War Games: The Next Turn

 This time . . . I had a fever.

Sick at home after months of going out of my way to stay healthy, I've picked up strategy games again.  Before that, I've finally cracked open one of the many box sets littering my room.

Fire Emblem: 30th Anniversary Edition

I've played the first-ever Fire Emblem game, Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, when it went up the Japanese Switch Online server.  Not having studied the language since college, I didn't get very far.  So when a 'physical' version of the game was announced for release stateside, I jumped on it.  Sure I could've just downloaded Fire Emblem on the eShop and kept everything in box, but the box has a dent on it so . . .

A rear view of the box.

The 30th Anniversary Edition comes packed with goodies, starting with an authentic game pak for the original Nintendo Entertainment System . . .

The back of the game box.

Which is really just a glass replica.  Also inside is a game sleeve, an instruction booklet, a download code for the game, and tucked under the game pak . . .

Is a poster resembling a cover of Nintendo Power magazine.  Remember magazines?  Printed on the other side are tips n' tricks in multiple languages.  You also get a printed overworld map and a list of character stats.

Finally you get the hardcover Legacy of Archanea, featuring artwork and concepts from the game.  It's shrink-wrapped and I'll come back to open it at a later time.

Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem (Super Famicom)

Released in 1994 for the Super Famicom (or the Japanese SNES), Mystery of the Emblem was the third game in the series, and the first of several games made for the system.  Rereleased on multiple platforms, MOTE was never localised though of course, fan translations are available.  By chance, I found this on Switch Online along with Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War.  So you know I jumped at the opportunity to play.

Sticking to the same grid-based system as past games, MOTE's story is split into 2 parts.  Following the plot of the original Fire Emblem, in Book 1 Prince Marth and his army battle the forces of the Dark Dragon Medeus to free Archanea, while in Book 2 Marth fights a former ally.

So of course my experience with the game is literally the same as it was with Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, which include making the same rookie mistakes.

At least the graphics have improved with the hardware.  I should've captured a video so you'd see how the wings on the pegasus flutter.


Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA)

After taking a hiatus from this game, I've just started playing again on my breaks at work.  I was stuck on Mission 30, where Green Earth's air force has to destroy 4 mega cannons and rescue Orange Star troops at the same time.  All while under attack from Black Hole.

When that got old I switched over to Mission 31, where Green Earth's navy must rout Black Hole's copters and fighters.  A battle of attrition, which is right up my alley.

This concludes my first post written from my new tablet/keyboard setup.  On the Gunpla front, my latest project is still ongoing.  And on my last visit to GameStop, I've acquired some goodies I might open sooner rather than later.  So please bear with me just a little longer, as I continue climbing to the Top of the Heap.  See you next time!