I haven't played Sacred Stones (i will soon, need to get through Kirby Superstar Ultra first), so i cannot attest to whether the return of the world map is a good thing, though i like the idea of double battles, but only so long as enemies can do it too, as it will throw a whole new dimension into strategy.

The aesthetics look generically anime, but as Khuutra pointed out, Fire Emblem has always looked generically anime in the art (according to what was the style of the day in anime at the time), just that the graphics have never really crept up to being able to portray that on their end until now.

The only thing i'm not sure i like is that it seems that the enemy units are all possessed or something. It'll definitely take me out of the story a bit if all the enemies i'm fighting are just mindless hordes rather than real people on the other side. The mindless drones thing bothered me whenever they brought it up in Radiant Dawn (like the corpses Ashera revived to do help the Disciples of Order do the fighting, or the elemental spirits allied to Sephiran and Ashera)

Correct, which means it is definite for this year, but my point is that NoE likely wouldn't have announced it by now if they weren't just running a subbed version of Japan's Nintendo Direct. NoA's Nintendo Direct addressed near-future releases, and so didn't address the game.

The whole Rainfall thing, of course, has shaken all confidence in NoA, so all bets are essentially off, but given that this is Fire Emblem, a game with an established sales history, chances are higher. FE12 was a fluke because of 3DS timing, which is why Europe didn't get it either.

FE is my most played series on every Nintendo platform barring the DS with SRW at a close second. This game looks good, though I'm a little disappointed with the models, I believe the 3DS could have easily replicated Radian Dawn's models and animations. This is still far better than those terrible DS models and animations though.

Anyone proficient in Japanese able to translate the new features for us? Would be greatly appreciated.

I just rewatched the trailer and noticed something: POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT!!!!






animated clip towards the end has Krom riding Silver Dragon. Will he be the first Dragon Rider Lord( to my knowledge)

Here's another one. No gameplay though

I really hope that NoA announces the localization at E3. I can't see any reason why they'd pass it up seeing as how the FE series has always sold decently well here (even that lazy port of FE1...eeeugh). I haven't gotten a 3DS yet (still working on some good DS/GBA games on my good old DS Phat), but I'd definitely drop money if I get confirmation of an FE and Monster Hunter hitting American shores.

I suspect NA will get a port toward the end of the year or at the beginning of the next, they no doubt have to translate a lot of voice work given the trailers, aside from text.

And besides FE, only other big game of note for that time for a Nintendo portable at the end of the year is the DS version of Pokemon Black/Whiter 2.