‘Fire Emblem’ is ideal handheld game
“Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones”
•••• (out of four)
Nintendo for Game Boy Advance, $34.99
Rating: E (Everyone)
Nintendo’s Intelligent Systems division can always be depended on for an enjoyable experience. While hits like “Super Metroid,” “Paper Mario” and the brilliant “Advance Wars” are well known to U.S. gamers, its “Fire Emblem” franchise, long popular in Japan, is just starting to gain momentum here.
This game is the follow-up to 2003’s “Fire Emblem” for the GBA (though it’s not nearly as challenging). A tactical combat title, it puts you in the shoes of Eirika and Ephraim, heirs to the kingdom of Renais. The kingdom is in turmoil because a former ally got ornery and decided to invade. With small armies of knights, magicians and beasts, our heroes must rebuild Renais and find out what dark force is behind this mess.
The action takes place in chapters, each with a goal (like beating the boss). Units such as mounted knights, archers and swordsmen engage in one-on-one skirmishes. Success in battle depends on your utilization of the Weapon Triangle – a Paper, Rock, Scissors game of sorts in which swords beat axes, axes beat lances, lances beat swords.
“The Sacred Stones” is an ideal handheld game. If you’re a fan of the strategy genre, pick it up.
– Omari Gardner, Knight Ridder
“Pokemon Emerald”
••• (out of four)
Nintendo for
Game Boy Advance,
$39.99
Rating: E (Everyone)
“Pokemon Emerald” is a reviewer’s paradox. On the one hand, it offers absolutely nothing new to people who’ve played previous installments of the “Pokemon” series. On the other hand, there’s a reason why so many “Pokemon” games sell for GBA, and that’s because they’re darned good.
Not only is there a lot of strategy in terms of how you battle with one creature versus another, but the storyline and quests are well-paced to keep you intrigued.
“Emerald” is structured like “Pokemon Sapphire” and “Pokemon Ruby.” You wander the landscape, doing battle with other Pokemon trainers and wild Pokemon (to capture them for your cute-creature army).
In towns, there are gym leaders that are the best of the best, and if your little champions have leveled up sufficiently – and you know how to use them – you can battle their lieutenants and finally the leaders themselves for global Pokemon domination.
If you are new to the “Pokemon” series, this game, or any of the ones from last year, is an excellent place to start. If you’re a longtime fan, you’ll want to buy this new adventure just to see the new animations and the new creatures. But if you’re on the fence – well, there isn’t a lot to recommend this particular “Pokemon” over the others. So if you weren’t wowed by the first games, don’t bother with this one.
- Heather Newman, Knight Ridder