Fire Emblem Fans Are Freaking Out Over What Nintendo Just Brought Back

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Jake brings two decades of experience with him, having covered major industry events, breaking news, one-on-one interviews, and more.

When he's not playing World of Warcraft, he's usually on the hunt for good food and a refreshing beer to wash it down.

While the Fire Emblem franchise is important enough to Nintendo to be the final announcement of a Nintendo Direct, it wasn't always that way.

As a result, it's been hard to find Path of Radiance, released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2005. Unless you're willing to fork over your hard-earned cash, that is.

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That all changes today, as Nintendo has finally brought the acclaimed tactical RPG to the Nintendo GameCube library for Nintendo Switch Online. The game is now available for download for all Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers with a Nintendo Switch 2 system.

Path of Radiance takes place on the continent of Tellius and stars Ike, who most people better recognize from his appearances in Super Smash Bros.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Features Many Firsts For the Franchise

Path of Radiance was a marquee game for Fire Emblem. It was the first in franchise history to feature 3D graphics, full-motion cutscenes, and even voice acting. It's also the first entry in the west to release on home consoles; 2003's Blazing Blade and 2004's Sacred Stones were both released on the Game Boy Advance.

Here's an official description for Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance's story, straight from Nintendo.

Two races, the human beorc and the half-human laguz, share a history of strife, mistrust, and uneasy compromise. Now, sinister forces have emerged from the shadows to shatter the fragile peace, pitting the two against each other. Only the young mercenary Ike and his colorful band of soldiers-for-hire stand between Tellius and chaos.

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The history between those two races features a surprisingly hard-hitting, not to mention extremely relevant, story that dives into mature themes that you wouldn't necessarily expect from a Nintendo game. Then again, the Fire Emblem series has always been known for its strong narrative focus alongside its turn-based strategy gameplay.

In the eyes of many, this is one of, if not the, best Fire Emblem game. Unfortunately, it's been "locked" away on the Nintendo GameCube. With the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, including the addition of the GameCube to Nintendo Switch Online, it was only a matter of time before Path of Radiance would be available for a new audience.