Nintendo just keeps on coming with the surprises this year. The company has officially announced that they are re-launching Fire Emblem, as in the first and original game in the entire franchise, and release it on the Nintendo Switch. This will be a complete port of the 1990 Nintendo Famicom title Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, which is being fully localized outside of its native Japan for the first time ever. It’s also being released only digitally through the Nintendo Switch eShop on December 4 for $5.99, and just like Super Mario 3D All-Stars, it will only be available on a limited-time basis, up until March 31, 2021.

30 years ago, the first #FireEmblem introduced beloved characters like Marth, and the series’ signature strategic gameplay. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light comes to #NintendoSwitch, fully localized for the first time! Available 12/4.https://t.co/UUSjOSgyPu pic.twitter.com/B0vW1jIYCE

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 22, 2020

As we’ve already mentioned, this is the very first game in the Fire Emblem series, and for a long time was largely unknown outside of Japan. In fact, the first real exposure of the whole franchise to the rest of the world was through an entirely different game: Super Smash Bros. Melee. Two Fire Emblem fighters were available to play in that title, Marth and Roy, both of whom have starred in their own respective Fire Emblem adventures. Marth is the main protagonist of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light, which is the aforementioned first game in the series and the very same one being ported to the Switch.

The main storyline of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light is about prince Marth and his journey to find the legendary sword Falchion, use it to take down the Shadow Dragon, and bring about peace to the kingdom of Archanea. Those familiar with any Fire Emblem game knows that the majority of these titles are played on a grid with tactical role-playing combat and RPG mechanics. The first game is no different and set the precedent for all future Fire Emblem titles, which has since become one of Nintendo’s most successful series to date. This is actually the second time that Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light will be re-released with the first time being for the handheld Nintendo DS in 2009, and the title is shortened to Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon. 

Nintendo didn’t stop there, and also unveiled a special Fire Emblem 30th Anniversary Edition, which comes with some awesome memorabilia. The Anniversary Edition comes with a download code for the game, a replica game pack and Nintendo game sleeve, a replica game box complete with an instruction booklet and map, a mini Nintendo Power collectible, a deluxe art book, and a sleek collectible box that houses everything. The Fire Emblem 30th Anniversary Edition will be priced at $49.99, and since this is both a collectible and a Nintendo product, the likelihood of this selling out is very high.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & the Blade of Light and the Fire Emblem 30th Anniversary Edition will officially launch on December 4 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.