Fire Emblem

Fire Emblem was the series' debut for a western audience, and sometimes developers get it right the first time around. Admittedly, they had seven Japanese versions under their belt, but still. This title embodies everything the games stand for, lacking in features but providing an entirely cohesive and balanced experience. It's smooth, streamlined, and memorable characters propel its delightful story. It's worth remembering, though, that it's not your regular RPG. It's hard, tactical, and turn-based. There's a contrast to many other Game Boy Advance games of the time, but it does ease you into things with an extensive tutorial and an easier early game. Once you get past that, the deaths of your party members are permanent, and that's when the real fun begins. With the ramp up in difficulty comes an equal acceleration in story. Intelligent Systems hasn't wasted words, possibly due to the small screen. Dialogue says everything it can while remaining concise, the mark of good writers and a carefully constructed plot. Characterization is a strong point in the series, and it still shines in this game. You fight with tooth, nail, and magic as you try to reunite Lyn with her grandfather, switching out party members and getting to know each of them. This all combines with pixel art from some of its greatest creators. Subtleties in animation and spectacularly detailed backgrounds still look great today, and the game plays just as timelessly.