Fire Emblem Heroes unites series all-stars on smartphones starting February 2nd

Update: Nintendo has since clarified that Fire Emblem Heroes will hit iOS on the exact same day as Android smart devices.

Original Story: Nintendo unveiled the free-to-play Fire Emblem Heroes for Android and iOS smart devices during its Direct presentation earlier this afternoon, and it really will be more or less the classic series experience on mobile. In the world of Fire Emblem Heroes, players become a summoner tasked with protecting a kingdom under fire by using their talents to call upon heroes from across the franchise history to form the resistance.

Players build their all-star roster of heroes by using "orbs" earned either through gameplay or (you guessed it) microtransactions. The core gameplay itself retains the turn-based strategy RPG battles that have defined the series complete with the rock-paper-scissors weapon triangle mechanic, though it appears you do not have to worry about permadeath with this mobile installment. Battle maps are designed as 8x6 grids, as Fire Emblem Heroes is designed to be played with your smartphone in "portrait" orientation like Super Mario Run; all the better for that one-handed experience on the go, we suppose.

Of course the stars of the show will be the heroes themselves, all of which will be given makeovers in Fire Emblem Heroes by a host of Japanese artists complete with all-new animated portraits and adorable super-deformed sprites during battle. It wouldn't be a mobile JRPG-ish game without the "gacha" system where players earn their heroes randomly as described earlier; it's a roll of the dice whether or not you'll get the hero you were looking for, but part of the fun with these mobile games is making use of what you did earn until you finally get the character of your dreams.

And like any good gacha game, even a particular hero will come in different "rarities" going up to a maximum 5-star rating. That's 5-stars for the finest potential in stats and skills, but fortunately players will have the opportunity to increase their heroes' strength (and rarity) with good ol' grinding in game modes outside of the main campaign. If you wish to resort to the hero lotto for that 5-Star Tharja, know that the orb costs go down as you make more summoning attempts in a single sitting. Hey, it's what the healer ordered since Super Mario Run's $10 USD price tag was apparently too much for you.

Unlike Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes will hit Android devices first this February 2nd 2017. Player can pre-register for the game on the Google Play store starting tomorrow. Details of the iOS release will be forthcoming. In the meantime, series fan can vote for the heroes they want to see join the launch lineup over at special "Choose Your Legends" mini-site.