In our ongoing celebration of all things Fire Emblem lately, I want to turn your attention to the latest teaser for Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. It is entitled “Zophia’s Call.”
As more media for Shadows of Valentia comes out, we are beginning to see the localization efforts at work. The southern end of the continent of Valentia is the Kingdom of Zophia. The Zophians worship the divine goddess Mila, whose generosity turns the Zophians indolent. Zophia’s northern neighbor, Rigel, invades. The struggle between Zophia and Rigel forms the backdrop of the game’s story. Thus, Zophia’s Call is the call to arms to liberate Zophia from Rigel, a call that the protagonist Alm answers.
From the Shadows of Valentia Website
Nintendo’s website for Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia fills us in on some of the history of this game. It is a remake of the 1992 Japan-exclusive Fire Emblem Gaiden. As the website notes, Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is going to do things slightly differently, incorporating dungeon crawling. Is that Legend of Zelda, in my Fire Emblem? It’s more likely than you think. One of the screenshots on the website features what appear to be zombies with axes buried in their heads shambling out of graves. Another screenshot shows protagonist Celica setting said zombies on fire. Rick Grimes has nothing on Celica.
The Shadows of Valentia Teaser
After we see anime-style cutscenes of the Rigelian invasion, we get to see some game footage. This footage shows Alm and Celica in battle. Clearly, Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is taking a more advanced approach to its presentation. Celica enters a pitch-black cave and, with a snap of her fingers, lights up a stick like she is Roy Mustang. She then engages with a cave-dwelling skeleton from a behind-the-shoulder perspective, uncommon for Fire Emblem games. We then switch back to the anime cutscenes. Alm leads a charge while Celica prays to a statue of Mila. Celica then turns, steps outside, and encounters Alm, who turns to face her.
If you have not already seen the Zophia’s Call teaser, watch it below:
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia releases for the Nintendo 3DS on May 19, 2017.
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