For the first time since its release 30 years ago, the original Fire Emblem will blaze its way officially onto Western shores with the release of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light on the Nintendo Switch this holiday.
Every legend has a beginning. Every hero has a point of departure. For the past 30 years, the critically acclaimed Fire Emblem series has captured the attention of players with its strategic and tactical gameplay, intriguing stories and striking characters. Now, the original 8-bit game, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, which featured the heroic exploits of Prince Marth and launched a decades-spanning franchise, will be available in the U.S. for the first time.
Throughout Marth’s perilous journey, players can shape their armies to execute a range of strategies by carefully selecting from dozens of characters with unique attributes that can turn the tide of every battlefield skirmish. Will Marth be able to acquire the sacred Falchion sword on his epic expedition to restore peace to the Kingdom of Archanea? Lead a band of loyal followers on a continent-spanning quest for glory and victory, and reclaim the throne from the Shadow Dragon Medeus!
Marth was first introduced to American audiences in Super Smash Bros., but his history with Japanese audiences spans significantly longer. For 30 years, Western audiences haven’t had an official release of the first Fire Emblem title, but with this new release, fans will finally have the chance to sink their teeth into the prince’s origins. Not only that, the game will release with a host of features, including rewind, fast-forward, and save states, allowing first time players and veterans alike to tackle this title at their own pace.
“The Fire Emblem series has grown into a saga enjoyed by fans for its strategic gameplay and memorable characters,” said Nick Chavez, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “With Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, Nintendo Switch owners can now experience the game that started it all with enhanced features that make this timeless adventure available to everyone.”
The game will launch on the Nintendo Switch Dec. 4. The digital version will retail for $5.99 USD, and will only be available through the end of the franchise’s 30th anniversary on March 31, 2021. Pre-orders are now available on the Nintendo eShop.
In addition, Fire Emblem 30th Anniversary Edition will be available through select retailers at a suggested price of $49.99. This collector’s edition of the game will include a nostalgic, stylized physical NES box and a replica NES Game Pak art piece with a protective sleeve that transports owners to the era of the original game’s release. The collector’s edition also includes a colorful, 222-page Legacy of Archanea deluxe hardbound art book and a game download code. It will be accompanied by an NES instruction manual, newly localized from the original Famicom release, along with a fold-out world map and a Mini Nintendo Power retro collectible.
