Relating to the Atelier sequence, selection is the spice of life. One would possibly assume that greater than 25 video games deep into developer Gust’s long-running RPG sequence, the sheen of that trademark gameplay loop of accumulating supplies, studying recipes, and crafting gadgets by way of alchemy would begin to boring just a little. But, with the introduction of every new entry and corresponding sub-series, Atelier continuously finds methods to reinvent itself and supply a singular 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 id.
That’s why Atelier Resleriana: The Pink Alchemist & the White Guardian, the twenty seventh mainline entry within the sequence, is such a sophisticated recreation to clarify. A lot of its id is owed to what got here earlier than it. It’s concurrently a standalone sequel to a free-to-play gacha recreation, a serious crossover occasion that includes characters from previous entries, and a self-proclaimed return to the sequence’ turn-based roots. On the similar time, it’s additionally very a lot its personal factor, chronicling an unique story with new leads and recent gameplay ideas.
A lesser recreation is perhaps crushed underneath the burden of all of the issues Atelier Resleriana is meant to be, but it manages to dovetail every duty right into a cohesive entire. The end result is among the stronger Atelier releases lately and, fortunately, an pleasing 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 Night time (a cellular and PC-based gacha title that’s now not obtainable to play exterior of Japan), this strikes the main focus 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 ability 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 accumulating alchemy elements and battling enemies; synthesising and strengthening new gadgets by way of alchemy recipes on the atelier; and enhancing the standard of the city by promoting gadgets at Rias’ retailer or taking up extra 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 elements to supply gadgets and tools on your celebration. Supplies possess two distinct color attributes that have to be chained collectively to successfully go on distinctive traits and results. It could look like 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 at all times do the most effective job of explaining all of the need-to-know ins and outs. This opaqueness could be irritating, particularly as a number of battles within the mid-to-late recreation ramp up the problem to check your crafting mastery.
You gather supplies by exploring areas and progressing by way of a slew of floor-based dungeons with procedurally generated interiors that change upon every go to. The act of accumulating 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 continuing inflow of beneficial elements 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 celebration members in your frontline. A lot of the style staples are current — every character has their very own stats and skillsets (which could be expanded and improved by way of a ability tree or levelling up), and so they 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 briefly stun them. Occasion members who act in succession may comply with up one another’s actions with additional assaults.
The fundamentals of fight could also be simple, however Atelier Resleriana additionally contains a number of key mechanics that maintain battles feeling dynamic and recent. 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 procure 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 extra layer to battles.
In the meantime, the Multi-Motion mechanic permits you to spend collected Technical Factors to present an energetic combatant and two of your non-active celebration members an opportunity to carry out an motion in a single fell swoop earlier than swapping out the principle fighter for somebody on the again line. This twist permits you to carry out some fairly devastating combos whereas conserving all your celebration 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 traditional turn-based RPG fare and brisker 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 possibly can inventory gadgets you’ve synthesised, rent fairies as employees, and customise the inside to your liking. Because the store sells wares, you possibly can each flip a revenue and stage up numerous elements of Hallfein.
It’s additionally doable to enhance the city by taking up optionally available aspect quests and partaking in different actions round city. Sure retailers, gadgets, and customer characters turn out to be obtainable as Hallfein grows, however seeing the struggling locale’s situation visibly enhance over the course of the sport presents a rewarding sense of development in itself.
On that notice, 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 higher emphasis on character dynamics. It helps that the principle solid is made up of supremely likeable and charming individuals who come alive due to fluid animation work and fully-voiced cutscenes.
The individuals you meet are compassionate and keen to lend a serving to hand far most of the time, and it’s straightforward to root for the group as they rally behind Hallfein’s restoration. It is probably not 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 principle story and inside optionally available character episodes and aspect quests. These story segments are usually pleasing 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 straightforward to set off, even if you don’t intend to. Going to a sure space or chatting with a sure character may cause a number of cutscenes to stack, routinely 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 value mentioning that each the principle story and aspect content material characteristic a bunch of returning characters from Atelier historical past who make up a lot of the major and supporting solid, together with the majority of your celebration members. Fortunately, the sport doesn’t let this crossover factor overpower the core narrative and successfully introduces everybody with out a lot confusion. That mentioned, you’ll positively get rather more out of all of the little nods and references embedded within the story in case you’re conversant in 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 positively taken the best hit, as it may possibly get fairly blurry and jaggy in handheld mode. Fortunately, the stylised artwork route shines by way of even within the messier moments. Atelier Resleriana on Change is probably not as sharp or as clean as it’s on different platforms, however it nonetheless performs simply tremendous 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 recent gameplay twists to name its personal, and a metric ton of fanservice for veterans, Atelier Resleriana: The Pink Alchemist & the White Guardian seems like a triumphant celebration of the complete sequence’ legacy.
Extra importantly, it’s only a actually nice RPG expertise. Appropriately, it mixes collectively a bunch of high quality elements — 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 actually a bump within the street or two, however the journey is just too pleasing to linger on these for lengthy.
