Current Events > Should I buy Tokyo Mirage Sessions on Switch for $40?

(+) Yeah! (+)

That's $40 AUD, so maybe around $29 USD.

For those who have played this game and vanilla Persona 5 - how much distance would you say there is between this game and that one? I'm not expecting this game to be on the same level as Persona 5, especially in tone and presentation, but if the consensus is "if you liked that game, you'll probably like this one too" I'll bite the bullet and get it.

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Get the original Japanese version on Wii U.

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Kisai posted...

Get the original Japanese version on Wii U.

What, because of some skimpy designs?

I'm not getting a Wii U for some animu tits and Xenoblade Chronicles X.

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It's (allegedly) a SMT spin-off and if you like SMT or Fire Emblem, you'll probably not LOVE TMS.

If you like idols though, maybe you like it.

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BloodMoon7 posted...

It's (allegedly) a SMT spin-off and if you like SMT or Fire Emblem, you'll probably not LOVE TMS.

If you like idols though, maybe you like it.

I'm ambivalent towards idols, I can dig the music. I like Fire Emblem aesthetically but I don't really like strategy RPGs. Shin Megami Tensei is okay.

I like that TMS is a turn-based RPG and not an action or strategy RPG.

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MrMallard posted...

What, because of some skimpy designs?

I'm not getting a Wii U for some animu tits and Xenoblade Chronicles X.

I'm pretty sure that's the game's entire selling point and purpose.

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i would say if you liked persona 5 you would like this game. it sounds like you have sort of the right assumption of the game. its very good imo. its more lighthearted and anime, but its good.

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For $30 TMS #FE Encore isn't bad, but don't go into expecting a good story, or good dialogue or great characters. The story and dialogue are laughably poor, to the point that it almost seems intentional. The main reason you might play it to the end is the battles and maybe some of the music. The game is basically poor man's Persona 5 except gameplay wise it is a bit more close Shin Megami Tensei than Persona due to no calendar system and no school, although overall it is a mix of the two.

I've never heard anyone say good things about it, even aside from the sensorshib issue.

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i remember really liking the combat and some of the music, but everything else had this budget idol anime feel to it

it also had some really awful performance issues on the wii u, though you'd think that those were fixed in the switch port

DeadBankerDream posted...

I've never heard anyone say good things about it, even aside from the sensorshib issue.

Yeah, I mean I enjoyed it a bit when it wasn't dragging ass and I didn't have to read obvious, bad dialogue, but what they chose as the main setting of this game, the Japanese entertainment industry, despite it initially being intended as a Fire Emblem Shin Megami Tensei / Persona crossover game is dumb as fuck. The censorship is a legit issue as it was unnecessary and inconsistent and done poorly as well. All in all SMT #FE is the perfect shitstorm considering it turned out to be something that fails to cater well to either of the initial fanbases that it's parts consist of.

Number090684 posted...

For $30 TMS #FE Encore isn't bad, but don't go into expecting a good story, or good dialogue or great characters. The story and dialogue are laughably poor, to the point that it almost seems intentional and is only good for a occasional laugh. The main reason you might play it to the end is the combat and maybe some of the music. The game is basically poor man's Persona 5 except gameplay wise outside of combat it is a bit more close Shin Megami Tensei than Persona due to no calendar system, no school, no multiple personas, and although overall it is a mix of the two.

So it's a dungeon crawler with a weak plot but solid gameplay? I can get behind that. Is there any post-game content, or any areas educated solely to gameplay like a coliseum where you can just tune out, grind and listen to a podcast or something?

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MrMallard posted...

So it's a dungeon crawler with a weak plot but solid gameplay? I can get behind that. Is there any post-game content, or any areas educated solely to gameplay like a coliseum where you can just tune out, grind and listen to a podcast or something?

Basically yeah. Combat isn't as involved as Persona imo but still pretty good. I dropped the game when a late-game boss pulled a "I'm down to <10% hp, time to whip out a super move that one shots your entire party" after 20 minutes of fighting so idk about post game stuff. But there was an area added in the Switch version specifically for grinding. It's not necessary but if you dig that it's there.

Even though the story and characters aren't great I think the art style and music is nice and I enjoyed walking around the different parts of Tokyo and buying costumes for my characters. It's not a great game but there's still things to enjoy

It's a bad super shallow Persona reskin that completely failed as a FE crossover. The censorship was an unnecessary kick in the nuts but had nothing to do with it not being a good game.

Bad news, the retailer won't ship it out to where I live. I was gonna pre-order Cruis'n Blast and get this game as a sweetener, round the figure up a little. The only other place that's taking pre-orders for Cruis'n is EB Games, and they're asking for a $10 deposit. Tokyo Mirage Sessions is a few dollars more, and even without the deposit it wouldn't even feel like a deal any more.

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I played the original on the Wii U. The combat was actually a lot of fun, but the story gets kind of weird. It's basically about enemies that steal "creative energy" from humans. Which is where the focus on idols and the entertainment industry come in.

Just know that, despite it being a SMT / Fire Emblem crossover, there's hardly anything related to Fire Emblem involved. The combat is reminiscent of Persona, with tweaks. The characters each fight using one summoned Fire Emblem character and can target enemy weaknesses to start sessions (combo chains) with allies. Although, the Fire Emblem characters all have their designs changed and have their faces covered, so they don't even work as fun cameos.

Overall though, if you like turn based combat, and don't mind a crazy story, it's worth a buy.

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MrMallard posted...

So it's a dungeon crawler with a weak plot but solid gameplay? I can get behind that. Is there any post-game content, or any areas educated solely to gameplay like a coliseum where you can just tune out, grind and listen to a podcast or something?

Pretty much. In this new Encore version it comes with all of the DLC booster dungeon areas to help players minimize grinding for levels, mirage skills and money, also all of the old Atlus cameo DLC costumes have returned and can be purchased, plus they added a few more new ones to be found in game in the new optional dungeon which is divided into parts and can be progressed through after progressing to later story chapters. Besides that the game has a battle arena with different difficulty ranks against waves of preset teams of enemies and prizes. There is also new game plus whichs let you carry over most of your data from a previous completed playthrough if you want and also unlocks a special costume for the main character and eventually you can get access to a special optional battle against the hardest boss in the game. It's not a lot of content, but it's something I guess.

Number090684 posted...

Pretty much. In this new Encore version it comes with all of the DLC booster dungeon areas to help players minimize grinding for levels, mirage skills and money, also all of the old Atlus cameo DLC costumes have returned and can be purchased, plus they added a few more new ones to be found in game in the new optional dungeon which is divided into parts and can be progressed through after progressing to later story chapters. Besides that the game has a battle arena with different difficulty ranks against waves of preset teams of enemies and prizes. There is also new game plus whichs let you carry over most of your data from a previous completed playthrough if you want and also unlocks a special costume for the main character and eventually you can get access to a special optional battle against the hardest boss in the game.

Shit, I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for another deal or something. That sounds pretty good.

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It's a solid 7/10 experience. Had fun and enjoyed the battle system.

At this point you should just wait for Shin Megami Tensei V TC.

FIIIYYYYAAA EMMMBUREMMM

It's not in English so I have no idea but that meme is great.
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