Nintendo of America released new details regarding the storyline and gameplay for Wii's first Fire Emblem game, now subtitled Radiant Dawn.
Radiant Dawn begins three years after the GameCube Fire Emblem title Path of Radiance. The death of King Ashnard, who led his country of Daein to invade the neighboring land of Crimea and lost his life during the great war that ensued, has left Daein in a state of oppression under the war's victors.
Pictured: Ike from Path of Radiance as he appears in Radiant Dawn.
Radiant Dawn, like all Fire Emblem games before it, focuses on turn-based strategy. Players move their units (characters), of which there are dozens, around a battlefield like chess pieces. Each character is unique, belonging to one of many character classes and having a distinct personality. Consequently, allies who die in battle are gone for the remainder of the game barring a few rare exceptions. Many RPG conventions are also present, as players will visit towns, purchase items (important because most weapons eventually break), level-up their characters and so forth.
Pictured: A typical battlefield.
Radiant Dawn will incorporate a few new elements of strategy. For instance, untransformed laguz and healing units will be able to use a special ability to defend themselves when attacked. The game will also feature a terrain-height system that allows characters to move from low ground to high in order to gain an advantage over opponents.
Pictured: A fight between ground-based and flying axe-wielders.
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn is expected to be released in North America on November 5. The Wiire will have more on the game in the future.
