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Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon DS
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Release Date: Feb 16, 2009
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon Image
Metascore
81 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 42 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.3 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 47 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: Fire Emblem returns to its roots with a total overhaul of an NES classic never before released in America. New features include touch-screen controls, multiple save options and easy-to-follow tutorial chapters that shed new light on Marth's story. New players can jump into the action, even if they've never played a Fire Emblem game before. Medeus, the king of the dragonkin, has been revived and is forming an alliance with a fearsome sorcerer named Gharnef. Together, they threaten to the throw the entire continent of Archanea back to an age of chaos and war. Now, it's up to young Prince Marth and his small band of loyal followers to rise up and rally all those left in the land to make one last desperate push to free Archanea from the tyranny of the Shadow Dragon. How to progress through the game: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a turn-based strategy game with a fantasy setting. Players alternate turns with opponents, moving their pieces (units) and attacking enemy units on the battlefield. There are dozens of units and different weapons and magic spells, each with its own strategic benefits-high-flying Pegasus knights move effortlessly over varied terrain, fast-moving mounted cavaliers can use swords and lances, unarmed curates use healing staves to mend the wounds of other units and so on. [Nintendo]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 42
  3. Negative: 0 out of 42
  1. Pocket Gamer UK
    90
    Fire Emblem's DS debut has been a long time coming but it's unquestionably worth the wait. Shadow Dragon provides astonishingly compulsive turn-based action.
  2. GameDaily
    90
    Series veterans will recognize the familiar play style of the previous installments and jump right into the story, as a tutorial helps newcomers learn the basics. Because of these changes, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is the gem of the series and a must play for DS owners.
  3. Gaming Target
    74
    Despite its shortcomings, Shadow Dragon lives up to the franchise by offering deep characters, an incredibly diverse cast of characters, a lengthy and engaging campaign, challenging gameplay and for the first time, online multiplayer.

See all 42 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 17
  3. Negative: 4 out of 17
  1. hondo
    10
    Amazing game, pivotal game elements of characters dying makes it truly feel like a war game, they don't just faint or some crap, if you let your guys die, they DIE, so suit them up with what you need, and play smart, or you'll lose your characters, which the game does a brilliant job of getting you attached to.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. Kirisoul
    6
    Make no mistake, this is a polished game. However, I hold Fire Emblem to a higher standard due to the quality of the other games, and this one fails compared to them. True this is a remake of a very old game, but nearly no attempt was made to flesh the story out or update the mechanics. Playing through it, I little attachment to my characters or the plot in general, which is simply told through a short chapter description before each mission. Fire Emblem isn't just a tactics game! There are far better TBS games out there! It's appeal has always been the RPG element, the compelling story, and lovable characters. Strip FE from this, and it becomes only a solid, but not outstanding tactical role playing game.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. FredJ
    1
    What have thye done to you Fire Emblem? As a remake of the first FE game, I expected a lot. I've been playing FE since it came out in the US and have gone out of my way to paly many of the Japanese only games like FE6. This, however, is an abomination. There are NO support conversations, NO character depth, NO sense of a Fire Emblem game. What made FE unique was the personalities of the characters, the bond you built with them that made you WANT to keep them alive. Take that away and you get discarable troops wish you merely use as bait. The beautiful 2D portraits are gone, replaced by clunky and ugly 3D. 3D combat cutscenes would have been nice, but they screwed that up too. Every class pretty much has the same attack, compared to the different animations of previous games. Long story short for a traditional FE fan this game sucks… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 17 User Reviews