Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

 DS
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon Image
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 184 Ratings

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  • Summary: Fire Emblem returns to its roots with a total overhaul of an NES classic never before released in America. New features include touch-screen controls, multiple save options and easy-to-follow tutorial chapters that shed new light on Marth's story. New players can jump into the action, evenFire Emblem returns to its roots with a total overhaul of an NES classic never before released in America. New features include touch-screen controls, multiple save options and easy-to-follow tutorial chapters that shed new light on Marth's story. New players can jump into the action, even if they've never played a Fire Emblem game before. Medeus, the king of the dragonkin, has been revived and is forming an alliance with a fearsome sorcerer named Gharnef. Together, they threaten to the throw the entire continent of Archanea back to an age of chaos and war. Now, it's up to young Prince Marth and his small band of loyal followers to rise up and rally all those left in the land to make one last desperate push to free Archanea from the tyranny of the Shadow Dragon. How to progress through the game: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy setting. Players alternate turns with opponents, moving their pieces (units) and attacking enemy units on the battlefield. There are dozens of units and different weapons and magic spells, each with its own strategic benefits-high-flying Pegasus knights move effortlessly over varied terrain, fast-moving mounted cavaliers can use swords and lances, unarmed curates use healing staves to mend the wounds of other units and so on. [Nintendo]… Expand
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Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & The Blade Of Light - Official Switch Localization Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Pocket Gamer UK
    90
    Fire Emblem's DS debut has been a long time coming but it's unquestionably worth the wait. Shadow Dragon provides astonishingly compulsive turn-based action.
  2. 3DJuegos
    87
    Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon debuts on Nintendo DS with a classic chapter adapted to these times. The deeply interesting story of the game with many characters to recruit and different strategies for the victories offers a unique experience. The most important feature is the online mode, simple but correct in its way. This is one of the best games to come out this year for Nintendo DS.
  3. NintendoWorldReport
    85
    While not revolutionary by today's standards, it is easy to understand why the original was groundbreaking in its day.
  4. GameFocus
    82
    Part of what has made Fire Emblem such a beloved series is the emotional attachment the player makes to the characters, and unfortunately, this is largely missing in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon. Shadow Dragon is not a bad game; heck, its a very good game. It’s a great buy for fans of the series or the genre. It’s just missing that charm that earlier games in the series had, at least for me.
  5. Level7.nu
    80
    Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon continues the series' trademark strategic gameplay, this time on the Nintendo DS. If you're a sucker for the combination of strategy and roleplaying elements, this game will let you burn countless hours on your DS. Upgrading your units and making sure they survive is very addictive and fun, and the intuitive online mode is a great bonus. This is not an easy game though and not for the casual player, but for all of you strategy nuts out there, this is one great buy.
  6. RPGamer
    80
    Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon could be played by someone new to the series quite easily thanks to its many refinements and the tutorial contained within the Prologue chapters. Veterans of the series will find a game that combines the refinements of more recent entries, save for a lack of variety in battle objectives.
  7. G4 TV
    60
    Fans of the series will be quick to pick this one up and will likely get much enjoyment. New players might find more to love in the newer games in the series. Either way, Shadow Dragon is a good move for tactical strategy gamers.

See all 42 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 41
  3. Negative: 8 out of 41
  1. hondo
    Feb 21, 2009
    10
    Amazing game, pivotal game elements of characters dying makes it truly feel like a war game, they don't just faint or some crap, if youAmazing game, pivotal game elements of characters dying makes it truly feel like a war game, they don't just faint or some crap, if you let your guys die, they DIE, so suit them up with what you need, and play smart, or you'll lose your characters, which the game does a brilliant job of getting you attached to.… Expand
  2. Combusken16
    May 24, 2020
    10
    An amazing game with a compelling story and amazing map design. It's a fun game on low and high difficulties, and reclassing gives a whole lotAn amazing game with a compelling story and amazing map design. It's a fun game on low and high difficulties, and reclassing gives a whole lot of replay-ability.… Expand
  4. arcazeronus
    Oct 26, 2013
    9
    In terms of gameplay, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon has the same amazing gameplay from its previous games. The storyline expands the first FireIn terms of gameplay, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon has the same amazing gameplay from its previous games. The storyline expands the first Fire Emblem game, and it's very good. However, the sprites are looking bad. The 2.5d styled animations and other sprites are looking awful, and not fitting Fire Emblem. The sounds are amazing, but still the style of graphics made a little bit disappointment for me.… Expand
  5. WallidK
    Mar 31, 2009
    7
    Hmm. This game may be very frustrating to someone who has no idea what Fire Emblem is as it's a very hard game. THIS IS VERY HARD. Hmm. This game may be very frustrating to someone who has no idea what Fire Emblem is as it's a very hard game. THIS IS VERY HARD. Either way, despite the features it takes out like preparing for battles, it replaces it with fresh new ones like difficulty settings and save points. If you liked Fire Emblem before this, pick this one up. If not, you might want to borrow this from a friend first AND PLAY ABOUT AN HOUR IN. If not, you may think this game is still easy and be killed later.… Expand
  6. Theday
    Jun 1, 2011
    7
    One step forward, Two steps back. Not as complex as it's console predecessors, but still moves the series forward. No pushing, no carrying, noOne step forward, Two steps back. Not as complex as it's console predecessors, but still moves the series forward. No pushing, no carrying, no support convos and easier levels. A very good game for newbies to the series.… Expand
  7. OmanL
    Apr 2, 2009
    6
    I seriously struggled to finish this game, and not because of it's difficulty. It's the least accomplished and least-rewarding Fire I seriously struggled to finish this game, and not because of it's difficulty. It's the least accomplished and least-rewarding Fire Emblem Gmae that's been released outside of Japan. In fairness to it, it is a remake, but paying full price for it isn't really worth it. The first problem is the story. It's virtually non-existant. No events or sequences between chapters, just a "we won" speach and a map-screen intro to the next battle before you're put in the scene. The characters are one-dimensional- they barely even talk more than once and there's next to none character development, even with the main characters. The history of the continent is extremely vague and enemy units are stupid and annoying. You'll virtually never have to take defensive measures unlike in Sacred Stones when you're batting off swarms of monsters or in Radiant Dawn where you're fighting soldiers roughly as strong as yours. The reclass system further devalues each unit's character. It makes having specialized units essentially useless. In this game you may as well have a few main-characters with customizable faceless units that you can reclass or reproduce for every battle. Pah. The gameplay is solid though- same old fire emblem formula, an interesting unit addition, the balastician, and territorial battle is more important. However, things like the magic and weapon triangle are left out as are the rescue and move after action options. The graphics are somewhat charmless. Criticals are unspectacular and the physical fighting is dull. The magic animations are good, as are the maps and drawings. A decent soundtrack too. They should go for more charming graphics as opposed to realistic ones in the future, for the handheld games that is. As a normal game I'd give it a seven but as a Fire Emblem it only just deserves a five. If Intelligent Systems are going to re-release remakes of that calliber then they're going to have to do it for less than full price or with more than one remake included in the game.… Expand
  8. TeodorIkonomov
    Jan 27, 2009
    1
    The Best Game Ever

See all 41 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best DS Game of 2009
8
#8 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
5
#5 Most Shared DS Game of 2009