STACK #263 September 2026

GAMING FEATURE

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release Super Smash Bros. Melee , and they soon proved to be a hit worldwide. This led to Nintendo deciding to release Fire Emblem outside of Japan, with the series’ seventh title, Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade , reaching

DYK?

GENRE: RPG MULTIPLAYER: No

FORMAT:

The “Fire Emblem” of the title refers to a super

Western Game Boy Advance handhelds under the guise of simply Fire Emblem . Proving extremely

powerful element that’s usually represented by either a royal

weapon, crest, or shield, symbolising the strength of war and dragons.

popular, all subsequent titles – except for one, the Famicom remake Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the

Emblem on DS - have received worldwide releases. So much Fire Emblem ! Since that first outing back in 1990, there have been 17 mainline Fire Emblem games – three of which were remakes – as well as five spin-off titles that have released on Nintendo hardware. Of the latter, one of the most intriguing was for the Wii U, a collision of Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE . It later arrived on Switch as Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore , to many rave reviews. In 2017 we also had all the fun of the first of two crossovers with the Dynasty Warriors series, Fire Emblem Warriors . Weave of Fortune! Everything that fans love about the Fire Emblem series returns in the hot new adventure Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave for Nintendo Switch 2. Prepare to be hurled into the dazzling chaos of the Heroic Games, where victory means one wish and defeat means fading into legend. The Dagdan Empire has thrived under divine rule for centuries, and now warriors from every corner gather in the city of Dagsion to chase glory. Players guide one of four contenders – Cai, Dietrich, Theodora, or Leda - as they battle rivals, forge

For 36 years now, the Fire Emblem series of epic fantasy tactical RPGs has captivated players, serving their desire for enthralling strategic gaming. With Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave arriving this month, we take a quick look back at the much-loved franchise. Words Amy Flower Where it began…

Way back in 1990, the first Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light , was released in Japan for Nintendo’s Family Computer, or Famicom console (which we knew as the Nintendo Entertainment System). The game was a labour of love for a group of four likeminded developers, headed up by Shouzou Kaga, who came together in 1987 over their desire to create their own world, after having fallen heavily for Square’s Final Fantasy series. While that first game didn’t fare so well with reviewers, it did act as a kicking off point for what is now one of Nintendo’s most enduring franchises, and it also established several tactical RPG tropes that have become staples within the genre, including the oft infuriating “permadeath”. You’re gone! If you haven’t encountered the term “permadeath”, or indeed the game mechanic, it’s fairly self-explanatory in that once you’re dead, you’re gone from the game – permanent death.

The concept remained a staple of the Fire Emblem series right up until 2010’s twelfth entry, Fire Emblem: New Mystery of the Emblem on the Nintendo DS. From then on, a compromise was reached whereby players could choose between a “Classic” mode, which continued the permadeath tradition, or ‘Casual’ mode, where their fallen character would be resurrected and ready to fight again in the next battle. Go west! For more than a decade, the Fire Emblem series remained exclusive to its native Japan. In 2001, however, its popular characters Marth and Roy were included as fighters in the GameCube

alliances, and chase dreams, vengeance, or redemption. Between clashes, there’s training, recruiting, and exploring beyond the city walls, amassing the strength required to survive the brutal trials of the Games, and to shape a destiny that’s worthy of the gods.

• Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is out Sep 17

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SEPTEMBER 2026

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