sacredechoes

[sacredechoes]

I'm thinking of trying my hand at some GBA Fire Emblem ROM hacking, and I was wondering, what software/program/whatever was used to make Sacred Echoes?

My workflow for Sacred Echoes ended up being pretty similar to how the original devs built FE8 - meaning I was mostly working with source code and the compiler with various command-line utilities to convert my asset files into a data format the GBA could handle. When I started the project in mid-2018, I already had some formal education and work experience in programming, so I was past the steepest part of the learning curve for these specific tools.

Please note that my methods are NOT the methods I would recommend for a first project unless you're already familiar with the software development process and using command-line tools. I went into Sacred Echoes knowing I would need to write a bunch of custom code to modify the game mechanics beyond what the beginner tools at the time allowed me to do, so I chose the more complex path. If you're looking for an all-in-one graphical editor that's more friendly to beginners, FEBuilder is amazing and constantly updated with new functions. Whichever method you decide on using, the FE Universe forum and discord are full of resources, tutorials, and helpful people, and I wouldn't have been able to succeed without them. Best of luck on your project!

That said, here's all the technical details and links to all the tools I used:

Sacred Echoes was built using a combination of GNU make (a build system used to automatically detect and compile changes to source code in large projects) and Event Assembler, a utility primarily built for editing the GBA Fire Emblem games. Event Assembler is used with a method called the buildfile, which is essentially a fancy text file with instructions for Event Assembler to insert source files into a ROM and linking different parts together. This meant I used different tools for creating each type of data. Unlike with a ROM editor (such as FEBuilder), I wasn't constantly saving my changes to the same ROM file, but instead freshly building it each time I made a change and wanted to test. This meant that if I messed up (very common when writing custom code), I could just comment out the relevant code or instructions in the buildfile and rebuild from source, rather than try to pick through the ROM by hand to fix issues.

There were cases where I would need to view and edit raw binary data with a hex editor (usually to find a pointer to compressed graphics or a data table); I prefer HxD for that.

For graphics, use any program that can edit and save .PNG files (I used MS Paint and GIMP), and then a tool for game graphics called Usenti to put them into a format the GBA can read. If you need to find and rip graphics from a ROM to edit them, GBAGE is the gold standard (and comes built-in to FEBuilder).

Maps are built from the tileset graphics using a program called Tiled.

For music, the GBA uses MIDI sequences, so any audio program with MIDI support works fine for that. (I used Anvil Studio). The MIDI file is then converted to GBA with a utility called midi2agb.

For unit data and other large data structures, I used a spreadsheet in CSV format, which can be edited with a program like Excel or LibreOffice Calc.

For map events and loading units, the GBA FE games use a scripting language called Event Assembler Language, which just gets written in a raw .txt file. A good plaintext editor like Notepad++ or SublimeText can help keep track of language syntax and keywords.

For assembly code, it is also written in a text editor, and then compiled to bytecode with devkitARM. Most of it I wrote in raw ARM assembly language (which is specific to the GBA's CPU), but in more complex cases towards the end of the project I wrote the code in the C programming language and compiled it with devkitARM.

To keep track of my source files and changes, and to make backups and version control easier, I just used GitHub because I already had an account, but you could also use GitLab or Bitbucket instead.

Finally, I used some tools made by the FE hacking community specifically for automating some tasks and formatting data - most of these are Python scripts, but some can be downloaded as compiled executables. I used "lyn", "TMX2EA", "C2EA", TextProcess and ParseFile, and AnimationAssembler. Ask on the FEU discord or check the forum's toolbox tag.

#rom hack #rom hacking

[sacredechoes]

I interpreted Conrad as already being aroace given the canon text of his ending!

But I will go ahead and confirm that Lukas and Conrad were written here as explicitly aroace. Lukas and Python's support from the DLC is here and unchanged, which is incredibly strong evidence for aroace Lukas in canon, and Conrad's new support with Boey does have him bring up that romance is "completely foreign" to him and he doesn't give those matters any thought.

Hey! So I've heard a lot about your ROM hack, and I want to know if the rumors I've heard about more characters being queer is true. The TV Tropes page said Jesse was made trans which is metal as hell (tysm for that), but there's no way that was the only character made queer. I'm only on chapter 7 and there's no wiki, and I don't have time to play fire emblem at the moment, so can I get like the full list of queered-up characters or smth? Thanks!

(P.s. I think the ROM hack is interesting I'll have to see how it goes as I play more, whenever that happens, but it's been a neat experience so far)

Hi, thanks for the ask! Quite a few characters have new supports and/or endings with each other:

Acantha and Silque's support chain is romantic

Valbar is straight but is a close friend to Leon and they actually discuss what Leon's feelings mean for their friendship

Leon and Atlas's support chain is romantic

Kamui and Leon's support is a bit flirtier than the original

Nomah and Mycen used to be seeing each other ~30-40 years ago and can get back together with A support

Fernand's feelings for Clive are explicitly romantic and play a major role in his character arc

Clive has some repressed bisexuality he comes to terms with in light of his history with Fernand

Forsyth and Python have a bit more chemistry going on (beyond what they already did) but it's left open

Clive and Jesse are old friends and Jesse's backstory is revealed in their support

Silque and Faye's supports have been rewritten to touch more on Faye's feelings for Celica (this one's more just subtext)

[sacredechoes]

Hey! So I've heard a lot about your ROM hack, and I want to know if the rumors I've heard about more characters being queer is true. The TV Tropes page said Jesse was made trans which is metal as hell (tysm for that), but there's no way that was the only character made queer. I'm only on chapter 7 and there's no wiki, and I don't have time to play fire emblem at the moment, so can I get like the full list of queered-up characters or smth? Thanks!

(P.s. I think the ROM hack is interesting I'll have to see how it goes as I play more, whenever that happens, but it's been a neat experience so far)

Hi, thanks for the ask! Quite a few characters have new supports and/or endings with each other:

Acantha and Silque's support chain is romantic

Valbar is straight but is a close friend to Leon and they actually discuss what Leon's feelings mean for their friendship

Leon and Atlas's support chain is romantic

Kamui and Leon's support is a bit flirtier than the original

Nomah and Mycen used to be seeing each other ~30-40 years ago and can get back together with A support

Fernand's feelings for Clive are explicitly romantic and play a major role in his character arc

Clive has some repressed bisexuality he comes to terms with in light of his history with Fernand

Forsyth and Python have a bit more chemistry going on (beyond what they already did) but it's left open

Clive and Jesse are old friends and Jesse's backstory is revealed in their support

Silque and Faye's supports have been rewritten to touch more on Faye's feelings for Celica (this one's more just subtext)

#sacred echoes

[sacredechoes]

Clive and Fernand's support chain from Sacred Echoes. Functioning somewhat more like a memory prism and unlocked after the game's completion, this reveals the backstory of Clive and Fernand's relationship as we follow its deterioration across several years.

#fire emblem #fe echoes #fire emblem echoes #fe15 #shadows of valentia #fe supports #fe clive #fe fernand #sacred echoes #fire emblem sacred echoes #Youtube

[sacredechoes]

I'm half tempted to make e-reader support for this project lmfao

#amiibo connection seems to be a bust #so this is how i would put marth/roy/etc in

[sacredechoes]

Acantha from the Echoes demake @sacredechoes :D

#fanart #se acantha #this is so lovely omg

[sacredechoes]

Sacred Echoes - v1.1 Release

The Valentia demake returns, with new features, a host of bugfixes, and a full Spanish translation!

Added in this update are:

All 46 fully playable chapters, 8 dungeons, and 1 side chapter in both English and Spanish patches

Options to customize your playstyle with growths configuration and RNG settings

Pitchforks to customize your team and max out your favorite units

New CG graphics

Better UX for equipping and unequipping rings, shields, and accessories

Several new music tracks

Turn count tracking across your entire run

The game is now available on FEUniverse!

#fe15 #shadows of valentia #fire emblem echoes #fe echoes #sacred echoes #fire emblem sacred echoes #rom hack #fire emblem #Youtube

[sacredechoes]

Fire Emblem: Battle of Revolution Translation

For April Fools' 2017, Nintendo of Japan put up a joke page announcing a Fire Emblem game starring Valbar, Leon, and Kamui set in the Meiji era. The page is archived and some in the English fandom have heard of it, but I don't know if the page ever got a full translation.

Below the cut is my attempt at localizing the text of this page.

Fire Emblem: 維新大乱 ~Battle of Revolution~

(see note 1)

A return to where it all started…

"For 15 years since taking on the role of Fire Emblem series producer, I have been thinking about how to make the game more accessible to a wider audience. I have been thinking of new challenges to attract more customers, such as creating TMS#FE based on the idea of what would happen if we tried to make it a modern drama, or creating Fire Emblem Fates based on the idea of allowing people to enjoy multiple stories in parallel. In that sense, you could say that 'I want to increase the number of customers' is the starting point of my approach to Fire Emblem. And now, the theme I have decided on for further leaps forward for the Fire Emblem series is 'Jidai-geki' (historical drama). I have been working with Intelligent Systems to create a Fire Emblem game that takes place in the late Edo period and vividly depicts the activities of talented local warriors as they work to create a new world. Experience a passionate story of men in the late Edo period while maintaining the fun of playing with swords, bows, and sickles, bow effectiveness against flying ninjas, and other interesting aspects of the Fire Emblem series. Please look forward to Fire Emblem: Battle of Revolution!" - Hitoshi Yamakami, Nintendo Co.

STORY

Some things are more precious than life itself...

In a time called "Bakumatsu", the sun has begun to set on Edo and the Tokugawa Shogunate. A great famine stretches on, and many communities near their breaking points. The world of Edo is burdened by a state of terrible unrest. Though the land of Hi-no-moto has observed a long period of isolationism, the waves of distant nations have begun to break on its shores regardless.

In a distant corner in the countryside of the fiefdom of Barenshia lives a man named Barubou. Our tale begins when he is unexpectedly appointed to the Sofia Security Corps, the bodyguards to the fiefdom's daimyo Seirika.

To bend the knee to the shogunate, or to advocate its overthrow? For either path this land might take, men clash fiercely with their beliefs held high and proud as banners.

Meeting a sworn ally, and then, farewell. With the nefarious conspiracies of the shogunate's underbelly unfolding before his eyes, Barubou is shaken to his very core.

When all is said and done, which belief will he commit his faith to? The stage is set for this decisive battle in the port town of Toba...

GAME SYSTEM

Command your comrades to win the battle!

Playing the role of Barubou, you will work with your comrades to achieve each map's victory condition.

A profound and moving tale

Catch a glimpse into each major character's rich past through Imperial Orders ("sub-episodes"), as well as through Public Service ("sub-quests") packed throughout the region.

The permadeath feature that defines the Fire Emblem series persists in this instalment, and a unique new system using elements of hanafuda cards debuts in Battle of Revolution. Powerful animations breathe life into battles.

SPECIAL EDITION: Barenshia Emaki (Picture Scroll)

Scroll One: One Hundred Flowers Blooming (see note 2)

Scroll Two: A Friendship like Fish and Water

Scroll 1, which depicts the everyday lives, traditions, and culture of the people of Barenshia, and Scroll 2, which details the specifics of Barubou, Ren'o and Kamucho's lives not told in the main story, will be distributed as a set.

DLC

Running Marusu - Cost: Free

This epic quest follows Marusu, a young courier from Akaneia Fiefdom, which neighbors Barenshia Fiefdom. The boy's star-crossed fate compels Marusu to single-mindedly run around to every corner of Akaneia Fiefdom, and how all of his travels weave together to earn him the title of Daimyo of Akaneia Fiefdom.

※Delivery date yet to be announced.

CAST

馬流暴 Barubou (Valbar) (see note 3)

Despite his humble origins in a farming family, his natural talent together with his compassionate, sincere, and heroic personality led him to be selected as the head of the Sofia Security Corps. His hearty laugh is so powerful that it can even be heard at a distance of 1 ri away. Since entering his thirties, his few worries are mostly consumed these days by the size of his belly.

恋男 Ren'o (Leon) (see note 4)

A runaway ninja of the Iga school. His intense admiration for Barubou drove him to join the Sofia Security Corps to stay close to the object of his affections. Every day, he applies rouge to his eyelids a little differently in relentless pursuit of being the most fashionable man in the Security Corps. He is incredibly precise with his makeup brush, among other fine motor skills, and is often asked for help by the village girls.

暇武猪 Kamucho (Kamui) (see note 5)

Formerly a ronin. He once crossed blades with Barubou in the past, but was touched by the man's personality and joined the Sofia Security Corps. While he hates feeling constrained and lives an idle and carefree life, he has considerable skill with a sword. Although the pretty girl who advertises for the general store has caught his attention, he's never bothered to actually speak to her.

-----

Translation notes

(Ishin Tairan - lit. Revolution Uprising - "Ishin" often refers to "Meiji-Ishin" or Meiji Restoration). The game is set in Mie prefecture in historic Japan, in the Bakumatsu era. (between 1853-1867)

(T/N: simultaneous emergence of many talents and achievements; lit. hundred flowers blooming in profusion)

(T/N: written with kanji meaning lit. "Force of a Rushing Horse". The kanji on-reading give "Barubou", but could be kun-read as the name "Managashi Sueo")

(T/N: written with kanji for "love" and "man". Kanji on-reading give "Ren'o".)

(T/N: written with kanji for "leisure", "martial arts" and "boar". Kanji on-reading give "Kamucho".)

Kanji names are given for all characters and locations. As such I have romanized them very loosely rather than using official names (usually given in kana). As noted with the main cast's names, these kanji names are some degree of pun and not chosen solely for the sound. Celica's, for example, includes the kanji 聖 which means "holy" and 里 which can mean "place of origin", fitting as she grew up in a priory.

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Barenshia = 刃蓮死亜 = Valentia

Sofia = 素風亜 = Zofia

Seirika = 聖里香 = Celica

Marusu = 真瑠澄 = Marth

Akaneia = 茜亥亜 = Archanea

#fire emblem echoes #shadows of valentia #fe15 #battle of revolution #valentia translations

[sacredechoes]

Damn theres some very interesting looking Rom hacks this fee3. Never thought I'd see capture mechanics in a fbs game but here they are.

I'd never heard of Drums of war before but I'll definitely give it a try.

Anyway. Play Sacred Echoes. Absolutely fantastic romhack.

#sacred echoes videos #reviews

[sacredechoes]

SOON

New update coming soon:tm:

and by soon I mean Sunday at the latest

[sacredechoes]

New update coming soon:tm:

and by soon I mean Sunday at the latest

[sacredechoes]

A fairly coding-intensive new feature planned for the v1.1 update: improved options menu! Previously, upon choosing the difficulty level, only the option to play on Casual or Classic was given after that. The new menu adds the option for Fixed Growths Mode, 0% Growths, and 100% Growths.

You'll also be able to choose whether to play using the existing GBA-style RNG (where 2 RNs are rolled and averaged together), the single-roll NES-style RNG, or the 3DS-style RNG which Fates and SoV used that curves slightly in the player's favor.

Big thanks to Smethlyn and circleseverywhere for the jumping-off point as I settle back into working with C code.

#fire emblem sacred echoes

[sacredechoes]

(IDK IF THIS QUESTION WENT THRU THE FIRST TIME BC THERE WAS SOME BAD REQUEST THING U CAN IGNORE THIS IF U GOT THE FIRST ONE) omg there's a postgame?!!! how do u access it...

There's not much of one - it's roughly equivalent to Creature Campaign in FE8. It does include a boss rush map and bonus characters though.

To access it, go to the title screen and go to Extras -> Map -> select your Epilogue save. It will put you on the worldmap with both Alm and Celica available, and you can revisit dungeons and access shops. Switching lords will unlock the boss rush map as well.

When clearing a dungeon map or a boss rush map you also have a small chance of unlocking a randomly-selected bonus unit the next time you enter battle preps. There are 8 of these units. (the odds are a bit low so in the v1.1 release I'm increasing them lol)

#naoreco

[sacredechoes]

This cutscene still will be cropped to focus on Alm's hand in-game, but I did render his whole face.

#fire emblem echoes #shadows of valentia #fe15 #fe echoes #fe alm #alm fire emblem

[sacredechoes]

I missed drawing for fun

#fire emblem #fe15 #fe echoes #shadows of valentia #fe leon #this is partially in honor of Akira Sou's Sacred Echoes LTC on youtube #where leon is absolute MVP

[sacredechoes]

Really glad to hear it! That means a lot. We really wanted to make something that both would be more of what Valentia fans love, and also offer something worthwhile for people who didn't like the original game's gameplay.

so when i played echoes, this map was the one that made me quit the game for good.

the combination of the swamp, the archers, the unending monsters coming from the canters, and the fact that all my units sucked ass and i didn’t have any pegasi other than est cuz i didn’t know where to get palla and catria meant this whole thing was a nightmare. it was the kind of thing that felt less like a fun challenge to overcome like a lot of other hard fire emblem maps, but rather an exercise in patience and frustration, and this came after dozens of maps that could be categorized as either completely boring and unremarkable, or nearly as frustrating as this one. i had enough, i put the game down for good and googled the rest of the story so i could understand what people were talking about in online discussions to a degree.

anyway, i just beat this map in sacred echoes and the most frustrating part about it was that mae and est kept missing attacks when i was trying to feed kills to them for their promotions. the game gives you the other pegasus sisters for free, so you can’t possibly not have access to them unless they die. they also give you a warp user for free, you don’t have to go back for him either. the canter spawns in a handful of powerful necrodragons every few turns instead of like six to eight flying demons all the goddamn time, meaning you don’t get swarmed with weak bitches and instead have to think about dealing with just a couple big and powerful enemies instead. my entire army just felt more powerful, and i could actually use all my units to deal with the enemies instead of not being able to damage anything with anybody other than saber. also, my leon was a bow knight and could destroy the archers with ease. it’s actually remarkable how much better of a time i had with this map, cuz the layout was almost exactly the same (i couldn’t find a map layout online so just take my word for it).

anyway this game eats the original echoes up. i’m actually gonna be able to beat this and see the end of the story for myself. kudos to the designers for this one, it’s truly incredible what they managed to do here. if this were an official game it would probably be among the best in the series because i have so little to complain about.

#reviews

[sacredechoes]

Tags pass peer review :)

playing the sacred echoes rom hack and realizing echoes could’ve been really good if it wasn’t awful

#reviews