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VincentASM

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    Wanted (FE10)

    in Site Content

    Posted · Edited by VincentASM

    If anybody has any of the following information that they would like to submit to the site, please post here/PM me/e-mail me. Thanks ^^

    List

    • Transcript of the Epilogue, directly after Ike or
      Lehran's
      ending, right before it says "Fin".
    • The English name of the replacement boss in Part 3 Chapter 6
    • The English Part 4 chapter names
    • Ancient Language Conversations
    • Random staves information (details)
    • Dawn Awakens English lyrics

    Translation patches

    in General Fire Emblem

    Posted · Edited by Parrhesia

    List of patches

    NES / SNES translation thread

    Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi (Sword of Seals)

    Project page

    Fire Emblem: Shin Monshou no Nazo (Heroes of Light and Shadow)

    Project page

    Patching instructions

    Soft-patching

    This is usually the easiest way of patching. Effects aren't permanent on the ROM.

    Firstly your emulator must support this feature. Most good emulators support this, although you may need to enable it from a configurations menu.

    Place your patch file in the same folder/directory as your ROM file.

    Rename your patch so that it has the same names as the ROM file, barring filetype suffix, eg. the patch is FE4.ips and the ROM is FE4.smc. (If the filetype suffix isn't displayed on your computer, don't add it!)

    Then just load the game, from your emulator, as per normal.

    Hard-patching

    Some people have problems with soft-patching or their emulator doesn't support it. In this case, you'll want to use this method.

    Effects are permanent on the ROM, so you may want to keep a clean (un-patched) copy of the ROM, just in case.

    You will require an external program that specialises in patching files, such as LunarIPS or IPSWin. Download one of these.

    Run the program and then follow the instructions to patch the file. It should be pretty straightforward to do.

    Then just load the game, from your emulator, as per normal.

    Note on extracting files

    Some patches may be in a compressed zip, rar or 7z file.

    To extract the actual patch file, you will need Winzip (zip files), WinRAR (zip and rar files), 7-Zip (all three files) or Powerarchiver (all compressed files o__o). These programs should be easily found online.

    Patching troubles?

    If you're having troubles with patching, feel free to ask in this topic. Make sure you state what problem you're having in as much detail as possible, so that we can help you quicker.

    Bad example:

    "Help, the game won't patch!"

    Good example:

    "Help, I tried patching the game, but when I load the game I get a black screen. I tried the game without the patch and it works fine."

    Troubles with patching SNES titles

    The step that seems to trip most would-be-patchers is whether your SNES ROM has a header or not. You can check whether your ROM has a header by using a hex editor or certain ROM utilities like SNESTool. Basically, you're looking for a large area of empty space near the very beginning of the ROM. If you need to add or remove a header, you can try using SNESTool.

    ~Troubles with FE5: Thracia 776~

    This information likely no longer applies to the current Lil' Manster patch.

    Most people seem to have troubles with patching this game for various reasons. To begin with, if you're experiencing any graphical issues, such as the map tiles being all black, this is likely the fault of your emulator. Obviously, you should try using another emulator.

    Next, there are three versions of the translation patch, which one should you use? Well, you'll probably want to figure out which version of Thracia 776 you have - either the "NP" or "ROM" version. You can find this information from the site where you downloaded the ROM or maybe your ROM has it labelled on their name. Some emulators also display the ROM's codename when loading it. To be honest, I don't know if it's really that important to figure out which version you have.

    Finally, check the section above on SNES headers. If your Thracia 776 ROM has a header, you can try the HIROM version of the patch. Otherwise, remove the header and apply either the NP or ROM version of the patch.

    Forums Skin

    in Announcements

    Posted

    I think it looks slightly better anyway, but I can't quite remember XD

    However, I do think a mixture of green and white would be better, as opposed to just green.

    Possibly something more along the lines of the attached image : o

    post-2-1199831418_thumb.png

    What is currently known

    in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon

    Posted · Edited by VincentASM

    What it is

    A DS remake of the very first Fire Emblem game, Dark Dragon and Sword of Light.

    Release dates

    Japan: 7th August 2008

    Europe: 5th December 2008

    North America: 16th February 2009

    Official sites

    Link here (Japanese)

    Link here (European)

    Features

    • Touch screen control: Units can be moved on the battle map (you can choose to use the buttons as well).
    • Wi-Fi and wireless play: Players can battle against each other on multiplayer-exclusive battle maps, with 5-character parties.
    • Number of players: 1 (main campaign), 2 (Wireless/Wi-Fi)
    • Addition of Prologue and Sidestory chapters
    • Reclassing: Ability to freely swap character classes, within limits
    • One-time permanent in-chapter saves available
    • Online shop: Buy rare items online using the in-game currency
    • Loan units: Loan/lease units from/to other players. Units aren't lost when sent to another player.

    (More information can be found on the main site)

    Forums Skin

    in Announcements

    Posted

    Possibly just a little too green : o

    How about trying colours 184, 232, 192 (dark), 216, 255, 224 (medium) and 239, 255, 240 (light). I think those were similar to the old configuration.

    FE1&2 introduction

    in Site Content

    Posted · Edited by VincentASM

    Note: A slightly more updated version can be found here.

    These were also submitted to affiliate, Fire Emblem Blog.

    The First Fire Emblem

    The game in question isn’t the Fire Emblem game that stars Eliwood, Lyn and Hector, which is actually the seventh game in the series and known as Rekka no Ken (literally “Blazing Sword”) in Japan.

    In fact, I am referring to Fire Emblem: Ankokuryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi (literally “Dark Dragon and Sword of Light”), which was released in 20 April 1990, in Japan, for the Famicom (the Japanese NES). The game was the first (if not, at least one of the first) Strategy RPG, worldwide, inspiring many other games of the same genre. The game, however, wasn’t released outside of Japan, so many Western fans did not know about its existence.

    FE1-2.png

    (Marth finishes off a boss)

    The game is set in the continent of Akaneia, home to several nations. Hundreds of years ago Akaneia was terrorised by the Dark Dragon, Mediuth. A youth from Aritia, Anri, slayed Mediuth and brought peace to the lands. However, hundreds of years later, Mediuth mysteriously returns and Akaneia is attacked by Mediuth’s new Durhua Empire. Marth, the hero of the game (and who some fans may recognise as one of the fighters from Super Smash Bros. Melee) loses his homeland of Aritia to the Empire. Years later, Marth decides it’s time to fight back and rallies an army to defeat Mediuth.

    [Note: Some of the names that were used were taken from Fire Emblem games and sources, as opposed to from Super Smash Bros. Melee. For example Akaneia instead of Akanea, Aritia instead of Altea, Durhua instead of Dolua, Mediuth instead of Medeus.]

    FE1-4.png

    (Kain, the first “Red Knight”)

    Many fans were won over by the game’s marriage of Strategy and RPG elements, providing a deep story and immersive tactical gameplay from both genres. The cast of characters was last and filled with unique and memorable characters, although their personalities and involvement in the story were very basic. However, the characters would be more fleshed out in later installments of the series.

    Naturally, the graphics are now relatively basic and the general gameplay is slower and less stream-lined. However most of the gameplay features in this game should be familiar to long-time or recent fans, although many features aren’t quite as polished. For example, you could still move units to attack, heal, talk to recruit characters and etc. Buildings such as Armouries, Vendors and Arenas were also present. Later on, you can also choose a roster of units to participate in chapters.

    FE1-1.png

    (Sortie screen)

    Despite the familiarity, there are some notable differences.

    The weapon system was distinctively different, although the type of usable weapons should be familiar (eg. Iron Sword, Silver Sword, Killing Edge). Weapons were not grouped by Rank (eg. E to A), but by a number called Weapon Level. Each character had a single Weapon Level stat, which determined what level of weapons they could use. The Weapon Triangle also did not exist at this point.

    Most of the classes in this game should be familiar as well, including staple classes such as Cavaliers, Mages and Pegasus Knights. However, not all the classes could promote (or class-change). Lords, Fighters, Armour Knights and Hunters were not able to promote initially, despite the latter two having obvious promotion classes. Pegasus Knights also promoted to Wyvern Riders (called Dragon Knight in the Japanese games), and it wasn’t until later that the two classes had their seperate class branches.

    FE1-3.png

    (Sheeda about to recruit Navarre)

    The next difference is probably the largest thing that I’m glad was removed. That is, healers (such as Priests) could not gain experience from using their staves. Instead, the only way for healers to gain experience and level up was to get attacked by enemies. Actually, it wasn’t extremely difficult to level them up, since they got around 25 experience each time. However it can be a headache for players that like to keep their healers away from danger.

    Overall the game is a quality Strategy RPG and one that was well ahead of its time. These days it does seem rather outdated, but it can still be a fun game to play. However, the existence of the far superior remake (Book 1 of Mystery of the Emblem) does make the game slightly redundant to play. For those still keen, this is still the original Fire Emblem and does have some extra features over the remake, such as slightly more chapters and characters.

    A sidestory to Fire Emblem

    The second in the series of Fire Emblem articles aiming to raise awareness of the older Fire Emblem games. Not unexpectedly, this article is about the second Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem Gaiden. This was a side story to the original game (gaiden means side story in Japanese), and it was released in 14th March 1992, in Japan, for the Famicom (the Japanese NES).

    Some fans refer to this game as the “black sheep” of the Fire Emblem series, just as Link’s Adventure is to The Legend of Zelda series or Super Mario Bros. 2 (in the West) is to the Super Mario series. This is because, although the core gameplay and ideas are similar, many elements of the gameplay are vastly different to the first and later games in the series. However, many features of this game were re-used in TearRing Saga (a strategy RPG created by the original creator of Fire Emblem) and, later, in Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones.

    FE2_3.png

    (Arum fighting a Thief)

    The game’s focus moves away from Akaneia, the continent of the first game, to the nearby continent of Barensia. Long ago, Barensia was ruled by two sibling gods, Doma and Mila. However, due to disputes between the followers of the two gods, Barensia became divided into two halves- the northern kingdom of Rigel and the southern kingdom of Sofia. A period of long-lasting peace is broken when Rigel suddenly invades Sofia. Arum, a youth from Ram village, raises a liberation army to repel the Rigel invaders. At the same time Cellica, a priestess of the goddess Mila, journeys to determine why Mila’s influence on the world is fading. Eventually Arum and Cellica join forces to stop the evil at the heart of Rigel.

    Initially the game doesn’t look too different from the first game, especially graphics-wise. Many of the battle sprites and map sprites were re-used, and the design of the menus are practically identical, as are the design of the character portraits. The most notable difference is the presence of the world map, where players can choose which location to visit (just like in The Sacred Stones). However, as soon as you play the game, the differences become more apparent.

    FE2_2.png

    (The world map)

    The game itself is split into five chapters, each containing multiple battle scenarios. In the first chapter, the player controls Arum and his army. In the second chapter, control switches to Cellica and her army. In the third chapter, and beyond, Arum and Cellica take separate routes through Barensia, and players can choose to control either character, as long as they are on the world map. Only after both characters have achieved their chapter goal, can the whole chapter be passed. At one point in the game, one of the heroes must trigger an event for the other hero to pass through a certain area. Otherwise, the two heroes operate mostly independently.

    During each chapter, players traverse Barensia’s world map, choosing which locations they wish to visit. Locations occupied by enemy forces initiate map battles, while other locations open up a village or dungeon map. In village maps players assume control of their main character, to freely move around and converse with NPCs (non-playable characters), like in traditional RPGs. Dungeon maps operate similarly, except moving into the next section of dungeons may trigger battles. At the end of dungeons, there are usually chests with rare items or a Temple of Mila, where characters can increase certain stats and/or class-change. Battles in dungeons can be repeated, so characters can train there outside of the main story.

    FE2_1.png

    (Arum talks to a civilian)

    Unlike in other Fire Emblem games, characters can only equip one item, whether it is a weapon, shield or ring. Characters can attack without weapons, although they gain no attack bonus. The magic system is also vastly different, in that characters learn different magic spells at pre-determined levels (like in traditional RPGs) and set amounts of HP are consumed to cast spells. Healers also consume HP to cast their recovery spells, although they come with the Resire spell (Nosferatu in the English games), which saps HP from enemies.

    The class system is also quite different. Characters still only reach a maximum Level of 20, but the Level that they can class-change at varies from 3 to 20, depending on their class. All classes cap their (non-HP) stats at 40, which is the highest cap in the entire series. Four of the basic classes can also class-change twice, e.g. Knight to Paladin to Gold Knight. Finally some characters start life as a Villager, which is a class below the basic classes (i.e. similar to the Trainees in The Sacred Stones). Villagers can class-change into Mage, Archer, Knight, Soldier or Mercenary (the choice of class is randomly selected).

    FE2_4.png

    (Jenny’s stats)

    Aside from the differences mentioned, the gameplay isn’t too dissimilar to the first game, or even the more recent games. The similarities to The Sacred Stones (and more so to TearRing Saga) are also quite large. Like the first game, this game is often over-looked by most fans, due to its relatively primitive graphics and slow gameplay, and also because it was only released in Japan. However the gameplay is solid and has great depth, if only a little unbalanced and reliant on power-leveling. The music is also very nice, despite being on such an old system.

    To finalise, this is one of the more unique Fire Emblem games, and quite a fun game as well. However, like many “black sheep”, people tend to neglect this game. Yet, without this game, later Fire Emblem games might not have been the same. In fact, classes like Sages, Soldiers and Falcon Knights made their debut here, as did the infamous Shooting Star (Astra), Moonlight (Luna) and Sun (Sol) names. So, if you want to completely understand the heritage and evolution of Fire Emblem, that’s also another good reason to seek this game (or information about it).

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