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
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  1. Redbrick
    Jul 23, 2023
    10
    Es el primer juego de la saga fire emblem que he jugado y no me arrepiento hacerlo, para mi es bastante raro meterle 20 horas a un juego en 2 dias y este lo ha conseguido, su historia sin duda es lo que mas me a gustado y yo que venia de juegos de estrategia de pc como total war, me sorprendió el sistema de combate que tenia y mas aun lo me sorprendió lo que me gusto, sin duda lo recomiendo.
  2. Gimure
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    A memorable, innovative game. Great story and fun gameplay. Despite its semplicity, it is capable of exploring deep philosophical themes whilst narrating an engaging and epic tale. The OST is top tier, and the cutscenes are spectacular. Something so ahead of its time that to this day, still feel incredibly modern.
  3. 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.
  4. JustAGameGuy
    May 14, 2023
    7
    A great starting point for a new fire emblem fan, but very mediocre overall. Uninteresting characters, boring map design, mediocre story, etc. The music and customization easily propel this game higher than I would have given it otherwise, but its direct successor both has better music and much more in depth customization, along with better maps
  5. TheGuyWhoHats
    May 8, 2023
    0
    Awakening is a great game but compared to the other games in the franchise it doesn't rank that high. The gameplay is fun but is done better in Engage and Echoes, the story is passable but isn't even able to compare to three houses and sacred stones. The characters are fun but the supports you get with them are mostly mediocore and feels forced in so you can have the children character andAwakening is a great game but compared to the other games in the franchise it doesn't rank that high. The gameplay is fun but is done better in Engage and Echoes, the story is passable but isn't even able to compare to three houses and sacred stones. The characters are fun but the supports you get with them are mostly mediocore and feels forced in so you can have the children character and most characters don't get supports with characters of the same gender. Awakening overall is a good game and I recommend it but more as a first game than as anything else.… Expand
  6. 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
  7. PPko
    Feb 11, 2023
    8
    Probably the deepest and prettiest SRPG I've played. The rules are simple but it gets convoluted as more systems get layered on. Keeping track of every unit during the large-scale battles ends up a bit of a chore. The music is fine and the graphics are beautiful. Most of the character designs are great but their portrayals are generally pretty flat. I put too much pressure on myself toProbably the deepest and prettiest SRPG I've played. The rules are simple but it gets convoluted as more systems get layered on. Keeping track of every unit during the large-scale battles ends up a bit of a chore. The music is fine and the graphics are beautiful. Most of the character designs are great but their portrayals are generally pretty flat. I put too much pressure on myself to complete every battle perfectly. Personally, I prefer Advance Wars where the stakes aren't so high!… Expand
  8. Plumbo2000
    Jan 29, 2023
    8
    In retrospect it was very overrated but it's still an excellent entry point into the series.
  9. Rellawintv
    Jan 28, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mega Spiel hatte immer Richtig spass an denn Kämpfen, die Story und der Ost waren teilweise so gut das ich es Richtig mitfühlen Konnte wie Dramatisch oder wie Schön etwas gerade wahr im Spiel. Kann das Spiel Jedem Empfehlen der es noch nicht gespielt. hat.… Expand
  10. 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.
  11. 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
  12. katieelizabeth
    Jan 9, 2023
    7
    My opinion of Awakening has really changed since launch. I think the game is perfectly fine for the new crop of casual fans. It has more accessibility options than past games, and it features a lot of grinding and over-powered child units that more causal or rpg gamers will enjoy.

    But Awakening is not a very good Fire Emblem game. On Normal difficulty, it is far too easy. Any knowledge    My opinion of Awakening has really changed since launch. I think the game is perfectly fine for the new crop of casual fans. It has more accessibility options than past games, and it features a lot of grinding and over-powered child units that more causal or rpg gamers will enjoy.

    But Awakening is not a very good Fire Emblem game. On Normal difficulty, it is far too easy. Any knowledge of who the best characters are, knowledge of how to use pair-up optimally, how and when to use second seals properly, and what classes are good for units to go into will completely trivialize the game on Normal difficulty. No grinding or marriage is necessary.

    So this leads me into Hard Mode, which takes a very casual, easy game and transforms it into one of the most unfair and inflexible entries in the entire franchise. Instead of just adding more enemies and increasing the stats to stiffen the challenge, the game features same-turn reinforcements - otherwise known as Ambush Spawns - and these can be brutally unfair as you have no idea how many of these reinforcements are coming, how many waves of them will come, and what types of weapons you will be dealing with. Awakening absolutely loves creating 4-8 new enemy units and moving them on the same turn, and many of these units do high damage and have 1-2 range weapons, making it extremely difficult to protect weaker units despite being safe when you ended your turn. Because of this, the game heavily restricts which characters you can use because most of them will die.

    By Chapter 17, the game devolves into using Chrom and Robin the most, where these will probably be the only two units that can survive the random ambushes, turn after turn, because they become so overpowered. Tharja and a few others can also do this, but 90%+ of the characters in the game are basically useless due to poor bases and classes. Even characters like Sumia become liabilities because so many enemies and same-turn reinforcements use Silver Bows and super-effective tomes. To avoid unit losses, you are basically forced not to deploy them at all and solo the game with just a few paired-up characters. It is the least rewarding and least fun way to play the game.

    So basically, Normal difficulty is too easy and Hard is way too frustrating and inflexible - there is no middle ground here. Hard mode devolves into just using S-tier characters with over-powered builds that snowball out of control. Any sense of strategy is completely gone, and that is why Awakening is a bad Fire Emblem game.

    Normal mode I give a 7, and Hard Mode I give a 0. It's not that Hard Mode is hard - it's easy if you just use Chrom and Robin - but it's incredibly boring and unsatisfying and poorly balanced and unfair when playing blind.    … Expand
  13. Kalcool12
    Nov 21, 2022
    8
    | A Must-Play JRPG |

    This is one of my favorite strategy games that have come out, with fun puzzling gameplay, an exciting story, and minor but vital mechanics that lift the game up in quality. Although the story does slow down for a subplot that was rather unnecessary, I thought (for the most part) it was engaging with the time-traveling mechanic and story turns, that made this    | A Must-Play JRPG |

    This is one of my favorite strategy games that have come out, with fun puzzling gameplay, an exciting story, and minor but vital mechanics that lift the game up in quality.

    Although the story does slow down for a subplot that was rather unnecessary, I thought (for the most part) it was engaging with the time-traveling mechanic and story turns, that made this story stand out more so than other JRPG stories.

    The gameplay was very interesting. The small mechanics that made this turn-based game different really added a lot, from the pairing system, the triangle system, and the skills that really turned the tide in some match-ups... it was all great.

    But by far, the best aspect of the game is the character support system. That is what makes this game great. Almost every character is unique, memorable, and interesting. The way the developers did that was great, with great character dialogue and interactions. There are even some characters you want to use not for skill, but for who they are. That's a sign of how well they made some of the characters.

    Overall, the game is amazing. It has a few other flaws, from the constant spawning of enemies and the small grind needed when playing in order to beat certain levels with a little more ease. But the game is still amazing and I highly recommend it.    … Expand
  14. hector_bcn98
    Nov 4, 2022
    9
    La muerte no permamente permite disfrutar del mejor Fire Emblem, para mí, hasta la fecha. Si te gusta, te enamorarás del género.
  15. 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.
  16. Luccio
    Jul 12, 2022
    8
    Good music, characters, gameplay, overall pretty enjoyable. Its not a super immersive experience but for sure makes its mark on the strategy rpg genre
  17. RobinB
    May 12, 2022
    10
    Awakening was the best fire emblem on 3ds. For sure one of the best games on 3ds
  18. Phuz
    Mar 9, 2022
    0
    So first let's address the elephant in the room. Or should I say horse? Every character has hooves for feet and these huge horse like legs. They're ugly. They look like they have been kicked by a horse.

    Beastiality isn't my thing. My next waifu being a donkey, doesn't really appeal to me. Next the battles are awful and I am getting rid of this game after just a short time playing    So first let's address the elephant in the room. Or should I say horse? Every character has hooves for feet and these huge horse like legs. They're ugly. They look like they have been kicked by a horse.

    Beastiality isn't my thing. My next waifu being a donkey, doesn't really appeal to me.

    Next the battles are awful and I am getting rid of this game after just a short time playing because of it. I played a side quest, made a silly error early doors and started again. My first move was identical on my rerun but the outcome was completely different. I redid this. Started again 4 times. Every time a different outcome from the same move. So I tried a different character. Same thing, random outcome every time. Then I went a step further with this second character and gave them support. They actually did worse with the support than without. Now I am someone who plays Fire Emblem on easy, if the option is available. I am not a major tactical strategist but come on, it is still a strategy game. I still love to plan, even if I'm not very good at it. How can I enjoy a strategy game that is purely down to luck? That is totally game breaking. You can't make a strategy for complete randomness. It just made the game pointless.

    Next, the dialogue. I like text and I don't like stupid OTT Hollywood cr*p voiceovers. Give me text any day but please not with a one, or two word audio byte for every line. I don't want to hear constant nonsense like, hey, you sure, OK, urgh, that's right, let's go, or any other rubbish they spout.

    OST. It's Fire Emblem - It's great.

    Graphics? It's OK. I like the 3D stuff and it looks nice in general but then everything is totally ruined by forementioned horses.

    I'm not some FE purist that only likes old games. Radiant Dawn was my first FE and 3 House's is my favourite game ever, if anything I prefer newer titles much more but this is just rubbish.

    It has just cost me £35, so far it feels more like it's worth about £2, if that. That is just for the OST. I'm not really enjoying the game at all.

    For reference 3 House's is a 10/10 for me and Radiant Dawn an 8.5+/10.

    I feel I would enjoy a 3rd playthrough of 3 House's, or maybe actually playing my 4th house DLC a lot more than I'll ever like this.

    No one, absolutely no one is giving me the magic that psycho Edlegard did. She was an exciting character. These characters in Awakening have left me disinterested in them, I'm really not that bothered to find out what they do next.

    Dull, a polished turd, a gee gee's wet dream. A weird, dull game that sounds beautiful but looks horrific and plays badly.    … Expand
  19. fjaoaoaoao
    Mar 7, 2022
    9
    Mature story with many characters to customize and grow. Many characters that feel unique and purposeful in both the story and in battle.
  20. ReLawlietV
    Jan 12, 2022
    9
    This is definitely one of the best games the 3DS ever gave us. An entertaining game, with a story full of time travel and a threat that entails a final sacrifice. It has a good soundtrack while you are in the battles and it is definitely the best 3DS title on strategy. 9/10
  21. B00tador
    Dec 3, 2021
    8
    My first in the series - the story drags on a bit, but a fundamentally enjoyable game.
  22. KhezuMaster
    Oct 11, 2021
    9
    i loved this game really good and would highly reccomend for anyone who likes turn based rpgs
  23. AJCk19
    Jul 17, 2021
    9
    This game is basically perfection. And if you are very fickle about your JRPGs needing to have a good story. Well sit back and relax, because you are in for some nice plot twists.

    The only complaints I have is they milked the dlc and it is probably best you get this physically and not digitally. If something happens to your 3ds, there goes your 50+ hours of gameplay. The 3ds has a    This game is basically perfection. And if you are very fickle about your JRPGs needing to have a good story. Well sit back and relax, because you are in for some nice plot twists.

    The only complaints I have is they milked the dlc and it is probably best you get this physically and not digitally. If something happens to your 3ds, there goes your 50+ hours of gameplay. The 3ds has a really bad hinge.

    Also, a online mode would have been nice, but not really needed.    … Expand
  24. KNX2501
    Jul 17, 2021
    9
    Excelente juego, sin duda uno de los mejores juegos de la saga de Fire Emblem,
  25. Entagonist
    Jul 2, 2021
    9
    Fire Emblem Awakening, also known as FE13 is a really good game. Still, the story was a mishmash (maybe only in my opinion), but ending of the game was pretty cool. Gameplay was very, very good - as in every canonical Fire Emblem game.
  26. ZXSth
    Jun 26, 2021
    9
    Fire Emblem: Awakening is a beautiful game. This statement is not only one referring to its aesthetics: Its story, numerous characters, setting, gameplay/mechanics and technical performance are all immaculate. This is one of those rare gems that almost certainly deserves every accolade it receives - where its predecessors on the Game Boy Advance were great video games in their own right,Fire Emblem: Awakening is a beautiful game. This statement is not only one referring to its aesthetics: Its story, numerous characters, setting, gameplay/mechanics and technical performance are all immaculate. This is one of those rare gems that almost certainly deserves every accolade it receives - where its predecessors on the Game Boy Advance were great video games in their own right, Awakening set an incredible standard not just for Fire Emblem games, but for video games as a whole.

    Despite perhaps feeling a bit trite and not without flaws, Awakening's story is told in a way in which you can likely look past its shortcomings. Beautiful cutscenes, especially for 2013 (and especially on the 3DS), tell a classic Fire Emblem tale, but with some slightly more interesting twists and turns than usual. Additionally, the voice acting and dialogue are exceptional, and whatever corniness the story possesses is easy to look past because of the convincing acting of those portraying these characters. In totality, these characters may be a bit one-note, but in tandem, they possess surprising depth considering their volume.

    While all the voice work and storytelling make this game widely accessible, the gameplay is similarly inviting - the Casual mode (in which your units/characters are not permanently gone upon their death in battle) allows players to experience the game without being consumed by the threat of losing their troops (though this option is available to the masochists among us). Additionally, while this game may be among the easiest in the series, the game still has quite a high difficulty ceiling, and those craving a challenge will likely not be starved for one here.

    Overall, there is precious little to complain about with Awakening. It is an excellent Fire Emblem game, it is an excellent game, and it tells a wonderful story with memorable characters. For the most part, veterans and newcomers alike can enjoy what could possibly be the best game on the 3DS, and is easily one of the best (if not the best) Fire Emblem game ever crafted. I am not sure any game could come more highly recommended from me on the 3DS - it is an absolute must-play for all 3DS owners, and will hopefully be discussed for years to come as the classic it deserves to be labelled as.    … Expand
  27. 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
  28. SagiR1
    Jan 24, 2021
    9
    Fire emblem Awakening is one of the most unique experience ever. Pairing up while the story is tense and every character have their meaning and purpose. Awesome game and true savior of franchise
  29. hazsch
    Jan 6, 2021
    7
    As I get more and more into Fire Emblem I like it even more. Awakening is loads of fun, even seven years later. I'm a really big fan of modern Fire Emblem but I can definitely see a lot of the roots of the classics here. Unfortunately, the map design is extremely uninspired. Loads of empty fields and just generally boring areas. Love the soundtrack, though. Play it if you haven't; it's oneAs I get more and more into Fire Emblem I like it even more. Awakening is loads of fun, even seven years later. I'm a really big fan of modern Fire Emblem but I can definitely see a lot of the roots of the classics here. Unfortunately, the map design is extremely uninspired. Loads of empty fields and just generally boring areas. Love the soundtrack, though. Play it if you haven't; it's one of the best 3DS games out there.… Expand
  30. piff2000
    Dec 29, 2020
    8
    I love this game! It was my introduction to the Fire Emblem series. In hindsight I realize that it was unbalanced compared to other games, but it’s a lot of fun regardless.
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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

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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.
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