I still got the freeze with mc emulation disabled, and on the first try too. Just because it worked one time for him doesn't mean it would work every time. As it still stands the crash rate is completely random.
But if you say you absolutely never got it, then it might be hardware specific just like those other titles. You're using a Wii U, right? I'm using a late 2008 Wii. It's an easy to test theory so it might be worth entertaining.
Any Wii U users having this problem?
Well I had the freeze with WiiU after chapter 1 when using pre 2.57. I saw someone mention the 59 block trick and tried it. He said he had got to chapter 4 without lockup.
Here are a few factors I can think we should check....
1. What is the MD5 for Fire Emblem and does the .iso being used match one dumped with cleanrip. I say this because I had multiple Geist isos that always locked. I finally borrowed from a buddy and dumped and it works. FE is rare game so most of us are likely using iso....If I had the damned game I would just use devo....lol.
2. Trimmed or not...l tend to stay away from it as it can cause problems so why add more variables.
3. I wonder if SD card speed is an issue for Virtual Memory card writes for some games. I am using a class10 32gb card to play FE but often use a class4 32gb to play all other confirmed working Nintendont games and it works fine.
BTW since I used fstfix and went uncompressed with Timesplitters 3 I have gotten thru 3 chapters without lockup. That is an awesome game and series....I wish they would make an HD trilogy and then a new game. Even though WiiU is only upscaling to 1080p some cube games look damned good for 10+ yrs old