The story of this update is adorable in the best way

I don't know if it's because I've been emotional lately, but I really loved this patch story which is kind of surprising for me since the theme didn't grabbed my attention, some points that I really liked it:

• I don't know if I am mistaken, but I like how they explained the 4 star (being made for advertising of a brand which mix dark and colorful themes). Now that I finished the story I think I like it even more because it represents two sides of Rocouco (I def misspelled that), the cutesy perfection she wants to achieve and her imperfections.
• The 5* also had a good introduction, as it's supposed to be a fairytale idol that Rocouco's grew up admiring, comes from that place of coziness and innocence when we are young and are looking for role models (which makes it interesting how the outfit seems to be inspired in Sailor Moon, another fictional character that girls grew up admiring).

The story itself is a little blurred to me, but I've been distracted at the end so I don't think it's a pacing problem. For what I understand the celebration realm is an illusion build by Avenita to give Rocouco's joy back. Since she was struggling a lot with her aspiration to be perfect he enforced the same standards to everyone else. In this realm Rocouco is divided in two shroomlings one is Angelina and the other is a more angst one that I forgot the name, but it starts with C. The scenario of the update reflects this contradiction: trying to achieve perfection, but "disappearing" with everything that isn't perfect which is what build who she is in the first place: her family, her friends, being a Shroomling and Spira.

While competing Rocouco learned how to dissociate herself to fit the idol model presented in the show which in the end was closed down because was enforcing a diet from a questionable company. After the show took everything that build who she is routinely she became a bland shell of what she was supposed to be, like the company's cake which is also a lie. The story is about body shaming yes, but the theme is so universal: trying to get back what was taken from you, what was lost and trying to find it to keep going and find joy in your craft. I really got really emotional here, because I can't count how many times the world sucked me dry with so many demands and standards to the point I wasn't even able to recall why I was doing it at first place. That's why I found it so cute, when what takes her from the "self doubt realm" was a fairy tale character. I had so many moments where my most intimate memories when I was younger and started dreaming about the place I am today would carry me on.

Hot take, but I liked the platforming. Yes, it's less forgiving, but much more fun, also the scenery was very good with a good song playing in the background.

I could be wrong but it felt it had more cutscenes going on in this update which I liked it a lot because made me recall the 1.0 story.

Maybe another Hot Take, but I liked how the NPCs are very flawed here, the two NPCs body shaming were hilarious, specially because the voice actors did such a good job portraying the passive aggressiveness and it's silliness (My only suggestion was enhancing more the comical effect), I much rather preferer NPCs with bad personalities instead of don't having any at all.

I like how the NPCs had more distinguishing appearances like using clothes that would match their personalities. This was a thing that bothered me to death with the blue fairies and the Rags.