Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, the seventh installment in the Fire Emblem series, celebrates its 20th anniversary today. What makes this game unique is that it was the first title in the series to be released outside of Japan, with North America receiving it in November 2003, followed by Australia and Europe in February and July 2004, respectively.

Impact of Other Games

The success of other games by Intelligent System, such as Advance Wars and Super Smash Bros. Melee, played a significant role in bringing Fire Emblem to the West. The brawler featured two playable characters, Marth and Roy, who were from the Fire Emblem series.

Overview of the Game

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade is a prequel to The Binding Blade, and the story follows three main characters: Eliwood, Hector, and Lyndis. After the first ten chapters, which serve as a tutorial for the game, the player can choose to follow Eliwood or Hector on a quest to stop the sorcerer Nergal from summoning dragons to the continent of Elibe.

Gameplay Changes

While the gameplay in The Blazing Blade is similar to its predecessor, changes were made to make it more accessible to Western audiences. The game’s difficulty levels, sidequests, and the ability to use class change items from the menu were all added. However, permadeath is still present in the game.

Legacy of The Blazing Blade

Lyn, one of the lead characters in The Blazing Blade, remains a popular figure among Fire Emblem fans. She has appeared in various other games in the franchise, including Super Smash Bros. and Fire Emblem Awakening. The game’s units and characters have also made appearances in other titles, and it is highly regarded by fans of the series.

The game was re-released on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2014 and will be available on Nintendo Switch Online’s GBA service later this year. As Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade celebrates its 20th anniversary, it remains a beloved title among fans of the franchise.