Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE Encore is a role-playing game developed by Atlus and published by Nintendo. The title combines the aesthetics of two of the companies’ flag series’ – Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem. The game is set in modern-day Tokyo, attacked by extradimensional beings called Mirages. Members of Fortuna Entertainment talent agency team up with the Mirages standing on the side of good to stop the invasion. TMS features unique gameplay mechanics based around the protagonists’ profession as idols. The title received positive reviews from the critics, for elegantly combining the gameplay and visual aesthetics of Persona and Fire Emblem series.
Show off your talent in unique RPG gameplay
The core gameplay mechanics of TMS are similar to that of Atlus’ other series – Persona and Nintendo’s Fire Emblem. The player controls Aoi Itsuki, the protagonist of the game, as he explores Tokyo as well as Idolaspheres, from where the Mirages come from. Each place is inhabited by NPCs with which the player can interact. While traveling through the dungeon floors of Idolaspheres, the player will encounter puzzles, which can be solved by activating different switches and devices. Located around the dungeons are Mirage merchants, from whom the player can purchase items for the money earned from battles.
The combat in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #Fire Emblem is based on the turn-based battle system, where the player’s party can attack, cast spells and use items. Special Session attacks can be used if party member possess skills of a similar type, chaining them into a combination.
TMS features a unique mechanic – the Unity system, which involves developing the party’s skills in a place called Bloom Palace. There the player can develop two types of unities: battle-oriented Carnage and Radiant Unity used for creating permanent Radiant Skills. Other skills can be inherited by party members from the weapons they use.
The story of two worlds
When Aoi Itsuki signed up for the Fortuna Entertainment talent agency, he didn’t have much interest in becoming an idol. He only showed up to support his friend Tsubasa, whose dream is to become a pop star. When a group of extradimensional creatures called Mirages attacks the audition both Itsuki and Tsubasa attend, the couple is possessed by them to harvest their Performa energy. Itsuki and Tsubasa fight and cleanse their attackers, revealing them to be good. The Mirages ally with the protagonist to stop an even greater threat, that endangers both the Mirages’ world of Idolasphere and Tokyo, as well.
Reception
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore received positive reviews from the critics. Reviewers praised the combination of colorful aesthetics, music and idol industry themed story as well as complex and engaging gameplay mechanics, which made TMS one of the best JRPGs available for the Switch.
Key features
- Experience a unique combination of gameplay aesthetic represented by Atlus and Nintendo.
- Enter the world of idols and creatures from other dimensions in a captivating story.
- Enjoy the unique battle system based on developing various skills.
- Explore the dungeons of Idolasphere and take on side-quests.
- The Switch version of the game comes with all downloadable content, including new characters, costumes and more.
