With Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, there are a lot of things that make the game look and feel better. Some are changes that make it more comfortable, like UI adjustments or moving its messaging app away from its own screen. But one of the biggest things is how Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore EX Story segments help enhance the game. They aren’t shuffled away toward the end of the game or in some post-game area. They pop up naturally and have themes that fit in with the existing ones.
First, people might be wondering how you access the three Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore EX Stories. Well, all three arrive fairly quickly. EX Story 1: Rolling Star opens up after the game’s second chapter is finished. You don’t need to do anything else. EX Story 2: What About Love requires you to finish both Kiria and Tsubasa’s second side stories and get through the third chapter. After you have finished the fourth chapter and both Kiria and Tsubasa’s third side stories, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore EX Story 3: Stay Gold opens up.
Each one of these three stories focuses pretty much on Kiria and Tsubasa’s careers, though Itsuki ends up playing an advisory role for both. Avoiding spoilers, EX Story 1: Rolling Star deals a bit with Tsubasa’s insecurities. She’s learned that she’ll be tasked with performing a cover of Kiria’s “Reincarnation.” It’s the sort of thing that would push anyone out of their comfort zone, seeing as how she’s admired Kiria for so long and is still a beginner. With EX Story 2: What About Love, it’s Kiria who is now in a new position. She’s going to be a part of an Amrita Shower campaign. However, it pushes her a bit out of her normal look and appearance. When EX Story 3: Stay Gold rolls around, we have a situation where both Kiria and Tsubasa are working together on an ad campaign, which culminates in the performance of the newly added “She is…” song.
All of these play with concepts that the game has already focused on. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore spends a lot of time looking at the idol life. Tsubasa’s story is about insecurity, since she’s still a rookie. Kiria’s is about breaking out of the comfort zone she is in and the identity she has built up. The final story is about the power of working together to accomplish a goal. It builds on what the game is already doing well, then rewards people with more music and styles for a game with an already impressive soundtrack and really good looks.
Also, while we’re talking about new content, I think it would be an actual crime if I didn’t bring up the Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore costumes that have been added in. They’re littered in the EX Dungeons. So while some of those outfits are ones that were previously DLC in the original release, you can get great ones that are all new. For example, EX Dungeon 1 holds Persona 5’s Rebellious Joker for Itsuki. Meanwhile, EX Dungeon 2 has Etrian Odyssey Nexus’ Cross Bravery for Eleonora and Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ Sister Lionheart for Mamori. You’ll find Yashiro’s Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux Demonica Replica in EX Dungeon 3.
The thing about the Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore EX Stories is that they feel like they fit. Especially when we see how they address issues like concerns about characters’ careers. Yes, a part of it is about fanservice. Hearing Tsubasa sing “Reincarnation” is pretty great. It’s about dreams and wish fulfillment in a way. Getting to access these extra stories so easily and enjoy extra time with fun characters can be pretty great, especially when they fit in so well.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is available for the Nintendo Switch.
