Overview
Turn-based excellence. Intelligent Systems became Nintendo’s strategy game specialists, creating Fire Emblem’s permadeath tactical combat, Advance Wars’ accessible warfare, and Paper Mario’s charming RPG adventures. Their games combined deep systems with Nintendo’s polish, building devoted fan bases for genres often considered niche.
Fast facts
- Founded: 1986.
- Relationship: Nintendo second-party.
- Speciality: Strategy, RPG.
- Tools: Also developed Nintendo dev tools.
Major franchises
| Series |
First entry |
| Fire Emblem |
1990 |
| Advance Wars (Famicom Wars) |
1988 |
| Paper Mario |
2000 |
| WarioWare |
2003 (co-developed) |
Fire Emblem
| Element |
Innovation |
| Permadeath |
Units die permanently |
| Tactical combat |
Grid-based strategy |
| Support system |
Character relationships |
| Story focus |
Narrative-driven |
Advance Wars
| Element |
Design |
| Accessibility |
Easy to learn |
| CO powers |
Commander abilities |
| Map editor |
User creation |
| Multiplayer |
Competitive focus |
Paper Mario
| Element |
Approach |
| Visual style |
Paper aesthetic |
| Combat |
Timed button presses |
| Humour |
Self-aware writing |
| Partners |
Companion abilities |
| Product |
Purpose |
| IS tools |
Nintendo development software |
| Sound tools |
Audio creation |
| Internal use |
First-party support |
Notable titles
| Title |
Year |
Platform |
| Famicom Wars |
1988 |
Famicom |
| Fire Emblem |
1990 |
Famicom |
| Paper Mario |
2000 |
N64 |
| Advance Wars |
2001 |
GBA |
| Fire Emblem: Awakening |
2012 |
3DS |
Awakening revival
| Impact |
Detail |
| Series saved |
Fire Emblem was ending |
| Commercial success |
Mainstream breakthrough |
| New audience |
Western expansion |
See also