Fire Emblem 2003

Is it still worth playing?

Intelligent Systems' 2003 turn based, grid based tactical role playing game for the Game Boy Advance, the first Fire Emblem localized for international audiences. You are an unseen tactician, with objectives such as defeating enemies, holding positions, capturing strongholds and rescuing characters. Units have classes, gain experience and promote at level 10, and the weapon triangle has axes beating lances, lances beating swords and swords beating axes. Every loss counts, since death is permanent and a fallen main character restarts the level, while a support system gives stat boosts. The first playthrough has two parts, with Hard Mode unlocked afterward. With early chapters that introduce each idea alongside the story, and losses that are permanent, every move still matters today.