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[Amazeballs]

C'mon, man. You can't think of a single anime-styled game that's more "subdued" then this?

Is that even used?

She's a dancer. *shrug*

Pretty sure the origina; poster was referring to art style and not choice of profession. Although if you're familiar with her character, you'd know that Sylvia's outfit is very, very appropriate.

 

[Neiteio]

Just want to add, I -LOVE- the polygonal battles, and how you can speed up the camera to make the attacks look extra hard-hitting. So cool. The animations are excellent and they pack quite a bit of detail into the character models (even if they're missing feet).

This game also has a fantastic stereo 3D effect. The ravines look legitimately deep in one map, and on another map, birds occasionally fly across the sky that made me think fruit flies were buzzing around my system in real life, haha.

 

[Bleep]

Very subdued.

The design of the outfits in Genealogy of the Holy War is still quite straight forward in the context of fantasy, regardless of it being drawn in a standard Japanese art style of the time it was released. Plenty of fantasy characters have that style of gear and long hair. As far as I remember, none of the costumes are as crazy as something like this from Awakening:

I'm not saying this is a bad thing, I actually really like most of the character design in Awakening, especially "Marth". A lot of western fans of the series were introduced with the GBA and Gamecube games so they are more accustomed to the characters looking like this:

This art still retains a relevant Japanese art style of the time and has very straight forward costume design. Looking back on the way things were drawn might make them seem crazy today, but it wasn't necessarily the case at the time of release. I'm sure a lot of people would find pantless Marth crazy to look at today:

 

[TheRedSnifit]

Is that fan art? Looks like fan art.

Unfortunately, it's official.

 

[Draxal]

Is that fan art? Looks like fan art.

Its official, I thinks that's based on the card game they released back in the day.

 

[Deleted member 74300]

Another thing that got me was the fact we could have a whole bunch of people from older Fire Emblem games. I'm sure some people who never heard of Fire Emblem until Smash Bros. Melee thought that Marth and Roy were from the same game. Well now was your chance to have them fight together or against each other in the same game.

 

[Neiteio]

Yeah, the DLC support for this game was insane. So much content, and a lot of it was free!

 

[foxuzamaki]

God Roy's redesign is fucking badass.

 

[Draxal]

I can. Fire Emblems 6-10.

Fe 9-10 had catgirls.

 

[Hastati]

In part, this gorgeous bundle.

I was so happy that this model was released in the US that I screamed out loud!

I was in Japan as an exchange student when the game originally came out, and stayed up till 3AM clicking the preorder button online, and their site kept crashing and I wasn't able to buy the damn thing. Never expected it to get released in the US. Probably my favorite console ever next to the Xillia PS3 in terms of design.

 

[Mortemis]

It was my first FE game. All the word of mouth I heard of it made me pick it up. Especially how every gaf thread recommending 3ds games had a bunch of people recommending it. I'm a huge Advance Wars fan so I know IS can make good games, it was an easy choice.

Eh, I enjoyed it. The combat was nice, didn't mind nor care for waifus, but still a solid game.

Spoiler

I'd much rather have another advance wars game though.

It doesn't make me want to play past games tbh, but damn I don't know why but I am so hyped for FE x SMT.

 

[Deleted member 74300]

This art still retains a relevant Japanese art style of the time and has very straight forward costume design. Looking back on the way things were drawn might make them seem crazy today, but it wasn't necessarily the case at the time of release. I'm sure a lot of people would find pantless Marth crazy to look at today:

It's no more crazy than pantless Link.

 

[Neiteio]

I was so happy that this model was released in the US that I screamed out loud!

I was in Japan as an exchange student when the game originally came out, and stayed up till 3AM clicking the preorder button online, and their site kept crashing and I wasn't able to buy the damn thing. Never expected it to get released in the US. Probably my favorite console ever next to the Xillia PS3 in terms of design.

Congrats! It's an awesome-looking system. That shade of blue, while reused from the basic model, fits Fire Emblem perfectly. And that dragon motif is amazing.

 

[redcrayon]

It's a well-made strategy game that was actually marketed properly for a change, welcomed newbies and veterans alike with nods to both, and it's built on 25+ years of a great combat system.

Even though some of the characters were terrible, I liked being able to line up the worst of the anime trope squad and send them off on a suicide mission as soon as they arrived. Most of them only got to open their mouths once before Chrom and I told them to hand over their weapons and take the short walk towards the enemy.

Also, the leads were great, and Chrom's voice acting/ design helped. He actually looks and sounds like a competent leader rather than a teenage rookie. My only complaint was that 'my unit' was grossly overpowered compared to the others.

 

[SJS]

I only see map design as being the only huge sacrifice.

Fire Emblem was a tropey waifu game from the very first game on the NES.

Tropey? Yeah, it's always been that way. Waifu game? Fuck no.

Awakening, with its allowance for self-insertion and deliberate emphasis on obtaining marriages, is very unlike standard FE. The closest thing that comes to FE:A in these combined regards is FE4, and the sheer stratification and plotline emphasis for FE:A's marriages could almost make you forget that you could marry characters in that game.

and Chrom's voice acting/ design helped. He actually looks and sounds like a competent leader rather than a teenage rookie

I'll have to admit, this was one of the better aspects of the game.

 

[Bleep]

It's no more crazy than pantless Link.

We need a revival of pantless male heroes from Nintendo.

 

[CharminUltra]

I've always loved Fire Emblem because of the gameplay and despite the anime look and stories (not a fan of anime with very few exceptions, mainly anything Ghibli and Cowboy Bebop). Can't quite put it into words, but there was something about Awakening that made it one of my favorite in the series. Certainly not the story, nor the waifus, nor even the graphics (I turned the 3D battle animations off).

 

[ZeroX03]

In Australia we had a few months of good press coming from stateside. In a genre that wasnt common but everyone had fond memories of, especially from GBA. By the time the game dropped, everyone I knew with a 3DS was really hyped for it.

Not sure where all this waifu business is coming from. EDIT: unless you count Donnel, but I didn't know how sexy he was until after I started playing

 

[Amazeballs]

We need a revival of pantless male heroes from Nintendo.

Close enough.

 

[CorvoSol]

I kinda don't want to just say waifus, because I feel that's undercutting the game. The inheritance part of the game was more interesting than the marriage part to me, since you've been able to wed off characters in Fire Emblem for awhile now. It was like breeding Pokemon, except not ridiculously difficult for me to figure out like every fucking statistic thing in Pokemon is. The game's art style, while easily summarized as "anime" also caught my eye because it wasn't just generic. I'm kinda struggling with how best to explain the art style's allure other than that it just existed.

Add to that that I like SRPGs and enjoyed the other Fire Emblem I'd played (7), and the purchase was a no brainer at a time when the 3DS was kinda lacking games of its own. Add in word of mouth and an actual marketing push and I think it goes from there.

 

[Shengar]

Also, the leads were great, and Chrom's voice acting/ design helped. He actually looks and sounds like a competent leader rather than a teenage rookie. My only complaint was that 'my unit' was grossly overpowered compared to the others.

The Gary Stu/Mary Sue "My Unit" is the one who held responsible for the game terrible plot and lack of focus. Well, not the sole reason, but certainly a major factor into it.

 

[Omnii-chan]

I was surprised when my sister asked if I had a copy and could borrow it, she usually only likes Mario and Pokemon games on handhelds. She didn't know I had it either. I asked how she knew about the game and she said her friends told her.

Around the time it came out a workmate who also enjoys gaming told me he enjoyed the demo and bought it.

So from my experience; getting to play a demo version and being impressed and word of mouth helped. Also a prime example of why demo's are important, I might add.

 

[tanuki]

Persona 4 and Fire Emblem's success suggest to me that a Western localization of Love Plus would sell bucketloads.

 

[Draxal]

Tropey? Yeah, it's always been that way. Waifu game? Fuck no.

Awakening, with its allowance for self-insertion and deliberate emphasis on obtaining marriages, is very unlike standard FE. The closest thing that comes to FE:A in these combined regards is FE4, and the sheer stratification and plotline emphasis for FE:A's marriages could almost make you forget that you could marry characters in that game.

From the very first game, pretty much every female unit that joins (and there's a ton) is a model. Its always been waifu collection series.

The Gary Stu/Mary Sue "My Unit" is the one who held responsible for the game terrible plot and lack of focus. Well, not the sole reason, but certainly a major factor into it.

I also thought they intentionally kept the game overly simple as I think POR/RD got too complex. I also think you might see a more complex story on a console compared to a handheld, but I think they kept it simple for the pick up and play feature (see Advance Wars sans Days of Ruin).

That's Kozaki's art style for you. Sure his style might be anime-ish, but his coloring and attention to detail is what makes his art is quite fitting for FE. There are many good units design from him, though there are some that just pure stupid (paladin female sans Sully for instance). Though I don't know who to blame for that, him or the art director.

Pretty sure its the art director (toilet armor was a mandate from the art director).

 

[CorvoSol]

Lemme take just a moment to say that while I loved the game, and I didn't mind aspects of her character, I will forever hate Nowi's design and inclusion as a mother unit in the game. There's just no excuse for that kind of character.


Having said that, a lot of the other characters in the game were enjoyable even though they weren't particularly deep. For instance, I don't think there was much to Gregor, but the guy is one of my favorite's because he's a riot.

 

[OccamsBlender]

Thats the other thing, like this is a SRPG, which is a instant turn off to alot of people, not many SRPGs can claim the popularity this franchise has now.

Sad given the popularity of RTS. And to a slightly lesser extent, DotA and LoL.

Turn Based really does help make the game more strategic. I do prefer a more real-time-ish based turn selection method like FFT, Berwick, etc. FE's ally/enemy alternation seems a bit...dated by current standards.

I think that FE has more fans than people realize and they were just disappointed by the last few remakes.

That and difficulty options FTW.

 

[Neiteio]

Lemme take just a moment to say that while I loved the game, and I didn't mind aspects of her character, I will forever hate Nowi's design and inclusion as a mother unit in the game. There's just no excuse for that kind of character.


Having said that, a lot of the other characters in the game were enjoyable even though they weren't particularly deep. For instance, I don't think there was much to Gregor, but the guy is one of my favorite's because he's a riot.

I matched up Nowi and Gregor.

Still feel weird about it.

 

[foxuzamaki]

Lemme take just a moment to say that while I loved the game, and I didn't mind aspects of her character, I will forever hate Nowi's design and inclusion as a mother unit in the game. There's just no excuse for that kind of character.


Having said that, a lot of the other characters in the game were enjoyable even though they weren't particularly deep. For instance, I don't think there was much to Gregor, but the guy is one of my favorite's because he's a riot.

I can hear the footsteps of animegaf approahing, with their debates on both sides being prepared as we speak.

 

[FinalHeaven]

This was my first Fire Eblem game so I'm not really sure how well I can rate it. I will say I enjoyed the early to mid game a lot more than the late game. I thought the story early one was really well paced but as the game progressed it just sort of seemed to become less and less of an important point.

I did really enjoy the combat though.

 

[Shengar]

I kinda don't want to just say waifus, because I feel that's undercutting the game. The inheritance part of the game was more interesting than the marriage part to me, since you've been able to wed off characters in Fire Emblem for awhile now. It was like breeding Pokemon, except not ridiculously difficult for me to figure out like every fucking statistic thing in Pokemon is. The game's art style, while easily summarized as "anime" also caught my eye because it wasn't just generic. I'm kinda struggling with how best to explain the art style's allure other than that it just existed.

That's Kozaki's art style for you. Sure his style might be anime-ish, but his coloring and attention to detail is what makes his art is quite fitting for FE. There are many good units design from him, though there are some that just pure stupid (paladin female sans Sully for instance). Though I don't know who to blame for that, him or the art director.

 

[Reptars Revenge]

I would not have bought it without that demo. The demo was even addicting

 

[-MD-]

I only became interested in it after trying Path of Radiance a year or two ago, it was so good that I bought a 3DS for Awakening. I hadn't owned a handheld since 2004 up until that point.

Fire Emblem was something I'd always known about growing up but never gave the time of day, soon as I played one I was hooked.

 

[Neiteio]

Fire Emblem Awakening should've got a hardcover art book

 

[foxuzamaki]

I only became interested in it after trying Path of Radiance a year or two ago, it was so good that I bought a 3DS for Awakening. I hadn't owned a handheld since 2004 up until that point.

Fire Emblem was something I'd always known about growing up but never gave the time of day, soon as I played one I was hooked.

If you can, try to track down radiant dawn.

 

[Shengar]

Lemme take just a moment to say that while I loved the game, and I didn't mind aspects of her character, I will forever hate Nowi's design and inclusion as a mother unit in the game. There's just no excuse for that kind of character.


Having said that, a lot of the other characters in the game were enjoyable even though they weren't particularly deep. For instance, I don't think there was much to Gregor, but the guy is one of my favorite's because he's a riot.

Regardless of Nowi's costume which I found stupid, "young" manakete appeared as a child isn't something new. Tiki in earlier FE is at the same age as Nowi in FE and have appearance of the child. Though if they want to make her a parent unit, she should have older appearance (change in costume is suffice, personally).

Fire Emblem Awakening should've got a hardcover art book

Urgh, I don't know why the Japanese Artbook couldn't get a translation by Udon Book

 

[KHlover]

I matched up Nowi and Gregor.

Still feel weird about it.

NowiXHenry for me. The game makes it more than clear that it's the only acceptable pairing for both characters

 

[CorvoSol]

I matched up Nowi and Gregor.

Still feel weird about it.

I dump her with Ricken every single time because it's the only one that strikes me as even remotely appropriate.

I can hear the footsteps of animegaf approahing, with their debates on both sides being prepared as we speak.

Son I been to animeGAF. Actually, I was in animeGAF when this game came out. Lots of people talked about it, but I have no memory of anything about Nowi.

Besides, given recent events in AnimeGAF, I'd say defender #1 has been put in permanent time out.

That's Kozaki's art style for you. Sure his style might be anime-ish, but his coloring and attention to detail is what makes his art is quite fitting for FE. There are many good units design from him, though there are some that just pure stupid (paladin female sans Sully for instance). Though I don't know who to blame for that, him or the art director.

I think that's a big part of it. For whatever reason I really like things with vibrant colors and Awakening's colors really caught my eye.

Like, I really loved this image of the game and I think it was one of the first I saw:

And then they said I'd be able to have Lyn on my team and I was sold.

 

[foxuzamaki]

I feel the same about the artstyle.

 

[Neiteio]

NowiXHenry for me. The game makes it more than clear that it's the only acceptable pairing for both characters

Henry is a sick sadistic fuck, I kept him benched for the duration of the game

 

[Shengar]

I think that's a big part of it. For whatever reason I really like things with vibrant colors and Awakening's colors really caught my eye.

Like, I really loved this image of the game and I think it was one of the first I saw:



And then they said I'd be able to have Lyn on my team and I was sold.

Truth to be told, that artwork alone sold me on the game. Yeah Tharja is there, but the others also have that vibrant color that captivate me. Not to mention at that time I was crazily collecting various artwork from the internet so that push me even further. Safe to say that I wasn't regretting my decision.

 

[Stage On]

I think the casual mode really helped. I was always interested in Fire Emblem before this but wouldn't buy any of the games prior because the whole perma death thing was simply something that seemed like it would make the games too frustrating for my tastes.

The second they announced that you could turn Perma death off I was on board and ready to try my first but certainly not last Fire emblem

 

[CorvoSol]

In retrospect the funniest thing about that artwork is that Kellam is there, but his face is covered up.

 

[Biochet]

I had her marry Libra. Oh man, it was comedy gold.

I'm doing this right now lol. The interaction between these two is amazing.

 

[OnimaruXLR]

I dunno if Awakening was the first Fire Emblem to employ more... let's call it "nuanced difficulty" options, but it's definitely the first I stuck with for any great length of time as a result of that. For example, I didn't really totally grasp the entire RPS Matrix of units (Swords>Axes Lances>Swords Axes>Lances Wind magic>Flying units etc) until halfway my second play-through.

Perma-death to me is a real turnoff when we're talking about characters that are totally unique, both in terms of design/story and in terms of game abilities. I don't mind it in something like X-Com, where everyone is replaceable more or less, but if say Virion dies early on then you're pretty much out an archer and you have to do a bunch of annoying stuff to fill his role. Or if any of your female characters die, you're then screwed out of the chance to recruit their kid later.

There's a lot of other new stuff about Awakening that is great, but if it still played like the old games in terms of "unforgiving-ness" I probably wouldn't have stuck around

 

[Nanashrew]

Good marketing, good word of mouth, accessibility, good writing from the localization team, a variety of characters, good art style.

It was just a really good game that people fell in love with because they did everything right.

 

[KHlover]

Henry is a sick sadistic fuck, I kept him benched for the duration of the game

Well I accidently killed Tharja so it's not like I had much of a choice but to take Henry since I needed a Black Mage...anyways, his support dialogue with Nowi is golden and when you pair them up they hit like a steam train

CHOO CHOO MOTHERFUCKER

 

[fedexpeon]

There's a lot of other new stuff about Awakening that is great, but if it still played like the old games in terms of "unforgiving-ness" I probably wouldn't have stuck around

Yeah me too.
I am not a kid anymore, and don't have the time to restart if a unit is dead.
And I love the dual exp gain from partnering up as well.
They really streamline the series to make sure everyone gets to enjoy the game as a whole.

 

[PensivePen]

Good presentation and marketing, and a well written localization and good voice acting. Also letting people grind up super powerful characters and pair them together. Casual mode helped new people get interested in the game.

 

[Mortemis]

Lemme take just a moment to say that while I loved the game, and I didn't mind aspects of her character, I will forever hate Nowi's design and inclusion as a mother unit in the game. There's just no excuse for that kind of character.


Having said that, a lot of the other characters in the game were enjoyable even though they weren't particularly deep. For instance, I don't think there was much to Gregor, but the guy is one of my favorite's because he's a riot.

Nowi through me off so bad, had to take break when she first popped up. Tf was up with that.

I agree on your stance with the characters. I found only a few enjoyable though, and kinda forgot the rest.

 

[Gaiaknight]

marketing, word of mouth, and the fact that they made it accessible for those that never played a fire emblem game thanks to the casual mode.