death mechanic so that fallen units come back in the next chapter. I do not recommend playing in this feature, even if you're new to the series. I feel it changes drastically the experience of the game, but not in a good way. Anyways if you're planning on buying this game you should also consider buying 3 of the DLCs: Future past trilogy, Rogues and redeemers trilogy and Apotheosis, they're all great and add to the experience.
    But by far the greatest thing about this game is how much replay-ability it has. I have spent over 710 hours of gameplay on it and I'm still playing, and I'm not planning on stopping any soon.

    PS. I didn't like RPGs in general until this game opened my eyes.    … Expand
  42. TheTokenFemale
    Sep 21, 2014
    10
    One of the best games I've brought this year. The Graphics are beautiful and actually look good in 3D (A rarity for the system in my experience) and the gameplay is engaging. It's difficult in places and I've gameover'd my fare share of times whilst playing on difficult but I don't find it frustrating in the way in would have with some other games.
    I really enjoyed the support    One of the best games I've brought this year. The Graphics are beautiful and actually look good in 3D (A rarity for the system in my experience) and the gameplay is engaging. It's difficult in places and I've gameover'd my fare share of times whilst playing on difficult but I don't find it frustrating in the way in would have with some other games.
    I really enjoyed the support conversations to the point where I would play random encounters with weaker characters not only to level them up but to try different support combos so I could see all the conversations.
    My one complaint would be that the ending felt and bit rushed and the game a little too short for my liking, however this is made up for by the sheer replayability of this game and some half decent DLC which isn't badly priced and is fun to play    … Expand
  43. ArchangelsBlade
    Sep 24, 2014
    10
    So, this is the first fire emblem game, but after owning it for about eight months, I have to say it is probably one of the top five games I've ever played, second only to Dark Souls. Yes, this game has its flaws, but they are not too important in my mind, so they do not detract from the score, and this game spoke to me on a level that not many games that I have played do. Some of you willSo, this is the first fire emblem game, but after owning it for about eight months, I have to say it is probably one of the top five games I've ever played, second only to Dark Souls. Yes, this game has its flaws, but they are not too important in my mind, so they do not detract from the score, and this game spoke to me on a level that not many games that I have played do. Some of you will say that the story is dry, that the characters are bland and the gameplay is repetitive, but every time I play the game it feels different. It never goes exactly the same as the first time, or the second, or the third. I've never played any other Fire Emblem game before, but I have already decided that I need to get as many as I can and play them all.… Expand
  44. MikeSword13
    Nov 9, 2014
    10
    This is probably one of the best games I've ever played in my life.
    This was my introduction to the Fire Emblem series and i'm impressed. You can really feel all the effort the developers put in this game. The music, the story, the gameplay, everything in this game is great. You really care about those characters and what happens to them. The relationship system is also great. It develops    This is probably one of the best games I've ever played in my life.
    This was my introduction to the Fire Emblem series and i'm impressed. You can really feel all the effort the developers put in this game. The music, the story, the gameplay, everything in this game is great. You really care about those characters and what happens to them. The relationship system is also great. It develops the characters and improves the game play. This mixed with the class system give this game great replay value. The soundtrack is fantastic. I was actually blown away by some of the music in the game. But keep in mind, this is not a game for everyone. It's a strategy RPG so the action is not the most important. It requires patience and thought. Even before I bought it I thought I wasn't gonna like. So keep an open mind about it. For me, it is the best game on 3DS right now and I think everyone should give it a shot.    … Expand
  45. anginesu
    Dec 20, 2014
    10
    If you ever asked how 3D could be interesting, check the cutscenes for this game. The art is awesome, so is the voice acting (can be hilarious at times) and the way you interact with the characters. Making your "avatar" have a significant importance may shock some hardcore fans, but the story is still consistent and makes the gameplay practically flawless if you play as any Fire EmblemIf you ever asked how 3D could be interesting, check the cutscenes for this game. The art is awesome, so is the voice acting (can be hilarious at times) and the way you interact with the characters. Making your "avatar" have a significant importance may shock some hardcore fans, but the story is still consistent and makes the gameplay practically flawless if you play as any Fire Emblem game should be played: classic with the hardest difficulty available. Of course, some of the most intriguing aspects of other FE games are back, so don't think casual mode is a new thing that "destroyed" it. It's perfect to make the franchise more mainstream, making more people like the genre, and thus, loving the finest features it has.… Expand
  46. TomMatt
    Dec 29, 2014
    10
    One of the best games I have ever play in a pocket console, and one of the best games of rpg/ strategy. The best game in 3ds, by far. If you like to think and make good strategy, you must play this game.
  47. Fask1ng
    Feb 3, 2015
    10
    It is the best game I have ever played, honestly. The art style is flawless, the gameplay is enrapturing, and the story is absolutely flawless. It is almost impossibly good.
  48. ChanReview
    Feb 15, 2015
    10
    This is my first 'Fire Emblem' game and it did not disappoint! The graphics and art were great and I particularly enjoyed the option to customise yourself down to your very voice. I haven't played many turn-based strategy games, but this one has convinced me to play more! Story line was simple, but pleasing and each battle(?) was enjoyable and never felt repetitive. For the first time IThis is my first 'Fire Emblem' game and it did not disappoint! The graphics and art were great and I particularly enjoyed the option to customise yourself down to your very voice. I haven't played many turn-based strategy games, but this one has convinced me to play more! Story line was simple, but pleasing and each battle(?) was enjoyable and never felt repetitive. For the first time I wished the game went on for longer, though in saying this I did not let go of this game for 4 days straight playing every little side mission possible.… Expand
  49. Archmageaki
    Mar 3, 2015
    10
    I never thought i would get into fire emblem, I only knew it from smash bros; but my god is this game amazing. I played it for a bit and fell in love with its gameplay and story, the characters were very developed (my two favorite being Morgan and Lucina who i married) , the different classes were awesome and i even recruited Ike and Marth. Fire Emblem Awakening is my all time favoriteI never thought i would get into fire emblem, I only knew it from smash bros; but my god is this game amazing. I played it for a bit and fell in love with its gameplay and story, the characters were very developed (my two favorite being Morgan and Lucina who i married) , the different classes were awesome and i even recruited Ike and Marth. Fire Emblem Awakening is my all time favorite game and i give a 10/10.… Expand
  50. BaganLeleo
    Mar 15, 2015
    10
    This game is the best game on the 3DS. The addition of Support Conversations added a lot of replay value with people like me trying to unlock every conversation, the characters were unique with each having a distinct personality, the story, while simple, did entertain me, and had a few twists and turns, in short, I LOVE THIS GAME!!!!!!!!!
  51. Kotastic
    Mar 16, 2015
    10
    Not only is it the best Fire Emblem game, but it's the best game i've ever played period. Just the amount of content, story, relations, and deep mechanics of the game earns my top spot of best video game lists ever.
  52. Otoma
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    This is the first Fire Emblem I played (mainly motivated by Super Smash Bros) and it became my favorite 3DS game of all time pretty quick.

    The Story is awesome, the characters are AMAZING. I mean come on, dozens of characters and I know every single name of them. These aren't just stupid puppets, but people with their own story and relationships and family's (that you can form!). The    This is the first Fire Emblem I played (mainly motivated by Super Smash Bros) and it became my favorite 3DS game of all time pretty quick.

    The Story is awesome, the characters are AMAZING. I mean come on, dozens of characters and I know every single name of them. These aren't just stupid puppets, but people with their own story and relationships and family's (that you can form!). The fighting system is awesome. The graphic is.... well ok. The character Sprites are 2D, but I guess if they where 3D they would look worse. But the cinematic Scenes are awesome.

    This is really an amazing game. Buy it. Now!    … Expand
  53. pi597
    Jun 7, 2015
    10
    Oh man... This game, this game is life. The story is very well thought out, and the combat system is so amazing, they must have spent years thinking it all out. You WILL fall in love with at least one of the characters, and the marriage system is brilliant.
    The only downside I can think of is, the higher difficulties, (Lunatic and Lunatic+) are the hardest things that are in existence.
    I    Oh man... This game, this game is life. The story is very well thought out, and the combat system is so amazing, they must have spent years thinking it all out. You WILL fall in love with at least one of the characters, and the marriage system is brilliant.
    The only downside I can think of is, the higher difficulties, (Lunatic and Lunatic+) are the hardest things that are in existence.
    I was addicted to this games for months, I seriously needed help.
    Those couple hundred hours were not wasted, go and get it.    … Expand
  54. sonicgum15
    Jun 17, 2016
    10
    I usually don't write out reviews for games, especially not in this format. But I felt the need to in order to get my opinion out there, and in my opinion, Fire Emblem: Awakening is the BEST 3DS game that I've ever played. And I will explain why:

    What is easily one of my favourite aspects of this game is it's characters, as well as it's story. Many, if not most of the characters in this    I usually don't write out reviews for games, especially not in this format. But I felt the need to in order to get my opinion out there, and in my opinion, Fire Emblem: Awakening is the BEST 3DS game that I've ever played. And I will explain why:

    What is easily one of my favourite aspects of this game is it's characters, as well as it's story. Many, if not most of the characters in this game are just so well-written and defined. Most of them are all really memorable, charming and likeable in their own way. Their individual personalities are part of why a lot of them are so endearing and worth caring about. And what helps is the Support system of this game. The Support system of this game lets you build relationships/friendships with different characters over the course of the game by pairing two units together in battle and have them help each other out in some way. If their bonds are strong enough, you can have Support conversations with them and potentially have two characters married, or have built a strong friendship over the course of the game. Now these conversations really help flesh out and develop these characters, and it gives us even more of an incentive to care about them. If you have two particular characters that you want to ship together, then this becomes even more satisfying and it helps you get invested in the story. Now admittedly, when you look back in hindsight over how a real life relationship/friendship might grow, they may seem sort of rushed. But these conversations are just so well-written, that you're not gonna care and you can honestly buy how certain characters would talk to each other and how they get married, or build a strong friendship with each other. My only main gripe with this system is that you can't ship every single character over the course of the game with whoever you want, only certain characters. This could be a potentially big problem for someone who wants to ship/build a friendship with two certain characters together, but can't. (i.e. Lissa and Olivia) But regardless, the options of what you're given are more than enough to your satisfaction, and from what I can tell, all the other conversations are in DLC, so if you're willing to invest money just to see them, then by my guest. As for the actual story, it's really well-written. How it unfolds is very interesting, you can feel the stakes if what's going on, and caring about the characters only helps care about what's going on even more. It feels epic, but also intimate enough to keep you invested, and the plot points are just very well executed that you can look past the tropes in this kind of story. The lore and setting of this world is very interesting and you actually can't help but go out of your way to experience it more. Again, my only main gripe with the story is how convoluted it can be at times, especially with your avatar's backstory, but it's well done and intriguing nonetheless. So yeah, awesome characters and story aside, how's everything else?

    The presentation of this game is really top-notch. The fully rendered CGI cutscenes look wonderful and it's honestly incredible how well they look on a handheld system. The voice acting is solid and it helps give a nice sense of personality to each character. The music is really well done and it feels epic and many of them are just so pleasant to listen to when you're playing the game. My only few minor gripes with the presentation is that when the cutscenes are in text boxes, the voice acting is only in spurts, not throughout. Which I find kinda odd, considering the fact that the fully-rendered cutscenes are fully voice acted with no problems, And ideally, I really would've liked more cutscenes like the fully-rendered ones. but, whatever, I guess you can't have everything. But the presentation is undoubtedly impressive regardless, especially in battle.

    Speaking of battle, the gameplay is phenomenal in this game. It's just complex enough, but also simple enough for both newcomers, and hardcore fans to enjoy. Early on, you can choose to play in Classic or Newcomer mode. Classic mode is that whenever your characters die in combat, they don't come back, ever. But in Newcomer mode, it's the opposite of that. It's really well-appreciated new feature that can really help expand this franchise's audience without alienating the old fans, considering this is my first Fire Emblem game in the series. The gameplay is just so much fun, figuring out your next strategy, how combat encounters may, or may not turn out, pairing characters together and how they defeat an enemy and level up, what weapons they may wield for battle, and what class they serve and how each and every one of them can be valuable to victory. The tutorials do a really great job explaining how things work, that you'd have to be an idiot to not get them. The challenges and side missions, as well as the shopping are just as engrossing and satisfying as well.

    Buy this game whenever you can.

    9.4/10    … Expand
  55. RafaelDB464
    Jun 24, 2015
    10
    i never was a big fan of Fire Emblem. the only games i played was Radiant Dawn for Wii and Sacred Stones for GBA... but all i have to say is... THIS IS THE BEST 3DS RPG I ever played in my entire Life!!

    Pros: Deep and Amazing Gameplay Easy to Learn the Basics Great characters with Different Personalities Marriages for have Children that can be the Future of Battle Nice Graphics    i never was a big fan of Fire Emblem. the only games i played was Radiant Dawn for Wii and Sacred Stones for GBA... but all i have to say is... THIS IS THE BEST 3DS RPG I ever played in my entire Life!!

    Pros:
    Deep and Amazing Gameplay
    Easy to Learn the Basics
    Great characters with Different Personalities
    Marriages for have Children that can be the Future of Battle
    Nice Graphics
    tons of Content and DLC
    Very good Soundtrack
    Story is great with some really Emotional moments
    Cons:
    Multiplayer could have been Online too

    Overall: even if the Multiplayer doesn't have Online, I still love this game! the Great Story, Characters, Gameplay and anything on this game got to my Heart!    … Expand
  56. LeonhardWalhout
    Nov 11, 2015
    10
    I probably wouldn't played any Fire Emblem Game if I wouldn't heard so many positive things about this game. So after waiting for 1 year I bought it, and it didn't disappoint. the game-play is amazing, the story and characters are amazing and the soundtrack while not being anything special still is great. If you like RPG 's you should at least try it out
  57. Cesarin_1007
    Aug 21, 2015
    10
    Excelente juego, simplemente la musica, jugabilidad, personajes, armas son el centro en esta obra de arte. Si tienes una 3ds este es uno de los juegos que no deben faltar en tu colección.
  58. javiandre10
    Feb 18, 2016
    10
    A mi gusto el mejor juego de 3DS, porque tiene una jugabilidad adictiva, buena historia, personajes carismáticos, rejugabilidad, música increíble. Fue mi primera experiencia con Fire Emblem y la Ip me sorprendió, si eres de los que compro una 3DS solo por pokemon, amigo aquí hay una opción que te alegrara la vida y te hará variar un poco, un gran Rpg que marcara un antes y un después,A mi gusto el mejor juego de 3DS, porque tiene una jugabilidad adictiva, buena historia, personajes carismáticos, rejugabilidad, música increíble. Fue mi primera experiencia con Fire Emblem y la Ip me sorprendió, si eres de los que compro una 3DS solo por pokemon, amigo aquí hay una opción que te alegrara la vida y te hará variar un poco, un gran Rpg que marcara un antes y un después, porque esta saga va para convertirse en vende consolas.… Expand
  59. Jeremiah98
    Sep 23, 2015
    10
    Immersive, re-playable, and addicting, this game is a brilliant addition to the series. The game-play, graphics, and story were all beautifully done. My number one favorite game.
  60. Bianca22
    Mar 7, 2016
    10
    the best ever made ​​fire emblem , free and paid dlcs , but very complete and with many characters experience the perfect game fire emblem.........
  61. SuperMatt777
    Feb 22, 2016
    10
    I can't stress enough how much I love this game. Almost everything about it is amazing; it's storyline, it's gameplay, it's memorable features, but none so more than it's cast of characters. They are an easy to love group that I grew attached to very quickly. And it's even better when going through the various support conversations they can have. As Awakening was the first Fire EmblemI can't stress enough how much I love this game. Almost everything about it is amazing; it's storyline, it's gameplay, it's memorable features, but none so more than it's cast of characters. They are an easy to love group that I grew attached to very quickly. And it's even better when going through the various support conversations they can have. As Awakening was the first Fire Emblem games I've played, I can easily say it's friendly to first timers, with the returning casual mode. While it is true that for a first timer, many of the features did confuse me, such as weapon ranks and such, you learn quickly. And with that being said, the game's way of teaching these things is simple and effective, as it shows you various lessons on the bottom screen when the topic is first seen, thus allowing the player to proceed with the task on their own without the game stopping them to learn it. As for the storyline, it was amazing and full of twists and memorable moments. I can't deny that Fire Emblem Awakening is one of my favorite games for the Nintendo 3DS and I would highly recommend it to any first timers to the series who are interested in giving the series a shot.… Expand
  62. TheSlyOne
    Jan 3, 2016
    10
    This game, in a matter of a few days, has already become one of my all time favorite games. I'm completely new to Fire Emblem, and even had a few doubts when purchasing this game. Within seconds it had me though, even with just the opening and not even really starting the game. It has some wonderful game play, with an equally great story that kept me coming back for more. Even after I beatThis game, in a matter of a few days, has already become one of my all time favorite games. I'm completely new to Fire Emblem, and even had a few doubts when purchasing this game. Within seconds it had me though, even with just the opening and not even really starting the game. It has some wonderful game play, with an equally great story that kept me coming back for more. Even after I beat it, I immediately wanted to replay it so as to explore the rest of the game, as there really is a lot of content stored in this game. In the end, it was a magnificent experience that I would recommend to anyone and everyone.… Expand
  63. Tbonedabeasst
    Jan 4, 2016
    10
    I recently got this game (before Christmas) and i have put a solid 40+ hours into this game. This game has an amazing story, Wonderful combat system, amazing characters, and so much more. When i bought a new Nintendo 3ds i didn't expect to play games with great stories while also having great game play. This game is a soild 10/10 and a MUST HAVE game for your 3ds! i am excited for once toI recently got this game (before Christmas) and i have put a solid 40+ hours into this game. This game has an amazing story, Wonderful combat system, amazing characters, and so much more. When i bought a new Nintendo 3ds i didn't expect to play games with great stories while also having great game play. This game is a soild 10/10 and a MUST HAVE game for your 3ds! i am excited for once to buy dlc for a game!… Expand
  64. ChrisMG
    Jun 2, 2016
    10
    Amazing, Creative Story, Nice difficulty, Characters that can be easily remembered, Great Gameplay, Nice Graphics for the 3ds, I could go on forever, Thus i give Awakening a 10
  65. CallMeKevin
    May 8, 2016
    10
    This game is a masterpiece and saved the Fire Emblem franchise from extinction. The characters are memorable, the game play is engaging and music is amazing. It's one of the few games that I have played through 3+ times. If you don't have the game, get it now!
  66. ShonenBat
    Apr 12, 2016
    10
    El juego que tu 3ds debe tener
    Si existe una franquicia que ha sabido permanecer con alta calidad, es la de Fire Emblem.
    Acá tenemos una mantenida calidad de la mano de aspectos esenciales de la saga pero de una manera más flexible. En esta ocasión el protagonista seremos nosotros, de la mano de Chrom, príncipe de Ylisse, con el cual seremos parte de una historia interesante y compleja,    El juego que tu 3ds debe tener
    Si existe una franquicia que ha sabido permanecer con alta calidad, es la de Fire Emblem.
    Acá tenemos una mantenida calidad de la mano de aspectos esenciales de la saga pero de una manera más flexible.
    En esta ocasión el protagonista seremos nosotros, de la mano de Chrom, príncipe de Ylisse, con el cual seremos parte de una historia interesante y compleja, llena de vuelcos argumentales y tramas interesantes.
    Entre las novedades que se nos presentan está la inmersión de nosotros en la historia principal, siendo parte intrínsecamente como un protagonista en concreto dándole aspectos de integración y emotividad en cada escena.
    Otra novedad es la aparición de hijos en la historia, la cual reemplaza la adhesión de personajes injustificados o casi sin importancia en la trama a nuestro ejército como se vio en entregas anteriores, mejorando de manera inteligente.
    También es posible generar Pair up, juntar unidades para complementarlas según sus aptitudes y crear una única unidad por el tiempo que estimemos para resolver instancias críticas dentro del juego, como mejorando nuestros stats o simplemente para salvar determinada unidad de la muerte, otorgando así mayor cantidad de estrategias disponibles siendo completamente necesaria para lograr finalizar el juego.
    Integra de manera excelente el spotpass y el streetpass, pudiendo luchar con los ejércitos de tus amigos o quien posea el juego, además de descargar contenido gratuito y de pago para aumentar las horas de juego.
    Este juego es recomendable para neófitos y puristas, dando diferentes modalidades de dificultad y la opción de jugar modo clásico cuando eliminan un personaje para siempre (como ha sido la tónica del fire emblem) o modo casual donde las unidades reaparecen al finalizar la misión.
    Si bien la historia es buena, creo que no supera la versión de gamecube siendo la mejor por tener mejores vuelcos, más extensa y tratar temas más maduros. Sin embargo esto se compensa con el contenido adicional que dispone el juego.
    Un punto desfavorable es el bug del idioma. Es posible jugar con voces en japonés y subtítulos en español, pero al momento de apagar la consola o resetearla, las voces cambiarán automáticamente al idioma inglés, mientras que las cinemáticas continuarán con voces japonesas. Este error nunca fue solucionado por Nintendo quedándonos sólo con la opción de tener que cambiar el idioma cada vez que iniciamos el juego, única manera de poder tener las voces en el idioma de origen.
    También es necesario mencionar que la inteligencia artificial se limita solamente a intentar atacar a nuestras unidades más débiles en lo que respecta la resistencia, concentrándose así en matarlas, pese a que es una manera básica de estrategia por parte de nuestros enemigos no quita la eficacia, llegando a crear estrategias donde tendremos que solamente lograr ganar mientras cuidamos de nuestras unidades débiles. Pese a que carece de complejidad la estrategia enemiga, si es efectiva dándonos un considerable reto.
    Pero esto no quita mérito al juego, es uno de los mejores de la consola, divertidos, con una excelente rejugabilidad y variabilidad, el tiempo de juego será tan largo como el jugador quiera y sentirá que cada misión necesitará una nueva estrategia. La música tiene melodías medievales muy buenas que por sí solas enganchan pero como soundtrack completo decae comparado entregas anteriores.
    Fire emblem es uno de los mejores juegos en estrategia que ha salido últimamente, siendo unos de los mejores de la saga y de la consola 3ds, perfecto para quienes gusten de retos o gusten de juegos de estrategias; amigable con los neófitos a la saga y el estilo, Fire Emblem: Awakenings invita a todo el mundo a ser parte de su ejército.    … Expand
  67. thealexis80
    Apr 12, 2016
    10
    This is my first game of Fire Emblem but I found the best game of 3ds.The History is Pretty good but it's not perfect, the graphics are amazing for a 3ds.And the game have a lot of hours and is incredibly addicting.The soundtrack is amazing and the cutscenes are awesome
  68. Idiot696
    Apr 10, 2017
    10
    This is by far the strongest title in the series that saved the franchise from oblivion and made it a major IP for Nintendo. Well there are some minor issues a longtime fan could nitpick about. The amount of things this game does right far exceed the bad. Its everything a Fire Emblem game should be and more.
  69. Davidcon12
    Apr 23, 2016
    10
    An absolute triumph of a game. Whether you have been with the series for years or this is your first encounter with Fire Emblem this game is everything you can ask for. The Tactical Role Playing gameplay is as refined and enjoyable as ever with the standard weapon triangle system giving an in-depth strategical element to the game. It looks great for the system and has an amazingAn absolute triumph of a game. Whether you have been with the series for years or this is your first encounter with Fire Emblem this game is everything you can ask for. The Tactical Role Playing gameplay is as refined and enjoyable as ever with the standard weapon triangle system giving an in-depth strategical element to the game. It looks great for the system and has an amazing soundtrack. The story and characters of this game is where it truly comes alive however. The story has everything from lighthearted moments to tragic moments and the characters are incredibly developed and will either make you love them or love to hate them. The support system also gives you more reason to care about these characters and gives an added layer of strategy to the game. Overall and amazing game and one of the best on the 3DS.… Expand
  70. Eizqarqash
    Feb 10, 2017
    10
    I bought this game a little while ago and it sure was more expensive than the other games but it was totally worth it...worth every single cent of your money.
    I like the strategic combats, the characters, animation, the 3D effects. This game is the full pakage.

    I totally recommend it
    Enjoy!
  71. nickojeda612
    Nov 14, 2016
    10
    This was one of the best 3DS games that I have played. The initial reason that I had gotten a 3DS was to play pokemon but I was surprised to see that this FIre Emblem game was much more fun (to me). I had played previous version on the Gamecube and Gameboy and was upset that over the years the franchise had been declining. This was a great way for the series to be revived from the brink of death.
  72. Stinsav
    Sep 5, 2017
    10
    This game is addictive. Lots of possiblites gameplay is amazing, relationships is a little busted with the futur childrens, but still! I love this game totally planing on looking on the others Fire Emblem.
  73. Wyrome
    Jan 24, 2017
    10
    Seré breve: Fire Emblem awakening es mi videojuego preferido hasta la fecha. Una banda sonora espléndida, bella dirección de arte, una historia interesante, personajes memorables por cuyas vidas el videojuego logra hacer que me preocupe (Considerándolos pues, no meras unidades ni soldados; amigos), un gran potencial para ser rejugado y unas sólidas mecánicas que la saga ha depurado hastaSeré breve: Fire Emblem awakening es mi videojuego preferido hasta la fecha. Una banda sonora espléndida, bella dirección de arte, una historia interesante, personajes memorables por cuyas vidas el videojuego logra hacer que me preocupe (Considerándolos pues, no meras unidades ni soldados; amigos), un gran potencial para ser rejugado y unas sólidas mecánicas que la saga ha depurado hasta la fecha e incluso introduciendo nuevas con esta entrega en particular fueron suficientes para hacer que yo me enamorase de esta joya.… Expand
  74. marvs869
    Mar 11, 2017
    10
    Sacred Stones was my first Fire Emblem game while Radiant Dawn was my favorite one. I love Awakening for how it incorporated the two most notable features (traversable map and skills) in both these games and eventually culminated into one of the best games I have ever played in my 3DS. I recommend this to anyone who loves strategy games similar to Valkyria Chronicles, Age of Empires, XCOMSacred Stones was my first Fire Emblem game while Radiant Dawn was my favorite one. I love Awakening for how it incorporated the two most notable features (traversable map and skills) in both these games and eventually culminated into one of the best games I have ever played in my 3DS. I recommend this to anyone who loves strategy games similar to Valkyria Chronicles, Age of Empires, XCOM and the like.… Expand
  75. Kallenovsky
    Jul 28, 2017
    10
    Fire Emblem: Awakening provides a good 100 hours or so of gameplay, split between awesome storytelling and typical RPG grinding. The latter may not sound that great, but there's more to the grinding than just making your characters stronger. The grinding aspect also includes team rewards as you build relationships between your characters. There's plenty on offer here and even with 100Fire Emblem: Awakening provides a good 100 hours or so of gameplay, split between awesome storytelling and typical RPG grinding. The latter may not sound that great, but there's more to the grinding than just making your characters stronger. The grinding aspect also includes team rewards as you build relationships between your characters. There's plenty on offer here and even with 100 hours you're very likely not going to see it all. Awakening also includes a marriage option for characters, including your own creation, which will provide a plot twist that you can essentially build upon in your own way. Awakening's combat system is fun, fast, and challenging. The sleek graphics and presentation are excellent for a 3DS title, though some may find it awkward that none of the character models have feet. Trust me, you'll get over it. I highly recommend Awakening. It's a great starting point for the series for newcomers.… Expand
  76. AAce98
    Oct 22, 2017
    10
    Awakening is one of if not my favorite game for the 3DS. This game has great characters that are actually interesting and they make the cutscenes entertaining. The gameplay is great too. It follows the typical Fire Emblem format but adds the relationship system that allows units to have children based on the parents. This adds a lot to the replay-ability. The game itself lasts quite awhileAwakening is one of if not my favorite game for the 3DS. This game has great characters that are actually interesting and they make the cutscenes entertaining. The gameplay is great too. It follows the typical Fire Emblem format but adds the relationship system that allows units to have children based on the parents. This adds a lot to the replay-ability. The game itself lasts quite awhile and is consistently fun, with no levels being particularly annoying. The music is pretty good, too. Although it doesn't have many memorable songs, the music fits in perfectly with what is happening in the game. The graphics, for a 3DS game, are great. Considering it's on a handheld, the cutscenes and models look beautiful. Overall, Fire Emblem Awakening might just be the best 3DS in my opinion. If you like RPG's, pick this one up.… Expand
  77. CaponeGANGBege
    Nov 18, 2017
    10
    Great characters, great story, I alost feel this game is underrated, through it's thanks to it that FE not only was saved from being discontinued, but also evolved into one of nintendo's biggest series nowadays.
  78. Naruto78909
    Apr 22, 2018
    10
    This game is simply amazing great graphics great story and a very good and easy combat systhem and is the first game not to offput newcomers and not offput veterens by adding diffuctly
  79. T-Dex
    Apr 1, 2018
    10
    This game is fantastic! It is my favorite title in the entire Fire Emblem series.
  80. redeyedwerewolf
    May 25, 2018
    10
    Best RPG on the 3ds,no questions asked............................................................
  81. Da3_who_knows
    Jul 4, 2018
    10
    This is the best fire emblem game ever. The story is amazing, graphics is very cool and omg the characters are freaking awesome. I have played this game for more than 200 hours and I know what I am talking about. I think I can never get bored playing it. if you have an opportunity to buy this game go and do it right now. You will not regret it. it is not very difficult but not simpleThis is the best fire emblem game ever. The story is amazing, graphics is very cool and omg the characters are freaking awesome. I have played this game for more than 200 hours and I know what I am talking about. I think I can never get bored playing it. if you have an opportunity to buy this game go and do it right now. You will not regret it. it is not very difficult but not simple either, especially if you're playing on classics mode. Get ready to the most enjoyable gameplay ever. And btw the music is also awesome.… Expand
  82. Qurupeco
    Sep 28, 2018
    10
    From the greatest series of tactical role-playing games, Fire Emblem: Awakening stands up to the test by bringing a breath of fresh air to the series.

    With its amazing story and character design, the game creates a deep emotional connection between the player and the characters like no other Fire Emblem has done before. The game-play in itself is like the other Fire Emblem games, the    From the greatest series of tactical role-playing games, Fire Emblem: Awakening stands up to the test by bringing a breath of fresh air to the series.

    With its amazing story and character design, the game creates a deep emotional connection between the player and the characters like no other Fire Emblem has done before.

    The game-play in itself is like the other Fire Emblem games, the tactical turn-based combat the series is known for, but Awakening takes to a new level with the Dual System combat, where two units pair up to fight together. This brings a whole new dimension to the game, and turns combat even more interesting.

    Overall, I'd say Fire Emblem: Awakening is one of the best titles in the series, and a must-have for any 3DS owner.    … Expand
  83. dantah
    Sep 13, 2019
    10
    The fun gameplay and the amazing 3D graphics all blend together to make something amazing. One of my favorite games in the series, Fire emblem awakening is an amazing game.
  84. greninjaX
    Jul 20, 2020
    10
    this is the first good fire emblem game, because permadeath is stupid and dumb.
  85. rocco30
    Sep 13, 2019
    10
    If you like strategy RPG's and haven't played this game, you are really missing out!
  86. Layton
    Aug 18, 2019
    10
    Yolooooooo oooooooiooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooo
  87. Kiriken
    Aug 19, 2019
    10
    The way this game has impacted in my life is just remarkably astonishing! This Fire Emblem game was my first 100% FE game... and man, just saying I'm going through my 6th run is just low.

    I love this game, characters like Sumia or Tharja or even freaking Ricken who suffer through major changes (character development-wisely) throughout support conversations or even in the main story-line    The way this game has impacted in my life is just remarkably astonishing! This Fire Emblem game was my first 100% FE game... and man, just saying I'm going through my 6th run is just low.

    I love this game, characters like Sumia or Tharja or even freaking Ricken who suffer through major changes (character development-wisely) throughout support conversations or even in the main story-line is just amazing. A cast you'll grow fond of. Even a DLC that contains the whole FE lore is just.. way too much to bear... and I love that.

    Not to mention you can play as Anna! Remember the store/tutorial lady that appeared in every FE game to date? Well, she's playable in this one as well.

    A great cast, a great lore, a great amount of weapons and possibilities. 10/10 at my worst.    … Expand
  88. LoamiG
    Dec 29, 2019
    10
    Los mapas las mecánicas son lo típico de un FE pero pulido, el juego es muy sentimental y eso es lo que te vende desde el principio, me gustó en especial que en este te van mostrando como surge el conflicto para la guerra (no como siempre que empieza todo de golpe y de un solo argumento no salen) En este se va dividiendo en tres etapas, tiene giros argumentales que llegan parecer forzadosLos mapas las mecánicas son lo típico de un FE pero pulido, el juego es muy sentimental y eso es lo que te vende desde el principio, me gustó en especial que en este te van mostrando como surge el conflicto para la guerra (no como siempre que empieza todo de golpe y de un solo argumento no salen) En este se va dividiendo en tres etapas, tiene giros argumentales que llegan parecer forzados pero de hecho siempre dieron indicios, los personajes carismáticos.… Expand
  89. SnaZzyDotEXE
    Nov 9, 2020
    10
    this game is good and stuff and it think you should play it. this is because it is very good.
  90. Kitsune12354
    Feb 13, 2020
    10
    if you were to say "i want to try playing fire emblem," i would beg you to play this game as your first game. this is the definition of fire emblem and it has truly left a huge impact on me with its story, characters, and gameplay
  91. Calrizzy
    Mar 13, 2023
    10
    first FE game I ever played and before I knew it I was hooked, love the combat, the strategy the amount of customization, I even went nuts downloading a ton of DLC cause i couldn't get enough, took awhile to get into the story but it's getting more interesting as I play which I like, 40 hours into the game and I'm still learning new things abilities and just insane how much this game hasfirst FE game I ever played and before I knew it I was hooked, love the combat, the strategy the amount of customization, I even went nuts downloading a ton of DLC cause i couldn't get enough, took awhile to get into the story but it's getting more interesting as I play which I like, 40 hours into the game and I'm still learning new things abilities and just insane how much this game has to offer one of the deepest RPGs I've ever played and I'm now a HUGE FIRE EMBLEM FAN.... 10/10… Expand
  92. Josenolito72
    Oct 9, 2020
    10
    El mejor Fire Emblem de todos los tiempos es un juego increíble en todos sus aspectos totalmente recomendable.
  93. Yammy
    May 29, 2020
    10
    This game is one of the best games of all time in my opinion. Fire Emblem Awakening is also my personal favorite games of all time! The story is actually not my personal favorite from a FE game. That's not to say that it's bad though. The story is just fine, and successfully strings you along nicely with the events of the game. The characters are my favorite aspect of this game. TheThis game is one of the best games of all time in my opinion. Fire Emblem Awakening is also my personal favorite games of all time! The story is actually not my personal favorite from a FE game. That's not to say that it's bad though. The story is just fine, and successfully strings you along nicely with the events of the game. The characters are my favorite aspect of this game. The characters all feel diverse and interesting. Anyone can find at least one character to relate with and enjoy learning more about (although, I guarentee you will find many more). The music perfectly accomidates the gameplay. The music is iconic for this time period in FE. One day (hopefully sooner rather than later) I want to see a remake of this game that improves any little aspect that maybe wasn't perfect in this one to make it the best version it could be. Please, if you have a 3DS PLAY THIS GAME. It is a masterpiece in my opinion.… Expand
  94. jgalleg0090
    Jun 28, 2020
    10
    First of all, I've noticed most of the bad reviews of this game are from people saying I've been a fan for a long time, it doesn't cater to true fans, and I say B.S. I own every fire emblem game, and I mean all of them, including fan made gba games, including tearring saga one and two who were from one of the creators, who was actually sued by Nintendo, so I know a thing or two about thisFirst of all, I've noticed most of the bad reviews of this game are from people saying I've been a fan for a long time, it doesn't cater to true fans, and I say B.S. I own every fire emblem game, and I mean all of them, including fan made gba games, including tearring saga one and two who were from one of the creators, who was actually sued by Nintendo, so I know a thing or two about this series. This game is my favorite game ever, because of gameplay elements, i love that you can keep playing, and getting more DLC, it lets the game go on forever, not just playing through and that's done. Yeah, you grind, but I love grinding and making my characters super powerful. Chrom is a little boring, but Lucina is IMO one of the best characters in the series. The only reason this is my Number one instead of Fire Emblem 12: New Mystery of the Emblem, is because 12 is again straight play through, story wise, FE12 is a lot better, as many others are, but this is a true masterpiece.… Expand
  95. ROYBGB
    Feb 24, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is just amazing! The beautiful cutscenes, characters, & gameplay makes this game shine. Although the story could feel pretty rushed, it still has an amazing story.… Expand
  96. RobinB
    May 12, 2022
    10
    Awakening was the best fire emblem on 3ds. For sure one of the best games on 3ds
  97. B0ssReviews
    Sep 3, 2022
    10
    This was my first fire emblem game and it's still one of my favorite games to this day. The plot and all it's little moments still bring tears to my eyes. The game play is beginner friendly and never fails to give me a good time. While not as complex as other fire emblem games, it's a perfect gateway game.
  98. cloudydays
    Jan 18, 2023
    10
    I have not finished the game yet and I am already ecstatic for another playthrough as I am realizing things I missed/could have done differently. Fire Emblem series are gems and this one really shines, All of the possible combinations and support conversations/relationships, I really can't wait to explore even more. The lore in this game and the interactions really immerse you. I trulyI have not finished the game yet and I am already ecstatic for another playthrough as I am realizing things I missed/could have done differently. Fire Emblem series are gems and this one really shines, All of the possible combinations and support conversations/relationships, I really can't wait to explore even more. The lore in this game and the interactions really immerse you. I truly love the characters. 10/10 for me. Not to mention I haven't played around with the DLC much yet. I can't wait.… Expand
  99. klaaz
    Jan 25, 2023
    10
    The best fire emblem and a must for 3DS, modernizes the saga and raises the mechanics that are the basis of the following installments.
  100. tonberry_ftw
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    They kept the story quite simple, and sometimes, keeping it simple is actually a good thing. It makes you enjoy other aspects of the game more.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best 3DS Game of 2013
1
#1 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2013
2
#2 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 72 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 72 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 72
  3. Negative: 0 out of 72
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 13, 2013
    93
    A truly excellent tactical role-playing game. [June 2013]
  2. Hyper Magazine
    Jun 10, 2013
    90
    Ignore Casual mode, set the difficulty to hard, and enjoy what is arguably the best turn-based strategy game released since Final Fantasy Tactics. [July 2013, p.76]
  3. Games.cz
    May 19, 2013
    100
    A great turn-based strategy game surpassing not only its blood-related predecessors but step-brothers and step-sisters of the Advance Wars series as well. Fire Emblem: Awakening is the new benchmark of the genre that is practically uncriticizable. At the moment on Nintendo 3DS there is not a better alternative.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »