There’s one thing each thrilling and terrifying a few new recreation in a cherished franchise. As an enormous fan of the Atelier collection, I felt either one of those emotions going into Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Recollections & the Envisioned Land, particularly because the preliminary trailers gave the look to be one thing of a departure. Would Yumia are living as much as my hopes for the Atelier collection?
Atelier Yumia is the newest addition to the Atelier franchise and the primary primary recreation within the collection for the reason that finish of the Atelier Ryza trilogy, which introduced a wave of latest consideration to the decades-spanning collection (no longer together with the loose to play gacha recreation Atelier Resleriana, which is finishing carrier on the finish of this month). As a result of the brand new eyes that have been on Ryza, Yumia has so much using on it as the way forward for the franchise.
For many who are simply entering Atelier, the franchise is divided up into a number of collection that experience their very own tale and continuity, and Yumia is the beginning of the brand new Envisioned subseries. Which means that Yumia is in some ways designed as an access level to the Atelier collection. You want no earlier wisdom of Atelier to play this. All of that is to mention that, in case you are somebody who’s curious in regards to the collection, this may well be a excellent access level, as a result of Yumia is a wonderful recreation each for freshmen and present lovers alike.
Atelier Yumia is about in a global the place alchemy is taboo, the reason for earlier calamity on this planet and, a drive of destruction. Yumia, an alchemist, has joined a analysis staff to research the fallen Aladissian empire. Alongside the way in which she meets different characters who’ve ties to alchemy, explores the land and learns extra in regards to the previous of the empire and the characters themselves. Thus far this tale is cast – the darker tone of alchemy and its courting with the arena jogs my memory slightly of the Nightfall subseries. As of writing I’ve put a number of hours on this recreation however I believe like I haven’t come as regards to finding its secrets and techniques. The actual pleasure, similar to different Atelier video games, is within the characters. Yumia is a compelling personality, who has to navigate alchemy as a forbidden artwork with the folk round her. She’s very other to Ryza, which I consider used to be on function, to keep away from comparability, however she’s a lovely personality to apply round. I additionally truly benefit from the interactions with Yumia, the analysis staff, and her celebration of personality. Yumia, in contrast to many different Atelier protagonists, doesn’t know any celebration contributors forward of time, so you’re feeling the characters develop in combination. It is a amusing dynamic, and I love simply how other Yumia’s cases really feel from the everyday Atelier protagonist.
The arena of Atelier Yumia is an open global and numerous center of attention is put into the exploration, which is a pleasure in Atelier Yumia. Right through your enjoy with the analysis staff a large center of attention is on pioneering targets, as they identify themselves on this area. Along with primary and facet quests you might have other targets which unencumber extra in every of the sport’s spaces. The extra you discover, the extra substances you in finding, which ends up in the vintage Atelier gameplay loop of exploring to seek out substances, going again for your atelier to make use of alchemy to make new pieces, and the use of the ones pieces in fight to get additional and discover extra. It’s a truly nice loop that works in Yumia neatly.
There also are new methods at play in Atelier Yumia. For the primary time you’ll make some staple items at the fly within the box. Fundamental bandages for therapeutic, bullets on your gun personnel (sure, your primary weapon is a personnel that also is a gun, whoever got here up with this merits a elevate), and gear for exploring. There’s additionally a complete building gadget the place, in explicit spaces that let for construction, you’ll do base construction. Whilst I haven’t gotten into the beauty facet of this a lot but, there’s something great about with the ability to make necessarily a 2d Atelier in numerous portions of the arena through construction an area for alchemy, a container for substances, and the opposite issues you wish to have. The pieces you craft for construction use the decrease high quality substances you select up, which could also be great as a result of this provides a function to each merchandise you select up, even supposing you wouldn’t in most cases use it to your alchemy.
The fight could also be truly relaxing. Quite than returning to the flip primarily based fight of earlier titles, Yumia expands upon the motion fight of Ryza and improves upon it, making you apply enemy assault patterns, dodge assaults and use fight abilities in addition to pieces you crafted with alchemy. It’s no longer moderately a complete motion RPG but it surely appears like a pleasant steadiness – the fight flows well and feels tactile, but additionally strategic.
Regardless of these types of adjustments and additions, one of the most issues I need to tension maximum is solely how a lot Atelier Yumia appears like an Atelier recreation, which is one thing I in finding to be beautiful outstanding. This recreation is attempting for numerous various things and is obviously the Atelier staff’s try to make bigger what the franchise can appear to be, however there are such a large amount of little moments that simply really feel like Atelier. The core gameplay loop is similar, the characters really feel like Atelier characters, however in addition they do such a lot new. I believe this moves an excellent steadiness of making an attempt new issues however nonetheless in the end making an Atelier recreation.
Sadly, there’s one large caveat to this enjoy, and that’s the visuals and function on Transfer. Whilst numerous the artwork designs glance nice and there are lots of moments the place the sport seems gorgeous, it’s very transparent that the enjoy used to be no longer adapted to the Transfer’s {hardware}. After I first began the sport, the site for the academic made my middle sink, with textures that regarded, frankly, dangerous. Whenever you get to the primary open global space it seems significantly better, which is excellent, but it surely nonetheless wasn’t a perfect first impact. The framerate, whilst in most cases solid, could also be no longer the most productive. All of this has resulted in a recreation that, whilst very playable on Transfer, is obviously no longer optimized for Transfer. I’m wondering how Atelier Yumia will play on Transfer 2 or different consoles. When you best have a Transfer or (like me) revel in enjoying Atelier video games on Transfer then this shouldn’t forestall you, simply know that there are a number of moments that really feel irritating primarily based off of the sport’s efficiency.
That every one being mentioned, Atelier Yumia is a recreation I believe you must enjoy, both in case you are an skilled Atelier fan or are on the lookout for a brand new access level into the collection. Whilst I’ve but to complete the sport (therefore why it is a evaluate in development)I’m completely playing the whole thing new and outdated that Atelier Yumia has to provide. If that is the way forward for the Atelier collection, the longer term is having a look shiny for Atelier lovers.
