It's rare for a video game to get a second chance at life, but that's exactly what is happening with Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore. The game was originally promoted as a crossover between the Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei series, but it turned out to be something similar to a Persona game on the Nintendo Wii U with some Fire Emblem characters thrown in.
The small audience size of the Wii U and the already niche appeal of a very Japanese RPG meant that Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE died a death on the Wii U in terms of sales. Things have changed since 2015, however, as Persona 5 helped propel the Atlus style of RPGs to mainstream attention and the Nintendo Switch has been a massive success around the world. As such, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE has been reborn as Tokyo Mirage Session #FE Encore, which includes new content that is exclusive for the Switch version of the game.
Nintendo has been showing off Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, as it's the only major first-party release until Animal Crossing: New Horizons in March. The question that returning fans might be asking themselves is whether the game is worth a second purchase, so we're here to break down the new content in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore.
The Area Of Aspiration Dungeon
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore adds a dungeon called the Area of Aspiration, which comes with new challenges for the player to face in-between the story moments in each episode. The player can access EX Stories for the characters in the Area of Aspiration throughout the game and they can unlock new content by completing them, such as costumes and items.
The DLC From The Nintendo Wii U Version (Except For The Cut Stuff)
The Wii U version of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore had DLC in the form of new costumes (some of which was based on other Atlus games) and new dungeons that made things easier for the player to acquire experience points, items, and money. All of the DLC content from the English version of the original game is present in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore.
We say the English version because some of the content from the Japanese version of the game never made its way overseas. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is based on the censored version of the game, which actually led to cancellations in Japan. The cut DLC included swimsuit outfits for several of the female members of the cast, which won't be available in Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore.
New Options In Battle & A New Song
In Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE, the player could use their entire party to perform group attacks, which were known as "Sessions". If a party member hit the enemy with a move that they were weak too, then the chain would continue. In Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, it's now possible for Barry Goodman, Tiki, and Maiko Shimazaki to join in on sessions. These were NPCs in the original game, but they can now help their allies on the battlefield.
The people who grow weary of the lengthy Session sequences can now speed them up using the Quick Session option, which will be a lifesaver in the late game when combos become incredibly long.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is also adding a new song called "She Is..." which has been previewed in the past during Nintendo Directs.
New Costumes (Including The Phantom Thieves From Persona 5)
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE was a game that was stylish as its cousins in the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, which is why the cast had a number of costumes that they could wear in battle. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore will be expanding upon this by adding new costumes for the cast. The Phantom Thieves from Persona 5 might not be appearing in the game, but Itsuki can dress like Joker in one of his new outfits. There are also costumes referencing other games, such as a Demonica suit from Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey for Yashiro, a Fire Emblem: Three Houses outfit for Mamori, and an Etrian Odyssey Nexus outfit for Eleonora.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is available for Nintendo Switch.