Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Intro 1 (2005, Intelligent Systems/Nintendo)
1Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, known in Japan as Fire Emblem: Sōen no Kiseki, is a tactical role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and Nintendo SPD, and published by Nintendo for the GameCube in 2005. It is the ninth main installment in the Fire Emblem series, and the third to be released in the west. As with previous installments, gameplay revolves around positioning characters on a battlefield with the aim of defeating an opposing force. If characters are defeated in battle, they are removed from the rest of the game.
The story takes place in a separate world from other Fire Emblem games in Tellius, a continent inhabited by the humanoid Beorc and the shapeshifting Laguz. Protagonist Ike, a new member of his father's mercenary group, finds a mysterious woman named Elincia Ridell Crimea during a mission. Crimea is invaded by the Beorc nation of Daein. During the group's flight, Ike's father is killed by a Daein general known as the Black Knight. Together with Elincia, who is the last remaining heir to the Crimean throne, Ike and his group travels Tellius to form allegiances with the other countries to free Crimea from Daein's control, confronting racial tensions and long-standing resentment between the Beorc and the Laguz during their travels.
Path of Radiance began development for the GameCube after the overseas success of the Game Boy Advance game Fire Emblem, becoming the first home console entry in the series since Fire Emblem: Thracia 776. The game is the first entry in the series to feature 3D graphics, full motion cutscenes, and voice acting. The series' transition to 3D caused multiple difficulties for the developers. The localization team worked closely with Intelligent Systems to ensure the localization was as true to the original Japanese as possible. Upon release, the game received widespread critical acclaim for its gameplay and story, but several journalistic sites and magazines made negative comments about the game's graphics. The game debuted at the top of Japanese gaming charts, and was considered to have sold well. A direct sequel for the Wii, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, was released in 2007 in North America and Japan, and 2008 in Europe and Australia.
The game opens with Greil recruiting Ike into his mercenaries upon recognizing the threat of Daein. While on a mission, Ike finds a woman who is revealed to be Elincia Ridell Crimea, a princess who was raised in secret due to her existence being a threat to the Crimean order of succession. Daein invades shortly after this, and Greil's mercenaries flee over the border into Gallia. They are pursued by the Black Knight who kills Greil. Ike and Elincia decide to work together and drive the forces of Daein from Crimea. Over the course of the game, Ike and his companions overcome long-held racial tensions between the Beorc and Laguz in order to form an alliance against their true enemy, Ashnard, king of Daein.
The team's successful return to a home console convinced them to carry on the story of Tellius in another home console release. The next entry, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, began development in May 2005 for the Wii. It was released in 2007 in Japan and North America, and 2008 in Europe and Australia.Protagonist Ike has also appeared as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.