Image used with permission by copyright holderThe Nintendo Switch might be taking up the majority of your time as of late, but don’t put away your old 3DS just yet.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
arrives this May, and the game’s limited edition is too adorable to pass up.
Launching alongside the standard version of the game on May 19, the Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia limited edition comes packed with a hardcover artbook, soundtrack CD, and, most importantly, a cute pixel-art pin set featuring the characters Alm, Celica, and Marth — Marth has been seen in several past Fire Emblem games, including the original that was remade for the Nintendo DS as
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
.
The package also comes with reversible cover art meant to replicate the look of the game Fire Emblem Gaiden, which features the same story, characters, and basic gameplay mechanics of Shadows of Valentia.
Shadows of Valentia‘s structure bears some resemblance to the Game Boy Advance title
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
, as protagonists Alm and Celica control two separate armies and take part in “different quests.” The game introduces real-time, 3D movement in some areas alongside the turn-based strategy gameplay for which the series is known, and it also includes an “illusory hero” system — using up a bit of the heroes’ health, players can summon temporary allies to help them in tough encounters. Every single Amiibo Nintendo has released thus far can be used to summon additional friendly monsters, and the Fire Emblem Amiibo like Ike, Roy, and Robin can be used in-game as additional illusory heroes.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is just one of several Fire Emblem games that Nintendo is releasing within the next year.
Fire Emblem Warriors
will bring the series into the action genre on Switch and 3DS, and a Switch-exclusive traditional Fire Emblem game is also releasing in 2018.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia will hit
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
on May 19, with the limited edition retailing for $60.
Fire Emblem Engage gift guide: every character’s favorite gifts
Even though Fire Emblem Engage doesn't have as deep of a social system as Fire Emblem: Three Houses did, a bonding system still exists and is quite important. By getting to know, and becoming better friends, with the cast of characters, you can increase their individual Support Levels, which will eventually grant you unique scenes with those characters. This is also the only way to eventually romance a character. Gifts are a great way to farm some Support Levels, but only if you know what that character likes. Giving them something they don't can even reverse their Support Level, so make sure to consult this handy guide on the best gifts for each character in Fire Emblem Engage.
How to get and give gifts
You will be introduced to the concept of gifts through Pretty Pebbles, Spirit Gems, and Horse Manure. These demonstrate how some gifts raise Support Levels by one, two, or negative one respectively. Unfortunately, the option to purchase more effective and appropriate gifts won't appear until you unlock the Flea Market in the Somniel as part of the main story. Once it has opened, it will update its stock after each mission.
What gifts each character like
One of the most popular features of Fire Emblem: Three Houses was the relationship-building and romance system. Players were able to pick their favorite character, get to know them, eventually start a relationship, and then argue with people online about why their pick was best. Fire Emblem Engage doesn't have nearly as in-depth of a relationship or romance system as Three Houses, but it does still let you express your love for another character.
Here's everything you need to know about how romance works, who you can enter into a relationship with, and if there are any restrictions based on which gender you can choose to play as in Fire Emblem Engage.
How to romance characters
Fire Emblem Engage makes the wait for a Nintendo Switch 2 more tolerable
If you had asked me whether or not I was ready for an upgraded Nintendo Switch two months ago, my answer would have been an emphatic yes. I had just played Pokémon Scarlet and, like many people, was baffled by its poor technical performance. I began to wonder if Nintendo’s aging hardware had finally hit its limits, unable to meet developers’ growing ambitions. Perhaps it wasn’t just time for a Switch Pro, but a new console altogether.
That desire was a reactionary one. Two months after that Pokémon game's ugly launch, I find myself stunned by the Switch’s latest exclusive, Fire Emblem Engage. The tactical RPG is one of the console’s best-looking games to date. It’s a major step up from 2018’s Fire Emblem: Three Houses, with brighter colors that pop on my Switch OLED screen and silky smooth performance that makes it feel like a playable anime.
