If you’re a big fan of the Fire Emblem series and can’t wait for the next major release, Nintendo’s got you covered. Right now, you can head over to the Wii U virtual console and pick up Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones for $7.99. A follow up to the original Fire Emblem for the GBA (which is on the Wii U VC as well), Sacred Stones was released back in 2005. The game focuses on the story of Eirika and Ephraim, heirs to the troubled kingdom of Renais. As is a constant in the series, perma-death is a feature – lose a character on the battlefield, and they’re gone for good.
This is not only good news for Fire Emblem fans, but for video game conservation in general. The more older titles that are updated and ported over to modern consoles, the better. I feel that documenting the history of our medium is an often-overlooked aspect within the industry, and more publishers and studios would do well to keep up on the process as well as Nintendo has been.