Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
2003’s Fire Emblem (or The Blazing Blade in Japan) for the Game Boy Advance was the first title that was officially localized for a western release. And that’s where I have to knock it. We’ve let our nostalgia-colored lenses obscure the fact that it’s just a decent game. Later entries would go on to massively improve the gameplay systems and give us more memorable characters. I completed Blazing Blade after playing the modern games, and it’s hard to get over how stubbornly linear the experience was. This game was difficult for reasons having to do with resource management rather than tactical acumen. Blazing Blade is a title that I seldom revisit.
