Atelier video games have been round for the reason that late ’90s, with greater than two dozen titles shipped in that point – however you’re forgiven some unfamiliarity the sequence, as Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Recollections and the Envisioned Land would be the very first to reach on Xbox. After taking part in via the primary few hours of the sport and talking with producer Junzo Hosoi, it’s turning into clear that the primary Atelier title on Xbox isn’t merely the newest within the sequence, it’s probably the most bold entry but.
“As an enormous Xbox fan, I’m thrilled to lastly convey the sequence to the system,” Hosoi advised me through electronic mail, “However once I take a look at the sport as an entire, I don’t describe Atelier Yumia as the following Atelier recreation. I describe it as a very new JRPG sequence that has Atelier options.”
My preview session bore that out; gamers will discover acquainted RPG components aplenty – strategic, real-time battles, crafting, exploration – however they arrive collectively in means that feels altogether completely different from others within the style. The key ingredient, if you’ll, lies within the tremendous deep crafting system.
“The attraction of the Atelier sequence is about synthesis and the alchemy course of,” Hosoi-san confirmed. “The sport cycle is fairly distinctive as there may be gathering within the subject, preventing in battle, and using the synthesis system, and all three of these issues are associated.”
That attraction can also be evident within the playable forged of characters, particularly the eponymous Yumia Liessfeldt, a extra grown-up character than some previous sequence headliner heroines.
Hosoi-san shares extra background: “Since Yumia is 21 years previous, the story is about her rising into maturity. That is proven all through the story via her robust core values… independence and attraction. With [heroes of previous titles] Ryza and Sophie, they have been youthful, so that they wanted mentors so as to develop up, however with Yumia, she has her personal id and decision-making expertise.” Oh, and he or she owns a motorbike!
As a result of Aladiss, the brand new continent launched in Atelier Yumia, inherently distrusts alchemy, the sport’s early hours see Yumia searching for to show her price. Whereas her synthesis expertise differentiate her from different characters within the recreation, bolstered by a brand new constructing system that crafting survival followers will take pleasure in, in my playthrough, it was Yumia’s battle prowess that stunned most.
For almost the entire sequence’ historical past, Atelier titles have been turn-based affairs. The latest Atelier Ryza titles have been to first to maneuver to real-time, and for Atelier Yumia, the workforce heard participant suggestions, leading to an enormous quantity ofc ombat choices for gamers to grasp.
“The mechanics of battle have been utterly redesigned for this recreation as shut and ranged fight has been added,” Hosoi-san explains. “Throughout the two assault zones, gamers can transfer the energetic character freely across the enemies or between the 2 assault zones in battle. You may also guard and dodge assaults in real-time and even pull off a strong cooperation assault with different characters when an enemy is shocked. For Atelier Yumia, we’re specializing in really exhibiting the participant’s expertise throughout battle.”
In follow, battles transfer rapidly; gamers can management Yumia or shift at any time to certainly one of her touring companions. Placement is vital; you possibly can see when and the place assaults will hit, however timing out a precision guard (or getting the heck out of the best way) takes good timing. It’s not too difficult when going 1 on 1 with an everyday mob, however in a multi-enemy rumble, with fewer secure areas, there’s an entire lot to account for.
Add in various enemy weaknesses, alternatives to execute highly effective Buddy Actions, balancing offense and protection at completely different ranges – I didn’t anticipate a recreation this lovely to require such situational consciousness! Fortuitously, your squad enters and exits battle seamlessly as you discover, and it’s quick and enjoyable to construct up preventing expertise, or to keep away from encounters whenever you simply wanna zipline again to city.
As talked about, Yumia isn’t on this journey alone; you’ll meet a number of companions within the recreation’s prologue earlier than rewinding to an earlier level within the story. I discovered one character significantly entertaining, and Hosoi-san stunned me by unexpectedly citing an Xbox icon when requested about Flammi, Yumia’s floating, humorous little companion.
“Flammi was really impressed by Halo’s Cortana. I needed to make one thing the place we may have a dialog between a foremost protagonist and anyone near them who’re all the time collectively. Taking part in Halo was a lot enjoyable and that’s why I actually needed so as to add a mascot for Atelier Yumia.“
Atelier Yumia arrives at a really prolific time for Koei Tecmo: Dynasty Warriors Origins was well-received on its latest launch, Group Ninja stunned everybody with Ninja Gaiden 4’s announcement, and we’ve been spoiled with shadow drops of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Warriors: Abyss. To listen to it from Hosoi-san, the constructive vitality is boosting everybody’s tasks.
“Inside Koei Tecmo video games, the model producers get alongside very well with one another. We’ve a convention the place video games underneath growth obtain opinions from every of the manufacturers, so not solely will we pay attention to one another’s opinions, we then get to see their video games in growth as properly. We make the most of one another’s opinions to assist us develop and create higher video games. In the long run, that helps in my purpose of creating Atelier Yumia recognized worldwide as the very best recreation within the sequence.”
