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Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (JP) (known in-game as Fire Emblem (JP)) is the first game in the Fire Emblem series developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo.
It was first released on the Famicom (known internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System) on April 20, 1990. It takes place on the continent of Archanea.
It stars Marth, a character who later appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee. The Falchion weapon from this game acts as the Fire Emblem franchise's symbol in the Super Smash Bros. series. The game was rereleased on multiple systems in Japan including the Wii Virtual Console in 2009, the Nintendo 3DS virtual console in 2012 and the Wii U virtual console in 2014. The game was later released on the Nintendo Switch Online service exclusively to Japan in March 2019 before being released worldwide for the first time on the Nintendo eShop proper on December 4th 2020.
Gameplay[]
Fire Emblem was one of the earliest games in the turn-based strategy genre on home consoles. However, unlike other strategy games, Fire Emblem borrowed several elements from role-playing games such as Dragon Quest, and is among the first, if not the first game in the tactical role-playing genre. Later games in the series made numerous changes to the gameplay. The following is a list of gameplay differences that distinguish this game from its sequels:
- There are no colored tiles indicating a unit's movement range, and the player must move the cursor to see how far one of the characters can move.
- Characters can only hold four weapons and/or items at a time. Also, weapons/items cannot be traded between two units. The player can give a weapon or item to another unit if they are holding fewer than four weapons and items, but only one can be given at a time, and the giving unit will not be able to move until next turn.
- Weapon and item storage makes use of a tent (similar to the method used in Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade), and it costs ten gold to deposit one weapon/item, while withdrawing items costs nothing. Also, the player cannot purchase a weapon or item at a store and send it directly into storage, meaning that characters carrying full loads cannot make purchases. However, anything dropped by a defeated enemy can be sent into storage directly.
- Healing units (such as clerics) cannot gain experience from using staves. The only way they can earn experience is by being attacked by an enemy (even if the enemy misses).
- Pegasus knights become dragon knights when they promote. Ever since Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, pegasus knights and dragon knights have been completely different classes. This was reintroduced in The Sacred Stones as an alternate class change for Pegasus Knights.
- There is no weapon triangle, or rock-paper-scissors relationship between weapon classes. However, weapons still have their own traits. For example, most axes and lances are more powerful, but less accurate than swords.
- Many classes, such as armor knights, axemen, hunters, and thieves have no promotion. Marth also cannot be promoted.
- Castles only occupy one space, which means that the average boss can be surrounded and attacked by four different characters in a single turn.
Setting[]
The game takes place on the fictional continent of Archanea. The third game in the series, Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, also takes in Archanea. It was also supposed to be the name of an unlockable map in Super Smash Bros. Melee, but the map was taken out as one of the final changes made.
There are several nations:
- Archanea: Known as the Holy Kingdom, and shares the same name as the continent. It was founded by King Adrah after the a bloody conquest. The Fire Emblem is the kingdom's treasure.
- Altea: A kingdom of knights, founded by the Hero Anri. It is allied with Gra, who share the same ancestry. Marth hails from this kingdom.
- Gra: A kingdom that branched from Altea. After the death of Anri, some members of Altea's royal family left over inheritance issues and founded Gra.
- Talys: An island kingdom. Marth escapes here after his homeland of Altea is invaded by Dolhr troops.
- Aurelis: A kingdom located in the plains. It was founded by Marlon of Archanea, who was the younger brother, of Archaneas King Cartas.
- Grust: A militant kingdom, famed for its Sable Order squadron. It was founded by General Ordwin.
- Khadein: Known as the sanctuary of sorcery. It was founded by Archsage Gotoh.
- Macedon: An island kingdom, home to Pegasus Knights and Dragon Knights. It was founded by Iote.
- Dolhr: The kingdom of dragons, directly north of Macedon. It was ruled by the Shadow Dragon, Medeus. It is inhabited by Manakete.
- Pyrathi: A minor kingdom in the east, it is very xenophobic land which hates outsiders.
Plot[]
Marth is prince of Altea and a direct descendant of Anri, the warrior who slew the Shadow Dragon Medeus. However, after the kingdom of Dolhr attacks Archanea and Altea, Marth is forced to become an exile in the far island nation of Talys. His sister Elice is taken hostage after his father King Cornelius is killed battling the evil Dark Pontifex Gharnef. With the help of the Altean knight Jagen, the Talysian Princess Caeda, and others, Marth embarks on a quest to find the Divine Blade Falchion which was stolen by Gharnef after his father's death. Only then will he be able to confront the resurrected Medeus, and save the world from his wrath.
Translated from Japanese Wikipedia article using Nintendo of America naming conventions, including material after the DS remake.
100 years after the battle between the earth dragon king Medeus and the brave Anri, the suddenly resurrected Medeus makes continent of Archanea a battlefield. Altea, founded by Anri, was also conquered by the Dolhr Empire led by Medeus and its allied forces. Marth, the prince, escapes to Talys, an island country, with the help of his sister Elice, but the Dark Pontifex takes Elice hostage, who is on the side of the Dolhr Empire.
Two years later, Marth and the Archanean Leavue began to stand up to defeat the Dolhr Empire in the wake of the pirate attack of Talys Castle and to come to his beloved sister’s rescue.
Chapter Synopsis[]
The chapters listed in italics were cut from Book 1 of Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem.
Translated from Japanese Wikipedia article using official localized terminology as established by Nintendo of America, including material after the DS remake.
Chapter 1: Marth Embarks: Marth fled from the kingdom of Altea to the kingdom of Talys. While Marth and the Knights of Altea were taking refuge at the fort, Caeda, who came from Talys Castle on a Pegasus, pleaded for help, saying that the castle was about to be attacked by Galder pirates, and that Talys Castle was about to be overthrown. Marth, Caeda, and the Knights of Altea went to the castle together, and this battle was the beginning of a war against the Dolhr Empire and its allies. Before Marth embarks on his journey, King Mostyn tells him that it is important to seek allies and fight together.
Chapter 2: The Pirates of Galder: Marth and the Archanea are en route to Aurelis, and joining them include the mercenary Captain Ogma, a soldier from Talys. Along the way, they rout the pirates infesting the port of Galder.
Chapter 3: A Brush in the Teeth: At the request of the Galder village chief, the Archanean League marches to rescue Sister Lena, who was held hostage by the Samsooth Sires, before heading to Aurelis. At that time, Lena escapes with Julian, who betrayed the Samsooth Sires, and with that, the bandits (including Navarre) are hot on their heels.
Chapter 4: Battle in the Lea: The Archanean League enters the Kingdom of Aurelis. In order to liberate Aurelis, you (the player) must defeat the approaching cavalry and advance. Depending on how you progress through the game, you may recruit Marth’s best friend.
Chapter 5: Champions of Aurelis: With the silver sword entrusted by the village chief to Captain Hardin of Aurelis, Marth arrives at the castle town of Aurelis. However, with the Aurelian army stationed at the fort and the Archanean League approaching Princess Nyna, Dolhr reinforcements await.
Chapter 6: Fire Emblem: The Archanean League takes the civil battle to Aurelis Castle. After routing the enemy, Marth seeks an audience with Nyna, the princess of Archanea. Nyna entrusts to Marth the Fire Emblem, the crest of the champion and the crest of the Archanean royal family.
Chapter 7: Lefcandith Gauntlet: In Lefcandith, General Harmein and Minerva, the Princess of Macedon, lie in wait for the Archanean League, but Minerva, who is dissatisfied with the strategy, withdraws from battle with her Pegasus Knight squadron the Whitewing sisters. After defeating General Harmein, the strategist Malledus tells Marth the history of Manaketes and the legend of Anri, Marth’s ancestor.
Chapter 8: Port Warren: The Archanean League has arrived at the port town of Warren, but a large Grustian army is stationed around it. Challenge to escape from Warren with the guidance of mercenaries Caesar and Radd.
Chapter 9: The Pyrathi Dragon: The Archanean League has escaped from Warren. However, in the Kingdom of Pyrathi to the east, a Manakete known as Mannu of the fire dragon tribe awaits. After defeating Mannu, Catria of the Whitewings of Macedon shows up and asks Marth to rescue the second princess Maria, who was held hostage by the Dolhr army due to the rebellion planned by Minerva, the crown princess of Macedon.
Chapter 10: Princess Minerva: In order to rescue Maria, who is being held hostage, Marth and his companions head to Castle Deil. A female Wyvern Knight hears about the state of the Archanean League before the rescue. After they come to Maria’s rescue, the Wyvern Knight introduces herself as Minerva, the princess of Macedon, and joins the Archanean League alongside Maria to overthrow the Dolhr Empire and her brother Michalis, who is complicit in it. After defeating the enemy General Zharov, Princess Nyna asks Marth to seek out Linde, the daughter of Miloah, the Great Pontifex of Archanea. It is said that after Miloah was murdered by Gharnef, who is allied with Dolhr, Linde inherited the Aura Tome from Miloah.
Chapter 11: Knorda Market: Having arrived at the Kingdom of Archanea, Nyna’s homeland, the Archanean League marches to retake the royal castle. Depending on how you progressed through the game, you can also find the person requested by Nyna in the slave market in Knorda.
Chapter 12: The Ageless Palace: If you defeat Volzhin, the priest in Archanean Millennium Palace, you have reclaimed the kingdom, but enemies await near the imprisoned knights of Archanea. You have to fight while rescuing the knights of Archanea from the prison on the map. After routing the enemy, Nyna entrusts the shining bow Parthia, one of Archanea’s three sacred treasures, to Marth.
Chapter 13: The Wooden Cavalry: In front of the Kingdom of Archanea, a large group of ballistae known as the Grustian Wooden Cavalry blocks your path. If you defeat these, the enemy general Grigas will say that Marth will face the might of the Black Knight Camus. In addition, depending how the player advances through the game, if the characters recruited during the story of Chapter 12 persuade you, you can recruit Astram.
Chapter 14: Land of Sorrow: Two years ago, due to the betrayal of the Kingdom of Gra, which was once allied with the Kingdom of Altea, Cornelius, the king of Altea, was killed in battle, and the Falchion and even the Kingdom of Altea were lost. With such ties to the kingdom, Marth and the Archanean League challenge King Jiol to battle. After defeating Jiol, he searched for the Falchion, but it was nowhere to be found, so he marched to Khadein, the oasis of magic, which is home to the Dark Pontifex Gharnef, who is rumored to have taken the blade of light away. If you have two playable characters from the previous chapter in your party, two female characters can be recruited. In a village, a mysterious person appears and entrusts the powerful tome Thoron to be returned to the priest Boah, and says, "We will meet again," and leaves.
Chapter 15: An Oasis of Magic: The Archanean League heads to Khadein, the oasis of magic, but the mages, priests, and fliers struggle in the battle in the desert that impedes the way and slows down the movement of mounted units. Do not bother confronting the Dark Pontifex Gharnef in this chapter, as he is impervious due to the special property of the forbidden tome Imhullu. At end of this chapter, the White Sage Gotoh speaks to Marth using magic and shows him that the way to fetch a Starsphere and Lightsphere to create a tome called Starlight, a combustive tome that can negate the effects of Imhullu.
Chapter 16: The Battle for Altea: Two years after Marth fled from the Kingdom of Altea, it was finally time to return to his homeland. With the sad thoughts of his past in his heart, he begins to march to reclaim the royal castle from here. There are two characters who can be recruited, one in each village, but you will have to choose between them. Depending on the player’s actions throughout the game, there is a shapeshifter who can join Marth’s cause will also participate in the battle.
Chapter 17: Star and Savior: The Archanean League marches at Altea Castle. However, Marth’s mother (Liza) was murdered by the enemy general Morzas, and the Archanean League learns that Elice was captured by Gharnef. With profound sadness, Marth and the Archanean League struggle to recapture the royal castle. After defeating Morzas, the prince who returned triumphantly is dubbed "Our Star and Savior" by the Altean people.
Chapter 18: The Sable Order: In search of the Starsphere and Lightsphere in the Fane of Raman, Marth and the Archanean League arrive at Chiasmir, but the Sable Order of Knights on the Chiasmir Bridge stand in their way. Depending on how you progressed through the game, if you recruit two female characters, the last character related to those people will bring the sword Mercurius, one of the three sacred treasures of the Archanea, the royal family says that "only the chosen one can wield it.”
Chapter 19: Manakete Princess: A legion rushes into the Fane of Raman entering a treasury where the Starsphere and Lightsphere lie, et cetera, which are necessary to forge the tome Starlight. It is said that there is a goddess with unspeakable power in this sanctuary. After routing the enemies in the sanctuary, Nyna was the only surviving member of Archanean royalty, as she was saved by Camus the Sable, and when Medeus sent the elite guards into this, he forced Nyna flee to the Kingdom of Aurelis. He talks about what he can't hate and begs Marth to see him again. Depending on how you progressed through the game, if you let the character who said "I'm looking for someone" on the previous map go out and persuade Bantu, you can clear the chapter by redeeming instead of defeating the boss.
Chapter 20: Camus the Sable: Marth and Nyna convince Camus the Sable that "I don't want to fight with you", but since they fought in Dolhr, they start the battle without accepting the persuasion that they have a responsibility to exchange swords as a knight of Grust. After confronting Camus, Nyna knew the legend that the royal family was determined to lose their loved ones at the price of the revival when she entrusted the Fire Emblem, and told her that she had already given up.
Chapter 21: Clash in Macedon: The Altea army arrived at the Kingdom of Macedon. However, the Macedonian Dragon Knights stand in front of Marth at the border. After conquering the border, Marth received a telepathic message from Gotoh, and he was in the village north of Castle Macedon. Therefore, he learned that he brought a Starsphere and Lightsphere there, that the power to protect Ellce is is limited, and that Ellce is held hostage in the mysterious city of Thabes.
Chapter 22: A Knight-Filled Sky: Macedon is a mountainous region native to Wyverns. It was once a peaceful country, but Minerva's older brother, Prince Michalis, betrayed the opposition of the two princesses and allied himself with Dolhr. The Archanean League fights against the aerial and ground forces led by Michalis. After conquering Castle Macedon, the location of the mysterious city of Thabes, where Marth’s sister Elice is held hostage, is revealed.
Chapter 23: Dark Pontifex: Marth enters the Thabes Labyrinth to rescue his sister Elice, but the Pontifex Gharnef intercepts him and his army with four alter egos. After conquering the Thabes Labyrinth, they succeed in rescuing Elice. The reason why Elice survived the death of her mother Lisa was because Gharnef wanted to keep Elice's resurrection staff, Aum, in his possession. In order to obtain the last important item, the special weapon for Marth, Gharnef must be defeated, but depending on the how player progressed through the game, the game may be completed without destroying the real one among the four Gharnefs.
Chapter 24: The Dragonkin Realm: Marth finally inches close to the finish line of a long campaign. The lid of the last battle is open in Dolhr, where the earth dragon Medeus is found. In this chapter, there is a temple where you can use the resurrection staff Aum, but it only has the power to resurrect one character.
Final Chapter: Chosen by Fate: Split into 4 detachments, the Archanean League storms the gates of Medeus’s Dolhr Keep. Little do they know that Medeus has set a trap. The Archanean League fall into a predicament, but still they stand their ground and steeled themselves in the last struggle. If you ace this chapter, the playthrough of the game is finished, and an insert will occur in the epilogue as to whether or not Marth’s beloved Caeda survived the War of Shadows. The epilogue will be based on whether or not the other characters joined Marth’s cause and whether or not they survived the War of Shadows.
Characters[]
Playable[]
- Marth
- Caeda
- Jagen
- Cain
- Abel
- Draug
- Gordin
- Wrys
- Ogma
- Barst
- Bord
- Cord
- Castor
- Darros
- Julian
- Lena
- Navarre
- Merric
- Matthis
- Hardin
- Wolf
- Sedgar
- Roshea
- Vyland
- Wendell
- Rickard
- Bantu
- Caesar
- Radd
- Roger
- Jeorge
- Maria
- Minerva
- Linde
- Jake
- Midia
- Dolph
- Macellan
- Tomas
- Boah
- Beck
- Astram
- Palla
- Catria
- Arran
- Samson
- Xane
- Est
- Tiki
- Lorenz
- Elice
- Gotoh
Non-Playable[]
Antagonists[]
- Gazzak
- Gomer
- Hyman
- Bentheon
- Merach
- Emereus
- Harmein
- Kannival
- Mannu
- Zharov
- Khozen
- Volzhin
- Heimler
- Grigas
- Hollstadt
- Morzas
- Sternlin
- Orridyon
- Xemcel
- Jiol
- Camus
- Michalis
- Gharnef
- Medeus
List of Classes[]
| Job | Specialized Item | Upgraded Class |
|---|---|---|
| Lord | Sword | None |
| Cavalier | Sword, Lance | Paladin |
| Paladin | Sword, Lance | None |
| Knight | Sword, Lance | None |
| General | Sword, Lance | None |
| Pegasus Knight | Sword, Lance | Dracoknight |
| Dracoknight | Sword, Lance | None |
| Mercenary | Sword | Hero |
| Hero | Sword | None |
| Fighter | Axe | None |
| Pirate | Axe | None |
| Archer | Bow | Sniper |
| Sniper | Bow | |
| Hunter | Bow | None |
| Horseman | Bow | None |
| Ballistician | Catapaults | None |
| Thief | Sword, | None |
| Cleric | Staves | Bishop |
| Bishop | Tomes, Staves | Bishop |
| Freelancer | Swords | None |
Reception[]
According to Kaga, upon release Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light received extensive criticism from Japanese publications. Many of them noted that it was difficult to understand and had fairly poor graphics, awarding it low scores. In contrast, popular opinion was more positive: in a poll taken by Family Computer Magazine, the game scored 23.48 points out of 30.
According to Metacritic, the Nintendo Switch version received "mixed or average reviews", based on a weighted average score of 62 out of 100 from 29 critics. The website also stated that the game "understandably failed to impress modern critics."
Sequels/adaptations[]
The game would get a remake for the Super Famicom known as Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem, which also contains a new sequel to the original game (dubbed as Book Two, while the remake of the original game is known as Book One). A second remake named Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon was made for the Nintendo DS in 2008-2009. The remake is the first time that the original Fire Emblem game made its way to American and European shores. Apparently, Scott Pelland of Nintendo Power fame received the game in America when it was first released in Japan. He desperately wanted it to be released in North America, though his wish wasn't realised until the DS remake was released, which he covered in the magazine.
Legacy[]
The game's protagonist, Marth is playable in the Super Smash Bros. series, starting in Melee. Marth's inclusion in the overseas releases of Melee at Nintendo of America's insistence ultimately resulted in the Fire Emblem franchise gaining a foothold outside Japan.
External links[]
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light at Japanese Wikipedia
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light at GameFAQs
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light on RPGClassics Shrine
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light on Fire Emblem Wikia, a Fandom Wiki
- Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light on Fire Emblem Wiki, a member of the Nintendo Independent Wiki Alliance
| Fire Emblem series | |
|---|---|
| Console games | Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light • Gaiden • Mystery of the Emblem • Genealogy of the Holy War • BS Fire Emblem • Thracia 776 • Path of Radiance • Radiant Dawn • Three Houses • Engage |
| Handheld games | The Binding Blade • The Blazing Blade • The Sacred Stones • Shadow Dragon • New Mystery of the Emblem • Awakening Fates • Echoes: Shadows of Valentia |
| Spin-offs | Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE (Encore) • Heroes • Warriors • Warriors: Three Hopes • Super Smash Bros. |
| Related | Intelligent Systems • Shouzou Kaga • Yuka Tsujiyoko • Nintendo Wars • Project X Zone 2 • WarGroove • Dark Deity |