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This is something I've had on my mind for a while now. It's a constitutive element of basically every game in the series, but one I never see talked about. That's right: Chapter Titles. The name we give to... whatever's happening on the game screen for a given hour or so. Now, chapters tend to have both a numerical designation, alongside a title - and how we refer to them varies. For instance, the map in FE7 where you protect babby Zephiel is almost universally known as "Battle Before Dawn", rather than "26E/28H", based on its designations in Eliwood's and Hector's stories, respectively. Conversely, the map in FE6 where Roy faces a swarm of wyverns on his way to the Shrine of Seals is called "Chapter 21" (or, affectionately, "Wyvern Hell"), rather than its proper title, "The Binding Blade". Does this mean that "Battle Before Dawn" is a good chapter title, whereas "The Binding Blade" is a bad one? Maybe, but there are other factors at play - and of course, inherent subjectivity in what counts as a "good" or "bad" chapter title. For my part, I think I've grouped some trends that determine whether I love a chapter title, or thoroughly despise it. What are those trends? Well, let's dive in! I love it when a chapter title... 1. Has multiple interpretations. Take a look at Radiant Dawn's I-9, "One Survives". In this map, Micaiah is ambushed by General Jarod, but her life is saved when the Black Knight intervenes. The Black Knight, despite Jarod's protestations, survived the fall of Nados Castle during the Mad King's War, making him the only One of Daein's Four Riders to Survive. But... the chapter isn't really about that. While the goal is to defeat Jarod, Micaiah's death renders a Game Over condition. And given her frailty, and refusal to be Rescued, that presents the core challenge of the map - making sure that One unit Survives. There are quite a few chapter titles like this, particularly in Tellius. And rather than argue about which interpretation is "right" or "wrong", I'm a fan of the idea that multiple interpretations can be valid - and perhaps even intended. 2. Includes a pun. Yeah, I'm a sucker for puns, and Chapter 3 of Shadow Dragon is a great example. In that map, Marth is traveling through the treacherous Ghoul's Teeth, and he brushes up against several enemy forces - some led by Navarre, and the others by Hyman (don't laugh!). So of course, they titled the chapter "A Brush in the Teeth". Cheesy as all get-out, yeah, but it's nice for a laugh. And memorable, too, in the way that "Devil Mountain" (in the original Japanese), or "The Ghoul's Teeth" (in FE1's translation) may not be. 3. Sounds poetic. This one is kinda similar to the first, but more about the structure of the title itself. A great example is Chapter 11 of Path of Radiance, titled "Blood Runs Red". The wording of that is very quick and to-the-point, with three single-syllable words in a row. It's also one that can refer, potentially, to any chapter where two forces are fighting to the death. But I think it's particularly suited to this map, where the core dilemma arises when a group of Crimean citizens side with the invaders from Daein, to rid their town of the "sub-human" Ranulf. The Crimeans feel a blood-loyalty to other Beorc that overcomes any discomfort over the fact that said Beorc just displaced their government, and is currently committing atrocities. And thanks to this allegiance of blood, more blood is spilled that same day. I hate it when a chapter title... 1. Is just a character's name. Fates was undoubtedly the king of this, with such titles as "Leo" (BR 18), "Hinoka" (CQ 24), and "Anankos" (Rev Endgame). Naming a chapter after a certain character (typically, although not always, the boss), just feels... unbelievable lazy. Like, you couldn't even think up a title to give them, describing their relationship to the main character, or their function as a unit? Plus, it makes the chapter functionally impossible to refer to. When I talk about "Camilla", everyone is assuming I'm referring to the character, not the twenty-third chapter of Birthright. Likewise for looking the chapter up on external sources, such as the Wiki. It's boring, it's unhelpful, and I don't care for it one bit. 2. Misleads the player. So, the immediate case that springs to mind is chapter 29E/31H of FE7, also called "Sands of Time". Now, normally, I'd like this chapter title for sounding poetic. So, what's my issue with it? Well, just look at the map for this chapter. Notice anything missing from it? In fact, there's not a single grain of sand to be found amidst the entire map! It sounds like it's going to be a desert map (which it'd be a perfect fit for), but instead, it's another castle map. Now, the title is almost certainly referring to Athos' dialogue before the battle begins, where he relates his history with Nergal, in the desert city of Arcadia. But that narrative has essentially nothing to do with the map itself, which just happens because the Chad-Morph Denning shows up with a message from Lord Nergal. Just a frustrating name, in my opinion. 3. Is just a place name. I'm slightly more forgiving of this one, compared to naming just based on a character that's featured, but I'm still not going to pretend to be a fan of it. It feels similarly lazy. One such example is chapter 13 of Eirika's Route in Sacred Stones, titled "Hamill Canyon". This tells you that the map takes place in Hamill Canyon. And... that's it. It's not even the only "Hamill Canyon" in the game, because you can revisit the site for a skirmish battle with monsters, where the screen will flash the title... "Hamill Canyon". Again, it feels like they could've done something more with the actual chapter title, but just settled on a boring resolution. These don't cover all my thoughts and tastes on chapter titles, but they do cover the bases! So I am wondering - how do you, dear reader, evaluate chapter titles? Do you agree with my standards, or do you differ in what you consider? Any disagreements on the one's I've mentioned above? And what are your personal favorites (and least favorites) throughout the series? I'm sure there are dozens more I could bring up, but the hours draw short, and I must depart. So, thanks for reading, and let me know what you think in the comments below.

Curious to see what maps people hate the most. FE2: At the end of chapter 3 on Celica's side, when you fight Geyse. I didn't grind in my run and it was normal mode, so he was far more powerful than any of my units and the summoner kept creating fodder for me to have to blast through only to get hammered by him. So I had to make my own fodder with Jenny's Illusion to stall the summoner's skeletons and maybe whittle Geyse's health away while I dealt with all the other units without losing any of my own, including sending Catria to the summoner on an assassination mission: Admittedly it was a funny thing to do but the map mostly felt like a drag because of what I had to do. FE4: Chapter 3, if the game's going to have massive maps, at least don't make you have to backtrack so heavily to get to the next castle, especially if you have to do this twice. The only redeeming quality is the music that comes it, imo. FE6: I don't remember this game well enough to pick. FE7: Battle Before Dawn, protecting someone far from your starting point in fog of war is not a fun thing. FE8: Don't remember this game well enough to pick. FE11: Chapter 7, its reinforcements felt endless and at that stage they were readily capable of murdering some of my units, which forced half a dozen frustrating restarts. FE12: Chapter 12 is a nightmare with all those dragons and wyverns and reinforcements, can't stand it. FE13: Hated Chapter 22 for its layout and frequency of reinforcements.

Can anyone give me some advice on chapter 23 of binding blade the mages at the top of the chapter are making me soooooo frustrated it isnt even funny. My units that Ive been using and succeeding with are rutger shanna and celine roys pretty good at the moment to I thought pure water would help but it didnt the sleep mag and berserk are really the only problem.

How is it going, folks? I never found anyone who usually talks about their favorite levels in Awakening. And I was wandering which chapters did you guys particularly like. And which ones you absolutely loathed to oblivion for some reason or another. My favorites are: Ch. 10: Renewal (Great atmosphere and an amazing boss battle. Emotionally gripping and overall fantastic. Plus, it's a fan favorite as far as I know. The enemies get spared if you kill Mustafa too quick which adds to the sadness of that level. And that music!) Ch. 13: Of Sacred Blood (Plot twistville, right there. Some of you may have seen it coming but boy, did it deliver. A bit easy but otherwise great.) Ch. 23: Invisible Ties (Just like Of Sacred Blood in terms of story but with a little bit of more flavor added to the combat side.) Paralogue: A Man For Flowers (I liked Inigo as a character but I also found his level to be fun because it made me make use out of my assassins with the Pass skill, and using ranged units to pick off generals and such on other sides of the maze.) Least favorite chapters: Ch. 19: Conqueror (Man, the constant air reinforcements on that one were such a pain in the ass. And on top of that Walhart escapes your grasp to fight you in the next chapter. Not that his fight was hard, but I just wanted him to die ASAP.) Paralogue 10: Ambivalence (I like Severa as a character but her mission can be a bit of a pain. Rescue staves made it much more tolerable.) Chapter 21: Five Gemstones (Mire, mire, mire....how I despise thee so...) Paralogue 1: Sickle to Sword (I dread this part every time I start a new playthrough. Recruit stupid Donny but weaken those stupid enemies to a certain amount where they can be killed by Donny himself as his stats are garbage when you get him and Aptitude is the only reason you wanted him in the first place.) So what are your favorite and least favorite of the Awakening chapters? Share your thoughts. Oh, btw, this is an opinion. There's a lot of nice people here but I wanted to point it out anyway. PS: DLC Chapters can be listed too, why not? But I would like it if you list them on their own. I just couldn't bother thinking of my favorite downloadable chapter yet. So list yours if you want to. But I'm mostly curious about the raw game levels and your opinions on those.