This in particular has a complicated answer, the short version of which is if you’re interested, try the game and see what you think. Whatever the failures of these games, they are outweighed by their successes. One thing that makes them a pleasure to go back to is how the story is presented. Very handsome character portraits and a good script go a long way.
nuts & bolts answer
Path of Radiance offers two options for character animation during battle, “on” and “off,” which are somewhat misleading.
- On = usual FE thing where larger character models in a separate screen engage in an animated fight. The animations are not, to my eye, particularly attractive.
- Off = the map models swing itty bitty swords at each other. Still takes more time than the GBA games when animations are set to Off.
Radiant Dawn is an improvement in both directions, and offers three options:
- On = animations are better than PoR, and so is the music.
- Map = similar to PoR’s Off setting
- Off = all battle animations deactivated except movement and HP/EXP bars, but holding the Accept button acts as a fast-forward option
I prefer the GBA animations; tended to skip Awakening’s animations; played most of Path of Radiance with animations “Off,” and most of Radiant Dawn set to “On” (unless I died and had to restart from a save, in which case I set to “Off” and fast-forwarded).
All item shops and armories are accessed from base camp between chapters, although special items are still hidden in chests or held by enemies in maps.