Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

Back from the 90’s comes a classical RPG / turn–based strategy mix. You can expect hours and hours of epic battles in the best of “Sword & Sorcery” style. [Issue#174, Jan 2009]

An excellent DS debut and offers a solid introduction point to the series for new players. It refines and fine-tunes the gameplay to provide a largely enjoyable strategy adventure. The only major complaint is the game doesn't really bring anything new to the table, aside from changes made to properly utilize the DS hardware.

Series veterans will recognize the familiar play style of the previous installments and jump right into the story, as a tutorial helps newcomers learn the basics. Because of these changes, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is the gem of the series and a must play for DS owners.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon doesn't miss the target anywhere, but it doesn't exceed the expectations in many aspects, too. A good game and well recommended, but not a must-have if you're not a fan of the series.

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.

While it's nothing Fire Emblem fans wont have seen before, this is a hugely enjoyable tactical RPG.

Once this game goes into my DS, it'll be there until I've experienced every nuance. [Mar 2009, p.86]

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon doesn't offer a revolutionary experience, but it is a highly polished and well-balanced example of strategy gaming. Nintendo did a nice job making sure it kept the challenge the series is known for while at the same time providing a friendlier experience for newcomers.

The gameplay is great, the story is interesting, and the online functionality is superb.

While not revolutionary by today's standards, it is easy to understand why the original was groundbreaking in its day.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is an exceptional strategy title for the DS. It may be hard, but it has tremendous replay value and will keep you entertained for hours. Highly recommended.

War has never been so compact and accessible.

Naturally, a must for fans, but the gentle learning curve makes it a tactical fun-for-all. [Feb 2009, p.76]

Shadow Dragon boasts some of the most intense turn-based squabbling in existence. [Feb 2009, p.60]

Nintendo and Intelligent Systems succeeded in making the first Fire Emblem more casual, and is an excellent choice if you either found the previous games intimidating, or have never played one. Still, those looking for a hardcore strategy game will be sorely disappointed.

Another great game in the series.

Remake or not, this is the first time we've seen the original game in the series here in the US, and almost 20 years later it's still worth playing.

It shouldn’t have taken 19 years for Nintendo to dig up this Famicom gem.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a great entry in the series, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Whether you’re new to the series or genre or you’re a seasoned FE fan this is a great game. It adds just enough new material without making it too different.

It may not be an innovative title, but still a tactical and worthwhile RPG with excellent fights. [Feb 2009]

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.

The reincarnation of the original Fire Emblem isn’t the best in the series, but it certainly does enough to make it a worthy addition.

It hasn’t toppled the Sacred Stones from its berth as the best game in the series (or, if you’re a purist, Fire Emblem on the GBA), and it feels a bit like a missed opportunity to ally the game that started it all with some of the many incremental improvements that have been introduced since. Still, though, it is a Fire Emblem game, and for some of us, that’s enough.

Shadow Dragon is a very good Strategic RPG in which we'll be able to play the role of an imperial prince who has to save his world. Its a fair game, with good graphics and very much the same gameplay that made Fire Emblem famous. The multiplayer feature is still a work in progress, so perhaps next time.

Shadow Dragon will live long in a lot of DS slots - and probably even long enough to show the US gamers who's boss for a while in 2048 or whenever it comes out over there. Sorry guys.

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.

Fire Emblem:Shadow Dragon, despite its old age - gracefully disguised by the new aesthetics - is everything Fire Emblem always strove to be. An addicting game, where success truly rewards the player. It might not offer a very complex story and even leaves certain characters a blank slate, something that simply isn't the case with the more recent games, but everything else is right there. Essential to any fan, it's a great way to introduce someone to the genre.

It’s not the best title for newcomers (who should try Path of Radiance on Gamecube or Sacred Stones on GBA if they want an easier route into the series), but veterans of Fire Emblem, or strategy games in general, should at least consider this purchase.

An excellent real-time strategy game that will devour your hours just as quickly as its predecessors did on the Game Boy Advance.

This is the first chance Americans have gotten to see where this classic franchise got its start, and upon playing it, it’s easy to see how it became so beloved.

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.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is another quality addition to the series, but it doesn't feel as good as the latest installments because it lacks refinements made to the formula.

The turn-based tactical battles and permanent character death are as unforgiving as ever, and the story is banal as only mediocre heroic fantasy can be. Fans will love this for being a nicely updated piece of history; the rest of us will wonder why Nintendo is re-skinning this venerable franchise yet again.

All Nintendo fans will take pride in the fact that they can finally experience Marth’s adventure, and it’s a lengthy one that should keep Nintendo's "hardcore" gaming audience busy for quite a while.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon makes for an interesting introduction to the series, but it's going to feel a bit backward to anyone who has played the "older" games in the franchise.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon rejuvenates Marth's 18-year-old journey with tactical dexterity and finesse.

Despite its shortcomings, Shadow Dragon lives up to the franchise by offering deep characters, an incredibly diverse cast of characters, a lengthy and engaging campaign, challenging gameplay and for the first time, online multiplayer.

The beginning is a sensible place to start, but rest assured, it gets much, much better. [Feb 2009, p.91]

The pinnacle of the series’ handheld bloodline but also nothing that we haven’t really seen before. [Feb 2009, p.112]

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a must for all Fire Emblem collectors. Die-hard tactical fans might be a little bored with the old school nature of the game, and who can blame them.... given there are so many solid Fire Emblem games to pick from.