Fire Emblem Echoes: latest details and screenshots, footage, Famitsu preview

In a little over a month, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (a Nintendo 3DS remake of Fire Emblem Gaiden) will be released in Japan, and yet, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the game yet. But thanks to a preview from GameSpot, published on Friday, we now have more details about it.

In this game, you do not head from mission to mission like you usually would in a Fire Emblem game: there’s a world map that lets you chose what to do next. A quick reminder: you can progress through the story with Alm and Celica individually, and you’re free to swap between the two as you see fit.

Dungeons are one of the most iconic elements of Fire Emblem Gaiden, and in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, you get to explore them in full 3D with a third-person camera. Alongside the enemies, there’s also some treasure chests and destroyable objects (such as wooden barrels) to be found inside.

Regarding battles, GameSpot describe them as “mini missions”, though with the usual battle system mainline Fire Emblem games are known. The main difference is that the “maps” are smaller, but you still have several characters with you, and there’s still several enemies to battle simultaneously.

Just like in many other RPGs, you can attack enemies just before the battle begins, in order to get the first strike. Just be careful and make sure enemies do not take you by surprise, and get the first strike instead!

The developers also made some changes to the usual battle system, allowing Archers to counter-attack from a single tile away (just like the skill of a certain character in Fire Emblem Heroes). As for mages, they now expend a portion of their health in order to cast spells.

Some traditional elements from the Fire Emblem series also seem to be missing: weapon durability (though unconfirmed), no Pair Up and Tag Team systems, and no weapon triangle (though there are ways to get an advantage in battle).

Next, here’s several gameplay videos for the game (thanks Oscar for the heads up!)

Finally, here’s some screenshots:

But wait, there’s more! Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia will be featured in Famitsu magazine this week. The article will have details about some of the characters: Gray, Kliff, Robin, Effie (a new character, not the one from Fire Emblem Fates, and a friend of Alm’s), and Velcro (a new character, and the nephew of the King of Rigel).

Here’s the preview from Famitsu magazine:

The latest issue of Famitsu magazine will be released on Thursday in Japan (Wednesday in Europe and North America).

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (3DS) comes out on April 20th in Japan, and May 19th in Europe and North America.

Source: GameSpot / Famitsu