The Phantom Ship map is so funny to me because it feels so strange compred to the large majority of FE8 maps. It has actually decently strong enemies hidden in fog, it features strong reinforcements that will likely catch you off guard and you can't even low man the map reliably a lot of the time, because you might struggle to reach the other ship before L'Arachel dies. It feels like an FE6 map in its design and I can't help but respect the sudden huge difficulty spike.
5x is mostly a story map, but it does introduce the concepts of lords being good, vulnerary/elixer management (it's the first real map without a healer), and OP weapons. Also that you can keep winning even if most of your army is lost.
Some shops have different items in them during the chapter and after. Most notably the nosferatu tome cannot be bought from the world map shops but the Chapter 17 shop sells them when you are playing the chapter.
Chapter 4 is the first time the game introduces you to the HIGHLY threatening monster enemies such as Revenants that get 1v1'd by Ross and 100 exp bomb Entombeds
Revenants that get 2HKOd by 0AS steel axe level 1 Ross and cannot double him. (although to be fair ... steel axe Ross actually has pretty respectable attack)
I actually quite like the ephraim chapter, the game tells you h3y we have limited supplies and have to eke our way thru this mission, and it rly feels like it. I like the managing your super limited heals and trading around the weapons. I like when the games kinda forcibly say, here's your limited team that will always be the same challenge for this one chapter. RD also has a couple maps like this that I rly enjoy too, like the brom Nephenee chapter for instance
By no means do I love 5x, but I think that the concept is very cool. It's you, three other units (two if you don't want to waste EXP on Orson, one if you're also Mekkah) and a whole bunch of enemies. I've seen a lot of players and romhacks "fix" the map by making one of the walls breakable so you can skip the giant loop, which generally helps make it more fun imo
To prove how bad 12 Eirika is, I showed Village of Silence's map to someone who has never played FE8 before and asked if that sounded fun to him. His immediate response was 'Not in the slightest.' Jumpy23 was right, no one likes 12 Eirika.
Reading this comment gave me an idea, so I went and asked ChatGPT: > How do you feel about Chapter 12 from Eirika's route of Sacred Stones? And it responded: > Chapter 12 in Eirika's route of Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is an interesting one! It’s titled “The Sacred Stone” and features a significant twist in the story. The chapter takes place in the ruins of an ancient temple where Eirika and her allies face off against a powerful enemy force. > One of the standout aspects of this chapter is the way it builds tension and drama. The setting and the stakes are high, which makes for a thrilling experience. Additionally, this chapter deepens the narrative by revealing more about the conflict and the stakes involved, especially concerning the Sacred Stones and their significance to the plot. > If you're playing through this chapter, you'll find it has a good mix of strategic elements and story development. It’s a memorable part of the game, and many players appreciate how it advances the plot and challenges their tactical skills. How did you find it? Looks like sentient AI is still a ways off, folks 😁
I actually really enjoy 5x because of the story elements. Even if the map design isn't great, there's just something about storming a castle with only 4 men that makes you feel like an absolute chad.
5:20 I've been working on an FE8 hack for a bit that changes this fighter to a swordmaster who drops a killing edge. Made sure Forde and Orson are the only ones who can use it at that point. Kill two birds with one stone Also: yes please more tier lists, love the map tier list idea but I'm a sucker for any tier list content haha
I get what you're saying with the Ch 15 take but like can we be real here? It's unknowable rng-based treasure tiles you have to look up ahead of time to get some of your best items in the entire game; that's just really scuffed game design
It's a bit better in FE7 where you know they're always near bones but yeah it's a bit scuffed. I did say I was rating them from the perspective of an experienced player though!
@@Mekkkah yeah but even though I’ve beat this game at least 6 times, scorched sands shows up and it’s always like “ah fuck my life time to pull up serenesforest again”
my main issue with that map is that it includes a non-trivial amount of inherent RNG. 2 berserkers that have crit chances against most units (and while you get the hopplon guard there, you have to beat a very dodgy boss on the other side of the map for it). Valter has a spear that also has non-trivial crit rates. Caellach is friggin impossible to hit sometimes. Getting the items is, for most characters, also based on RNG. And then there is this disproportional "blob" of enemies at the bottom that can be tricky to dismantle without facing CoDs at least once. Also, the dude that can reach Knoll when he gets the master seal has a crit chance against him. #unplayable
@@IschmarVI I don't like RNG either especially in long maps, but I don't entirely agree with this complaint. I agree the bosses are a bit hard to hit and sometimes they have low% crit on you. But Duessel on a fort pretty much can't die to the bottom group, and he's always available regardless of route. The items are RNG, but if you miss you can try again next turn at no real cost, so unless you're doing a challenge run it doesn't impact your run much at all. And the Master Seal enemy...idk maybe don't have the 0 luck unit grab the Master Seal on turn 1 then, this seems like a strategy issue more than a map design one. Literally have anyone else do it.
I agree with most general placements. Things I would change (text incoming): CH3 in B because it plays very slow, even for an early game map. But maybe that's just enjoyment. CH9A in S because I found little reason not to. There is not that much chapter left once it calms down and I am not giving it a downstrike for it. CH11A maybe in B, but that's likely taste: I agree with most that has been said. It has some tricky reinforcements and in my memory L'Arachel and Dozla ARE in danger if you wait too long, so there is anti-turtling. I believe that makes a B map here. - also fine with C. CH11B is A tier for me. What I don't like about the map is the FoW obscuring that the Mogalls and Gargoyles are there, but do not move: they appear out of nowhere if you do not know they are there, because they don't signal as reinforcements. (And I don't like the Deathgoyle's Short Spear killing me at the end). But once you know the map, it is a very challenging and fun map. I never had to play it with dropping Duessel and Seth on the ship and don't believe low-manning is the easiest way to go: in turn leads to more player phase and less enemy phase action. And it has epic proportions and there is excitement to me when it comes up and that is are hard to ignore. A tier for me - poor use of FoW keeping it from S. (For a first time playthrough it can go lower, but that argument can also very well be made for CH19). CH17 is B or A for me. I rarely rush a boss and don't think I would hold it against a map that you could with some effort. I never felt that it makes you feel that is required or the intended way to go. And the enjoyment thing - wouldn't say 'eh'. Don't feels fair next to CH7. CH18 I would maybe put in A, but I see the point of B. I still want to reward it for the Gorgon Egg mechanic though. CH20 I'd say B. Can feel epic on some days and very tedious on others. Hate it when the end goes wrong. But I don't think it is a bad map as a map: it is the finale after all and feels like it in enemy numbers - which imo are not that easy. Sure the Wights are, but those Gwyllgi and Elder Baels? More of a tier-definition thing: most of what you have in D, I label as 'training maps' and I do not object to the presence of theseof maps (worst maps but I won't call them bad). They reach my C tier when I deem them well placed in the game structure. This gives an extra redeeming factor to CH9B, 12A and 12B given what they lead up to (or follow in case of double maps). So my D-tier is 5x - though it is nice for story, it has in play about as much variation as the prologue - and 14A: a tedious training map with a horrible boss, the mentioned weird 1-way door mechanics, a lot of walking and waiting and a bit anti-climactic for a CH14 compared to Ephraim's Grado Keep. Even when you take into account Eirika's route is supposed to be easier, there are a lot of other ways to do so and I never enjoy it much. Spelvreugde doet veel.
Loved FE8 when I played through it as a kid, and playing through it again now I'm still a huge fan, but I hear a lot of vitriol towards it online. Is it just because you can solo seth stomp the whole thing on vanilla difficulties?
@@Mekkkah It's not the same chapter obviously. The idea is pretty much identical and the implementation is a tier better. I guess you mean that also starting on the right side makes it more unique?
The Phantom Ship map is so funny to me because it feels so strange compred to the large majority of FE8 maps. It has actually decently strong enemies hidden in fog, it features strong reinforcements that will likely catch you off guard and you can't even low man the map reliably a lot of the time, because you might struggle to reach the other ship before L'Arachel dies.
It feels like an FE6 map in its design and I can't help but respect the sudden huge difficulty spike.
Agreed, I love it for that spike
Mekkah really forgot thracia when talking about games with rescue I can’t I’m going to cry in my pillow rn
actually i was trying to think of games with tutorials and thracia has 0 of those
@@Mekkkah smh not counting the tutorial VHS
It also has kidnapping too
Technically, village of silence is peak map design because most of the map is peak tiles.
i genuinely really like this map actually bc it makes for a pretty challenging and interesting efficient run
It's funny since the "Not Peak" text for village of silence in the thumbnail is even over some peaks so I thought this was some April's Fools joke
5x is mostly a story map, but it does introduce the concepts of lords being good, vulnerary/elixer management (it's the first real map without a healer), and OP weapons. Also that you can keep winning even if most of your army is lost.
Some shops have different items in them during the chapter and after. Most notably the nosferatu tome cannot be bought from the world map shops but the Chapter 17 shop sells them when you are playing the chapter.
Perhaps even more notably are the reaver weapons in that same map if i recall
I hope this "series" continues, I would love to see how all the FE games compare.
Chapter 4 is the first time the game introduces you to the HIGHLY threatening monster enemies such as Revenants that get 1v1'd by Ross and 100 exp bomb Entombeds
Revenants that get 2HKOd by 0AS steel axe level 1 Ross and cannot double him.
(although to be fair ... steel axe Ross actually has pretty respectable attack)
I'm really scared of these "stronger than human" enemies
Mekkah talking about FE8's dessert map: It doesn't have fog, which makes it a lot better
Also Mekkah: Gives FE6 Arcadia A tier
I actually quite like the ephraim chapter, the game tells you h3y we have limited supplies and have to eke our way thru this mission, and it rly feels like it. I like the managing your super limited heals and trading around the weapons. I like when the games kinda forcibly say, here's your limited team that will always be the same challenge for this one chapter. RD also has a couple maps like this that I rly enjoy too, like the brom Nephenee chapter for instance
I love hearing you breakdown maps like this would love it for some of the other games.
One time in a draft run I fed Forde literally every kill on 5x and ever since it's become a horrible habit every time i've played FE8 since
I missed cormag in the canyon map because Seth just walked right with a javelin and basically soloed the map.
By no means do I love 5x, but I think that the concept is very cool. It's you, three other units (two if you don't want to waste EXP on Orson, one if you're also Mekkah) and a whole bunch of enemies. I've seen a lot of players and romhacks "fix" the map by making one of the walls breakable so you can skip the giant loop, which generally helps make it more fun imo
To prove how bad 12 Eirika is, I showed Village of Silence's map to someone who has never played FE8 before and asked if that sounded fun to him. His immediate response was 'Not in the slightest.' Jumpy23 was right, no one likes 12 Eirika.
It's by far the worst in the game, it's like 5x, but 3 times longer.
Reading this comment gave me an idea, so I went and asked ChatGPT:
> How do you feel about Chapter 12 from Eirika's route of Sacred Stones?
And it responded:
> Chapter 12 in Eirika's route of Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones is an interesting one! It’s titled “The Sacred Stone” and features a significant twist in the story. The chapter takes place in the ruins of an ancient temple where Eirika and her allies face off against a powerful enemy force.
> One of the standout aspects of this chapter is the way it builds tension and drama. The setting and the stakes are high, which makes for a thrilling experience. Additionally, this chapter deepens the narrative by revealing more about the conflict and the stakes involved, especially concerning the Sacred Stones and their significance to the plot.
> If you're playing through this chapter, you'll find it has a good mix of strategic elements and story development. It’s a memorable part of the game, and many players appreciate how it advances the plot and challenges their tactical skills. How did you find it?
Looks like sentient AI is still a ways off, folks 😁
I actually really enjoy 5x because of the story elements. Even if the map design isn't great, there's just something about storming a castle with only 4 men that makes you feel like an absolute chad.
Mekkah, can you fix them? (= Make them all A-tier or better)
It might make for a fun video to try and fix those maps.
Wait I love this idea
that *is* a fun idea
heck yeah been hoping for this since the FE6 one. Thanks mekkah
I really hope these continue. I’m guessing FE7 might be next? Whatever game you end up tiering will be a fun watch!
5:20 I've been working on an FE8 hack for a bit that changes this fighter to a swordmaster who drops a killing edge. Made sure Forde and Orson are the only ones who can use it at that point. Kill two birds with one stone
Also: yes please more tier lists, love the map tier list idea but I'm a sucker for any tier list content haha
There's also a unique glitch in fe8 where you can repair Myrh's dragonstone on Chapter 18
I agree with all your map rankings, didn't expect that but I guess it's just SS being uncontroversial as usual.
I get what you're saying with the Ch 15 take but like can we be real here? It's unknowable rng-based treasure tiles you have to look up ahead of time to get some of your best items in the entire game; that's just really scuffed game design
It's a bit better in FE7 where you know they're always near bones but yeah it's a bit scuffed. I did say I was rating them from the perspective of an experienced player though!
@@Mekkkah yeah but even though I’ve beat this game at least 6 times, scorched sands shows up and it’s always like “ah fuck my life time to pull up serenesforest again”
my main issue with that map is that it includes a non-trivial amount of inherent RNG. 2 berserkers that have crit chances against most units (and while you get the hopplon guard there, you have to beat a very dodgy boss on the other side of the map for it). Valter has a spear that also has non-trivial crit rates. Caellach is friggin impossible to hit sometimes. Getting the items is, for most characters, also based on RNG. And then there is this disproportional "blob" of enemies at the bottom that can be tricky to dismantle without facing CoDs at least once.
Also, the dude that can reach Knoll when he gets the master seal has a crit chance against him. #unplayable
@@IschmarVI I don't like RNG either especially in long maps, but I don't entirely agree with this complaint. I agree the bosses are a bit hard to hit and sometimes they have low% crit on you. But Duessel on a fort pretty much can't die to the bottom group, and he's always available regardless of route. The items are RNG, but if you miss you can try again next turn at no real cost, so unless you're doing a challenge run it doesn't impact your run much at all. And the Master Seal enemy...idk maybe don't have the 0 luck unit grab the Master Seal on turn 1 then, this seems like a strategy issue more than a map design one. Literally have anyone else do it.
I love ALL Mekkah videos!!!! ❤
I agree with most general placements.
Things I would change (text incoming):
CH3 in B because it plays very slow, even for an early game map. But maybe that's just enjoyment.
CH9A in S because I found little reason not to. There is not that much chapter left once it calms down and I am not giving it a downstrike for it.
CH11A maybe in B, but that's likely taste: I agree with most that has been said. It has some tricky reinforcements and in my memory L'Arachel and Dozla ARE in danger if you wait too long, so there is anti-turtling. I believe that makes a B map here. - also fine with C.
CH11B is A tier for me. What I don't like about the map is the FoW obscuring that the Mogalls and Gargoyles are there, but do not move: they appear out of nowhere if you do not know they are there, because they don't signal as reinforcements. (And I don't like the Deathgoyle's Short Spear killing me at the end). But once you know the map, it is a very challenging and fun map. I never had to play it with dropping Duessel and Seth on the ship and don't believe low-manning is the easiest way to go: in turn leads to more player phase and less enemy phase action. And it has epic proportions and there is excitement to me when it comes up and that is are hard to ignore. A tier for me - poor use of FoW keeping it from S. (For a first time playthrough it can go lower, but that argument can also very well be made for CH19).
CH17 is B or A for me. I rarely rush a boss and don't think I would hold it against a map that you could with some effort. I never felt that it makes you feel that is required or the intended way to go. And the enjoyment thing - wouldn't say 'eh'. Don't feels fair next to CH7.
CH18 I would maybe put in A, but I see the point of B. I still want to reward it for the Gorgon Egg mechanic though.
CH20 I'd say B. Can feel epic on some days and very tedious on others. Hate it when the end goes wrong. But I don't think it is a bad map as a map: it is the finale after all and feels like it in enemy numbers - which imo are not that easy. Sure the Wights are, but those Gwyllgi and Elder Baels?
More of a tier-definition thing: most of what you have in D, I label as 'training maps' and I do not object to the presence of theseof maps (worst maps but I won't call them bad). They reach my C tier when I deem them well placed in the game structure. This gives an extra redeeming factor to CH9B, 12A and 12B given what they lead up to (or follow in case of double maps).
So my D-tier is 5x - though it is nice for story, it has in play about as much variation as the prologue - and 14A: a tedious training map with a horrible boss, the mentioned weird 1-way door mechanics, a lot of walking and waiting and a bit anti-climactic for a CH14 compared to Ephraim's Grado Keep. Even when you take into account Eirika's route is supposed to be easier, there are a lot of other ways to do so and I never enjoy it much.
Spelvreugde doet veel.
Loved FE8 when I played through it as a kid, and playing through it again now I'm still a huge fan, but I hear a lot of vitriol towards it online. Is it just because you can solo seth stomp the whole thing on vanilla difficulties?
Mostly just cuz it's easy even without Seth, but a lot of people still regard it highly despite that
nice choice of White Bat's music
Does the gameplay footage that you put on came from your fe8 lunatic mode?
yep
Selena map is essentially FE6 14x with villages so it's one tier higher. I guess that makes sense
nah how? your units can't get stuck forever, Selena is only one Bolting not two, Gerik and Tethys make things different.
@@Mekkkah It's not the same chapter obviously. The idea is pretty much identical and the implementation is a tier better. I guess you mean that also starting on the right side makes it more unique?
Obligatory "How could you rate Ephraim 9 low? This is the map of the great Gheb." comment.^^
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5x is a D Tier because Forde is force deployed
Doesn't chapter 7 introduce ballista? The boss even mentions it
I forgot about chapter 12 for Ephraim. Doesn’t particularly stand out. Erika 12 stands out more by just being annoying.
The D is for the desert map
anything with an arena is peak
Does Mekkah hate any unit more than Forde?
Probley just Ronan.
@@funnynamehere1261 What do you mean he loves ronan
@@hajoeijgenraam295 got you
I feel like lots of people dread 5x. It's a very boring map, I just always use Orson to get it over wtih quicker.
This is my opinion *enter opinion here* I didn’t watch the video at all, I’m just sharing this. (Hi 44:00 :) )
I hate 5x too but i think it teaches new players that you cant hoard elixirs etc.
Nice
I don't disagree with most of your points although I would put most maps a tier higher
W
Did I miss something or did you just skip FE7 lol
I was gonna do FE7 but with FE7 Ranked already on-going I figured FE8 would be better
@@Mekkkah that makes sense, are you then going to take the ranks into account when you eventually get to the FE7 map tier list lol
@@Mekkkah I personally think there are a lot of annoying maps in fe7 so i'm curious for that ranking
@@scalarmotion I might mention ranks if I remember but since most people don't play ranked I don't think it makes sense to
D for forDe
chapter 5x SUCKS
Since its fe8 all maps go down 2 teirs