1.) It DOES have perma-death.
2.)Unless you're a 3 year old with no sense of strategy, the above doesn't matter.
3.) This game IS NOT a rip off of fire emblem, Fire emblem was first released in 2003. WARSONG was released in 1991. In other words this is Fire Emblems grand father. So if anything FE is a rip off of WS.

This game was a standard setter back in the day, you could literally have hundreds of units at a time(with descent graphics) and battles could take hours. The maps were huge and terrain was even a consideration, spells were cool and music was great, and not to be overlooked was the super long and engaging storyline. One of the most under rated games of all time.

If your like me and loved shining force you will love this game. Just don't expect quick battles with 12 troops. Try long battles with 100 troops. Oh and no towns to explore or anything like that. But trust me its worth whatever you pay.