Games like Fire Emblem but less weaboo

For the entire FE series?

Fates (Conquest Only), Heroes of Light and Shadow, Thracia 776 (warning, very high difficulty).

The Wii ones are OK.

Genealogy has the best story.

 

Play the 7th one (released as just Fire Emblem in the west). It has a mandatory tutorial the first playthrough (though there's a romhack to kill it) and is considered both one of the best in the series and the most beginner friendly even aside from the tutorial. Aside from the pair of archers, which suck in almost every game of the series, and maybe the fighters, most units that join before the endgame are at least decent (contrast with say... 6 where half the cast is garbage and another quarter can be RNG screwed into being awful). It has all the mechanics people think of as standard (even the self insert MC, but done in a way that's actually fine).

 

FE7 is a good beginner's game but it doesn't particularly stand out after that unless you really like the GBA artstyle.

 

There's people that don't?

 

5, 6, 7, 12. Especially higher difficulties and for rank.

GC and Wii one are apparently OK. Haven't played them.

4 is very cool but very flawed. To have fun playing it for rank you need to avoid the arena. Also the levels are too big. Shame.

 

HHM is pretty amazing IMO.

 

Are any of these significantly better than Awakening though?

 

All of them

 

Fates: Conquest is worth playing - just skip all dialogue instantly and play the fights.

If you're asking about the series as a whole: the GBA ones are a really nice entry and quite good. The "best" and people will usually say Genealogy / Thracia.

Basically Licorice is right. And yes they are all far better than Awakening, which is not worth playing.

 

Lots of great JRPG stuff was already recommended. Shining Force 2, Ogre Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance aint bad either, but its quite anime (of more tolerable "children fairytale" variety imho. Shining Force 3 was also good, there are fan translations around the net. Its also kinda animu, but of a more old school vibe.

But curiously, noone has mentioned Banner Saga yet. I only played the first one, combat is the exact formula, good plot, heavy c&c with save games transferring from game one to three. Should really sit down and do a full playthrough these days.

 

Alright, interesting.

Anyway I decided to give Trails in the Sky another crack so we'll see how that goes

 

Maybe a bit less FE , but you should take a look at Voidspire tactic , Alvora tactics and Horizons gates. Thoses 3 games are from the same guy.
If you can tolerate the pixel graphics , they are all decent tactical rpg

 

Vestaria Saga is on the pc and made by the guy that developed the older fire emblem games. I liked it quite a bit.

 

Any pre-Awakening Fire Emblem is less weeb and worth checking out.

 

Man, I think this is precisely what I’m looking for. Thanks! I know what my next Steam purchase is!