We're about to dive headfirst into a true oddball of the Fire Emblem franchise: Fire Emblem Gaiden, or Fire Emblem 2, as it's known.

Forget what you know about the traditional Fire Emblem formula for a moment. Gaiden, released exclusively in Japan on the Famicom in 1988, throws a lot of conventions out the window. We're talking a sprawling world map to explore, freely traversable dungeons, character promotion at any level, magic learned by leveling up, and a whole host of other quirks that make it feel like a JRPG cousin of the main Fire Emblem series.

It stars two protagonists, Alm and Celica, childhood friends separated by fate who find themselves leading separate rebellions against the tyrannical Rigelian Empire. Their stories intertwine and clash, forcing them to make difficult choices that shape the fate of Valentia, a war-torn continent steeped in ancient secrets and divine powers.

While its mechanics are definitely a product of its time and can feel clunky compared to later entries, Fire Emblem Gaiden is a fascinating piece of Fire Emblem history. It's a bold experiment that, while flawed, introduced many concepts that would influence future installments. Think of it as the wild, experimental jazz album in Fire Emblem's discography - not always pretty, but definitely unique and undeniably important.