Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore Standard Edition - Nintendo Switch

Having sunk 20 hrs into it, can say that despite the really fun way the battle system works (chaining your party member attacks together into larger combos based off of Fire Emblem style enemy weapon/elemental weaknesses) I can unfortunately see why it didnt sell well when first released on WiiU in 2015. Lots of the game just has straight up bad design choices in it that feel like padding made to stretch out sections of the game. While that's HARDLY a new concept in an RPG experience, it's quite awful here. At the very bottom of this review I'll post my take on what a typically awful side quest feels like. How are the dungeons? They're pretty linear, with little offshoots. They would be "fine" if not for how confusing (some) get, but only because everythiiiiing looks the same in the dungeon, that by the you reach the section of most dungeons you dont know where anything is (like oh yeah I have to backtrack and flip that switch on the mannequin, or jump off that ONE ledge...but it all ends up blurring together). Also, the amount of backtracking the game asks you (not talking Metroidvania-like or anything), just to find a glowing sparkle on the ground OR to just continue a conversation (in a sidequest) is embarrassing for a game of this supposed caliber. However the battle system is a total joy. The boss battles are difficult but not cheap and defeating them is bliss. Not a terrible game but just feels c-list in effort and c-list budget. Good music though. *Here's an example of a typical awful sidequest: "meet me here." You meet them there. They tell you the absolute most generic cliched little story about them possible. "Ok. lets do this." They disappear, you take 2 steps, get a text. They say "meet me here (or worse yet, guess where i am)." You teleport to the general area and walk to them, of course waiting to cross a road along the way. Then they talk to you, via an in-engine cutscene. "Ok." They disappear again. You walk 2 steps, get another text, "meet me where we just were before this." Open map, teleport, walk over to them. HOLD DOWN X TO SKIP ANYTHING THEY'RE SAYING, GUESS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE DIALOG. "ok, meet me at an area we were at 2 steps ago." Then you'll have the final cutscene BUT make sure you go to Tiki IMMEDIATELY afterward, before doing anything else." Games makes sure you have to also walk thru the SAME office again for the 100th before going into the Tiki room, instead of just immediately taking you there. Apply this pattern to everyone NOT in the main battles.

This is a master-class RPG in every sense of the term. Great characters, fantastic music, unique and complex dungeons, and some of the best combat in any game I've ever played. After playing the Wii U version several years go, I was immensely excited to see this ported to the Switch, and having now tried this version for myself, it more than lives up to my expectations with its new content and optimized performance. If you are even remotely considering this, do yourself a favor and buy it.

Finally get this game from the wiiu on switch and it’s better than ever. If you like Persona and Fire Emblem give it a go.