The best Fire Emblem game has finally come to Nintendo Switch Online. The GameCube classic Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance was announced as coming to the service during the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, and now it’s finally available for a download.
Originally released on the GameCube in 2005, Path of Radiance has never seen any kind of rerelease or digital version – until now. Physical copies, for years, have sold for hundreds of dollars on sites like eBay, and become increasingly difficult to find. Of course, keep in mind in order to access the game on GameCube Classics, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, which runs $49.99 for 12 months. Also a reminder that GameCube games are only playable on Switch 2.
Path of Radiance is the ninth main installment of the Fire Emblem series, and the first to feature fully 3D graphics. It takes place on the continent of Tellius, as the militaristic country of Daen seeks to conquer its surrounding allies — and launches a surprise attack on Crimea.
This is the game that introduced the blue-haired hero Ike, who’d become a Nintendo staple featured in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise. Ike is a member of the Greil Mercenaries, founded by his father. The group quickly gets embroiled in the war after Daein’s invasion, and Ike finds himself thrust into the mantle of leadership — grappling with a world of war and politics that he knows nothing about. But one thing Path of Radiance is exceptionally well-known for is its story and writing, often compared to the likes of Final Fantasy Tactics.
The world of Tellius is inhabited by two difference races, the human-like Beorc and the shapeshifting beast race Laguz. The game’s narrative heavily dives into topics of racism and discrimination. At the time, it was the most complex story Fire Emblem had ever seen, enhanced by features like pre-battle camp conversations that fleshed out characters — which would become a staple for later games.
A sequel to Path of Radiance, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, was released on the Nintendo Wii in 2007.
