Board 8 > The Mount Rushmore of: Fire Emblem Games

(+) Yeah! (+)

Rules

1. You may vote up to 4 entries that fit the prompt.
2. No alts.
3. No deleting or editing posts; though, editing posts shortly after you post is fine.
4. If you change your vote, clearly indicate that you are changing a previous vote. Same for adding or subtracting picks.
5. In general, if there are two picks that can be considered the same product (i.e. Sonic Adventure 2 and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle), I will combine them.
6. If a vote is vague, I will pick the first available choice that best matches the vote (i.e. "Mario" for Wii Games becomes Super Mario Galaxy).
7. I will post the parameters of each Rushmore topic. Other than that, feel free to vote however you like and based on any criteria that best fits the "Mount Rushmore" of that topic.
8. If a vote doesn't fit the topic, it will count as a blank vote.
9. You may nominate as much as you want and have an unlimited amount of seconds for established nominations.
10. Every Sunday, I'll post the schedule for next week. I will pick based on the number of nominations. Any ties will be determined by RNG.

Spreadsheet & Nominations

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aatA25pW6OsDn2RlAAGP1_GOGCMNvLLumAKckHOhtFk/edit?gid=1117984190#gid=1117984190

Last Topics Results

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/7/79116f2f.png

A pretty comfortable lead for all our Rushmore picks.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/6/6968b9b9.png

We almost got a four-way tie!

Last 5 Rushmores

Movie Original Song (Non-Musical): My Heart Will Go On / I Will Always Love You / Eye of the Tiger / Lose Yourself
CJayC's Many Crimes: Selling to CNET / Mario vs Crono 2003 / Quote Contest / The Long, Slow Goodbye
Video Game TV Shows: Pokemon / The Last of Us / Castlevania / Arcane
Web Animation Series: Homestar Runner / Red vs. Blue / RWBY / Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged
Working Class Occupations: Construction / Factory / Retail / Mining

This Week's Rushmores

Tuesday: Fire Emblem Games
Wednesday: Video Game Magazines
Thursday: Video Games with Unusual Cartridge/Disc Color
Friday: Twilight Zone Episodes
Saturday: GameFAQs Contest Match Pics
Sunday: Fictional Detectives

Next Themed Week: Fictional Characters based on Seven Deadly Sins (September 29 - October 5)

Today's Parameters

You must pick Fire Emblem games.

Japanese-only games are allowed.

Remakes are allowed. This would include the full-on remakes like Shadow Dragon and Echoes, as well as more simple remakes like Book 1 of Mystery of the Emblem.

While you may vote for each individual Fates game or Three Houses game, I would combine them all.

The spin-off games like the Musou and Tokyo Mirage Stories count.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Fire_Emblem_video_games
https://vgsales.fandom.com/wiki/Fire_Emblem
https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/best-fire-emblem-games-of-all-time
https://www.cbr.com/best-fire-emblem-games-all-time-ranked/
https://gamerant.com/best-fire-emblem-games-metacritic/

Shadow Dragon (original)
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Easy.

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Yeah, this seems pretty cut and dry.

Awakening
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Path of Radiance

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

I have only played one Fire Emblem game to completion so I won't vote

I do think Three Houses and Three Hopes should be considered separate entries though (not that I think anyone will vote for the latter)

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Genealogy of the Holy War
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Mystery of the Emblem
Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Mystery of the Emblem, not FE1, is the game that made FE really blow up in Japan
Awakening obviously did the same worldwide, saved the series
Three Houses made the series blow up even moreso

After those three there's a lot of possible picks but I'll just pick Blazing Blade

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade/Sword
Awakening
Heroes

First slot should go to one of the earlier entries. Shadow Dragon's the safe bet since not only is it the actual first, but it was localized (first the remake and later the original) while Mystery and Genealogy weren't.

Second slot should go to FE7 due to being the first localized FE. It was also very popular back in the day. Granted nowadays there's enough of a backlash against the game to put its slot a bit in jeopardy. But I still think it's important to have one of FE7-10 here and I'm not sold on any of the other 3 taking this slot.

3rd slot is pretty much a lock for Awakening. Like it or not (I don't), the whole "Awakening saved the franchise" narrative along with Smash Bros giving it Ocarina of Time levels of respect make it a safe inclusion.

4th slot is more in the air. Three Houses is probably the safe pick for being Awakening's bigger and better little sibling. But I don't think it had quite the same impact as Awakening did, so I'll be controversial and throw a nod to the never-ending gacha that's gotten IS a ton of money.

Blazing Blade
Three Houses
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
Genealogy of the Holy War

Genealogy of the Holy War gets on there I think for evolving supports and the weapon triangle we know today.

The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light

Tempted to go with a Radiant entry over 1 but can't really justify it.

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Path of Radiance
Three Houses

Genealogy of the Holy War
Thracia 776
Sacred Stones
Path of Radiance

I wanted to vote for the ones I actually like instead of the popular ones

Original
Blazing Blade
Awakening
Heroes

Wanted to put in 3 Houses but I think Awakening is more significant

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
Blazing Blade
Path of Radiance
Awakening

Shadow Dragon
Blazing Sword/Blade/The one simply titled Fire Emblem in the West
Awakening
Heroes

I feel like most of these are comfortably secure enough for me to have put my personal favourite Path of Radiance in instead but wtv

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

A Best FE list would look very different

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Pretty much. Blazing Blade/Awakening/Three Houses are basically locked in IMO, with the fourth slot a bit more debatable between FE1/3/4.

Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
The Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

Only first one is in doubt.

All of these votes for the original really ought to be votes for FE3.

FE3 (Monsho no Nazo)
FE7 (Rekka no Ken)
FE9 (Path of Radiance)
FE13 (Awakening)

^This is the correct Rushmore for FE.

The Blazing Blade
Path of Radiance
Awakening
Three Houses

Mystery of the Emblem
Blazing Blade
Path of Radiance
Three Houses

I should probably replace Path of Radiance with Awakening, but eh.

Remove:
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light

Add:
Path of Radiance

Allowing myself one fanboy pick

Genealogy
Binding Blade
PoR
3H

Mystery of the Emblem
Geneology of the Holy War
The Blazing Blade
Three Houses

Actually very tough.

Mystery is in fact the game that made the series blow up. FE1 being first shouldn't mean it auto gets a slot.

Geneology is......unreal. There's no way it doesn't make the list. This a defining experience for me.

The Blazing Blade is only a mid tier FE game....but come on. It's impact can't be understated.

Three Houses and Awakening both fill the same slot of importance for the franchise and did the same thing at different points for different groups of people. The difference is I like Three Houses a lot and Hate Awakening, so Three Houses it is.

Will just state for the record that 8, 9, and 10 are some of the best of the best, they just don't really have any place in this list.

1) Melee
2) Ultimate

Mystery of the Emblem
Genealogy of the Holy War
Awakening
Three Houses

Tough call between 1 and 3, and between 4 and 7.

jcgamer107 posted...

1) Melee
2) Ultimate

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/019c0d0d.jpg

Sacred Stones
Awakening
Genealogy of the Holy War
Three Houses

I liked Fates more than Awakening (and most fire emblem games, eat me), but Awakening is absolutely an era shift that revived the franchise. Path of Radiance is my absolute favorite, but I feel like it belongs on the list less than others

if you're combining Three Houses with Three Hopes, it extra deserves that spot. Hopes won't get a single vote on its own, but it builds on 3H's strengths in a nice way

good shit that noone's even mentioned engage yet. maybe some of the best gameplay (I'd argue THE best gameplay) but that's it. worldbuilding and plot suck

sacred stones is the one I'm iffiest about, but it feels the most solid of the GBA era. if you did a mount rushmore of non-lord FE characters, seth would absolutely be there

We've had like 4 people in this topic including me go "I think Awakening is booty, hot take alert", and I think at that point the take just isn't that hot anymore lol.

agesboy posted...

good shit that noone's even mentioned engage yet. maybe some of the best gameplay (I'd argue THE best gameplay) but that's it. worldbuilding and plot suck

Correct, I'll defend Engage plenty and the gameplay is top of the line, but despite adoring a couple characters it's just....definitely not in this conversation as far as importance goes.

no I mean I legitimately like fates, awakening is above average for me

I replayed revelations three times previously, and I recently revived my 3ds to do another run since I've discovered online streetpass is a thing now

Ah, well that's definitely gonna be a difference of take there lol.

My opinion of Revelations is it's so bad that I don't count it as it's own game to keep myself sane. DLC doesn't get ranked!

path of radiance, a game that famously sold approximately 3 copies, probably shouldnt be on the rushmore

my main complaint for revelations is actually that not everyone is permanently recruitable! and that's only like 3 characters! yeah the story isn't the best but it doesn't grind on me like engage does for some reason. if anything I disliked BR/CQ more because of how symmetrical and ultimately unsatisfying they felt (on purpose to sell revelations, but still)

I'm a fucked up new age fire emblem enjoyer, even though I started with 7 (ok, melee) and went back for previous games eventually. casual mode was the best change the series has ever had because I would just restart the chapter anyways

Hbthebattle posted...

path of radiance, a game that famously sold approximately 3 copies, probably shouldnt be on the rushmore

Get your facts and logic out of here

I will once again use an FE topic to recommend people try out FE fangames. Some of them are as good if not better than many mainline entries.

Dream of Five is a personal fave of what I've tried so far.

Hbthebattle posted...

path of radiance, a game that famously sold approximately 3 copies, probably shouldnt be on the rushmore

I bought one of those three copies, good sir! Ill bally well include it if I see fit to!

More seriously: I think PoR belongs here because Ike is the single most iconic character in the franchise (at least in the west), and several of its supporting characters are also among the most well-known from across the whole franchise. FE7 may have been the franchises big break outside of Japan, and that rightly earns it a spot, but FE9 left a bigger impact with the public at large, in my opinionwhether sales figures indicate as much or not. Personally, I liked RD better, but PoR is definitely the right pick from the Tellius games. Side note: all these years later, I still have a hard time taking Ike seriously as a fantasy RPG lead when his name is Ike. Itsnot quite as bad as some of the Final Fantasy protagonist names, but its still pretty bad.

Aside from the four that I have included in my list, there are really only three others with a case to be made:

FE4 (Geneaology of the Holy War): was the hardest for me to leave off, but I really do think the other four have it beat in terms of franchise significance.

Three Houses: maybe Im just being stubborn, but I really cant see my way to including this. I feel like it reduced a lot of what I love about Fire Emblem and amplified a lot of what I dont care about as much. Ill grant that it seems to have a massive fanbase, but, my gatekeep-y feeling is that a lot of them dont really care about Fire Emblem in general. To be clear, I dont mean to imply that the game is badit isnt.

Fire Emblem Heroes: I was hooked on this for years before breaking free. Its not really a proper Fire Emblem game, but if you can set that aside then theres a very real case to be made that it belongs on the list.

VectorAgent posted...

More seriously: I think PoR belong here because Ike is the single most iconic character in the franchise (at least in the west),

I can very much agree with this sentiment, even if it's mostly because of his smash bros popularity

VectorAgent posted...

Personally, I liked RD better,

RD is almost objectively a better game but I'm not sure a better experience to play. too many factions imo

Shadow Dragon
The Blazing Blade
Path of Radiance
Awakening

Blazing Blade
Awakening
Three Houses

all locks

The last spot has a bunch of candidates. I think the best ones are...
-Mystery of the Emblem: best-selling game in the series until Awakening (actually I think Blazing barely beats it? I forget), really established the series in Japan, still gets lots of random Japanese nostalgia.
-Fates: There's an argument that Awakening/Fates/3H are a bit of a big three for the series; they certainly are based on both sales and volume of fan work (go look at the AO3 numbers for the series for a metric that's easy to quantify), and to this day Conquest will on-average win a "best gameplay" poll.
-Heroes: Hugely successful for what it is. It's hard to over-state, actually. The best argument against it is that it's not a "real" Fire Emblem; if it is it definitely belongs. I am definitely at least somewhat sympathetic to that argument, though.

Things I definitely don't think it is, despite them getting some votes:
-FE1: Really eclipsed by FE3 for the Japanese fanbase, irrelevant everywhere else.
-Path of Radiance: This one just confuses me. It didn't sell well or bring in a significant number of new fans, it didn't significantly innovate or influence the rest of the series. The only substantive argument I've seen is that Ike is the series' most popular character but (a) I don't think that's even true any more, and (b) even if it is true I don't really think it should carry that much weight, Ike's popularity is at least partly due to RD and Smash Bros. as well.

Anyway of the games I thought of as plausible fourths I'm not attached to any of them, but reading through the thread I'll vote for the one it doesn't look like anyone has voted for...

Fates

Wow NeoElfboy sighting

VectorAgent posted...

More seriously: I think PoR belongs here because Ike is the single most iconic character in the franchise (at least in the west)

true that's why brawl should be on the rushmore as its the game who made him popular

this is only partially a joke i'd put melee and brawl on the list over several actual fe games