Tactical role-playing games let you fight the way you wish you could in real life - in a rational and orderly manner. Instead of plotting your next move while dodging punches and trying to keep your face intact, these types of games enable you to evaluate the possible outcomes of each move and each countermove, thereby elevating your chances of emerging victorious when you strike.
Yet “Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn” still finds room to be difficult - almost unreasonably difficult at times.
This 50-hour game tells the story of warring nations in a fantasy medieval setting. It is divided into four parts, each of which approaches the narrative from a new starting point as countries battle and alliances are built and betrayed.
The game's story unfolds in lengthy FMV (full-motion video) and text cut scenes. The videos are fun to watch for the epic battle scenes they depict but they are far outnumbered by the dragging text interactions between still animated pictures of the characters.
The basic game play mechanic involves moving a character - or a party of characters - across a grid map. You can move characters into village buildings to obtain items or talk to townsfolk. You can also maneuver them next to enemies to attack them.
The latter action involves measuring HP (hit points) and damage points to strategically take down enemies without subjecting your character to damage. Long-range attacks, by which you can fire an arrow or cast a magic spell, are often advantageous because they guard you against retaliatory attacks.
The tactical element is appealing, and executed well in “Radiant Dawn.” With careful plotting, battles can be won any number of ways. The diversification of strengths within your party lends you many plans of attack.
But the height of strategic planning required to win all your battles without losing soldiers makes for a steep difficulty level in “Radiant Dawn.” And if one member of your party dies, the game is over. Without a devotion to - and affinity for - the tactical role-playing system, players may lose patience with the game.
The last-generation graphics are another source of frustration, and the absence of any Wii motion controls whatsoever is sure to win few new fans of the “Fire Emblem” series.
Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net.
If you play
Game: “Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn”
Score: 70 out of 100
Parental rating: E for everyone 10 and older
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Wii
Price: $49.99
Features: 1 player
Life span: 50 hours
The final boss: “Radiant Dawn's” deep tactical game play invites devoted fans of the “Fire Emblem” series and the genre itself, but few others will find the difficult strategy sessions fun.
This 50-hour game tells the story of warring nations in a fantasy medieval setting. It is divided into four parts, each of which approaches the narrative from a new starting point as countries battle and alliances are built and betrayed.
The game's story unfolds in lengthy FMV (full-motion video) and text cut scenes. The videos are fun to watch for the epic battle scenes they depict but they are far outnumbered by the dragging text interactions between still animated pictures of the characters.
The basic game play mechanic involves moving a character - or a party of characters - across a grid map. You can move characters into village buildings to obtain items or talk to townsfolk. You can also maneuver them next to enemies to attack them.
The latter action involves measuring HP (hit points) and damage points to strategically take down enemies without subjecting your character to damage. Long-range attacks, by which you can fire an arrow or cast a magic spell, are often advantageous because they guard you against retaliatory attacks.
The tactical element is appealing, and executed well in “Radiant Dawn.” With careful plotting, battles can be won any number of ways. The diversification of strengths within your party lends you many plans of attack.
But the height of strategic planning required to win all your battles without losing soldiers makes for a steep difficulty level in “Radiant Dawn.” And if one member of your party dies, the game is over. Without a devotion to - and affinity for - the tactical role-playing system, players may lose patience with the game.
The last-generation graphics are another source of frustration, and the absence of any Wii motion controls whatsoever is sure to win few new fans of the “Fire Emblem” series.
Staff writer David Wilcox reviews video games for The Citizen. He can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 245 or david.wilcox@lee.net.
If you play
Game: “Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn”
Score: 70 out of 100
Parental rating: E for everyone 10 and older
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: Wii
Price: $49.99
Features: 1 player
Life span: 50 hours
The final boss: “Radiant Dawn's” deep tactical game play invites devoted fans of the “Fire Emblem” series and the genre itself, but few others will find the difficult strategy sessions fun.
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