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[MoonFrog]

I ended up buying the game launch week, but I was one of those people who was rubbed the wrong way by the crossover, in particular the FE crossover. I expressed a lot of disgust at this game both here on GAF and elsewhere. I saw the game as pushing the FE brand even further into perverted fluff fiction and also pushing the new Akaneia 'saga' at the expensive of better FE sagas. It was pushing everything I hate about new FE in the package of what sounded like a dream project: a turn-based FE JRPG.

I bought the game out of morbid curiosity and I am very glad I did, but it bore out my preconceptions as to the nature of the cross-over and moreover executed it very poorly. The worst chapters of the story are those when FE takes center stage and the mirages are barely involved or explored throughout the entire thing. I've only played a couple hours of Nocturne, but it also seems to me that the game is more of a pseudo-Persona than an SMT and imo it fails to deliver there too, having incredibly weak side stories for the cast and only flirting insincerely with the dark side of the idol industry.

That said, I think the game has a more charming, amusing, and passable story/setting/characters than I expected. I am moderately fond of them.

Where the game does deliver is in its gameplay, systems, and dungeons. I think the former two peak midway through the game with sessions becoming more just a (lengthy) matter of course by the end rather than exciting and modestly strategic system, for which you are developing a network. Boss fights are good throughout, presenting interesting tactical situations and the dungeons are solid to the end.

Endgame (towards secret boss) is just bad and is begging for the (bad) DLC.

...

But yes, it is sad that the game sold so poorly. I'd take a sequel that preserved many of the flaws of the original but a sequel is also an opportunity to build on this foundation and I think that could go towards a truly great game.

Give me a less pop-fluff game with a more 'serious' story and art style together with a Jugdral or Tellius cross-over and build on the combat systems of this game and I'd be extraordinarily enthused. But again, I'd settle for something closer to TMS.

 

[Draxal]

If anything saves #FE it will be its the extended media sales (and the rather darling status it has achieved amongst a subset of fans of the genre). Shun would know more on this but I do recall there being some positives on that end and that the music sold quite well. Sales in the west also weren't a complete garbage fire like in Japan (actually fairly comparable to most other western JRPG console releases, regardless of platform, but that says more about the audience in general), so that may also help it. But its not even within spitting distance of XCX's western sales so it wasn't just "a lack of audience" but the product as a whole was a hard sell.

But, end of the day, unless its a huge franchise or established one (or one that's backed heavily by Nintendo and comes out during the shopping season of the holidays: see XCX), jRPGs struggle to sell *at all* on consoles nowadays, period. 3DS/Vita are the genre's current saving grace.

Agreed, on the second part. Although I am very interested in seeing how Tales of Berseria and P5 do.

Expecting #FE as a sub only game to come even close to XCX was a pipe dream, and even if it was dubbed its still a rather niche game compared to XCX's appeal.

 

[Tribes of Trusty]

Finished it a while ago, I thought I could give some thoughts about it : While I liked it enough to beat it, the game is not without faults.

The Good

• A JRPG on Wii U !
• The game is super colourful, which I always like in my JRPGs
• Character design and their 3d models where good imho
• The music, be it the general music (battle and dungeon themes) or the more J-Pop songs. But clearly, this is not the game for you if you don't enjoy J-Pop
• The TOPIC system which allowed for characterization and to give you hints without being dissonant
• The Session system which feels like a fresh take on the Press Turn System inherited from SMT
• I don't care what anyone says but
  Spoiler

  the pre-final boss cutscene with the characters singing the Fire Emblem theme was pretty ace. I'd have loved a longer one - if only to have a longer version on the OST !
  [*]The cover is nice with sharp colours, which always look nice in a library
  [*]The ending and

  Spoiler

  post-credit biography which feel just satisfying. Itsuki being the new president of Fortuna is just right
• Choosing your own difficulty
• Saving anywhere !
• Dungeons were for the most interesting layout and puzzle wise.

The Bad :

• I wish you could just speed up Sessions (some would say it would ruin the dual arts mechanic but sorry you could just slow down until you make a choice and then re-speed again)
• Uninteresting optionnal fetch quests
• Character quests could be a little more interesting
• I find there is a missed opportunity story wise :
  Spoiler

  While Persona 4 Dancing All Night was depicting a bleak portrait of the Idol entertainment business, TMS#FE stays pretty cheerful and "omigosh everything about being an idol is amazing". I think it would've been better to have some subversion on it (to feel like a SMT game) and keeping the happy ending (to feel like a Fire Emblem game)
• The whole Fire Emblem thing is not enough used. They can do much more. Maybe for the sequel ?
  Spoiler

  HA HA
• The going back and forth the Bloom Palace gets tiring after 30 hours...
• The TOPIC new Unity notifications are a little overwhelming
• I wish Itsuki could answer a little more to TOPIC messages, even if the choices where amounting to nothing, it would've added to his character
• A pet peeve of mine : The censoring. Sorry but it felt unecessary and stupid considering the whole theme of the game (my god, gravure idols in an idol game ? Who knew ?) especially when the outfits of the censored game where just really ugly and stupid
  Spoiler

  I wouldn't have minded some classy clothes for the whole photoshoot arc or a better wedding dress for Tsubasa's quest, but they just look bad
  .

Bottom line :
Play the game if you like SMT, FE and J-Pop and aren't afraid of different experiences. Under its colourful and joyful appearance there is a solid JRPG.
You might not like it if you're a hardcore SMT or FE fan or don't like JPop

 

[Mediking]

Oh, yeah.... too bad there wasn't a button to press to just save right then and there instead of going through a menu. It gets pretty tiring after a while.

 

[spleenpoker]

Before I start playing, is it worth using the restoration patch?

 

[ActStriker]

Game's fine without it. Don't bother.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Before I start playing, is it worth using the restoration patch?

People seem to have very strong opinions on this, but I actually think it made my experience worse. Some stuff in restored chapter 2 was... I can't talk about it without spoilers, but it made me groan.

 

[spleenpoker]

People seem to have very strong opinions on this, but I actually think it made my experience worse. Some stuff in restored chapter 2 was... I can't talk about it without spoilers, but it made me groan.

Thanks for the quick response. I'm not too bothered about the costume changes. It does suck they changed things like that but it won't take away the experience for me.

I'm just curious if the story was altered and won't make much sense in certain areas. Was the restored chapter 2 similar to the original or more of a fan thing?

 

[mrmickfran]

I mean, there's a 70% - 80% chance it will win every single Wii U GOTY award.

What's the competition? Star Fox? Paper Mario?

It has Wii U GOTY by default.

I actually liked Star Fox though

 

[zroid]

What's the competition? Star Fox? Paper Mario?

It has Wii U GOTY by default.

I actually liked Star Fox though

I keep thinking Xenoblade was this year because I didn't start playing it till January haha

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Was the restored chapter 2 similar to the original or more of a fan thing?

The restored patch makes the story close to the original. There's just something that... I understand that it's a cultural thing, but the culture difference makes it come across as REALLY bad.

It's not THAT big a spoiler. Essentially, the plot line of chapter 2 revolves around "

Spoiler

you just have to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF enough to not feel embarrassed when photographers take near-naked pictures of you!

" Remove the

Spoiler

near-naked

part, as Nintendo of America did, and it's a perfectly fine story line, so I actively wish I'd stuck with the unpatched version. Keep in mind that Chapter 2 (and this point) is where most of the story changes were.

Edit: In case it wasn't clear, the overall number of story changes is pretty darn small. The whole thing has been massively blown out of proportion IMO. This was not a heavily localized game.

 

[AndyLonn]

Man I enjoyed the hell out of this game. I\m not a big Fire Emblem guy, So I don't really get all the hate against the lack of use of FE characters. I thought the story was well done and it actually got me excited to play some Fire Emblem in the future.

By far the best JRPG I've played since Persona 4 Golden, and it made the wait for Persona 5 a bit more bearable

 

[DooMAGE]

A fun game for Persona fans

 

[chrominance]

The restored patch makes the story close to the original. There's just something that... I understand that it's a cultural thing, but the culture difference makes it come across as REALLY bad.

It's not THAT big a spoiler. Essentially, the plot line of chapter 2 revolves around "

Spoiler

you just have to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF enough to not feel embarrassed when photographers take near-naked pictures of you!

" Remove the

Spoiler

near-naked

part, as Nintendo of America did, and it's a perfectly fine story line, so I actively wish I'd stuck with the unpatched version. Keep in mind that Chapter 2 (and this point) is where most of the story changes are.

Edit: In case it wasn't clear, the overall number of story changes is pretty darn small. The whole thing has been massively blown out of proportion IMO. This was not a heavily localized game.

It's one of the changes that actually makes a lot of sense to me, because

Spoiler

gravure idols

aren't a thing here. Yeah, I guess you can make the argument that anyone who was going to buy this game already knows about those, but I kind of don't think that's 100% true, or that it would somehow make it reasonable given that most people would only hear about the phenomenon second-hand.

About the game in general: is the consensus that it was the expectation of more Fire Emblem (or SMT) stuff that sunk the game in Japan? I had this theory that idols are kind of played out in Japan now (especially among the general public), and that contributed to the lack of interest, but I don't know how true that actually is.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

About the game in general: is the consensus that it was the expectation of more Fire Emblem (or SMT) stuff that sunk the game in Japan? I had this theory that idols are kind of played out in Japan now (especially among the general public), and that contributed to the lack of interest, but I don't know how true that actually is.

Other than in the initial announcement (before the game really existed), were the Fire Emblem and SMT elements ever really pushed in advertising in Japan? The American title only makes hidden references to these franchises. (Oh look, Tokyo Mirrage Sessions = TMS = SMT backwards, ha ha!)

It was pretty obvious from the first trailer that this game had very little to do with Fire Emblem, and was very tonally different from SMT.

Yeah, I guess you can make the argument that anyone who was going to buy this game already knows about those, but I kind of don't think that's 100% true, or that it would somehow make it reasonable given that most people would only hear about the phenomenon second-hand.

So I'm just curious: what about being more familiar with gravure would have made that scene not cringeworthy? Like... have no inherent issue with the existence of porn, either, but I wouldn't write a story about a softcore porn actress getting enough courage to display her body. Or at least, if I did write such a story, it wouldn't be nearly as lighthearted in tone as TMS.

 

[TheGrue]

So I am at the dreaded point of a JRPG where I'm at the final boss, but my party isn't powerful enough to take it down, so I have to grind. Much of my party is in the mid 50s and it doesn't seem to be enough to survive, so have to go around and grind.

Any tips on best way to grind? Just did Advanced arena for the first time and seemed to get a lot of xp, but not getting 6 star drops, so won't be able to do unities from it.

I love JRPGs, but I also hate them when they do certain things and this game offends in a couple of ways:

1) Have to grind to take on final boss
2) Game is way too long
3)

Spoiler

Had to fight all the previous bosses one more time

4) Having to get through all the dialog to refight a boss (yes, you can speed up, but you have to press buttons to do that and also to skip the cut scenes...would have been great just to have one thing that skips it all)

It's a shame, because I love the combat system and the game is just the right amount of cute and light heartedness I need. It's a perfect game to make me want Persona 5 even more as they share some aspects.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

So I am at the dreaded point of a JRPG where I'm at the final boss, but my party isn't powerful enough to take it down, so I have to grind. Much of my party is in the mid 50s and it doesn't seem to be enough to survive, so have to go around and grind.

Any tips on best way to grind? Just did Advanced arena for the first time and seemed to get a lot of xp, but not getting 6 star drops, so won't be able to do unities from it.

I love JRPGs, but I also hate them when they do certain things and this game offends in a couple of ways:

1) Have to grind to take on final boss
2) Game is way too long
3)

Spoiler

Had to fight all the previous bosses one more time

4) Having to get through all the dialog to refight a boss (yes, you can speed up, but you have to press buttons to do that and also to skip the cut scenes...would have been great just to have one thing that skips it all)

It's a shame, because I love the combat system and the game is just the right amount of cute and light heartedness I need. It's a perfect game to make me want Persona 5 even more as they share some aspects.

The EXP dungeon DLC makes it trivial to level up. You can get like 10-20 levels in like 30 minutes or less for the entire party.

 

[Astral Dog]

So I am at the dreaded point of a JRPG where I'm at the final boss, but my party isn't powerful enough to take it down, so I have to grind. Much of my party is in the mid 50s and it doesn't seem to be enough to survive, so have to go around and grind.

Any tips on best way to grind? Just did Advanced arena for the first time and seemed to get a lot of xp, but not getting 6 star drops, so won't be able to do unities from it.

I love JRPGs, but I also hate them when they do certain things and this game offends in a couple of ways:

1) Have to grind to take on final boss
2) Game is way too long
3)

Spoiler

Had to fight all the previous bosses one more time

4) Having to get through all the dialog to refight a boss (yes, you can speed up, but you have to press buttons to do that and also to skip the cut scenes...would have been great just to have one thing that skips it all)

It's a shame, because I love the combat system and the game is just the right amount of cute and light heartedness I need. It's a perfect game to make me want Persona 5 even more as they share some aspects.

The dialogue is a small annoyance, but at least you can speed up to a point its just seconds.
For the final boss i recommend equip the best gear and accessories you can buy and hunting for better weapons, a fun way of leveling up is to fight those purple enemies .you will be overleveled in no time.

The final chapter gives a lot of opportunities to improve your characters so dont miss them! Look at it like one last break.

 

[TheGrue]

Got everyone to at least 58 and took out the boss on the first new attempt. Basically just a did a few arena rounds to get the levels.

 

[zroid]

2) Game is way too long.

This probably says more about me than it does you but if anything I was surprised at how short it is :lol

when I reached the final chapter, I was like "wait, already?"

 

[thelongestj]

I'm wondering what to do about this game. I really want to play it but I'm living abroad for a year and left my Wii U with my sister until I return. I'd prefer to buy a disc copy since I only have the 8GB Wii U but I'm worried that it might sell out before I get back. I'm worried that once the NX comes out next year copies of this game will be impossible to find. Do you think it might go on sale for Black Friday or when do you think I should pick up a copy?

 

[coolasj19]

So I've got a super specific question.

Is the game inside the limited edition both sealed and have a UPC?

EDIT: https://www.youtube.com/shared?ci=cmWMQ7gY3oE

I'm fairly certain it does! This guy's had the box sealed and a UPC I think. Thanks for the help GAF;D

 

[DodgeDusk]

For the request "Conditions for a Masterpiece Movie", how exactly do you unlock the

Spoiler

admiration, harmony, and courage elements? I've already unlocked them, but I don't know how I did it (the moment I initiated the request I could complete it)

.

 

[wild wild rice]

It's not my favorite Fire Emblem game but it is my favorite SMT game.

 

[HawthorneKitty]

For the request "Conditions for a Masterpiece Movie", how exactly do you unlock the

Spoiler

admiration, harmony, and courage elements? I've already unlocked them, but I don't know how I did it (the moment I initiated the request I could complete it)

.

Remember talking to those statues in the last dungeon?

 

[DodgeDusk]

Remember talking to those statues in the last dungeon?

They crossed my mind, but I was also thinking it was something to do with the Side Stories, so I wasn't 100% sure. Thanks anyway!

EDIT: Oh, it turns out you need to do at least

Spoiler

Touma's third Side Story and Yashiro's second Side Story. Maybe Ellie's third one, too? The game doesn't make that one clear.

 

[silva1991]

This game reminds me of Digimon Story Cyber more than it reminds me of Persona or Fire Emblem. I only beat the first boss and the story is horrid and characters uninspired modern anime characters. Not a fan of the music so far as well.

The combat is my favorite part of the game so far.

 

[Natiko]

Just a couple days ago I decided to give up on this game. I love the combat system but there's just not much else there. The environments are small and simplistic. The story is very thin. The side quests are mostly inconsequential. I hit the fifty hour mark and upon seeing that I still had a few chapters to go decided I just didn't have it in me anymore.

 

[Haganeren]

What's the competition? Star Fox? Paper Mario?

It has Wii U GOTY by default.

I actually liked Star Fox though

..... Well i liked Star Fox better personally.
It was a bad re-imagining of Lylat Wars but that still mean it's a good game.

 

[Nose Master]

So, savage enemies scale I'm assuming? Is there a point to fighting them besides detritus?

 

[DodgeDusk]

So, savage enemies scale I'm assuming? Is there a point to fighting them besides detritus?

Apart from Detritus, no. And yes, they do scale--when Itsuki's level matches their level, they'll "upgrade" to the next batch, if you know what I mean. And this is across all Idolaspheres.


Another question: according to my Play Records, I'm missing two requests--both under Arena Staff for Hire. Are these NG+-exclusive requests, or am I missing something that unlocks them?

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Okay, why is the game forcing me to use Touma? I haven't used him since like the second chapter and he's woefully under-leveled

 

[Soul Lab]

Apart from Detritus, no. And yes, they do scale--when Itsuki's level matches their level, they'll "upgrade" to the next batch, if you know what I mean. And this is across all Idolaspheres.


Another question: according to my Play Records, I'm missing two requests--both under Arena Staff for Hire. Are these NG+-exclusive requests, or am I missing something that unlocks them?

yes. 2 requests are only available in NG+

 

[Makonero]

Okay, why is the game forcing me to use Touma? I haven't used him since like the second chapter and he's woefully under-leveled

You should try to keep everyone leveled equally as well as you can. It's not that hard and it's worth it since each you'll be using a bunch of them when you want to unlock more session attacks.

Seriously, don't skimp out on using all the characters.

 

[Whizkid7]

I just finished the game a few minutes ago and I'm kinda gushing about the ending. Though I was probably overleveled for the final boss because it almost felt too easy.

Part of me wants to jump right into Lunatic since Hard was a satisfying romp, but I think I'll hold off for now since Lunatic usually makes me hate myself and I'm not ready for that yet.

 

[Teknoman]

Just jumping in myself, and it really is pretty good. The soundtrack is on point, graphics are nice, combat is speedy yet flashy...and its actually got a READABLE HD font!

 

[fionel]

So I just finished the first part of chapter 6 and started the final dungeon. How many more hours do i have til the ending? Bought Persona 5 and should be getting it in a day or 2 so trying to rush TMS at the moment.

 

[Durante]

Why didn't anyone tell me that this was Persona, but with 2 of the most annoying parts (randomly generated dungeons and social links) fixed?

 

[DodgeDusk]

yes. 2 requests are only available in NG+

Thought so.

Finished the game now. That final boss... wasn't very good.

Spoiler

Sorry, but if it takes me, like, 4 rounds to think of a surefire strategy, then have to endure about 35 rounds until the boss is truly defeated... that's just boring. There was no sense of danger at all during the actual fight. Absolute joke. I mean, my Itsuki was level 63, but my Touma was level 60, and Tsubasa was level 56. All I had to do was have a Rakukaja buff on at all times and I knew I was safe. So weak.

So I just finished the first part of chapter 6 and started the final dungeon. How many more hours do i have til the ending? Bought Persona 5 and should be getting it in a day or 2 so trying to rush TMS at the moment.

I'd say about 3-4 hours? It's hard for me to say, since I had to do a bunch of other stuff as I was going through the final dungeon. Took me about 10 hours, but I'd be very surprised if it took anyone else that long.

 

[silva1991]

"Maiko: training as a performer will help your abilities as a mirage master.."

ugh I can't take the narrative in this game seriously lol.

I feel like this is the opposite of Persona where the story and characters are boring and dungeons and battles are the fun part.

 

[Rappy]

"Maiko: training as a performer will help your abilities as a mirage master.."

ugh I can't take the narrative in this game seriously lol.

I feel like this is the anti Persona where the story and characters are boring and dungeons and battles are the fun part.

Well it's not like the narrative goes against the theme of the game. This game is about performers. The magical power you gain for new skill in this game is called "Performa". It's mostly just a bunch of light-hearted fun. Seems like some people are not into that though.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

You should try to keep everyone leveled equally as well as you can. It's not that hard and it's worth it since each you'll be using a bunch of them when you want to unlock more session attacks.

If I don't, how bad is it going to be? I really don't have the time to grind out all the characters. I can generally get away with not switching (or at least, have been up until now, in chapter 4) because I'm playing on easy.

Is it going to become more of a problem later on? Or, is the game going to BS require me to use a specific character again?

 

[ActStriker]

If I don't, how bad is it going to be? I really don't have the time to grind out all the characters. I can generally get away with not switching (or at least, have been up until now, in chapter 4) because I'm playing on easy.

Is it going to become more of a problem later on? Or, is the game going to BS require me to use a specific character again?

A lot of the side stories require specific characters in your party. A Chapter 5 boss has a character requirement. However, you don't really have to grind out characters; if you've been fighting regularly your subcast should get enough exp anyway over the long haul with the Radiant skills.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

A Chapter 5 boss has a character requirement.

Can I ask who it is so that I'm somewhat prepared for it this time? Unless it would somehow ruin the plot, which seems unlikely in this game (ie a character comes back from the dead or something weird like that)

 

[ActStriker]

Can I ask who it is so that I'm somewhat prepared for it this time? Unless it would somehow ruin the plot, which seems unlikely in this game (ie a character comes back from the dead or something weird like that)

Spoiler

Yashiro

 

[XiaNaphryz]

If I don't, how bad is it going to be? I really don't have the time to grind out all the characters. I can generally get away with not switching (or at least, have been up until now, in chapter 4) because I'm playing on easy.

Is it going to become more of a problem later on? Or, is the game going to BS require me to use a specific character again?

If time is an issue and you don't mind paying a few bucks (assuming you didn't get the Limited Edition which already gives you this), the EXP dungeon DLC is completely worth it. You can level the entire party up 10-15+ levels in like 30 minutes once you get things down.

 

[Malus]

So I just started the game. Never played an Atlus game before and I have barely any idea what I'm getting into, but I adore how colorful and stylish everything is. Music's good too.

But...can I really not access sound through my headphones? If so that's a major disappointment for me. I really wish Wii U standardized that option like on PS4.

edit: Wowwww you really can't. So dumb and in this game of all games. Jeez.

edit2: As I get over that, this game is a lot of fun so far. Gameplay, graphics, music, interesting story set up. Pretty impressed. Writing and characters have been fairly meh though.

 

[silva1991]

Well it's not like the narrative goes against the theme of the game. This game is about performers. The magical power you gain for new skill in this game is called "Performa". It's mostly just a bunch of light-hearted fun. Seems like some people are not into that though.

Even if that's the theme of the game it doesn't make it any less silly. The power of friendship cliche is one thing, but the power of singing is just hilarious.

Regardless I'm enjoying the gameplay ALOT and the dungeons are light year more interesting than P3/4.

 

[Floflo]

Even if that's the theme of the game it doesn't make it any less silly. The power of friendship cliche is one thing, but the power of singing is just hilarious.

Regardless I'm enjoying the gameplay ALOT and the dungeons are light year more interesting than P3/4.

If you think that the "power of singing" is hilarious, you shouldn't watch any of the Macross series. Or maybe you should, to convince you otherwise lol

 

[Narroo]

Looking at this game, I somehow feel that it should have been destined for the Vita.