We're barely a week into the new year and Nintendo has come out swinging with a hotly anticipated GameCube game. That's right, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance has been added to the Nintendo Classics app, and you can play it right now, assuming you are an Expansion Pack subscriber and own a Switch 2. That's exciting news, but is this game actually worth playing? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Game Informer, Nintendo Power and more classic magazines that reviewed this game back when it first came out. Get ready to be incredibly frustrated at a bunch of critics, because this is Nintendo Classics Review Crew!

SEE MORE: Nintendo Classics Game Archive


Having already proven that Western gamers were willing to buy into Fire Emblem's specific brand of strategy on the Game Boy Advance, there was only one place for Nintendo take series – the home console. Released only five months after The Sacred Stones, Path of Radiance is a big leap forward for the series, boasting 3D graphics, full-motion cinema scenes, voice acting and a deeper and more sprawling story that could only be told on the GameCube. Believe it or not, this is the first home console edition since 1999's Thracia 776, an incredibly late Super Famicom installment that came almost ten years after the system first debuted. This was seen as a big vote of confidence, solidifying Fire Emblem as an international brand. The fans were certainly hyped, but what about the critics?

When it comes to Electronic Gaming Monthly, they've been incredibly consistent when scoring Fire Emblem games. Giving this game an average score of 8.2 out of 10, EGM was generally impressed. Christian gave it the highest score, an 8.5, and argued that “Given Nintendo's historic reluctance to release the First Emblem games in the United States, it's pretty ironic that we've seen hit with three games in just two years. This new edition of the series doesn't differ wildly from its predecessors – it delivers grid-based strategy that pits a cast of fantasy characters against the forces of darkness in dozens of turn-based battles. The biggest difference is the 3D graphics. For the strategy genre, Radiance's looks are above average, though they neither impress nor change the gameplay. This may not be an innovative title, but it's an excellent example of developers really nailing a game's design and clearly shows what separates the experts from the amateurs.” Shane also liked the game, though noted that “it's not a particularly impressive game. File the visuals under adequate, the voice work under amateurish and the innovations und ... oh wait, there aren't any. But familiarity isn't a crime, and Radiance delivers a superbly paced and rewarding adventure.”

While an 8.2 may not sound that bad, it was actually the second lowest mark for Path of Radiance. Believe it or not, the lowest score came from GamePro, who went with a still-good 4 out of 5. “What Fire Emblem may hack off of your gaming ego in difficulty, it makes up for with good ol' fashioned beauty. The fully animated cut-scenes, while a rare treat, are a completely new style that melds cel-shading with classic 3D to create visuals that will blow your mind while simultaneously causing your eyes to melt with joy. While Path of Radiance may not be the ultimate strategy consummation for every gamer, fans of the genres will not be disappointed with this addition to Intelligent System's epic legacy.”

When we go back to the more positive side of the EGM divide, we see Game Informer giving the game a 9 out of 10, while NGC magazine went one tick higher with a 91%. “Yes, you can argue that fluid movement isn't a requirement in a strategy RPG, but we'd be lying if we said we weren't disappointed. With little variation in the action, most of you will turn off the animations to speed things up. Still, considering this is the only criticism, it's hardly a major cause for complaint. Tough, engaging and even a little emotional, Path of Radiance is the perfect game for those long winter nights.”

With GamePro dropping the lowest score, who is there to give us the highest? Nintendo Power, of course. Giving Fire Emblem a 9.5 out of 10, Andy concludes that “if Fire Emblem suffered at all on its journey from Game Boy Advance to Game Cube, it's in the game's presentation. The music is well-written, if not fully orchestrated, but there are only six in the game. Generally, the game's battle animations are bad – some appear rigid and are overly repetitive. But these shortcomings barely hinder the overall experience. The battle system and story are the bread and butter of the game, and they are executed flawlessly. Intelligent Systems has created a masterpiece with Path of Radiance. It sets a new standard for Fire Emblem as the title that future games in the series will be tested by.”

This is one of those games where everybody seemed to agree on the pros and cons, but what it came down to was how bothered you were by the iffy presentation. The overall average is an impressive 88%, which is on par with the first Game Boy Advance title and significantly better than the sequel's 81%. This is one of those franchises where you're either locked in or you're not, and, so far, the critics are into Fire Emblem.