was the green light for Nintendo to finally go ahead with a localized release for Fire Emblem on GBA. Roy and Marth's popularity in Smash Bros. Melee added Roy and Marth in 2001, thus introducing a generation of English-speaking gamers to Fire Emblem. It remained virtually unknown in the West until Super Smash Bros. It was technically the seventh game in the series, Fire Emblem having gotten its start on the Famicom way back in 1990, but its hardcore tactical RPG gameplay and anime styling resulted in it being passed over for localization in North America. Known simply as "Fire Emblem" in North America, Blazing Blade was first released on GBA in 2003. And while it doesn't excel in any one category, it does have a little something for everyone. Its story isn't as memorable as Genealogy of the Holy War, and it's not as challenging as Thracia 776, but it strikes a balance between difficulty and accessibility that later entries have occasionally struggled to maintain. Its popularity in the West is mostly owed to the fact that, for many fans including myself, it was the first. This despite being up against some formidable competition, including the much-loved Mystery of the Emblem and Thracia 776. In one online poll, Blazing Blade was listed as the second most popular game in the series, trailing only the Super Famicom's Genealogy of the Holy War. Look through Youtube, and one of the videos features promo art reading in big block letters, "MY GIRL." When Fire Emblem Warriors came out last year, Lyndis received a full-blown showcase trailer.
It gave Fire Emblem a foothold in North America, becoming one of the standards against which all subsequent games in the series were compared. Now celebrating the 15th anniversary of its release in North America, Blazing Blade remains a series touchstone. At last count, Lyndis alone had no fewer than five variants, including a bridal version.
Unsurprisingly, many of these characters hail from Fire Emblem for GBA, or Blazing Blade as its known to hardcore fans.
It's a guilty pleasure, but also a chance to revisit some of my favorite characters from over the years, like Lyndis. I find myself playing a lot of Fire Emblem Heroes these days. Fire Emblem After 15 Years: Remembering the Beloved GBA Game That Brought Fire Emblem to America Fire Emblem After 15 Years: Remembering the Beloved GBA Game That Brought Fire Emblem to America