Although Nintendo brought its Fire Emblem series to the U.S., we've yet to experience the first chapter, but that'll change next year when the company releases Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon for the DS. This remixed version of the 18-year-old Famicom (NES to gamers in North America) adventure tells the story of Marth and his reasons for battling evil. With new graphics, audio and features, it's bound to be a hit with strategists looking for portable warfare.
Similar to the Advance Wars franchise, Shadow Dragon features turn-based combat where you position various units to fight the enemy. The goal is to not only level up your characters to maximize their potential, but using the maps to your advantage. For example, if enemies pass through a choke point one by one, it's a good idea to leave your army near the exit so they can pick them off. On the downside, you'll forever lose your defeated characters, so be sure to employ some wits before charging into battle.
Unlike the original game, everything is stylus controlled. There are also new battle animations, hand-drawn portraits of characters, four additional prologue chapters, six difficulty levels and a helpful tutorial. There's even a Wi-Fi multiplayer mode for two players, where they engage in chess-style confrontations where one move could mean victory or defeat. In addition, there's an armory where you can buy weapons, and you can share units with others by uploading them. Conversely, you can download someone else's beefed up soldiers to help you clear a particular area.
Considering all of this content and the graphical facelift, there's no doubt that Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon will find its audience. Look for it early 2009, and prepare to crush wannabe commanders online.
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