Atelier Ryza is a new game in a series that has been around for a while. The Atelier series has been popular in Japan but hasn’t hit the same stride in the west. It’s a game about girls and the power of alchemy and for some reason, it’s stayed a little under the radar. The atelier series is a charming one, and this game is no different. With a cute protagonist and a fun adventure with friends, this one is not to be missed.
Ryza or Rieselin is a young girl who isn’t sure what she wants out of life. She has her two friends Lent and Tao by her side at all times, but she just wants to explore. She is a farmer’s daughter in a town where the one in charge controls the water. She has no interest in farming and just wants to see the world doing all she can to avoid work. Plus, its the summer and she wants it to the best yet. Lent and Tao are her best friends and have their aspirations. Lent wants to be the strongest warrior out there and doesn’t seem to mind venturing out into the world. If only to take on monsters and get stronger. He’s quiet and happy following along beating up monsters and learning exactly how he needs to fight to be the best warrior the world has ever seen. Tao, on the other hand, is a bookish magic-user. He would rather stay inside with a book learning about the world. But he can’t say no to Ryza and his powerful magic could help turn the tide. Tao is always one to want to go home but at the end of the day, he loves helping his friends. He might even be growing accustomed to learning first hand as opposed to books. As long as he’s around Ryza and Lent will have strong magic at their beck and call.
These three friends are in for an adventure when Ryza finally convinces them to head out into the wide world. They sneak down to an abandoned dock and paddle their way to the mainland. The mainland is wrought with monsters and danger at every turn. These three kids have no idea what they are in for when they find a girl in need of help. It’s up to these three kids to save the day and bring her home. Of course, they don’t have the worldly experience needed to bring her home. They soon are saved by two odd people, people who are stronger than they’ve ever seen. With their help, they can bring their new friend home and learn she is a merchant’s daughter. This is also when they learn that these two interesting people are powerful things.
Ryza is taught about alchemy at first begrudgingly by the Empel. He tells her to gather up some items and bring them back to him. After her first sessions, Ryza is hooked and wants nothing more than to be an alchemist. This is a turning point in her story as she finally knows what she wants out of life and this girl isn’t going to let anything stand in her way. Lent learns that Lila is a powerful fighter and asks for her to teach him how to fight. While Tao is brought in to learn to translate ancient texts. These three friends are suddenly gifted with all they’ve ever wanted out of life, a way to achieve their goals. It’s a serendipitous moment and one that turns this summer of fun into a summer of growth. It’s magic to see them realize they are closer to achieving the goals they never thought they’d achieve.
The game fully kicks off then with the heroes continuing to explore the world. They might not be lucky enough to have the support of the townsfolk or even their parents but this won’t stop them. They even bring their friends along for the ride and discover more about the world. The player will explore a strange world filled with some monsters, cute and otherwise. The game’s biggest concept is alchemy. Alchemy is the creation of something from nothing. Players will be able to craft all sorts of goodies including weapons, potions, and even clothing. These things are important as they are the only way to outfit the characters for optimum power. Alchemy is an interesting mechanic and has wide trees that guide the process.
As players continue to use alchemy they will level up and be able to make even stronger creations. Players will need to think wisely about what items they put into each slot. The slots vary based on what the player is trying to create. There are even the four elements tied into it all changing how things are done. It is a mechanic that will take time to understand but will also offer great results. Players will gather all sorts of items out in the open world. They will gain them from monsters and from the world itself. Be aware that Ryza can only carry so much and if something rare pops up it might be best to drop some things. Returning to her room will store the items so the player can return to gather.
Combat in this game is a mixture of real-time and turn-based. Player’s will see a bar on the side of the screen that shows the character portraits rise and fall. When their turn is up they can either attack, use a skill, move, or use an item. This is an easy system to use but could be difficult to master. Players will need to be quick on their feet as the enemies will attack even if the player is deciding. As they continue the story the player will gain new battle abilities. They can use a quick rush which will let them use their turn at the cost of 10 ability points which can be earned for hitting an enemy in the field. The party members might also desire Ryza to use an item or skill, which will give them the chance to use a strong attack. These moments come and go quickly so the player will have to jump at every chance.
The player will also need to be aware of switching the party members from normal to aggressive. In aggressive mode, the party will use skills. Otherwise, they will simply attack. If players are trying to gain AP they might not want to use Aggressive mode. The more AP the player has the more chances Ryza will be able to attack regularly in one go. It is important to balance between the two and go with the one that suits the battle. The characters will level up as they battle too. This is a good thing as the hp can run out rather quickly. Though when they level up they will not be fully restored. The only way to heal besides items is to rest under magic flowers that the monsters despise. These flowers will take time to recharge so use them only when necessary. Note that if the party dies in the field they will lose a few items gathered at random.
This game is rife with small cutscenes that can happen seemingly at random. As the player explores the town or even fast travels, scenes startup. These scenes might showcase relationships between the bratty Bos and the gang or the townsfolk and the gang. Sometimes just leveling up a few levels or even synthesizing the right thing will lead to a new scene. They are all fully voiced so it’s always a wonderful surprise. Quests will also eventually unlock which are helpful as they provide goods and money. Talking to characters with a question mark above their head will start quests. Though sometimes players will need to know certain recipes to even start them. Plus it’s nice to help out the people of Ryza’s village with alchemy. Player’s will also receive important party quests. These quests will help strengthen Ryza and her friends. For instance, one has Lent use a specific move or for Ryza to gather from a certain location. They will then learn moves and skills that will aid them in their prospective goals. Completing them also is sometimes connected to the main story so try to complete as many as possible.
Eventually, Ryza will set up her Atelier with the help of her friends. This is a great idea because the player can customize the whole building. Her friends will visit and even leave goodies that Ryza can use. It’s a solid home base away from prying eyes and sets off the next part of the game in style.As players explore they will discover more and more places. A good amount of these are fast travel-able with the use of the notice boards dotted about the world. These boards provide Ryza with instant travel between locations and are very helpful. Ryza can at any time return home with the press of a button which is also helpful!
The game is fully voiced in Japanese as the series is known for. I usually enjoy a good dub, but with certain series, I love good voice acting of any kind. The story and all of the town scenes are voiced amazingly. I was surprised at the amount of voice acting in this game but not disappointed. With the amount of speaking it would have taken ages to dub, so it makes sense. The music is also wonderful and full of the vigor of youth. When Ryza is experiencing a happy moment the music swells. The battle music is also light-hearted yet intense. Pushing the player to give it their all and take on all foes. Even after clearing battle after battle I haven’t grown tired of it.
Atelier Ryza is a game that offers up a beautiful adventure in the height of youth. Ryza and her friends are mere seedlings and they just want to be the best they can be. It’s a testament to how hard it can be to start truly living. Ryza is a heroine that the player will root for and she is a great one. This game tells a tale that takes place throughout a wild summer, will the player be there to guide her to glory?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided