Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryū to Hikari no Ken

is the first game in the Fire Emblem Tactical role-playing game series developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. It was first released on the Famicom (known internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System) on November 20, 1990. It takes place on the continent of Archanea. It stars Marth, a character who later appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The Falchion weapon from this game acts as the Fire Emblem franchise's symbol in the Super Smash Bros. series. Shiida appeared in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a Sticker.

Gameplay

• 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), 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.
• This is the only Fire Emblem game in which the rapier can be bought in regular weapon shops.
• Healing units (such as clerics) cannot gain experience from using staffs. 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: Seisen no Keifu, 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

There are several nations:

• Archanea: Known as the Holy Kingdom, and shares the same name as the continent. It was founded by King Cartas after the first battle with the Earth Dragons. 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.
• Talis: An island kingdom. Marth escapes here after his homeland of Altea is invaded by Dolhr troops.
• Orleans: A kingdom located in the plains. It was founded by Cartas of Archanea, and was initially ruled by his younger brother, Marlon.
• Grunia: A militant kingdom, famed for its Black Knight squadron. It was founded by General Odin.
• Khadein: Known as the sanctuary of sorcery. It was founded by Archsage Gato.
• Macedonia: An island kingdom, home to Pegasus Knights and Dragon Knights. It was founded by Iote.
• Dolhr: The kingdom of dragons, directly north of Macedonia. It was ruled by the Shadow Dragon, Medeus. It is inhabited by the Manaketes.

Plot

Marth is prince of Altea and a direct descendant of Anri, the warrior who slew the shadow dragon Medeus. However, after an attack from the neighboring kingdom of Dolhr, Marth is forced to become an exile in the neighboring nation of Talis. His sister Ellis is taken hostage after his father is killed battling the evil priest Gharnef. With the help of the Altean knight Jeigan, the Talisian Princess Shiida, and others, Marth embarks on a quest to find the sacred sword known as Falchion and the Fire Emblem that will allow him to wield it. Only then will he be able to confront Gharnef and the resurrected Medeus, win the kingdom of Altea back, and rescue his sister.

Sequels/adaptations

Characters

External links

• Fire Emblem on MobyGames
• RPGClassics Shrine
• Fire Emblem Factory, Character Name Translations for Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragons and the Blade of Light

References