Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Reviews

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is ranked in the 91st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Recommended
May 18, 2017

A revival of a 1992 Famicom game that never made it out of Japan, there's more to Echoes than a mere history lesson.

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IGN
Top Critic
7.8 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

On the battlefield, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shades of Valentia is a delightful look into the simpler combat of Fire Emblem's past. Elsewhere, it carefully guides the series forward into new territory. There's not as much depth as I expect from this series, but whether I was exploring 3D forests, shrines, and caves in a series first, or learning first hand why Fire Emblem's early entries are considered a formidable challenge, it was usually good old-fashioned fun.

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May 26, 2017
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia - Easy Allies Review video thumbnail
Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
7 / 10
May 17, 2017

The perfect jumping on point for both new players and those wanting to fill in the gaps in Fire Emblem lore, although the game lacks the depth of more modern entries.

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May 16, 2017

Far from the quick-and-dirty update it might have been, Shadows of Valentia is no Awakening, but an enlightening and worthwhile history lesson.

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7 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Provides the challenge hardcore players seek, but the experience comes with its fair share of frustrations

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6.5 / 10.0
May 18, 2017

Shadows of Valentia commits to its dated systems, for better and worse

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GameSpot
Top Critic
9 / 10
May 16, 2017

Fire Emblem Echoes' combat and exploration work so well that you won't lament the absence of the series' recent dating-sim whims.

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Unscored
May 16, 2017

The combat, although robust, tends to frustrate and the story, although impeccable in presentation, doesn't quite feel as sweeping and romantic as previous titles on the 3DS.

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USgamer
Top Critic
May 16, 2017

I both love and hate this game. The bulk of the package is so good that it's tempting to forgive its unbalanced difficulty. But alas, the combat comprises the majority of the game, putting Shadows of Valentia's more obnoxious qualities front and center. It's worth checking out, but be ready to be immensely frustrated.

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7.5 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Fire Emblem Echoes could have been held back by its need to usher the second iteration back into the fold, but it still feels like a fresh new entry. It is weaker than the last few games, but those bars were set so high that I won't hold that against it.

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May 16, 2017

My one wish to Nintendo is that they either keep the Echoes sub-series going or consider applying some of these changes to new Fire Emblem games; they're really that good, and what's been concocted here truly deserves to be more than a series one-off. The charming, reliquian nature of the nature of the game may not appeal to everyone, but if you like Fire Emblem, strategy, and can appreciate gaming history, then there's absolutely zero reason not to pick this up.

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Hobby Consolas
Hobbyconsolas.com
Top Critic
93 / 100
May 16, 2017

Despite being a remake, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is one of the most outstanding games to come to Nintendo 3DS this year. Also it's one of the best deliveries of Fire Emblem thanks to inclusion of novelties as exploration in 3D and classic elements of the saga.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10
May 16, 2017

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia manages the remarkable trick of remaking one of the oldest entries in the series, and making it feel fresh. The major differences from the other 3DS games may take some getting used to, but long time fans will relish the return of some purity to the tactical action, while this is easily the best-told story the series has ever seen.

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Alex Donaldson
Top Critic
Unscored
May 19, 2017

More Fire Emblem you say? I won't argue.

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Unscored
May 31, 2017

Fire Emblem Echoes is a sparkling remake without much variety or strategy to scratch beneath the surface. Try it.

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8 / 10
May 16, 2017

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is a nice way of playing Fire Emblem Gaiden but it fails to achieve the quality of the latest games of the franchise.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

A game which is both old and new. And that's why it works so good even after all this years.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10.0
May 16, 2017

Put aside any misconceptions you have about strategy RPGs, Shadows of Valentia demands your time and will make you feel good for it.

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May 16, 2017

Built around a captivating story told from two sides, the usage of a world map together with the classic style battle system makes Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia yet another must play game for the franchise.

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