I can’t claim to be some kind of Atelier expert. In fact, I’ve only played one other Atelier game and that was Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland. I also can’t claim to know how to pronounce that correctly. I did enjoy that game, however. Being a bit of a nutter for JRPGs, I played it on a whim and found myself hooked. And hooked fast! I guess there’s a reason they’ve been cranking out Atelier games at an impressive pace going all the way back to 1997! In fact, there are 16 main games, several side games and a ton of remakes and ports. And they’ve been coming out in the States since 2005. Just what is it about this series?

You get to make stuff! Lots of stuff! You’re an alchemist and you’ll spend a good chunk of the game in your “atelier,” or workshop, mixing up all manner of items. But to get the materials, you must go adventuring. Each level has materials that you gather by picking off the ground or win by defeating monsters. This simple process is very satisfying in and of itself, but of course there is a larger goal. And the goal changes from game to game. For instance, in Apprentice of Arland, you are tasked with building a community. You fight monsters, craft stuff and deliver goods to build up the town you live in. This game has none of that. Depending on which “Shallie” you pick, the goal is either to repair your damaged ship or save your dying village. 

Yes, there are two Shallies in this game! I played the dark-haired more serious one, but there is a brighter more “genki” girl available. The story is different for both. So if you play through as one, you may want to try out the other to see the difference.

Compared to its predecessors, this game features bigger adventuring areas, better graphics and…the ability to move the camera around! A first for the series! Kind of sounds silly in this day and age, but hey, this series has been going strong since 1997, so they obviously know what their fans want.

The combat has been improved from Apprentice of Arland, which had a very simple turn-based system. Shallie's system is still fairly straightforward, but it's faster and has a focus on swapping characters out to activate Burst Mode, which give the characters more attack power. Bad guys are mostly fodder, but you will occasionally run into something that’ll give you a go for your money. In that case, you better hope you’ve synthesized some great healing items!

Speaking of synthesizing, you’ll spend a great deal of time in this game in front of your cauldron combining everything you find adventuring into new items. You'll make basic stuff like food and healing items for your group, and you'll be able to craft an assortment of powerful bombs that Shallie can use. In fact, she doesn't have any skills in fights and relies solely on what she can craft. But her bombs end up becoming so powerful, by mid-game she's a major damage dealer. You’ll also make items for quests, which you’ll receive plenty of from the Cooperative Union. Most of the quests are "go beat up some monsters" or "make this item," but the sheer amount keeps the game going because you'll always have something do. The synthesis system starts out simple and easy to understand, but as the game progresses it gets more and more complicated. But it’s all about trial and error and Shallie will give you audio clues if you’re mixing up stuff wrong.

The game also features a Life Tasks system that tracks what you've accomplished and tells you what you need to do. It’s a very comprehensive system, and you’ll constantly get messages throughout the game telling you what you’ve achieved. From simple stuff like, “ You've killed 10 monsters!” to much larger objectives. This game has got the carrot-on-a-stick thing down, and you’ll always have a sense of accomplishment while playing. You’ll also want to go just a little bit further, which can lead to some late-night gaming.

The music is another standout feature of the game. I have a weakness for “jolly JRPG music,” and this game has plenty of it. Some very catchy tunes! Plus, you can change the music and pick songs from a ton of other Gust games! Going way, way back! And music from non-Atelier games. I saw stuff from shooters, other RPGS and a game I have never heard of that probably never came out here. You can mix and match and make your own soundtrack. Quite an interesting feature to put in a game.

What else can I say, this is a fun little corner of the JRPG universe. It may get overlooked by some male fans because it is pretty dang “kawaii." But it has the best crafting system I’ve ever seen. And the crafting is actually pretty fun. Not a drag at all as it can be in some RPGs. Combat is simple, but engaging. The world is beautiful and filled with memorable characters. And the quest system will keep you going and going long after your eyes start to droop. I guess I am officially an Atelier fan! I just wish I could say the names of the games better.

Hint: Wanna level up fast? Choose “waves of enemies” from Enemy Encounter feature during levels. It’ll unleash a ton of bad guys to fight! But you better be ready for a long battle!

by Urian Brown