A burning flame or a dying ember?
It wasn’t until 2003 that western players first got a taste of the Fire Emblem series with the simply named Fire Emblem that launched on the Game Boy Advance. The title seemed to imply that it was the first release in the franchise, but it was in fact the seventh game in the series, while the previous six remained niche Japan-only exclusives. The true first Fire Emblem release was Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light way back on the Famicom in 1990, and though a well-done DS remake launched globally about twenty years later, that initial NES release didn’t receive any localization until now.
Indeed, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light is a bit of an odd duck in Nintendo’s lineup. It’s a fun reminder of the humble origins of this now-popular franchise and it’s a cool piece of Nintendo history, but the game itself has aged like milk. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light is a good indicator of how much the series’ famously tough tactics gameplay has evolved and been refined over the years, but it’s hard to play this release and not be discouraged by the rough edges and clunky gameplay.
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