In the video game industry, there is non-stop talk about how basically every game ever made should be ported to the Nintendo Switch. Why that is is pretty simple: you may take it with you anywhere: you can receive a console-quality experience without requiring a TV. That is a generally good argument as to why everyone wants everything on Switch, but there are games that should be on Switch for more than just that. One game specifically has consistently been brought up in my mind, and that’s because it’s a game that hardly anyone has played:Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FEis one of the best JRPGs to come out of this generation, and is personally one of my favorites ever. Developed by Atlus, the creators ofPersona 5and a plethora of other critically-acclaimed games brought aPersona-like experience while incorporating the characters and lore ofFire Emblem.If that entices you, then you should play this game as soon as you can. The bad news, however, is that it is currently stuck on the Wii U.
[pullquote]“Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FEis one of the best JRPGs to come out of this generation, and is personally one of my favorites ever."[/pullquote]
The Wii U is known for being a financial flop for Nintendo, mainly due to its lack of innovation and third-party support: that alone made this game born to fail. Originally,Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FEwas planned to be aShin Megami Tenseicrossover withFire Emblem, but Atlus decided to make the game its own thing part way through development. Once the game was planned to come out, it received some negative attention due to the game’s focus on Japanese idol culture, censorship, not having an English VO and, of course, being on the Wii U.
I remember going to my local GameStop the day that the game came out to pick up my pre-order, going to the register with utter excitement to finally play the game after knowing about it for years. When I asked for the game, the employee had no idea what I was talking about, what the game was, anything; I had to explain it to him. As time progressed after the game came out, I quickly saw it receive clearance price tags. Nobody was playing it. I still do not know a single other person in my life that has played the game.
If you don’t know whatTokyoMirage Sessions #FEis, you can think of it as aPersonagame, but instead of Personas, your source of power is from aFire Emblemcharacter which is called a Mirage. While you do not particularly build relationships with other characters during the daytime like inPersona, you do accomplish side missions for them. It is stylish and owns the type of game that it is. The dungeons are cool and unique, and the battle system is amazing.
Personally, I preferTokyo Mirage Sessions #FEtoPersona. Attacking enemies that have the potential for your whole party to follow up your attack one-by-one is always satisfying. And you can’t have an Atlus game without great battle music, and there is plenty of it here.
[pullquote]“Everything aboutTokyo Mirage Session #FEwas set up to be against it, but it is one of the best JRPGs of this generation and it should not die on the Wii U."[/pullquote]
We recently learned that the rumoredPersona 5for Switch is actually a game calledPersona5 Scramble, a Musou game like theDynasty Warriorsseries. While this might have been a disappointment for Switch owners, this is the perfect time to portTokyo Mirage Sessions #FE. It is made by the same developer with very similar gameplay mechanics; it’s perfect. On top of that, the Switch has been the system where many developers have been putting their games on to get traction where they wouldn’t on other systems like Xbox One or PS4.
Everything aboutTokyo Mirage Session #FEwas set up to be against it, but it is one of the best JRPGs of this generation and it should not die on the Wii U. It can live a second life on Switch as long as Nintendo pushes it out into people’s faces due to its niche approach. It deserves to be praised and it deserves to be loved. If you likePersona, you should play this game. If you likeFire Emblem, you should play this game. At the end of the day,Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FEis a love letter to theFire Emblemfranchise and it is a shame to see a work of art such as it to just rot away.
