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Blessed Heart

Original game : Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Platform : GBA

Author : Shark3143

Release date : 30 June 2022

Category : Complete

Patch version : 1.1

Modifications : G, S, L, T

Downloads : 2560

ROM Information

Database match: Fire Emblem - The Sacred Stones (USA, Australia)
Database: No-Intro: Game Boy Advance (v. 20210227-023848)
File/ROM SHA-1: C25B145E37456171ADA4B0D440BF88A19F4D509F
File/ROM CRC32: A47246AE

Hack description

Blessed Heart is an original campaign that captures the classic Fire Emblem journey, but with some modern quality-of-life and polish.

Experienced veterans of Fire Emblem can comfortably start on hard, but the game is designed to be engaging no matter the difficulty. You'll need a tool such as NUPS to install the patch.

Blessed Heart includes:


For additional information, game documentation, full credits, discord link, and more, view the thread on Fire Emblem Universe.

Screenshots

Contributions

ContributorType of contributionDescription
SikkatyScript Editing/RevisionPrimary script editor
WasspixLevelsCreated visuals for several maps
MusicalcakesDesignContributed character designs, story concepts, and script contributions

Reviews

Solid hack that's very much worth a playthrough.Arbalist942024-01-05Version 1.1

Having just finished this hack some time ago, I've decided to leave some feedback and a review for those thinking about trying this.

Let me start by saying this hack does exactly what it promises: an all-new original campaign, maps that encourage you to play assertively instead of turtling, some very welcome gameplay changes (buyable ranged magic weapons, stat-boosting inventory items, bows being 1-2 range) and the branching promotion system allows you a nice degree of flexibility in building your army. Gold is tight and shops are sparse, so planning ahead about how to manage your inventory is very recommended.

Story-wise, the plot is solid and serviceable, but does not really differ from the basic FE fare. Those mostly interested in gameplay will find it more than sufficient, but the standard 'defending against an invading neighbour' is nothing too original. I will say that it is executed very well, with likeable characters and a bit of moral ambiguity at the end.

Characters are well-written and engaging, and supports are fully present. There's a wide variety of characters and classes to choose from, and with viewable growth rates you'll have a good idea about whether an unit is worth investing in or not. I've noticed several late-joining units who start with solid basis and have decent growth rates, so you won't end up in a state where your army simply can't finish the map.

The difficulty might be a bit on the lax side if you're used to some of the other tough-as-nails hacks that are out there. I managed a blind first playthrough with just two deaths, and while there were definitely a few curveballs here and there regarding optional objectives I've gotten through most of the maps just fine (this is without save-states, RNG abuse or the like). Given that I made some silly choices regarding character deployment and spending gold, I assume a more thoughtful player might have an easier time. If you're confident in your FE skills I'd suggest starting on Hard Mode straight away.

I missed out on the Gaiden chapter, which I didn't find out about until later. For those who don't mind spoilers or like a bit of outside assistance, I would recommend you visit the FE Universe page, as the hack comes with its fair share of documentation and tips.

All in all, this is a very good romhack and I want to give props to the authors for delivering a solid and enjoyable FE experience (having the starter thief turn out to be very viable is a nice touch). This could by all accounts pass for an official FE game, which speaks volumes to its quality. My sole point of critique is that there are a LOT of GBA hacks out there, and this one might be struggling to distinguish itself from some very stiff competition. Still, I can whole-heartedly say this is worth playing if you haven't done so yet!'