Fire Emblem

[MasterDias]

...so I don't further derail the "Hardest games" thread.

Hm, I would have expected it to be more like 6 and 7. In any case, I'm mainly doing the route for the sake of the storyline. This is one of the reasons I prefer Fire Emblem to Tactics - I feel as though I get significant plot development on a regular basis. Admittedly this is just Advance, but I felt similar even in what I played of the original.

Tactics (the original) was a bit slow in Chapter 1, but I think you would be pretty satisfied later on. Tactics Advance just didn't really have enough plot...

Eirika does have a pretty neat story route. It has a smoother transition than Ephraim's, probably because you have Eirika from the beginning and Ephraim doesn't come in until later.

In Fire Emblem, there have been at least two missions where I could only recruit a unit or save a village by trying for them from the very first round. No amount of reacting to the situation could have accomplished it, so I had to restart and have that in mind from the very beginning. That's a bit frustrating.

This is another thing I actually think 8 toned down from 6 or 7. Their are some pretty tricky maps that require near perfect timing if you want to get everything.
Those indoor maps where you have to work fast to get all of the treasure from the thieves tend require really good timing too.

One of the chapters I recently finished in Fire Emblem VI is a combo desert + fog of war map. Thus, anything that's not a Mage/Druid/Priest or flying unit gets a movement penalty, and horseback units are nearly useless. There are 3 Mamkutes/transforming dragons that are really difficult to kill. You are attacked by 2 Berserkers and 2 dozen Fighters from behind you halfway through the chapter, and you have to complete the chapter within 25 turns if you want to go to an optional chapter.
This map could be nasty, particularly since it really forces you to use a number of generally fragile units.

[uc pseudonym]

Currently through Chapter 18 of Sacred Stones. With the exception of two units who I don't have upgrade items for, my core group is all to a higher class and they're steamrolling enemies. Now I just have to decide whether I want to do more optional content or if this will be good enough to get to the end.

Tactics Advance just didn't really have enough plot...

I'm not sure how far I am (the best indicator is probably that I've destroyed three crystals). Right now I hardly feel like it has a plot at all.

As for the original, I probably won't get a chance to see.

Those indoor maps where you have to work fast to get all of the treasure from the thieves tend require really good timing too.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of thieves. Too often getting there before them has required sprinting across enemy territory (especially since some of the upgraded mage classes have enormous ranges). It works, but I really don't like using healing items.

One of the chapters I recently finished in Fire Emblem VI is a combo desert + fog of war map. Thus, anything that's not a Mage/Druid/Priest or flying unit gets a movement penalty, and horseback units are nearly useless. There are 3 Mamkutes/transforming dragons that are really difficult to kill. You are attacked by 2 Berserkers and 2 dozen Fighters from behind you halfway through the chapter, and you have to complete the chapter within 25 turns if you want to go to an optional chapter.
This map could be nasty, particularly since it really forces you to use a number of generally fragile units.

Sacred Stones has only had one desert map, which was a good thing because a lot of my main units are horses (even more, with Great Lord upgrades). That sounds like an ugly level.

[MasterDias]

Currently through Chapter 18 of Sacred Stones. With the exception of two units who I don't have upgrade items for, my core group is all to a higher class and they're steamrolling enemies. Now I just have to decide whether I want to do more optional content or if this will be good enough to get to the end.

Yeah, there's only a few chapters left past that point.

What units are you primarily using?
My main group was Eirika, Ephraim, Seth, Venessa, Tana, Neimi, Colm, Joshua, L'Archel, Artur, Lute, Amelia, Franz, Myrrh, Gilliam, Garcia...I think that was it. I might have missed one or two, but you really only need about a dozen. I attempted to match up units who could get the support conversations/boosts, although I'm not sure if I was always completely successful at this.

About upgrading items: Generally, there's a secret shop somewhere in the game that sells them. Although, they are fairly expensive.

Sacred Stones has only had one desert map, which was a good thing because a lot of my main units are horses (even more, with Great Lord upgrades). That sounds like an ugly level.

Was that the one with the two bosses at opposite ends? I think I remember that one pretty well.

[uc pseudonym]

My main group is mostly units I found effective early on (and I didn't particularly like the flying units, because their attacks weren't strong enough to reliably take out enemies in one combat). I did also try to match support characters, but only to some degree.

In no particular order: Eirika, Ephraim, Seth, Franz, Forde, Kyle, Neimi, Artur, Garcia, Ross, Myrrh, Moulder, Natasha, Saleh, Vanessa. Sometimes I use Joshua if I have room for an extra fighter, or Rennac/Colm to open extra chests.

About upgrading items: Generally, there's a secret shop somewhere in the game that sells them. Although, they are fairly expensive.

I've found one, at least. I had plenty of money and bought items that helped me get all my main units to an advanced class, but I don't have some of the rarer ones (for my lone archer and pirate).

Was that the one with the two bosses at opposite ends? I think I remember that one pretty well.

Yes it was. It wasn't difficult, it just took a while to move my units through all the sand in the middle.

[MasterDias]

My main group is mostly units I found effective early on (and I didn't particularly like the flying units, because their attacks weren't strong enough to reliably take out enemies in one combat). I did also try to match support characters, but only to some degree.

That is one of the drawbacks of Pegasus Knights, particularly in the early chapters. Their strength and defense is fairly weak, so it can be difficult to use them if their str doesn't grow. Wyvern Riders are more durable, but they usually come in pretty late. Of the GBA Fire Emblems, the Pegasus Knights in Fire Emblem 7 turned out the best statistically for me where they wound up at the end being pretty much like flying tanks.

In no particular order: Eirika, Ephraim, Seth, Franz, Forde, Kyle, Neimi, Artur, Garcia, Ross, Myrrh, Neimi, Moulder, Natasha, Saleh, Vanessa. Sometimes I use Joshua if I have room for an extra fighter, or Rennac/Colm to open extra chests.

You're a cavalry man, I see. I do like cavaliers, although I usually don't wind up with more than about two in my main group.

[uc pseudonym]

Well, I finished Sacred Stones. I still intend to go back and do Ephriam's route, but in the meantime I'm considering looking into some of the others that have been brought to the US. However, my schedule is getting busier, so I may spend any free gaming time on titles that have been waiting longer.

You're a cavalry man, I see. I do like cavaliers, although I usually don't wind up with more than about two in my main group.

Early on they had so much more mobility than the other units that I found them quite useful. Kind of irritating during the sand stage, and as I got other fast units this advantage decreased, but they worked pretty well.

[ich1990]

Well, I finished Sacred Stones. I still intend to go back and do Ephriam's route, but in the meantime I'm considering looking into some of the others that have been brought to the US. However, my schedule is getting busier, so I may spend any free gaming time on titles that have been waiting longer.

Aside from Sacred Stones the only other FE game that I have played is "Path of Radiance", so I am not necessarily qualified to recommend anything. However, I am currently on mission 13 in PoR and have found it to be significantly more engaging than SS. I do not know what kind of gaming systems or such you have available to you, but you might want to look into Path of Radiance. It has, I think, a more interesting and mature plot than SS.

Additionally, in PoR all random battles, training towers, and the world map are gone. I have found the lack of available experience points adds another layer of tactical complexity to the game. The only major downside to PoR, is that you are tethered to a non-portable console.

Early on they had so much more mobility than the other units that I found them quite useful. Kind of irritating during the sand stage, and as I got other fast units this advantage decreased, but they worked pretty well.

My core teams also seem to be composed mostly of flying or mounted units. My final group consisted of Erika, Ephraim, Seth, Tana, Amelia, Ross, Ewan, Selah, Duessel, Cormag, Gerik/Joshua, Artur and Syrene. I didn't find archers to be worth the trouble.

Tana, Ewan and Ross turned out be super-characters in my game. Those three alone counted for half of all the kills in later missions.

[ilikegir33]

I love Fire Emblem. By the way, we all know Marth from Smash Bros. Melee and Brawl, and he was in the first Fire Emblem for the Super Famicom, called "Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light". Well, there was a DS remake of that game simply called Shadow Dragons, and it's coming to the US on Presidents' Day. I want it!

[ich1990]

I have recently restarted playing the game "Battle for Wesnoth". It is free, open source, and quite well put together. It features many of the same game elements as Fire Emblem. If you like FE and want more permanent death, turn based, unit upgrading, strategy fun, check it out.

Heir to the Throne is a nice, long campaign to start out with. The "beginner" campaign is short, so there is not much point in leveling up your units. I should also note that the storylines tend to be incredibly weak.

http://www.wesnoth.org/

[Robin Firedrake]

"I fight for my friends." Since I wanted to be a part of this thread but I can't make epic posts...

[ADXC]

Well, I bought the DS version of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon yesterday, and I like it!

I can't wait to play more tomorrow.

So far I have played PoR and RD.

One draw back Ive seen so far in SD is that your horse-riding units can't use the rest of their mobility spaces after an attack or something else.

[animaniac]

i rented it for gamecube. i plan on getting radiant dawn.

[KagayakiWashi]

I'm loving Shadow Dragon for the DS. I haven't been playing it as consistently as I could, but I'm going through a chapter a day......I'm pretty obsessive over getting the treasures and keeping my people alive :-D

[ADXC]

Yeah, Ive been FE:SD binging over the three day trip. Im at chapter 10 now. Man this one is especially tough because every time I attempt someone somehow dies. I want to avoid as many deaths as possible, but it is hard at times(That enemy sniper isn't making things easier also!). I too am trying to get all the treasures but the stupid thieves are always stealing them!

Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow! Regardless of this stuff Im loving this game!

[ADXC]

I got to chapter 12 today.

@ Kaga- Thanks for the tip you gave me in chat, it saved Caeda from almost certain death while gaining a new character.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

Yesh! There's a topic for this!

Lets see, I've beaten all the ones I have, which include 6-11. 7 was definitely the best. I let my friend borrow 7, and he's hooked. That's most of what he's talked about the last 2 days. It's kinda funny.

By the way, is there any other rabid Erk fans out there?

[KagayakiWashi]

Erk is awesome, especially after you power him up.
On Shadow Dragon, I just finished chapter 23, and boy that was tough! Thankfully, I've managed to keep everyone alive!

[KagayakiWashi]

I finished Shadow Dragon. Excellent game. I'm glad I saved my Geosphere......really helped on the last stage :-D
If you haven't purchased this game yet, I recommend you all do so. Very good game.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

I've already beaten SD before now, it was kinda of hard though I was doing normal mode.