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. 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
  2. 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.
  3. Hugothester
    May 24, 2017
    10
    Compared to previous 3ds Fire Emblem games this is a huge improvement, the changes feel refreshing (though might be confusing to new players) graphics are impressive for the console and gameplay is spot on. What surprised me the most was character development, which was amazing, maybe because it was more focused on the main characters and less on love-life.
    Probably the best game in the    Compared to previous 3ds Fire Emblem games this is a huge improvement, the changes feel refreshing (though might be confusing to new players) graphics are impressive for the console and gameplay is spot on. What surprised me the most was character development, which was amazing, maybe because it was more focused on the main characters and less on love-life.
    Probably the best game in the 3ds if you like this kind of games.    … Expand
  4. 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
  5. Welkinhans82
    May 26, 2017
    10
    This game is fantastic. I normally don't like how people on metacritic flood reviews with 10's for games that they like, and 0's for games that they don't, and while this isn't necessarily a perfect game, any complaints that I have are too small or nit picky for me to give it anything but a 9 or 10. The writing is excellent, the voice acting and dialogue are great, the graphics lookThis game is fantastic. I normally don't like how people on metacritic flood reviews with 10's for games that they like, and 0's for games that they don't, and while this isn't necessarily a perfect game, any complaints that I have are too small or nit picky for me to give it anything but a 9 or 10. The writing is excellent, the voice acting and dialogue are great, the graphics look excellent for a 3DS title, the dungeons are fun to explore, the music is great, the combat is challenging and fun, the characters are interesting and well developed, and the maps are beautiful to look at. There's a lot of variety to this game. A small complaint that I do have is that the maps are often larger than needed, but considering that this is a game that's over 20 years old, it's acceptable. And it's not that this is a bad thing, it's just something that doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense from a design standpoint. Marriage isn't in the game (sorry newer fans), but this is a story that's meant to be told with certain cannon couples in mind. This is a remake done right, and I applaud Intelligent Systems for doing it as they have. It's story and gameplay are gripping, and I can't wait to continue seeing what Valentia has to offer!… Expand
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. marcostoso27
    May 19, 2017
    10
    Otimo jogo com uma trilha sonora sensacional.Com certeza um remake indispensável da serie e recomendo para quem ta iniciando sua aventura pela franquia.
  10. fishychoo
    May 23, 2017
    10
    FE Echoes is a very welcomed edition to the series as well as a great remake to boot. As someone who personally has never played the original or any of the previous entries before Awakening the clear defining factor between the old generation and new is fairly clear. I am all in for the pair up system and marriage that was present in the last 4 games (I'm counting Fates as 3 separate gamesFE Echoes is a very welcomed edition to the series as well as a great remake to boot. As someone who personally has never played the original or any of the previous entries before Awakening the clear defining factor between the old generation and new is fairly clear. I am all in for the pair up system and marriage that was present in the last 4 games (I'm counting Fates as 3 separate games to be more specific) that have been release but once I started playing Echoes which has none of those features I actually found myself enjoying it more now that I don't have to worry about constantly moving units around on the field just to build up relationships. The difficulty as well compared to the previous games is also to my liking more so in this entry just due to the fact that even playing on casual mode still provides a challenge in of itself (one with no weapon triangle and and secondly with terrain effects but personally I couldn't live with myself if I lost 2 of my beloved characters for the entire game if I played on classic lol) and please don't get me started on the RNG factor xD All in all Echoes is a solid faithful traditional tactical RPG without the ridiculous amount of fan service which I fear a lot of JRPGs in general are getting too much of nowadays and a great remake of it's original. (When you can sit and play for 6+ hours straight in my case it's a terrific game :P)… Expand
  11. Pate
    May 24, 2017
    10
    This is easiest one of the best FE games I've played. The voice acting was a very nice surprise and was done very well and should be a staple for all future games. Also this game is a lot better than Fates in many aspects. The 3 bet things are 1 it's a lot more challenging and there's no phoenix mode. 2 the story is A LOT better and is told very well. 3 it's not waifu emblem. You getThis is easiest one of the best FE games I've played. The voice acting was a very nice surprise and was done very well and should be a staple for all future games. Also this game is a lot better than Fates in many aspects. The 3 bet things are 1 it's a lot more challenging and there's no phoenix mode. 2 the story is A LOT better and is told very well. 3 it's not waifu emblem. You get attached to the characters very well and you want to keep playing and stay engaged to figure out the truth behind Alm and Celica. Now there some things I prefer in Awakening and Fates like interface stuff and support between all characters but nonetheless this is an amazing game and I recommend to anyone in the series. Game was a lot better than I anticipated and experiencing the story of Gaiden is one to remember. Great game.… Expand
  12. 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.
  13. Vectus
    May 20, 2017
    10
    this game was made for the fans of the older titles and i feel like its not fair to compare its game play to fates or awakening as it was taking a different approach . this game trumps both in presentation and story the side characters are way more fleshed out and the two protagonists are much better written then the avatar characters of both awakening and fates. The game play thothis game was made for the fans of the older titles and i feel like its not fair to compare its game play to fates or awakening as it was taking a different approach . this game trumps both in presentation and story the side characters are way more fleshed out and the two protagonists are much better written then the avatar characters of both awakening and fates. The game play tho simplified is much more satisfying for older fans of the series .… Expand
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. jbakes25
    May 23, 2017
    10
    I gave this game a 10 because I cannot stop playing this game. It is so addictive. The story, the characters, the gameplay, the music, and the nostalgia. This is a wonderful remake of a classic Fire Emblem game that introduced so many elements that we see throughout the Fire Emblem series. The game keeps a lot of same features from the original game and I love it when Fire Emblem doesI gave this game a 10 because I cannot stop playing this game. It is so addictive. The story, the characters, the gameplay, the music, and the nostalgia. This is a wonderful remake of a classic Fire Emblem game that introduced so many elements that we see throughout the Fire Emblem series. The game keeps a lot of same features from the original game and I love it when Fire Emblem does this. It makes you play the game with a whole new perspective from having no weapon triangle, one inventory slot, bases sending enemy parties after your characters, and dungeons to explore. Each battle required some good thinking into the strategy and playing with 2 different parties was fun. The story is good, the music is great, and I look forward to future remakes of classic Fire Emblem games, that bring back memories of my first Fire Emblem game, the Blazing Sword when it was released in NA. Any Fire Emblem fan whether a veteran or newcomer will enjoy this game.… Expand
  17. Cectis
    May 21, 2017
    10
    I'm really loving Echoes, the best FE game I've played so far. The first FE game i have played was Fates and after that I've also played Awakening. I must say it, Echoes has a better plot than the previously 2 games. The characters are more charismatic and the story flows better, making you want to play more and more.
  18. MidnightClip
    May 23, 2017
    10
    Honestly this is a game I have been waiting for since my disappointment with Fates. The writing from Fates to Echoes has been a great improvement. Pair this with the excellent voice acting and I would wager that this might be the best 3DS era story for Fire Emblem. The maps may be barren, and lacks the modern mechanics such as pair ups but that does not mean that echoes is any less aHonestly this is a game I have been waiting for since my disappointment with Fates. The writing from Fates to Echoes has been a great improvement. Pair this with the excellent voice acting and I would wager that this might be the best 3DS era story for Fire Emblem. The maps may be barren, and lacks the modern mechanics such as pair ups but that does not mean that echoes is any less a tactical rpg. The much more weaker units with the fatigue mechanic forces you to use everyone in your army instead of relying on only one great unit to steam roll your enemies. The game might feel "simplistic" but a can guarantee series veterans and newcomers looking for a good challenge and a well told story with likable characters will enjoy this entry in Fire Emblem.… Expand
  19. SpaceAceJoh
    May 24, 2017
    10
    I'm a long time FE fan and I have played every single one /except/ the original Gaiden. This game is different from Awakening and Fates - two games I enjoyed a whole lot although I prefer the older games like PoR or RD - and it is by far one of the best games I have played both this year and last combined!
    The battle system felt a bit wierd at first since it was not what I was used to,    I'm a long time FE fan and I have played every single one /except/ the original Gaiden. This game is different from Awakening and Fates - two games I enjoyed a whole lot although I prefer the older games like PoR or RD - and it is by far one of the best games I have played both this year and last combined!
    The battle system felt a bit wierd at first since it was not what I was used to, but I learned very quickly and was soon building my Ultime Armies!
    The characters are all very interesting and have their own character. Some are of course more important to the plot and takes more space, but you never feel like a character is just there for filler.
    The writing is snappy, smart, funny, and heart-tugging and it all feels so natural!
    The art is gorgeous, and the battle system is honestly way more fun than the pair up system since it feels like you have to trust in your units' skills alone and you have to carefully plan ahead which units you should use.

    In short; this game is superb, and I highly recommend it to both old and new fans of the FE-series.    … Expand
  20. 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
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. salanzxd
    Dec 19, 2017
    10
    este juego se gana el 10/10 una historia excelente que te envuelve y los giros que da no puedes predecir que sucederá, el modo de juego sigue fiel a un fire emblem personajes muy carismáticos lo único malo es sus DLC que son mas un agregado un poco innecesario me encante y es un recomendado
  24. 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.
  25. GVS2001
    Jul 27, 2018
    10
    Very good game! The combat is perfect and the story is sure to draw attention. A true Fire Emblem title for those who like a great game with lots of strategy!
  26. 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
  27. 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
  28. Emiliano105
    Jun 20, 2020
    10
    It is a beautiful rwmake, one of my favorito videogames, have a grat story and grate caracteres, the soundtrack is perfect and the gameplay is good
  29. Kiriken
    Aug 19, 2019
    10
    Even with Fire Emblem: Three Houses released for the Nintendo Switch... I'm keeping this game as my absolute favorite Fire Emblem game. Why? The answer is quite simple: old-school mixed with new-school is my school.

    This game is as good as people have told me it is... however I was a little discouraged when I heard commentaries like: "meh, it could've been better." or "remember    Even with Fire Emblem: Three Houses released for the Nintendo Switch... I'm keeping this game as my absolute favorite Fire Emblem game. Why? The answer is quite simple: old-school mixed with new-school is my school.

    This game is as good as people have told me it is... however I was a little discouraged when I heard commentaries like: "meh, it could've been better." or "remember everything you knew about Fire Emblem? Well this game throw that to the dumpster" and I was quite hesitant when I bought my own copy... they lied. Or worse yet... they didn't know.

    Just when I booted up the game and saw the title screen and then heard the main theme playing I was like: "wait... is- is this real?". Heck yeah it was. Just when I was about to start, characters were reciting everything the dialogue box was saying and well... don't mind if I do. I love the whole VA thing, it just adds so much life to the story!!

    And now a big "oof"... the characters. And it's not a bad "oof", it's an actual great "OOF" i'm going for here. The characters. Oh, my, god! I just can't hate them, I love hating some of them: Jedah, Saber, Alm, Celica and even minor characters. Everything stays in line with a good and complete character development.

    A heartbreaking story, an amazing "new" mechanic where you have to use HP points to use things like magic or even special moves, a great cast, freaking Hidari as lead artist... heck, this game has everything.

    I'm keeping it and replaying it for years to come. A must-play treasure and an underrated masterpiece, and believe me, I'm choosing my words wisely.    … Expand
  30. Alecseus
    Apr 30, 2021
    10
    Finally finished this awesome game. The best part of the series after Geneology.
    The old traditions of the series are combined with new mechanics.
    But DLCs arent worth its price.
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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.
    Read full review
  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.
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