So one quick note before we get started - as mentioned in the OP, this game is really into the whole “entertainment” thing. So much so that you don’t even start a new game, you debut. It’s a little touch that doesn’t really mean anything, but it’s interesting to see just how thoroughly the game has committed to its aesthetic.
We’re playing on normal because while this is definitely on the easier side as far as SMT games are concerned, it can still kick your teeth in without warning if you’re not paying attention. If it gets really boring we can always kick it up later.
The first half of this cutscene has a film grain effect on it, so if any of the screenshots look weird, you know why! I highly recommend watching the videos when possible, but I’ll hit all the important bits with screenshots if you’re unable (or unwilling).
We open on an opera scene, with 13 year old Tsubasa Oribe in the audience.
Our leading man is Chikaomi Tsurugi, and at his side is Tsubasa’s older sister, Ayaha Oribe.
Meanwhile, Chikaomi’s son, Yashiro, is hanging out backstage.
Tsubasa is understandably excited to see her sister perform, but suddenly, in the blink of an eye…
…she disappears.
The audience is initially confused, but that quickly becomes panic when parts of the audience begin to disappear as well.
Yashiro disappears in a strange purple mist…
…and soon, Tsubasa is one of the only people left in the audience.
Chikaomi admirably carries on with the show, but soon he vanishes just like his son.
Tsubasa, now desperately fighting back tears, is surrounded by the same purple triangles that caused Chikaomi to disappear…
…when a strange breeze comes in, and creates a shield that protects her from whatever is going on.
A little surprised, a little relieved, Tsubasa becomes the only person to walk away from this whole ordeal.
And so, five years later…
Tsubasa is now all grown up (or at least as grown up as we’re gonna get, this is a JRPG after all), and leaving school for the day.
We also get our first shot of Itsuki Aoi, the main protagonist of the game.
Tsubasa pops in her earbuds and loads up Kiria’s latest single, and as she walks off…
…we get our title drop.
From here on out, it’s mostly just the opening credits (and its excellent backing track, seriously go watch the video), so I’ll pretty much skip right to the important bits.
For starters, Tiki is in this game! Or to be more precise, TIKi - she’s more of a vocaloid than anything, so if you’re imagining a Fire Emblem-themed Miku, you’re 90% of the way there.
We also have these guys to thank for a phenomenal soundtrack. As you might expect for a game explicitly about idols and such, a ton of work went into music, and lord does it show. Nintendo must have cut Atlus a blank check, because the soundtrack features a large amount of completely original J-Pop, at least a half dozen professionally produced AMVs, a full cast of singing voice actors… It’s almost obscene how much money must have gone into this game, only for it to bomb.
And let’s not forget the animation. It would have been remarkably easy for Atlus to cheap out on the animation budget (and they absolutely have in the past), but even the anime cutscenes are almost entirely on model and animated well, if a little quiet in comparison to the rest of the game.
Strap in folks, it’s gonna be a wild ride.