Fire Emblem is a series that initially struggled to take off in the West. With the first six titles remaining Japanese exclusives, it was thanks to the inclusion of Marth and Roy in Super Smash Bros. Melee that Nintendo was even willing to take a chance on localizing the series moving forward. Following the success of the development team’s other series, Advance Wars, they were given the go-ahead to release Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade (the seventh entry) under the simple title Fire Emblem. This eventually led to the release of The Sacred Stones as well. Both titles were Game Boy Advance exclusives, but the series eventually transitioned to home consoles with Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance originally launched in 2005 on the Nintendo GameCube and was the first of two titles to star Ike—another character Super Smash Bros. fans would become very familiar with. The title was a hallmark in the series' history; not only was it the first main console Fire Emblem game to release outside of Japan, but it was also the first to include 3D graphics, voice acting, and full-motion video cutscenes for key moments. It represented the next evolution of the series and was followed by the Wii-exclusive sequel, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn. Unfortunately, both titles became difficult to obtain in the following years, and the Fire Emblem series, in general, soon saw a major decline.
But things have since changed.
With the release of 2013's Fire Emblem: Awakening, the series quickly regained popularity—a trend that was only reinforced in the years that followed. Fire Emblem: Fates and Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia were both well-received, but it was the release of Fire Emblem: Three Houses that fully cemented the series as a "must-have" Nintendo classic, not just in Japan, but worldwide.
Although Nintendo's focus remains on new entries, their "Nintendo Classics" series occasionally brings older titles back into the spotlight. In 2026, that list was updated to include Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. After nearly 20 years of being an obscure, hard-to-find release, it is once again available to the masses—albeit at the expense of a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. Those who already subscribe can jump in and try the game right now, but anyone on the fence will likely ask: is it worth it? While we cannot decide if a single game justifies the subscription price for you, we can show you what Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance truly offers. From there, you can decide how you want to play—whether that means tracking down an original copy or biting the bullet and paying for the sub.
The Story of Radiance:
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance features a unique story by Fire Emblem standards. Rather than focusing on royalty caught up in a war against their nation, the game opens with Ike and his father, Greil, training. Greil is the leader of a mercenary group—appropriately named the Greil Mercenaries—while his two children, Ike and his sister Mist, follow the group to remain close to their family. However, just as Ike finally becomes an official member, war breaks out, and the Greil Mercenaries are tasked with a job that will forever change their fate.
When the neighboring country of Daein invades Crimea, Ike stumbles upon an unconscious woman and discovers she is none other than the Princess of Crimea, Elincia. Ike learns that Elincia’s escort party was wiped out as they attempted to take her to the allied nation of Gallia. Rather than simply leaving her to perish, the Greil Mercenaries take it upon themselves to finish the job and get Elincia to safety; however, things do not go exactly as planned.
When Greil is killed by a mysterious Black Knight, Ike finds himself thrust into the role of leader and caught in the crossfire of war. This sets him on a path not only to avenge his father but also to gain a deeper understanding of the world. Along the way, he comes face-to-face with the world's deep-seated prejudices and the Laguz—people who can transform into animals, whom the humans disparagingly refer to as "sub-humans."
Story Progression -
The story of Path of Radiance is told in a manner similar to a visual novel. Each chapter begins with an introductory scene where characters discuss current events and future plans. These sections typically feature character portraits against a static background with little to no animation. In a few rare cases, there are full-motion cutscenes, but these are reserved for major story beats and are few and far between.
Following the chapter introduction, a base menu is displayed where players can select "Support" and "Info" options. Supports allow players to view conversations between units, which are unlocked by keeping specific characters near one another during battle. Each character has a mini three-part plotline with their possible partners; however, they are limited to viewing only five support events per character throughout the entire game. Since supports provide statistical bonuses in battle, players must strategically consider which characters work well together or which stories they want to prioritize for that playthrough.
Info discussions, on the other hand, serve a different purpose. By selecting "Info" from the menu, a list of characters appears for the player to speak with. These chats may occur between random villagers, non-playable characters, or existing party members. These discussions provide additional context to the overall plot with no downside to viewing them. Furthermore, some of these chats are the only way to recruit new characters, making them vital for those who wish to see and do everything the game has to offer.
Once players finish with the Support and Info menus, the game progresses to the main battle. While this is where the core gameplay takes over, cutscenes can still occur mid-combat. With villages providing additional dialogue and hidden interactions, there is plenty to see on the battlefield—including unique dialogue triggered by specific characters confronting the boss. Following the boss's defeat or the completion of other objectives, the story advances to a final set of cutscenes for the chapter before moving to the next, starting the process all over again.
While the initial chapters start a little slowly, the plot ramps up quickly, with each chapter building effectively upon the last.
The Gameplay:
Like other entries in the series, Path of Radiance is a tactical role-playing game with a multitude of characters to recruit and a permadeath system that punishes players for making a wrong move.
Maps are based on a grid system, with each character having a set number of spaces they can move each turn. Different tiles provide unique terrain effects, making positioning key, and characters are typically allowed to attack only once per turn. The outcome of these attacks is determined by a character's stats, though players can choose which weapon to use ahead of time. Weapons have limited durability, and some offer powerful effects at the cost of breaking more quickly.
Additionally, a "Weapon Triangle" is at play, where certain weapon types have an advantage over others. For example, a Sword beats an Axe, an Axe beats a Lance, and a Lance beats a Sword. While a sword-user with significantly higher stats can still overcome a lance-user, these matchups generally result in a one-sided fight. Beyond the triangle, Bows are highly effective against flying enemies, while Magic exists in a category of its own, offering various elemental and healing options.
In addition to moving and attacking, characters can use items to heal themselves or gain bonuses, though each unit has a limited inventory. Extra items obtained in the field are sent to a convoy to be managed between chapters, but in the heat of battle, players must plan each character's loadout carefully. Characters with the ability to open doors or chests are another vital consideration when building a team, though giving a standard unit a single-use key works just as well. Unfortunately, there is no way to replay chapters in Path of Radiance; missing rare items can cause issues later in a playthrough, making it crucial to open all chests before finishing a map.
During the enemy's turn, the player must watch as the AI moves across the map and attacks. Since enemy movement and attack ranges are visible during the player's turn, the goal is to position characters safely. If a unit is within range, the AI will capitalize on it, and the computer is smart enough to exploit weaknesses. If a flying unit is left within range of a bow-user, you can effectively kiss that character goodbye. At that point, your only options are to restart the chapter to bring them back or accept the loss and move on. Because there are a limited number of characters, players must constantly weigh whether a loss is acceptable or if they should sacrifice their time to try the chapter again.
Although planning moves is essential to winning each fight, it is actually only half the battle; your overall success ultimately depends on your available characters and their growth.
Stats, Classes and Bonus EXP -
Every time a character engages in battle—whether they land a hit, take damage, or defeat an enemy—they gain Experience Points (EXP). Upon reaching 100 EXP, the character levels up and is granted stat increases at random based on their internal growth rates. Sometimes, a level-up will be exceptional, providing multiple stat increases; other times, a character might only gain a single, less useful stat (such as Magic on a dedicated sword-user).
The randomness of this stat distribution can turn a character into a powerhouse or leave them as one of your weakest assets. Because Fire Emblem is designed for multiple playthroughs, every player ends up with a unique team in terms of stats. Part of the challenge is recognizing these varying strengths and weaknesses and using them to your advantage. Fortunately, the game provides plenty of characters for each class, so you are never at a total loss due to a few poor level-ups.
When recruiting a new character, it is possible to level them up quickly using Bonus EXP (BEXP). Bonus EXP is awarded after each battle and can be spent in the base menu between chapters. There is no restriction on which characters can receive BEXP, making it the perfect tool for newcomers who may start at a lower level than the rest of your team. The only hard limit is the level cap, which is set at level 20 for each tier.
Upon hitting level 20, a character can "promote" to their next class by leveling up one more time. This grants a significant stat boost, occasionally unlocks new weapon types, and gives that unit a major edge in battle. Alternatively, characters can promote as early as level 10 by using a rare Master Seal; however, doing so means they miss out on the potential stat gains they would have earned by leveling to 20 manually. Additionally, characters must physically use their weapons to increase their weapon proficiency (Weapon Rank), which eventually allows them to wield more powerful equipment. While Bonus EXP and Master Seals provide general boosts, they are no substitute for actual combat experience.
Finally characters can also learn and equip additional skills to help out in battle. Many of these skills are found during battle, and take up a set amount of points to equip them. Each character can only have 20 points worth of skills equip at any given time, so it is important that players select skills that work well with a character's chosen class.
Should you play it?
For anyone looking for a deep tactical role-playing game, look no further than Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. Fans of Super Smash Bros. may want to experience the game simply to finally learn more about Ike, but there is much more on the table than just a single character. Although permadeath may turn some players off, those who overcome the challenge will discover a game that is packed with content and remains a fun ride from start to finish. While one might expect the game to look and feel a bit dated by today's standards, it actually holds up surprisingly well, with a presentation that many may even prefer over modern Fire Emblem titles. The only true letdown is the fact that it is a "Nintendo Classics" release rather than a standalone remaster that one can purchase and own.
That being said, even when playing through the Nintendo Classics service, the game runs beautifully and looks stunning. There is no denying that this is the definitive way to experience the title today, and the ability to use Save States can be a huge lifesaver. This is a mechanic newer fans may want to use to correct mistakes and learn the game's intricacies, while longtime players are free to ignore the option if they prefer the original challenge. Path of Radiance can be very punishing, but for many, that difficulty is part of the appeal.
Overall, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is a top-tier tactical RPG and remains one of the strongest entries in the entire series. With a great cast of characters, inventive map designs, and a story that hooks you from beginning to end, it is a must-play for fans of the genre.
VERDICT: Essential
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2 (Nintendo Classics: GameCube)
Post a Comment