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Fire Emblem Awakening vs Final Fantasy IV Advance

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Fire Emblem Awakening
Fire Emblem AwakeningCommand the Shepherds and alter the threads of fate in this acclaimed tactical RPG.
Final Fantasy IV Advance
Final Fantasy IV AdvanceA classic RPG reborn for handheld adventure.
Overview
Description

Fire Emblem Awakening is a critically acclaimed tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. Players assume the role of Robin, a tactical strategist who suffers from amnesia, joining forces with Prince Chrom and the Shepherds of Ylisse to protect their kingdom from the threat of the Plegian army and mysterious masked warriors. The game seamlessly blends traditional turn-based tactical combat with deep social simulation mechanics. Players can forge bonds between characters through the Pair-Up system and conversations, unlocking powerful combat bonuses and the ability to marry units to pass down skills to their children, creating an emotionally resonant journey where permanent death adds high-stakes tension to every battle.

Final Fantasy IV Advance brings the beloved 1991 classic to the Game Boy Advance with enhanced graphics, new dungeons, and additional story content. Players follow Cecil Harvey's epic quest to save the world from darkness in a richly detailed fantasy setting. The game features refined turn‑based combat, expanded character backstories, and a host of side quests that deepen the original narrative, offering both nostalgia for veterans and an accessible entry point for new players.

Pricing
Paid (One-time)
Paid (One-time)
Category
JRPG
JRPG
Best for
Strategy gamers and RPG fans
RPG fans and nostalgic gamers
Specifications
Spec source
AI-estimated
AI-estimated
General
msrp
$39.99
$9.9975%
release date
2012-04-19
2005-12-12
Specifications
developer
Nintendo SPD Production Group No. 2, Intelligent Systems
Tose, Square Enix Product Development Division 7+250%
publisher
Nintendo
Square Enix
age rating
ESRB T, PEGI 12+71%
ESRB E10+, PEGI 7
multiplayer
Single player
Single player
critic score
90/100+15%
78/100
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Engaging and deeply strategic turn-based combat system
  • Memorable cast of characters with rich support conversations
  • Innovative marriage and child inheritance mechanics
  • Outstanding presentation featuring beautiful cutscenes and music
  • Rich, expanded storyline with new content
  • Improved graphics and sound for handheld
  • Deep turn‑based combat system
  • Portable and easy to pick up
Cons
  • Difficulty curve can spike unexpectedly in the later chapters
  • Level design occasionally favors brute force over tactical puzzle-solving
  • Avatar character can sometimes overshadow the established main cast
  • Limited to single‑player experience
  • Screen size can make text hard to read
  • No modern online features or DLC
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
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Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi
Fire Emblem: Ankoku Ryuu to Hikari no Tsurugi

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Fire Emblem Gaiden

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Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi
Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi

Lead Roy and the Lycian army in a tactical war across Elibe.

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Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem

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Alternatives to Final Fantasy IV Advance

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Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV

A timeless RPG adventure with classic turn‑based combat.

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Breath of Fire IV
Breath of Fire IV

A classic turn‑based RPG adventure with deep story and vibrant anime art.

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Fire Emblem Awakening is the higher-rated, feature-rich choice for deep tactical strategy, while Final Fantasy IV Advance offers a budget-friendly, traditional RPG experience. The main trade-off is paying $39.99 for a critically acclaimed strategic epic versus $9.99 for a classic handheld adventure.

Key differences

  • Pricing: Final Fantasy IV Advance costs $9.99, whereas Fire Emblem Awakening is priced at $39.99.
DimensionWinner

Gameplay & fun factor

Fire Emblem Awakening features grid-based tactical combat with the Pair-Up system, compared to Final Fantasy's turn-based combat.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Platform availability

Not specified

Tie

Price & value

Final Fantasy IV Advance is significantly cheaper at an MSRP of $9.99 versus $39.99.

Final Fantasy IV Advance

Multiplayer / co-op

Both games are strictly single-player with no multiplayer features specified.

Tie

Content & replayability

Fire Emblem Awakening offers marriage and child inheritance mechanics for army customization, alongside a sprawling epic narrative.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Difficulty & accessibility

Final Fantasy has an ESRB E10+ rating, whereas Fire Emblem has a T rating and an optional permadeath mechanic.

Final Fantasy IV Advance

Graphics & performance

Fire Emblem features fully voiced animated cutscenes and an orchestral soundtrack, compared to enhanced pixel art graphics.

Fire Emblem Awakening

Choose Fire Emblem Awakening if…

Strategy gamers wanting deep tactical mechanics, character relationship systems, and high critical acclaim.

Choose Final Fantasy IV Advance if…

Budget-conscious players looking for a classic, portable turn-based RPG adventure.

Common questions

How much do the games cost?

Final Fantasy IV Advance has an MSRP of $9.99, while Fire Emblem Awakening is $39.99.

Do these games include multiplayer?

No, both Final Fantasy IV Advance and Fire Emblem Awakening are single-player experiences.

Which game has a higher critic score?

Fire Emblem Awakening has a critic score of 90/100, and Final Fantasy IV Advance has a score of 78/100.