Post by SteveT on May 22, 2017 16:16:54 GMT
I picked up my copy on Friday and have already put a great deal of time into this one. I was wary, just because Gaiden has a reputation of being more RPG than strategy, plus being outdated, but I'm enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. After Fates, it's kind of relaxing to play a simpler SRPG. There are a lot fewer choices, both in terms of character builds and tactics. Normally, I'd say that's a bad thing, but hey, sometimes you just want to romp around some maps.
- Archers are actually useful because they can counter at melee and have extended range for archery.
- Mages feel more like RPG mages because they gain spells as they level and sacrifice HP to cast.
- Clerics are bonker because they can cast Nosferatu for free to self-heal.
- Dungeon crawling is more fun than I expected.
- Class diversity is at an all-time low. No playable axes so far, and the weapon triangle hadn't been invented yet.
- The story is looking better than the other two 3DS games and the characters feel realer and less schitcky. Alm and Celica are both really engaging lords, although I'm getting worried about some incoming incest.
- The "Class Warfare" pun is way more justified than usual. One of the major themes is nobility/peasant interactions.
- The split army approach is already way better handled than Radiant Dawn.
- The CD that came with the Limited Edition plays the Gaiden and Echoes tracks side-by-side. It's a real treat to listen to the Famicom chip-tunes right before the majestic orchestral remakes. I adore Alm's map theme. That said, I do miss Fate's musical conceit of keeping the same song in maps and battles, but ratcheting up the intensity for the battle version. The seamless transitions were amazing.
- The game is basically forcing me to use Pegasus Knights due having such a small cast, so I'll play along for now.
I don't think this game will end up in my list of favorite Fire Emblems. It basically feels like a prototype for Awakening, Conquest's gameplay is too good, and FE7, 8, and 9 all had better balance between tactical and RPG elements. But like I said, it's been a fun romp so far.
Anyone else playing?
- Archers are actually useful because they can counter at melee and have extended range for archery.
- Mages feel more like RPG mages because they gain spells as they level and sacrifice HP to cast.
- Clerics are bonker because they can cast Nosferatu for free to self-heal.
- Dungeon crawling is more fun than I expected.
- Class diversity is at an all-time low. No playable axes so far, and the weapon triangle hadn't been invented yet.
- The story is looking better than the other two 3DS games and the characters feel realer and less schitcky. Alm and Celica are both really engaging lords, although I'm getting worried about some incoming incest.
- The "Class Warfare" pun is way more justified than usual. One of the major themes is nobility/peasant interactions.
- The split army approach is already way better handled than Radiant Dawn.
- The CD that came with the Limited Edition plays the Gaiden and Echoes tracks side-by-side. It's a real treat to listen to the Famicom chip-tunes right before the majestic orchestral remakes. I adore Alm's map theme. That said, I do miss Fate's musical conceit of keeping the same song in maps and battles, but ratcheting up the intensity for the battle version. The seamless transitions were amazing.
- The game is basically forcing me to use Pegasus Knights due having such a small cast, so I'll play along for now.
I don't think this game will end up in my list of favorite Fire Emblems. It basically feels like a prototype for Awakening, Conquest's gameplay is too good, and FE7, 8, and 9 all had better balance between tactical and RPG elements. But like I said, it's been a fun romp so far.
Anyone else playing?
