A Comprehensive Review of Fire Emblem Heroes (as of July 22th, 2018)

*Edit: Okay, this getting a feature was way too quick. Wtf?

But thanks.*

I think it's no longer a secret that I have a love for Fire Emblem Heroes. I ed this Amino for a reason. But what do I think about the game as a whole? What exactly do I like or don't like? I complain about the game's luck aspect, but that's clearly one of a few things I genuinely see as a problem or just "meh".

Well, let's get into it.

Normally, I would have a few different categories to judge: story, characters, music, graphical presentation, and gameplay. However, the amount of new characters is drastically minimal in a pool of literally hundreds, so I'll be covering the main characters in the story section. Additionally, the same applies to the music aspect, as there only a few new tracks compared to amount of overall tracks used in the game, so while I'll still cover it, I will be a bit leniant in it.

Okay let's actually start.

1. Story and Characters

The story of Fire Emblem Heroes is very generic: the protagonists have to repel a nearby kingdom from invading with Heroes with your own Heroes, free the Heroes from their contracts with said kingdom, and defeat the leader of the kingdom. This later expands into the kingdoms of Nifl and Muspell where the story gets a bit more complex, especially now with the release of Book 2 Chapter 11 where it's revealed there may be a traitor. However, a large amount of Book 2 is a chase the macguffin tale where it fails because the antagonist has a rite that prevents his death.

Okay, while I know I'm probably being a bit harsh, I must it that mobile games are infamous for having average at best stories as they're usually a framing device for the gameplay, which isn't bad since they're intended to played for only minutes at a time. However, I still feel that it's quite weak (at this moment in time) for a Fire Emblem game, whether or not it's a mobile game.

Even the characters are a bit one dimensional: Alfonse is strong but skeptical, Sharena is lighthearted and wants to be friends with all Heroes, and Anna is Anna. Gunnthra wa a plot device despite being debatably a good character and Fjorm is okay, but little development happens. In fact, I can only defend the Antagonists of all things. Lavetainn, while strong and stone hearted, clearly has a limit. Laegjarn, while following Sutr's orders, cares deeply for her sister and soldiers. Even Sutr, who seems undefeatable and intimidating, actually fears Nifl and Askr and how close they were to defeating him were it not for the Rite of Flames. I enjoyed every moment in time that the antagonists are on screen, but it's sad to see little development for the Askrian Trio and the royal family of Nifl.

All in all, I don't mind the story and characters, and I do favor the antagonists (especially compared to the antagonists of Awakening and Fates), but it's overall weak and unwhelming.

2. Music

As I mentioned before, the amount of new music is pretty limited, but that doesn't mean I don't have quite a bit to say. For instance, I LOVE the music. The map music used for Muspell and Askr are amazing, and I think the battle music during the player phase is quite underrated. Perhaps it just doesn't get the chance for a proper listen since each exchange only lasts about 4 seconds at best. I recommend listening to it uninterrupted when you have the chance here. The music even varies in style quite a bit depending on the location the battle takes place, not to mention I really liked the seasonal map music. They're legitimately very catchy and I often find myself humming it.

I only have a few minor qualms about the music department. The first thing is that we need more tracks, particularly during the main story maps. Unless you fight Sutr or Loki, the amount of maps there are with the same music is absurd. If they could add a few more tracks depending on the situation, that would be awesome.

The second problem, which honestly really optional, is the transition between calm and storm music. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, Awakening and Fates introduced the idea of the map and battle sharing the same track, but the map music would be calmer and more atmospheric whereas the battle music was more intense. Currently in Heroes, they always use the "storm" track for the map, and the standard battle music. This change would make things awesome for me.

Overall, the music is great and while I do desire I few minor changes, nothing that I believe are necessary.

3. Graphical Presentation

This probably one of the game's strongest, but unfortunately most inconsistent aspect. While very few in number (there's literally only two), the animated cutscene for each story Book are quite well done, but nothing out there.

The map designs are a bit lacking, but I can't blame them since the game works on a 6 × 8 grid. There's not a lot they can work with, but they still work well and have plenty of variety, by some miracle.

The art done for the characters are overall very well done, and lot of them properly fit the character's personality. Each character has 4 different portraits: status screen, attacking, special trigger, and sustaining damage. The variety is incredible between each character too, but this isn't by accident, as many characters have different artists associated with them. While some aren't that obvious, some are, such as if you look at Lloyd, then look at Arthur. While some art looks a bit... off, none of them are downright offensive or awful.

Additionally, each character have type of "Chibi" Sprite used for the overworld that look so damn adorable. Some have their own unique poses, unique attack animations, or general finishing blows (like Legendary Lyn for example).

I love the overall art style of the game and each character, but I do understand if some people don't like some of art for certain characters. Some people don't like the art of Lloyd, or Cordelia unsettling. While I disagree, I can at least understand where they may be coming from.

4. Gameplay

Who, boi, there's way too much to talk about, but I'll try to summarize the jist of it all.

Fire Emblem fans will get their general tactical gameplay, but it will be watered down to accommodate for a smaller and generally less powerful system: the mobile phone. There's no luck or skill stats, evasion and critical hits are removed, and magic and strength are just a single stat: attack. Additionally, each character has a relegated weapon type such as the sword or axe and can't use any other. Each dragonstone unit also has a color associated with as well bows now, but colors bows are limited.

Each character often starts with two skills, a weapon, and a ive skill or special trigger skill. However, with skill inheritance, any character can have three main skills, a weapon, a ive skill, and a special trigger. Weapon refines allow a weapon to be powered up and grant bonus stats, and sacred seals can grant an additional skill, some that are often rare.

Each time you had out to battle, you can have up to 4 Heroes with you of your choosing, but in order to have new heroes, you need to summon them.

At its core, Fire Emblem Heroes is a Gacha game, where you bet in-game currency to gamble for a character you desire. Sometimes you land the jackpot, sometimes you don't, but you never know what you'll get unless you take the gamble.

Each character has their own weapon type, stat distribution, and skills they start out with, but it's up to the player to build them and bring out their full potential. Each character also has IVs (an anagram for Individual Values) where they a boon (+3 or +4 to the stat at level 40) and a bane (-3 or -4 to the stat at level 40) which may effect their overall performance. Sometimes a lot, sometimes minimally, sometimes not at all if you are lucky enough to land a neutral IV version of that character. With over 200 obtainable characters with their own strengths and weaknesses, it's more than likely you'll obtain a team of characters you really like.

Past this, the game acts like the overall Fire Emblem game that it is. Each character can move then perform an action (dance, sing, attack, assist skill, heal). Their attack can inflict an amount of damage based on their weapon advantage or disadvantage, overall attack power, and their opponent's defensive stats, sometimes performing consecutive attacks depending on their speed stat or skills. Heroes can also make use of defensive terrain.

While I'm not entirely happy about the formula being a bit watered down, the diversity of Heroes and the ever updating of the game makes the gameplay stay fresh and new maps can provide new challenges.

The only real issue I have is the whole gacha aspect of the game, and even then that's not that bad. While summons are sometimes pricey, the chances of summoning a 5 star hero is greater than most other gacha games, it offers minimal spending if you perform consecutive summons, and it offers plenty of opportunities for orbs. Their are a few issues I have with certain aspects of the summoning, but they aren't important enough to mention.

As an overall mobile gacha game, I do like it. The gameplay is short but effective, their is a lot of tactical strategy involved in more difficult maps, and while i do hate not getting a 5 star that I want, I do enjoy summoning new heroes in general, and what they have to offer.

Conclusion

From an objective standpoint, Fire Emblem Heroes as a game is simple, but effective, especially if you take into the series' history. While its story and main characters aren't that great, a lot of the gameplay and technical aspects of the game keep it going strong despite any major criticism I may have for it.

If you want a strong story with great world building and character development, you're looking at the wrong system. But if you want some nice fun with your favorite characters from across the franchise, with maybe a little bullshit luck here or there getting who you want, this is a great game to have your collection.

Don't let the gacha aspect of the game slow down your fun.

What do you guys think? I'm sure a lot of you disagree with me with some of this. Let me know, and I'll see ya next time.