Atelier Ryza 2 is a sequel to Atelier Ryza, a first for the Atelier series. Ryza was such a beloved character that they knew from the start they would have her as the main character for a second game. She’s a lovely young lady, resolved to get out of farming, who finds out about alchemy and runs with it. Now, three years have passed since her last summer adventure, and she’s off to the city.
Kurken Island and the city of Ashram-am-Baird are two different places. While Kurken Island is small yet packed with wooded areas, Ashram-am-Baird only has one grassy area. The two locales have their energies since there are so many people living in the city. It’s beautiful to see Ryza bursting with confidence, shrink a little when she realizes how large the city she’s moving to is. Ryza might have been a large shark in a small pond on Kurken, but now, she’s just a minnow.
Atelier Ryza 2 is a clear upgrade from its predecessor. The development team worked hard to finish Ryza, but they could have used a little more time. It looks like this time around: the team fulfills all the things they hoped to accomplish, seeing as they didn’t have to start with introductions. The first game was fantastic, but Ryza 2 is even better, and it shows. The main characters Ryza, Klaudia, Tao, and Lent all return from the first game. These characters have grown up in the last three years and are off doing what they want in this world. While everyone else already left Kurken, Ryza decided to keep learning alchemy and became a teacher because she knew quite a bit; she has to catch up with her friends on the outside.
Ryza has pretty much stayed the same over the last three years, while her friends seem to have changed for the better. Tao, for instance, was once a shy boy who didn’t want to adventure. He’s now an exploring researcher ready to jump into adventure with no push, plus he’s taller. Ryza and Tao meet each other again early on, and she doesn’t even recognize him; that’s character growth. There are several other new party members from tertiary ones that help the players to new party members. Clifford is a strange man Ryza meets as she heads off to the city for the first time. Patricia is a rich girl who might be in love with Tao, who pushes herself into the adventure. There’s even a character named Serri, who joins and reminds Ryza of her friend Lila. These three extra party members help round out the party and add to the fun.
Alchemy has also received a buff and feels simpler than ever before. In Ryza 1, the player has to move through every alchemy table, filling it in as they go. This time around, players can still do that, but it feels different. It might be because I played through Ryza 1 again, but it all feels so simple, like, I know what I’m doing, so I don’t have any questions. This feeling is proof that Ryza is getting better at alchemy, and the sense of her growth is superb. Alchemy is the process of turning one thing into something else. Ryza’s been studying hard to master it and now can automatically make whatever she might need if the player wants to use it. I always try to make what I’m after at least the first time around but having to make multiples of the same item can be tedious. Select the item and choose if you want her to use higher or lower class items, and she’ll get to work.
In Atelier Ryza 2, Ryza is now a gifted alchemist, but she’s in a new place. This affects her ability to do alchemy as she has to figure out how to create what she knew how to create on Kurken. This is where the new skill tree system comes in. As players explore and learn, they will amass points, these points can be used to unlock old recipes. It’s painless and simple to use and allows for more progression of the character. It might seem weird at first but having her relearn everything just shows that she is continuously growing, imagine what she could be like in a potential Atelier Ryza 3!
Battles in Atelier Ryza are also different; players can still start them with an advantage by hitting their foe. Ryza and the gang can automatically hit their enemies multiple times with a standard attack. It’s great to use this when players need more AP for special moves. Ryza and the gang can use several spells when they have enough AP or unleash an item rush. Item rushes are great because players can use multiple items at once they can heal and deal damage.
The core item system has also changed; players will consistently have access to their core items. In the first game, players could sacrifice their core items to get more uses out of the other ones. Now, players gain them periodically in battle, changing things up, and making it easier to gain AP. I always happen to have enough core charges to heal if need be or cause just a little extra damage. It’s a simple change, but one that makes strategizing all the easier.
Ruins are also a big part of this game, and there are five for the player to explore. Each dungeon is similar yet different, and Ryza can’t help but search them. It’s different from exploring the outside world as they are each their own. Explore them and find all the treasures that hide within. Ryza will do her best to take down all the monsters inside and learn more about the civilization that once crafted the ruins. There is also a quest system similar to the one from the previous game but overhauled. Ryza can take quests at any time from the board in the cafe. She will slowly gain the adoration of the masses, who might eventually ask to request things of her. Ryza might start as a nobody, but by the end, everyone needs something from her. She’s starting from the bottom and working her way up.
The writing in this game is also well done. The characters have changed, and their vocabulary has changed along with it. The kids aren’t in Kurken anymore and have evolved to live in the city. The Japanese voice-over is stellar too, and I enjoy that they changed Tao’s voice actor, for instance, to match his new appearance. Ryza 2 also adds autoplay to this game. It can be a pain pressing the button every time a character stops talking, but this time around, and can talk without stopping. If the player misses something, they can refer to the log and remember what was said. Having a record and autoplay makes playing this game a little comfier, and I appreciate that.
Atelier Ryza 2 is a phenomenal game and one that got the time it needed to succeed. While Ryza 1 is fantastic, it needed a little more time, and now that I’ve played Ryza 2, I’m even more excited for a potential Ryza 3. Ryza and her friends have grown so much, but I still see room for development; another sequel with them at their peak would be perfect. Ryza is off to uncover a mystery; will the player join her in the city and ruins for a wild summer adventure?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
I reviewed Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout in 2019, check it out if your new to this series or Atelier at large.