On the subject of the Atelier collection, selection is the spice of life. One may assume that greater than 25 video games deep into developer Gust’s long-running RPG collection, the sheen of that trademark gameplay loop of amassing supplies, studying recipes, and crafting objects through alchemy would begin to boring somewhat. But, with the introduction of every new entry and corresponding sub-series, Atelier continually finds methods to reinvent itself and supply a novel spin on its tried-and-true gameplay methods. From the darker and extra action-focused Atelier Yumia to the sprawling journey saga of the Atelier Ryza trilogy, every title has its personal distinct identification.
That’s why Atelier Resleriana: The Pink Alchemist & the White Guardian, the twenty seventh mainline entry within the collection, is such a sophisticated sport to clarify. A lot of its identification is owed to what got here earlier than it. It’s concurrently a standalone sequel to a free-to-play gacha sport, a serious crossover occasion that includes characters from previous entries, and a self-proclaimed return to the collection’ turn-based roots. On the identical time, it’s additionally very a lot its personal factor, chronicling an unique story with new leads and contemporary gameplay ideas.
A lesser sport may be crushed underneath the load of all of the issues Atelier Resleriana is meant to be, but it manages to dovetail every duty right into a cohesive complete. The outcome is among the stronger Atelier releases lately and, fortunately, an gratifying expertise that is still largely unfettered by Change 1’s ageing {hardware}.
Set after the occasions of 2023’s Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy & the Liberator of Polar Evening (a cell and PC-based gacha title that’s now not out there to play exterior of Japan), this strikes the main target to 2 new playable protagonists: Rias and Slade. They hail from Hallfein, a once-bustling city that suffered a mysterious tragedy 12 years prior and has since fallen into disrepair. When the pair of adventurers meet and stumble throughout an deserted atelier, they resolve to make use of the facility of alchemy to revive their hometown to its former glory and uncover the thriller behind its downfall.
In line with its narrative focus, Atelier Resleriana’s gameplay is outlined by three key areas: exploring the world and its dungeons whereas amassing alchemy components and battling enemies; synthesising and strengthening new objects through alchemy recipes on the atelier; and enhancing the standard of the city by promoting objects at Rias’ retailer or taking over further quests and aspect actions. Every strand is well-defined with its personal set of intricacies and methods to be taught, and the way in which all three interweave makes partaking with each key to development.
The sport’s refreshed alchemy system sees you combining components to supply objects and tools to your get together. Supplies possess two distinct color attributes that have to be chained collectively to successfully move on distinctive traits and results. It could seem to be a easy match-the-colour system on the floor, however there are a ton of wrinkles and extra mechanics that up the complexity of crafting significantly.
Having a pleasant quantity of depth within the alchemy system is an Atelier hallmark, although this iteration’s tutorials don’t all the time do the perfect job of explaining all of the need-to-know ins and outs. This opaqueness could be irritating, particularly as a couple of battles within the mid-to-late sport ramp up the problem to check your crafting mastery.
You accumulate supplies by exploring places and progressing via a slew of floor-based dungeons with procedurally generated interiors that change upon every go to. The act of amassing supplies basically boils right down to hitting a button to immediately harvest helpful stuff with ease. You may collect one handful of things after one other inside seconds, and having a relentless inflow of precious components added to your basket is pure dopamine.
For his or her half, battles have returned to a turn-based format from earlier Atelier titles. Right here, you management the actions of as much as three get together members in your frontline. Many of the style staples are current — every character has their very own stats and skillsets (which could be expanded and improved through a ability tree or levelling up), they usually can use their flip to carry out an element-based assault or use an merchandise. Enemies have elemental resistances and weaknesses that may be exploited to quickly stun them. Celebration members who act in succession may also observe up one another’s actions with additional assaults.
The fundamentals of fight could also be easy, however Atelier Resleriana additionally consists of a number of key mechanics that hold battles feeling dynamic and contemporary. Arguably the most important is the presence of a visual flip timeline à la Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which you should utilize to plan out your technique a number of strikes prematurely, and even manipulate to alter flip timings and acquire sure bonus results. Figuring out when to schedule an Interruption motion for a free merchandise use or deciding which goal to steal an impact from on their subsequent projected flip provides a complete further layer to battles.
In the meantime, the Multi-Motion mechanic lets you spend gathered Technical Factors to present an energetic combatant and two of your non-active get together members an opportunity to carry out an motion in a single fell swoop earlier than swapping out the primary fighter for somebody on the again line. This twist lets you carry out some fairly devastating combos whereas retaining your whole get together members related and concerned.
There are extra battle mechanics to mess around with moreover these, however the level is that Atelier Resleriana’s fight is a pleasant mix between basic turn-based RPG fare and more energizing ideas that encourage additional technique and optimisation.
Lastly, there’s the city enchancment system, which centres round administration of Rias’ store, Mistletoe Miscellaneous. Right here, you may inventory objects you’ve synthesised, rent fairies as workers, and customise the inside to your liking. Because the store sells wares, you may each flip a revenue and degree up numerous elements of Hallfein.
It’s additionally attainable to enhance the city by taking over optionally available aspect quests and partaking in different actions round city. Sure retailers, objects, and customer characters turn out to be out there as Hallfein grows, however seeing the struggling locale’s situation visibly enhance over the course of the sport gives a rewarding sense of development in itself.
On that word, I fairly loved the restrained and laid-back nature of the story. Whereas it’s not with out its high-stakes moments and occasional twists to maintain issues fascinating, Rias and Slade’s journey feels refreshingly quaint with a larger emphasis on character dynamics. It helps that the primary solid is made up of supremely likeable and charming individuals who come alive because of fluid animation work and fully-voiced cutscenes.
The folks you meet are compassionate and prepared to lend a serving to hand far most of the time, and it’s simple to root for the crew as they rally behind Hallfein’s restoration. It will not be everybody’s tonal cup of tea, however the entire thing simply comes off as very nice and earnestly candy with out falling into saccharine territory.
You will spend a complete lot of time with these characters, too, with an ample quantity of cutscenes each all through the primary story and inside optionally available character episodes and aspect quests. These story segments are usually gratifying for the explanations described above, though there actually are a ton of them, and they are often slightly long-winded at instances.
Cutscenes are additionally simple to set off, even once you don’t intend to. Going to a sure space or chatting with a sure character may cause a number of cutscenes to stack, robotically enjoying out one after one other and bringing progress to a screeching halt. Suffice to say, there are many spans when all you are able to do is ready down the controller and watch issues play out.
It’s additionally price mentioning that each the primary story and aspect content material characteristic a bunch of returning characters from Atelier historical past who make up a lot of the main and supporting solid, together with the majority of your get together members. Fortunately, the sport doesn’t let this crossover ingredient overpower the core narrative and successfully introduces everybody with out a lot confusion. That mentioned, you’ll undoubtedly get far more out of all of the little nods and references embedded within the story if you happen to’re accustomed to earlier entries.
You will even be relieved to listen to that Atelier Resleriana seems on Change with out egregious efficiency concessions. The sport ran at what seemed to be a rock-solid 30 frames per second all through my playthrough, which feels fluid sufficient to suit its moment-to-moment gameplay.
Visuals have undoubtedly taken the best hit, as it could get fairly blurry and jaggy in handheld mode. Fortunately, the stylised artwork route shines via even within the messier moments. Atelier Resleriana on Change will not be as sharp or as easy as it’s on different platforms, but it surely nonetheless performs simply advantageous and stands as a more-than-viable model.
Conclusion
Between a restrained scope and construction that harkens again to the Atelier video games of previous, a bevvy of contemporary gameplay twists to name its personal, and a metric ton of fanservice for veterans, Atelier Resleriana: The Pink Alchemist & the White Guardian looks like a triumphant celebration of your entire collection’ legacy.
Extra importantly, it’s only a actually nice RPG expertise. Appropriately, it mixes collectively a bunch of high quality components — a heartwarming narrative, strategic and dynamic turn-based fight, advanced crafting methods — and synthesises them right into a jolly little romp of an journey. There’s definitely a bump within the street or two, however the experience is just too gratifying to linger on these for lengthy.
