Fire Emblem will finally start the turnaround for Fire Emblem in the West, that's for sure. Declining sales for the series are probably the reason the second DS title wasn't localized. Nintendo is pushing Awakening pretty hard, enough that I hope it will be the best-selling iteration since the GBA titles.

It won't be a huge, blockbuster release. And it's not so much the game itself as the timing that matters. But February 4th is the day the 3DS begins its Western comeback, yes. Starting with Fire Emblem, but not necessarily because of it.

As I mentioned, Nintendo is pushing Fire Emblem pretty hard from what I can tell, so I expect it to have decent first-week sales (but no legs). It'll push hardware a little higher -- and it'll stay higher. The next week, North Amercians are hit with a few minor titles, Brain Age, Sonic Racing, and Pro Evolution Soccer, which should help maintain sales for a few weeks (though certainly not push them very far). At the end of February, Etrian Odyssey IV comes out, which should help keep sales up.

March is loaded to high hell with games that can (and should) push systems, like Castlevania, Monster Hunter, Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, and (above all) Luigi's Mansion. Finally, a cavalcade of big releases. Hardware should stay decent until Animal Crossing hits, and then get your body ready for Pokémon.

It could be killer app that 3ds needs. Maybe i will buy the bundle:)

you should definitely, its freaking awesome!

Could FE:A end up as the highest selling FE game yet? Possibly, but then again it isn't hard when the series isn't known for selling even over 1m copies per game. It won't be the catalyst for a turnaround in the West (Leave that to Pokemon), but it'll add some needed diversity to the 3DS's library.

I'd love to play FE:A myself, but not enough to shell out for a 3DS (I'd rather save for a Galaxy Note - sorry!).

It's definitely an excellent title and an asset but is too niche to boost sales itself.

If I understand you right, then I think yes. I believe that it will unleash this October though.

It's a good start on the SW front, but the assault on the HW front will have to wait.

It's a box that will be checked when people look into the 3DS library due to Pokemon/Smash Bros.

Not at all. It will not sell a lot, nor will it push hardware. It will be a fantastic game though.

It might give the 3DS a kickstart. 2011 saw strong sales because of Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart, and the $80 price cut, so 2012 struggled to keep up.

I think that effect is starting to wear off, so 3DS sales will only grow. Fire Emblem is the first of many games which will get people to buy a 3DS, but it's just a start. By end of March, anything is possible, with Luigi's Mansion, Monster Hunter Tri, and Castlevania. I think 3DS will have some growth, but not dominance.

I think Animal Crossing will bring 3DS dominance in North America, much like it's doing for Japan. However new XL system colours (The reason I haven't gotten a 3DS yet, but I do own Fire Emblem), or a system redesign will probably help a lot more to dominance.