Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

 3DS
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 419 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 356 out of 419
  2. Mixed: 37 out of 419
  3. Negative: 26 out of 419
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  1. BillyBillyBoBil
    May 20, 2017
    9
    10. I played Gaiden on an emulator and I have to say that this is amazing. I'm confused as to why the DLC is 40 dollars but the DLC is optional. The style is fantastic, the music is amazing, and character development is spot on. The cutscenes also look very nice.
  2. SuperMatt777
    Jun 11, 2017
    10
    Long time fans of Fire Emblem are no doubt aware that the series started primarily in Japan and didn't see a western release in any game until the Gameboy Advance era. With Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade being the first localized title, it still left a lot of Japan exclusive titles. Fire Emblem's first title did see a localized remake on the DS, but that still left a lot of unlocalizedLong time fans of Fire Emblem are no doubt aware that the series started primarily in Japan and didn't see a western release in any game until the Gameboy Advance era. With Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade being the first localized title, it still left a lot of Japan exclusive titles. Fire Emblem's first title did see a localized remake on the DS, but that still left a lot of unlocalized games. Thankfully, it wasn't the first and last as the second game in the series, Fire Emblem Gaiden, saw a remake in the form of Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. The only time I heard of this game was in Smash Bros. Brawl/Wii U through a few songs, so I went into this game without any knowledge on how it would play. To get right to the point, I was really glad about that, cause this game was amazing.

    The story centers around two characters; Alm and Celica. Alm was raised in a small village in Zofia while Celica has moved from a few places during her childhood. I won't get into too much story details, as I don't want to spoil anything, but I can easily say that the plot was great. While it was slow and the map progression made it tough to tell when important story bits would turn up. Unlike the previous 3DS FIre Emblem titles, which displayed story bits at every chapter, you could go a few battles without seeing anything relating to the story happen before or after. It did make me more motivated to play through the story, as I love to see what happened next. Despite the slow start, the climax of the game, happening in the fifth act, was spectacular, with everything coming together in a brilliant way. I personally felt several emotions run at me all at once as I played through the fifth act and I enjoyed every moment of it. Gameplay wise, the game has you follow two different routes; one following Alm and the other with Celica. Both routes have their own set of characters to use and different maps to play. Dungeon exploring is another key element in the game and I'm a bit mixed on that. The dungeons were fun to explore, especially when it came to finding hidden routes to treasures, but like other rpg titles, enemy encounters sometimes got annoying when I just wanted to progress. It's nothing I'd use to degrade the experience however, as it's just how rpgs go.

    Now to get on to another aspect of the game I loved: the characters. I've played a few games in the series, but I've only finished Awakening and Fates. But I loved the characters in both games. Echoes, I can safely say, was no different. It offered another amazing roster of characters I grew to enjoy very quickly. Alm's friends were amongst some of my favorites, alongside the likes of Valbar, Leon and Kamui and others such as Forsythe, Lukas and Python. They were a great cast of characters, even if their interactions were more limited compared to Awakening and Fates, due to the limited supports each character could have. New characters not present in the original game were also amazing, with Berkut being one of my favorite villians in the series. The game also featured full on voice acting for just about every bit of dialogue in the game and it sounded amazing. The voices were great at projecting the emotions the game's scenes were presenting, with the notable and my all time favorite ones being Alm and Berkut.

    All in all, the game was amazing, with a great story, great characters, amazing presentation and visuals and great voice acting. As someone who never played Gaiden in any form, it was awesome to play through and, while I don't know how the original game played, I thought the additions this remake had were just as good. If you're a series fan, this is definitely a game to pick up.    … Expand
  3. Burken
    Jul 13, 2017
    9
    I really enjoyed Shadows of Valentia. Yes, the combat and unit promotion systems are simpler than in recent FE games. However, I recommend just accepting that as part and parcel of the remake, enjoying the nostalgia and appreciating the other features - great story (in my opinion second only to The Sacred Stones), excellent art and sound, and the addition of explorable dungeons that II really enjoyed Shadows of Valentia. Yes, the combat and unit promotion systems are simpler than in recent FE games. However, I recommend just accepting that as part and parcel of the remake, enjoying the nostalgia and appreciating the other features - great story (in my opinion second only to The Sacred Stones), excellent art and sound, and the addition of explorable dungeons that I felt added an extra element to the experience. Another good addition is that there's some genuine post-completion game play, in contrast with Awakening and Fates in which your last save is prior to the Endgame. I haven't got into the DLC yet - the full package looks expensive, but there's quite a variety to pick and choose from if you're reluctant to shell out all at once.… Expand
  4. Kart01
    Apr 12, 2018
    10
    I'm a happy man that i got to play this game. After a good Awakening and not bad Fates (only Conquest could give you a challenge) Echoes is a shiny diamond. Finished it in 46hrs. Best game in series for me so far. I loved the most Radiance Dawn before, but today it's FE Echoes. For games like this you should buy consoles.
  5. mash27
    Sep 21, 2017
    10
    for me this is the best fire emblem game on the 3ds. It has the best story, best characters, best music and best voice acting. The various changes to the tradition FE formula make the game more interesting. I was really disappointed by FE birthright and found Awakening to be very unbalanced. FE echoes is an extremely well polished game. If you want a real FE game rather than anfor me this is the best fire emblem game on the 3ds. It has the best story, best characters, best music and best voice acting. The various changes to the tradition FE formula make the game more interesting. I was really disappointed by FE birthright and found Awakening to be very unbalanced. FE echoes is an extremely well polished game. If you want a real FE game rather than an unbalanced, uninspired dating simulator get this one.… Expand
  6. weskergamer
    Jul 7, 2020
    8
    I really loved Alm and Celica relationship in this game, the story was really good and the music, the graphics and the gameplay. But i don't know why i felt so lost at the beginning of the game, maybe it was that it was different from the previous game, i don't know or it just was that i didn't pay much attention. But i really enjoyed it a lot
  7. ironzombi
    Sep 11, 2017
    9
    Like many people, Awakening was my first FE game and I love that game, it is one of the best games on the 3DS easily. Once I had played Awakening I played Sacred stones and fire emblem on the GBA.
    I was a big fan of the fire emblem series at this point, then FE:Fates came out...
    Fire Emblem Shadows of Valentia is another brilliant game in the fire emblem series and is everything Fates    Like many people, Awakening was my first FE game and I love that game, it is one of the best games on the 3DS easily. Once I had played Awakening I played Sacred stones and fire emblem on the GBA.
    I was a big fan of the fire emblem series at this point, then FE:Fates came out...
    Fire Emblem Shadows of Valentia is another brilliant game in the fire emblem series and is everything Fates should have been, although the removal of the combat triangle is not a bad addition it is also something I wouldn't mind to see return in future games, Echoes does pretty much everything right and I hope this is a sign of things to come for Fire Emblem.

    Dungeon Exploration impressed me a lot more than I expected although it can become a bit of a chore, this is something I would like to see explored in future games though.
    Currently I am not sure which game I think is better, Awakening or Echoes. That is just how good this game is, it stands shoulder to shoulder with Awakening and IMO above Fates.    … Expand
  8. Kallenovsky
    Jul 21, 2017
    9
    FE Echoes: Shadows of Valentia received some negative feedback for its changes from the previous two 3DS titles in terms of combat and in-game relationships. However, I don't see the problem with either. While the previous two FE 3DS titles were great in their own right, they were easier than Echoes. This latest FE game removes the rock-paper-scissors battle system for a cleaner and moreFE Echoes: Shadows of Valentia received some negative feedback for its changes from the previous two 3DS titles in terms of combat and in-game relationships. However, I don't see the problem with either. While the previous two FE 3DS titles were great in their own right, they were easier than Echoes. This latest FE game removes the rock-paper-scissors battle system for a cleaner and more challenging experience. Echoes also provides more of a challenge by removing the team up advantage introduced in Awakening. In addition, for those not interested in a dragging relationship builder, Echoes has character conversations on the fly—during battles and in towns and they are quick. The full voice acting ends up providing a surprising amount of depth by comparison to the grunting or silent convos of the past. Overall, Echoes is a great 40 to 60 hour playthrough that will please most fans, but less particularly the newer crowd. That said, I am actually a part of that newer crowd, having first played the series with Awakening. I suppose to each their own.… Expand
  9. Chimera17
    Oct 30, 2017
    9
    The soundtrack is fantastic
    The visuals are also great, especially for a 3DS game.
    It's also very replayable because of the villagers, Villager pitchfork (Free DLC), Samson/Arran Scenarios, and other choices.
    The soundtrack is fantastic, same about the voice-acting
    And it's fun
    Also did i mention the soundtrack ?
  10. Sunshadow87
    Jun 5, 2020
    9
    Dentro de los FE de los últimos años, Shadows of Valentia, un Remake de la oveja negra de la saga, ha pasado bastante desapercibido para muchos. Y sin un motivo real. No es la oveja negra de la saga por ser un mal juego, si no por introducir mecánicas que no aparecen en ningún otro FE transformando la experiencia completamente.
    Lo primero es entender que este es un FE clásico sin    Dentro de los FE de los últimos años, Shadows of Valentia, un Remake de la oveja negra de la saga, ha pasado bastante desapercibido para muchos. Y sin un motivo real. No es la oveja negra de la saga por ser un mal juego, si no por introducir mecánicas que no aparecen en ningún otro FE transformando la experiencia completamente.
    Lo primero es entender que este es un FE clásico sin mecánicas de hijos (y por tanto sin personajes de relleno). Cada personaje esta bien desarrollado, él y sus relaciones. La dificultad es elevada, pero adaptable y accesible por las mecánicas exclusivas (y por la inclusión del sistema opcional de deshacer las últimas acciones, cuyo uso baja la dificultad a algo bastante medio).
    Incluye la novedad de llevar a dos personajes con sus propios ejércitos y batallas, que avanzan paralelamente hasta un momento común de unión. Esto implica también cierta variedad (por ejemplo, algunos personajes puedes reclutarlos con un ejercito u otro en diferentes momentos, pero obviamente si los reclutas con uno, no podrás con el otro).
    Aparte de esto, la gran novedad de este juego son las mazmorras. Y no hablo de mapas de estrategia, si no mazmorras en 3D con enemigos pululando, ítems, etc, añadiendo un sistema de exploración (similar a la base de FETH, pero en las mazmorras). El entrar en contacto con un enemigo despliega un pequeño mapa de batalla para combatir contra ellos, y cosas cómo atacar por la espalda genera ventajas en el despliegue de las unidades y turnos.
    Por toda esta innovación, los buenos personajes, la historia, este es un muy buen exponente de la saga, diferente del resto, pero muy buena entrega. Eso sí, sigue siendo un remake de un clásico, y hay algunas mecánicas que pueden ser algo repetitivas (farmeo de objetos para algunas quests).    … Expand
  11. ogorangeduck
    Dec 29, 2018
    10
    This is my first Fire Emblem game, and I have to say, it is a very good game. The story is a typical "gods fighting, they solve their dispute, 2 countries formed, now they are on the brink of war", but it is fleshed out nicely. Also, the visuals are absolutely astonishing, especially on new 2ds. I also love the soundtrack. It does a great job of suiting the atmosphere. If you have neverThis is my first Fire Emblem game, and I have to say, it is a very good game. The story is a typical "gods fighting, they solve their dispute, 2 countries formed, now they are on the brink of war", but it is fleshed out nicely. Also, the visuals are absolutely astonishing, especially on new 2ds. I also love the soundtrack. It does a great job of suiting the atmosphere. If you have never played an FE game, pick up Echoes .… Expand
  12. Morag
    Sep 16, 2018
    10
    Remake from a Fire Emblem game never came out of Japan (Gaiden), Echoes is probably my favorite Fire Emblem game. The Hidari art are gorgeous, the music is fantastic, the characters personallities are great as well as their voices (even if it is sad they didn't put japanese voice option), great DLC (price isn't a rewiew criteria IMO) and good enjoyement! It is THE Fire Emblem game you needRemake from a Fire Emblem game never came out of Japan (Gaiden), Echoes is probably my favorite Fire Emblem game. The Hidari art are gorgeous, the music is fantastic, the characters personallities are great as well as their voices (even if it is sad they didn't put japanese voice option), great DLC (price isn't a rewiew criteria IMO) and good enjoyement! It is THE Fire Emblem game you need to play on 3DS!… Expand
  13. currer_bell
    May 30, 2017
    10
    At first I was thinking " Ok, it's a remake of an old game, just buying a little time until the next real Fire Emblem title..." But it turns out Echoes is just as good or even better than Awakening or Fates.

    I felt the combat was more fun and rewarding than on previous titles. You can grind as much as you want and the free-roaming dungeons are a great addition that leaves you with a lot    At first I was thinking " Ok, it's a remake of an old game, just buying a little time until the next real Fire Emblem title..." But it turns out Echoes is just as good or even better than Awakening or Fates.

    I felt the combat was more fun and rewarding than on previous titles. You can grind as much as you want and the free-roaming dungeons are a great addition that leaves you with a lot more things to do. Overall the game adds more freedom and is less linear to play.

    I could'nt care less about the disappearance of the weapon triangle. As for the pairing, I also prefer the old way; without it. There is no silly marriage and siblings thing which was a bad idea anyway (On Awakening it was OK cause it was part of the story, but on Fates they really should have left that out.)

    So Echoes is really another excellent Fire Emblem game. Similar in the spirit but different enough to be relevant. A must buy even for newcomers and all 3DS users.    … Expand
  14. BasilZero
    Dec 21, 2019
    9
    Game: Fire Emblem Echoes Shadows of Valentia
    Genre: Strategy RPG
    Developer: Intelligent Systems Publisher: Nintendo System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS) Year of Release: 2017 Length of Playthrough: 45 Hours Total Score: 90/100 Value Score: 9.0/10 • Story: 9/10 • Characters: 9/10 • GamePlay: 9/10 • Graphics: 8/10 • Sound: 10/10 • Music: 8/10 • Length: 9/10 • Replay Value: 8/10 •    Game: Fire Emblem Echoes Shadows of Valentia
    Genre: Strategy RPG
    Developer: Intelligent Systems
    Publisher: Nintendo
    System: Nintendo 3DS (3DS)
    Year of Release: 2017
    Length of Playthrough: 45 Hours

    Total Score: 90/100
    Value Score: 9.0/10

    • Story: 9/10
    • Characters: 9/10
    • GamePlay: 9/10
    • Graphics: 8/10
    • Sound: 10/10
    • Music: 8/10
    • Length: 9/10
    • Replay Value: 8/10
    • Player Value: 10/10

    Pros
    +Good Story and character interaction
    +Choice of casual mode for beginners of the series and hardcore mode for veteran players
    +Ending can be changed depending on who you recruited or survived till the end of story
    +Remake of the 2nd Fire Emblem game - additional characters added to storyline, visual improvements and a lot of voice acting

    Cons
    -Additional characters and classes tied to DLC which is also expensive and never reduce in price
    -Street Pass requirement needed to access some background story scenes and to get items
    -None of the QoL improvements from Awakening are included    … Expand
  15. Elyk25
    Jun 5, 2017
    10
    Fire Emblem Echoes is the best FE game in a long time. Updated from the original, Echoes improves Gaiden's story and storytelling, while preserving the retro elements of early Fire Emblem. The is the first game in the series since the start of the DS generation to force me to reorder the top half of my favorite Fire Emblem games. Fates and Awakening still had great characters, and a veryFire Emblem Echoes is the best FE game in a long time. Updated from the original, Echoes improves Gaiden's story and storytelling, while preserving the retro elements of early Fire Emblem. The is the first game in the series since the start of the DS generation to force me to reorder the top half of my favorite Fire Emblem games. Fates and Awakening still had great characters, and a very nice change to combat mechanics, but have not told as great a story or had as good villains since FE 9 & 10. This game just hits the right balance of game its elements versus the other more recent titles.… Expand
  16. iipotato
    Aug 10, 2017
    9
    Before I proceed, I've played FE Awakening and Conquest!

    Oh I just adore this game. There are so many aspects that I love so I'll break it down. Graphics: 8/10. Let me just say that I love the new art style for the game. I love the less-crisp character portraits that SoV has in comparison to the previous two games, and I love the ability to go through maps in a first person POV and    Before I proceed, I've played FE Awakening and Conquest!

    Oh I just adore this game. There are so many aspects that I love so I'll break it down.

    Graphics: 8/10. Let me just say that I love the new art style for the game. I love the less-crisp character portraits that SoV has in comparison to the previous two games, and I love the ability to go through maps in a first person POV and look for items in the background. The battles contain the usual grid-based scheme, but I love how when engaging into a fight, you can see that the background is almost always accurate to the placement of the character on the map. I don't remember if Conquest had this (it probably did), but SoV's graphics really are memorable.

    Characters: 9/10. I'll be honest, I play games mostly for the characters and their depth. For me, FE SoV has utilized characters greatly. The ability to interact with them in town, the elimination of pairing up so you really have to use each character on the map, their personalities--I love how much depth these characters have. The voice acting, which is done VERY well, especially adds to the effect. I think for me, this game has a great amount of characters I actually cared for in comparison to Conquest and Awakening.

    Battle System: 7/10. A few differences in this game (Which i believe was in the original Gaiden too) are the absence of pairing up units, the status effects on the map (poison tiles, etc), and how magic uses HP. While I found the latter two a bit troublesome, it added a nice challenge to the game. Surprisingly, I liked the fact you couldn't pair up units. It encouraged me to really use the characters and get to know them.

    Music: 8/10. I liked it! The soundtrack was a bit repetitive but not to the point of annoyance. They were all played enough for me to find them catchy. Definitely memorable.

    There were of course a few things I didn't enjoy. I wasn't too fond of the dungeon crawling, as I didn't enjoy how most of the maps were dark and eery. I was also a bit sad that the game felt short (40hrs for main story), but it probably feels that way because I've played games like RF4 for 140hrs and Bravely Default for 90hrs.

    Overall, I think FE SoV is something one shouldn't pass up! You'll enjoy your time with it.    … Expand
  17. Purples
    Aug 26, 2017
    10
    Jörg Luibl from the 4players.de review didn't even experience the game in it's entirety and had no prior experience with Fire Emblem games (just referencing the games rather than mentioning differences doesn't do anything for a "professional" review), therefore his review should be omitted due to the sheer lack of plausible points made against the game's multitude of features andJörg Luibl from the 4players.de review didn't even experience the game in it's entirety and had no prior experience with Fire Emblem games (just referencing the games rather than mentioning differences doesn't do anything for a "professional" review), therefore his review should be omitted due to the sheer lack of plausible points made against the game's multitude of features and replayability..

    That being said, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is the 2nd (3rd if you're japanese) attempt Nintendo has made at remaking/remastering classic Fire Emblem titles and must I say, Echoes it the epitome of what us Gaiden players wanted in a remake. The game feels fresh & new to the Fire Emblem series without neglecting the classic mechanics introduced and present in Gaiden.

    Sound design, character development, gameplay, and the OST (OH MY GOD THE MUSIC) were all executed to perfection. People who rightfully complained about the direction Nintendo was taking Fire Emblem with Awakening & Fates with the increasing emphasis on supports/relationship pairing and decrease in actual plot/writing were shown a face of Classic Fire Emblem under a more sophisticated light. Shadow Dragon wasn't bad but since it was a 1:1 remake with only new art, textures, and modes. Echoes is a release that gracefully invites players to experience strong story telling. voice acting, and excellent gameplay on the 3DS.    … Expand
  18. frederik1478
    Mar 5, 2020
    9
    One of my favorite in series #best presentation of any Fire Emblem game and it is Unique Experience
  19. PyroFierceDeity
    Dec 1, 2020
    9
    Being e remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden, the second game in the series and only released in Japan at the time, Intelligent Systems knocks it out of the park again with an excellent remake and an excellent Fire Emblem game. People might crucify me on this one but I like it way more than Awakening. I do respect and love Awakening however since it saved Intelligent Systems from going bankruptBeing e remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden, the second game in the series and only released in Japan at the time, Intelligent Systems knocks it out of the park again with an excellent remake and an excellent Fire Emblem game. People might crucify me on this one but I like it way more than Awakening. I do respect and love Awakening however since it saved Intelligent Systems from going bankrupt which means this franchise would have died right after Awakening.

    The music is again excellent in this one, and it once again fits the narrative very well. The story was also excellent as well. It had some nice twists I didn't see coming, and I grew very attached to Alm and Celica. Alm's story arc and character development were absolutely epic and the change in music in the later acts make the late game a masterpiece. I also love how the post-game ties in with Awakening story-wise. The gameplay was fun and it actually felt challenging at certain points. You really needed to formulate a strategy or else it you would struggle. This game introduce the turn back time mechanic which was also added in Three Houses, but I found myself rarely using it in this one. A good strategy was mainly all you needed. I always recommend not letting anyone die because seeing all your characters make it out in the end is very heartwarming.

    An excellent and damn near masterpiece for the 3DS and I recommend it to ALL 3DS users.    … Expand
  20. karican
    Jul 8, 2017
    10
    I have played nearly every Fire Emblem game released in the US, and this one blew me away. It takes a step back from the anime type direction the series has been trending toward lately and the story feels a bit more grounded. The characters, maps, and music were all fantastic.
  21. PabloDesigns
    Jul 30, 2019
    10
    This game deserves a 10 just because Heritors of Arcadia. That song is the **** best and deepest you will ever hear in any videogame.
    Oh and also, the game is good.
  22. Wake_loms
    Nov 13, 2017
    9
    Buen juego, mantiene la escencia del pasado y se siente la diferencia en la jugabilidad con otros fire emblem, la malo es que el reto no varia en los mapas de una de las mitades del ejercito que controlas, pero si corrigen eso, yo contento de que todos los FE de ahora en adelante sean asi, la animacion es la mejor que encontraras en esta saga y ademas esta todo con voz que tambien esBuen juego, mantiene la escencia del pasado y se siente la diferencia en la jugabilidad con otros fire emblem, la malo es que el reto no varia en los mapas de una de las mitades del ejercito que controlas, pero si corrigen eso, yo contento de que todos los FE de ahora en adelante sean asi, la animacion es la mejor que encontraras en esta saga y ademas esta todo con voz que tambien es excelente, si no le doy el 10, es solo por que los mapas pueden llegar a ser repetitivos, y eso no se perdona en esta saga… Expand
  23. CH513
    Jan 8, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 81%? To me, that score is just really unfair for the masterpiece Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is. This is one of the best games for the Nintendo 3DS, along with Kid Icarus: Uprising. I'm aware it's merely a remake of a 1992 game (Fire Emblem Gaiden), but it was so well made.

    The story is about two childhood friends who were parted: Alm (the prince of the Rigelian Empire raised as a farmboy in Ram Village) and Celica (the princess in hiding from the Kingdom of Zofia) and is full of some beautiful moments filled with emotion. The game takes place 7 years after their parting, and each of them starts their own attempt to free the Kingdom of Zofia of the problems it started to face. The game is divided in 6 acts. On the first one, you control Alm's group. On the second one, you control Celica's group. After the 3rd one starts, you can control the groups of both. The game's character roster is somewhat small compared to other Fire Emblem games (34 playable characters in total), but they get so much character development that they really grow on you. Coupled with how amazing the voice acting is, you get some amazing characters. Python, Clair and Delthea from Alm's group, and Mae, Saber and Leon from Celica's have become some of my favorite characters in the series. Only Faye from Alm's group is dislikeable, but she still has a lot of development. The game's difficulty is elevated, meaning you'll have to carefully plan your strategies to overcome each of the game's maps. The game's soundtrack doesn't fall short either, with many beautiful and epic pieces that play either during cutscenes or in battle. Exploring 3D dungeons to uncover treasure and strengthen your army is a neat addition, and feels like a nice reference to The Legend of Zelda. And I haven't even mentioned the final boss fight against Duma.

    Still, the game has flaws. Some battles can get a bit annoying. You have to grind a lot in dungeons. The cutscenes are nice, but they look a bit downgraded from those of Radiant Dawn, Awakening and even Fates due to a different studio making them. And finally, the DLC is overpriced, being more expensive than the game (but it's optional at least, so you don't have to buy it).

    Regardless of this, the game is still deserving a 10/10. I've invested as much as 80 hours playing it, and I liked it a lot more than Awakening, the most popular and acclaimed game in the series.    … Expand
  24. InkV
    Jul 10, 2017
    9
    Fire Emblem Echoes fixes most of the problems found in Gaiden and truly well worth your time.If you are wondering getting in the series i recommend you this one but most likely this is the only Fire Emblem other than Gaiden to be in styled like this.I find the music and the character development to be phenomenal and the cutscenes impressive for a game in the Nintendo 3Ds.
  25. Shadz
    Aug 1, 2017
    10
    I've played a fan made English dubbed version of Gaiden, and it was definitely an enjoyable game. With some decent character development, story, and game mechanics and improvements from the original FE title, Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. My personal favorite FE game to date is Awakening, but Echoes is a very close second.

    People here complain how there's no weapon triangle,    I've played a fan made English dubbed version of Gaiden, and it was definitely an enjoyable game. With some decent character development, story, and game mechanics and improvements from the original FE title, Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light. My personal favorite FE game to date is Awakening, but Echoes is a very close second.

    People here complain how there's no weapon triangle, how the gameplay contrasts greatly to Awakening and Fates, and the lack of diversity in classes. This is all because it's a remake of an extremely old FE game. If you're making a remake, you should at least stay faithful to the source material by keeping some game mechanics and gimmicks. This is what Echoes does perfectly in every aspect. I think people are getting too used to the newer FE games, expecting games that come out in the future to be exactly like them, with stuff like buying items and EXP farming.

    The one way how Echoes doesn't stay faithful to its source material is by the addition of casual mode. Now, this isn't at all bad, in fact, I think it's an improvement. Before New Mystery of the Emblem, your units stayed dead forever. When the GBA and Tellius era became localized in other countries, this was definitely a rude welcoming to those new to the FE franchise. This is why I think the addition of casual mode is a positive one. I'm just happy they didn't bring Phoenix mode back.

    Another great aspect about the game is full-on voice acting. I'm a voice actor myself, and it's really hard to dedicate this much time into just one game, when you have many other projects on your plate. And the voice actors deliver their lines amazingly. My personal favorite voice actors for Echoes are Brian Beacock as Luthier, Bonnie Gordon as Silque, Joe J Thomas as Deen, and Kyle McCarley as Alm.    … Expand
  26. Dreonas
    Jan 27, 2018
    9
    This is the review of a Fire Emblem fan that hadn't played Gaiden before.

    First of all, keep in mind that this is a remake, that's why some features of the new games are not present. Lovely. The story is a little bit basic but interesting, the music is top notch, the characters artwork is beatiful, and the maps are challenging at certain points. Of course that the absence of the new    This is the review of a Fire Emblem fan that hadn't played Gaiden before.

    First of all, keep in mind that this is a remake, that's why some features of the new games are not present.

    Lovely. The story is a little bit basic but interesting, the music is top notch, the characters artwork is beatiful, and the maps are challenging at certain points. Of course that the absence of the new games mechanics (like the weapons triangle) is notorious, but it doesn't make it unplayable. I was amazed with the dungeon parts because I didn't expect something like that in a Fire Emblem game; also, I was happy to know that the weapons didn't wear out.    … Expand
  27. Neon_Icarus
    Dec 11, 2017
    10
    Best Fire Emblem since Radiant Dawn. Classy old school Fire Emblem with minimal waifu stuff. Great presentation for a 3DS game. The soundtrack especially is one of the best on the platform.
  28. CaponeGANGBege
    Jan 26, 2018
    10
    Works well both as a new game and as a reimagining of all the world of Gaiden, properly brought to modern times and with updated looks and mechanics to its characters and world.
  29. LinkMaster505
    Jan 20, 2018
    10
    Has to be one of the best fire emblem games especially considering the story and screw the weapons triangle it's also very accessable to new players.
  30. j0hnnyclaymore
    Feb 18, 2018
    8
    Great Fire Emblem, enjoyed the "old" new features from the remake. Love the visuals, gameplay and the characters. Very good difficultes, waiting for the others (especially fe6!)
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Best 3DS Game of 2017
4
#4 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2017
2
#2 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 76 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 76
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 76
  3. Negative: 0 out of 76
  1. Riot Pixels
    Aug 25, 2017
    76
    Even though Shadows of Valentia lacks some of the cool ideas from the previous installments in the Fire Emblem series, this tactics game is very addictive. It’s head and shoulders above the dull Fire Emblem: Fates.
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  2. Nintendojo
    Aug 16, 2017
    91
    Fire Emblem has come to be one of Nintendo’s premier franchises, with Shadows of Valentia further cementing the series’ sterling reputation. This is some of the best storytelling and gameplay anyone could hope for on any platform, whether home or portable. Its presentation belies the fact that the game is running on a portable console, and the clever additions to the familiar Fire Emblem formula have yet again breathed new life into a series that has never been stagnant. There are other features waiting to be enjoyed, like the addition of Amiibo that bring new dungeons and fighters, a StreetPass feature, and more. It’s likely that other than Fire Emblem Warriors this will be the last time the franchise appears on 3DS, but it’s going to be a long goodbye—expect to sink many hours into this adventure. Alm and Celica have firmly cemented themselves into the ranks of my favorite Fire Emblem characters, and I hope that when the series transitions to Switch it will be half as entertaining as Shadows of Valentia.
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  3. NZGamer
    Jul 14, 2017
    90
    Fire Emblem Echoes is the second best entry in the new generation of Fire Emblem games, ranking lower than Awakening, but higher than Fates. Tight storytelling, paired with challenging gameplay, makes for a thoroughly enjoyable experience, as accessible to new players as it is inviting to old. Watch out for tantalising-but-expensive DLC, and a bit of a nerf on older consoles. It’ll be hard for the next Fire Emblem to step out from under the Shadows of Valentia.
    Read full review
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