VideoGame A masterpiece, and also a mess
Thracia is, to me, the best FE game. It's the game that epitomizes what FE should be: a well-told story with themes and ideas that are carried into the gameplay, an open structure designed such that no two playthroughs go the same, some of the best art on the SNES, and an intensely memorable feel. Every chapter is distinct, every character has something cool about them, and you could play it for years and still learn things about it.
Unfortunately, it's also a fairly inscrutable game that's struggling under the issues of its time. Fan translations do a lot to help it, but there are a fair number of chapters in the game that just aren't fun, even when you know what you're doing, especially the ones that spam ballistae. And god help you if you're trying to go for full recruitment and survival; Thracia is a game that likes to kill your characters and laugh about it, and that's something you have to either tough through or shrug off with an ironman. Paragon Mode does a lot to patch things up, though.
In terms of what it did for the franchise, though? Thracia did a lot. It's a quantum leap above its closest kin, Mystery of the Emblem, and its DNA runs proudly through both the GBA games and the Tellius duology. And Leif, to be frank, is my favorite Lord. He's a dark reflection of Marth but one done very well; he has a character arc that works wonderfully and it's carried through in the gameplay. He's scrappy, arrogant, and impulsive, but has the capacity to learn and grow. He deals with issues that feel far more "real" than any other FE. And he's surrounded by one of the most motley and dysfunctional armies in any FE game. His story is the story of little guys trying to take their home back, and it's done beautifully. That it's conveyed despite the actual writing being somewhat limited is an achievement that really needs to be seen.
So while it's not the best-crafted game, or the most approachable game, I consider it a game that needs to be experienced. There's an energy to it unlike any other game before or since, a sense of personality and idiosyncrasy. And once you break through that barrier of unfairness, you find a game that begs to be played, again and again.
VideoGame An Unusual Fire Emblem(Story Review)
While Fire Emblem games often differ from each other in various regards, Thracia is one of the ones that stands out the most- and not always in good ways. Because of the high difficulty level, as well as my being unable to find a way to play the game in English, I ended up watching the story on YouTube, and ended up enjoying it despite its flaws.
To start with, the game is an Interquel to Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War. It takes place after the Time Skip midway through the game, in the subcontinent of Thracia on the continent of Jugdral, and focuses on Leif, a secondary character in Genealogy, as he seeks to liberate his homeland.
One problem is that the game doesn't stand very well on its own, since it relies on knowing the context of the struggle in Genealogy, not to mention the roles played by various characters who make cameos. Despite this, the story has good worldbuilding that helps flesh out Thracia as a setting, and while the conflict is small-scale, it's deeply personal for Leif and his allies.
The characters are a mixed bag.
On the positive side, some of the more notable characters are well-done. Leif is one of the more down-to-earth Lords, who comes off as naive and makes poor decisions, but grows into the role of a leader over time. August plays off Leif well as a more cynical but wiser advisor, and serves the role better than Merlinus did in Binding Blade. Reinhardt is a memorably Tragic Villain, being someone who had the potential to become a great man but ends up being little more than an accomplice to atrocities due to his misguided sense of honor. Olwen, Reinhardt's younger sister, serves as a good foil to her brother as she shows the courage to fight for what she believes is right. The group as a whole comes off as very much a Ragtag Bunch of Misfits, including even children and criminals among their number, which is reflected in the gameplay.
Now for the negatives. Veld- a lackey of major Genealogy antagonist Manfroy- is one of the most forgettable villains in Fire Emblem history(as well as a disappointingly easy Final Boss by most accounts), and his accomplice Raydrik isn't much better. Many of the recruitable characters have barely any personality or even dialogue, which is a shame, since the diverse array of characters could have led to some interesting interactions.
In the end, the game ends on a bit of a Foregone Conclusion if you've played Genealogy- Leif survives his battles, but needs Seliph's help to win the war. In another unfortunate consequence of the game's status as an Interquel, most of the Thracia-exclusive characters disappear and are never seen again after the events of this game.
Despite Thracia's narrative flaws, I can appreciate its differences from other games in the series. As such, if you're a Fire Emblem fan, Thracia is worth experiencing at least once, whether you play it or watch it.