Fire Emblem: Awakening - Video Game Review (Nintendo 3DS)

I got the new Fire Emblem game a little over a week ago (02/05/13).  I've been talking about it quite often since just hearing about its making alone (on Facebook), a lot more after it was announced to come to America (once again, on Facebook).  I've beat the game, and played all of the DLC content (so far), and it has a real positive outlook on me (not just because I am a Fire Emblem fan, but much more).  I've been talking a lot about it, but I have yet to explain the pro's and con's of this game.  So... uh, here we go!
 

Fire Emblem: Awakening is the 13th Fire Emblem game to date.  Unlike the past two games (Shadow Dragon and Mystery of the Emblem (Japan only)), this is not a remake, but a new game entirely.  Unlike most of the games, you get to create your own "avatar" (my unit), and get to play him/her in the game.  The choices for the unit is not as impressive as other different games, but it is still fun to work with.  There's 3 builds for each gender, each build has 5 faces to choose from, as well as 5 hair styles, 19 (or 20) different hair colors, and 3 different voice actors to choose from.  Afterwards, you give the unit a name, then a birthday, and what stat will benefit them, but they will also have a lacking stat to choose from.  The stat you choose for the assist/lack part will affect what their base stats will be, as well as their growth rates (growth rates affect how often stats will go up upon leveling up), and their maximum stats.  You won't be able to change your units class (cavalier, knight, myrmidon, archer, etc.), but the opportunity to do so will be presented as you continue the game (I will explain that later as I explain the game).  You start off as a tactician, a balanced unit who can use swords, as well as magic tomes.  After creating your "avatar", the game will begin.

Characters have their own personality and background history.  However, to learn more about it, you have to work up on the Support Conversations (similar to past Fire Emblem games).  I personally like Lon'que (he hasgynophobia, which is revealed in Support Conversations), Cordelia (Tiamo in Japanese, which I personally like better), etc.  I personally like one more, but revealing that name will be a spoiler, which I cannot do.  And there are a few returning characters from Shadow Dragon (Tiki, the Divine Dragon Child.  Yep, she's all grown up now).

The music is pretty darn good.  It's orchestrated, and some of the battle themes and such are great (my personal favorites are Nemesis/Mastermind and Sorrow).  It brings out the game and its intensity.
 

The graphics are pretty darn good too, despite of it being a hand held console.  The 3D models and annimation are pretty good (just wish that some of the critical animations would be just as good), and even the voice acting for some of the characters are not too bad (better than in the past, that's for sure).  Even the short video clips are good too!  Good animation and such!

They also returned some functions from previous Fire Emblem titles.  They brought back the explorable map function, which is before you start the next chapter, you can go around places you went to before and shop for items (or in some cases, merchants who bring additional goodies, or "risen" who you can fight to stock up on experience and leveling up units before tackling the next chapter).  Also when your unit(s) reach a certain level in their class, they gain a skill that they can use.  They can gain more skills to use as they change class, level up, etc.  They can benefit with the Second Seal to reach to different classes and gain the skills from them (I'll explain more about that later).  You can only have 5 skills equipped at a time, but you can always change them around before you go into battle.  In addition, they have the Support Function back, but only this time, there is no limit to how many times you can support.  Originally, for most Fire Emblem games, you could only support up to 5 times.  However, this time around, there is no limit.  You can reach an A rank with as many units as the characters have to support with (the avatar/my unit can support with ANYONE).  In addition, they brought back a function from the 4th Fire Emblem game - Geneology of the Holy War (Japan only) - Mawwage (Marriage).  A male and female unit can reach a S rank support with eachother to initiate a marriage with each other (the avatar/my unit can marry any opposite gender).  This is very beneficial, as this initiates sidequests to recruit their children from another time.  The children unit's stats are based on their father and mother's stats before going into the sidequest, so it is always suggested to train your father and mother unit before going into the sidequest. The child unit also gains a skill from the father and mother, so have the one skill you want them to have equipped beforehand.  Also, they can have stat caps that exceed their parent units, so chances are they will surpass them in time (if trained properly).

In addition to some old additions, they added two new ones: The Duel Mode and Pair Up Systems.  Duel Mode is when two units are side by side, they aid each other in battle.  Depending on their Support Rank (or if they even have one), it affects how often the Support Unit will attack after you attacked, or how often the support unit will shield any damage you would take completely.  The higher one's support rank is, the better chances for the Support Unit to attack or defend goes up.  The Pair Up System does almost what they Duel Mode System Does, but with an addition to two units combining and helping eachother.  It's like the Rescue Option, but much, much better!  Unlike the rescue option, which cuts your units Speed (affects how many times you can attack) and Skill (your hit percentage), the Pair Up system increases some of the Lead Unit's stats (depending on the Support Unit's class and their stats).

Now like previous Fire Emblem titles, a unit can promote to a promoted class (only by the use of a Master Seal), but they get two options instead of one (similar to Sacred Stones).  For example: A Myrmidon can promote to either a deadly Assassin, or a master Swordmaster.  A Mage to either a master of magic - a Sage, or a horse riding Dark Knight.  An Archer to a Sniper, or a horse riding Bow Knight.  And so forth.  However, some base class units don't get this option (a Tactitian can only promote to a Grandmaster, a Lord only to a Great Lord, etc.).  And there are some that can't promote, but their maximum level will be 30 instead of 20 (Manakate (dragon kin), villager, Lodestar, Dancer, etc.).

With the Master Seal, there's another seal called the "Second Seal".  This is what will be used to change your units class to a different one.  Once your unit is level 10 up to level 9 promoted, they can use it to change their class to a base class (this will revert them back to level 1, but with their stats almost completely unaffected (it will change depending on the class change, but the stats will remain good).  In addition, if they are level 10 promoted or higher, in addition to their base class options, they can also change to a promoted class.  However, most of the units will be limited to what class they can change to.  For example, Chrom (the main lord and main character of the game) can only change from a Lord to either an Archer or a Cavalier.  Once level 10 or higher Great Lord (promoted), his options will be - Paladin, Great Knight, Sniper, Bow Knight, Lord, Cavalier, or Archer).  However, the skills you can gain from this alone makes this all the better.  Now, your Avatar/My Unit and his/her child (Morgan) are an exception to all of this.  They can change to just about any regular class (males and females have certain classes specified to them).  They can't change to some classes though (Special Classes), no matter their gender (Villager, Dancer, Taguel, Manakete, Lodestar, Overlord, and Lord).  Morgan can be a Taguel or Manakete, but in order for that to be possible, your unit must be married to one.  The Second Seal gives you the opportunity to gain several skills for your unit to use in battle, as well as a variety of strategies to work on.

There's the addition of DLC involved as well.  Two have been released so far, and more will come as time goes by.  You have to pay for them ($2.50 for the first and second, and probably for most of them as well).  The first DLC allows you to be able to recruit Marth, the second one Roy.  In time, more will come out and you will be able to recruit more past units (as well as other goodies).  In addition, there's the Spotpass function, which allows you to recruit and fight more past Fire Emblem characters (Lyn, Eliwood, Hector, Ephraim, Eirika, Seth, etc.).  In addition, you will gain challenges for when you play against friends or such, as well as items and maps to unlock other characters that you could not get originally in the Awakening timeline.  However, aside from the units you recruit from the maps portion of the Spotpass system, the other past Fire Emblem characters (and DLC recruited characters) are not able to support.  Also, as you complete chapters, challenges, and other Spotpass/DLC content, you gain Renown, which allows you to gain items after a certain amount of Renown is obtained.  You can also record your Avatar's data onto the Spotpass system so that other people could recruit them and use them in their game.

And finally, unlike every Fire Emblem game made, after completion of the final chapter, and the credits end and jazz, you don't save the file to an "Epilogue", but instead, it leaves you off on the final chapter.  This means that you can still train your units, play the DLC that you get later, and play online with units you take your time on to train.

Now, I'll try explaining the pros and cons of the game:

Pros: The storyline is unique, and depending on who you are, it could be touching (it did to me); The support system; The marriage system; The skill system; A good amount of characters with an interesting background (given you support with plenty units); Creating your own unit; Good music; Gives you the opportunity to train your units and equip them to the best as the game gets tougher; Difficulty is managable.  Lunatic is a challenge, but not impossible (just gotta be a good strategist); The overview world map; Graphics.  The 3D models look great, and the animations do too, despite it being a handheld console; Duel Mode/Pair Up Systems; Changing Classes; Choosing a promoted class; DLC; and Spotpass.

Cons: Somewhat limited on customiztion on the Avatar unit; and the lack of feet on the character 3D models.

To be honest, the cons list is small, and for good reason too.  The game is VERY good (FANTASTIC).  If you are a Fire Emblem fan, this game is a must.  It is AMAZING!  If you are not one, I still suggest it.  If you are into Turn Based RPG games, this one is a must.  If you aren't, but haven't tried it yet... I suggest getting this game, or any other past Fire Emblem games.  Fire Emblem: Awakening has definitely put some of the BEST qualities from past games into this game, and put GREAT additions to the game.  Top that with a great storyline, and other great qualities (music, graphics, etc.), and you have a game that has reached my heart (and numerous other Fire Emblem fans) as my (and their) #1 favorite Fire Emblem game, and my personal FAVORITE game of all time!  Fire Emblem: Awakening has my rating of 10+/10.  I might sound a bit overboard on how much I like it, but this game has truly hit the spot in what I like about video games.