System: Swap
Launch date: March 24, 2023
Developer: Gust
Writer: Koei Tecmo
There’s no denying the endurance that the Atelier collection has had because the 90s with its charismatic loveable characters and heartwarming tales and worlds. In 2019, nonetheless, the debut of Atelier Ryza introduced an entire new wave of recognition and love for each the franchise and Ryza, and since then Koei Tecmo and Gust have capitalized on the success of the million vendor with two new sequels which have seen simply as a lot love and success. Now in 2023, Atelier Ryza turns into a trilogy with Alchemist of the Finish & The Secret Key with the most important journey but, and it’s a grand spectacle that builds and refines on the components as soon as extra for a seamless expertise in feeling like an alchemist. Sadly, every time the sport has been constructed on its successes and ambitions, it turns into a heavier load for the Swap to deal with, and this time across the sport is simply an excessive amount of of a technical powerhouse that Atelier – regardless of a perpetual brilliant future – looks like it will not be at residence anymore on the hybrid system.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the Finish & The Secret Key sees Ryza and different characters as soon as extra having grown up by means of their experiences and bonds, and now as they dwell their lives with wonderful proficiency in every of their careers and skillsets, issues lastly appear to settle… till they haven’t. One summer time roughly a yr after the occasions of the earlier sport, mysterious islands and landscapes start to look, prompting Ryza and the gang to exit and uncover why these islands have proven up and the place they arrive from. As at all times, it’s a magical journey crammed with heart-to-heart comradery, and Atelier Ryza 3 excels on this tenfold in as soon as once more constructing upon the relationships of such an awesome solid of characters (together with new ones) that followers have grown to like since Ryza’s debut. You’ll be able to genuinely really feel the private development from character to character, and it’s a real feeling of heat by means of the dialogue exchanged out and in of cutscenes that feels very pure and pleasant. The sense of journey in Atelier Ryza 3 can also be palpable from the second the sport begins, and with the most important number of playable characters for the Ryza trilogy on high of the truth that the third entry is now virtually solely open world, all the things about it feels grand and epic, making for a becoming conclusion to Ryza’s story but additionally an thrilling preview of what’s to come back for the way forward for Atelier.
Although Atelier Ryza 3 feels acquainted to what Ryza has delivered to the collection to this point, there are just a few new mechanics, adjustments, and options that flesh out the expertise. Synthesizing, for instance, is identical in lots of methods, however the presentation of its system – and consumer interface as an entire – is a much more intuitive and attention-grabbing course of than the explosion of nodes we’ve seen earlier than. Its largest inclusion this time, nonetheless, are the keys that discover themselves immensely vital to the Atelier Ryza expertise, because it’s not only a story hook but additionally part of the sport that gamers must familiarize themselves with to be able to do issues effectively. These have all kinds of makes use of, however for the aforementioned synthesis and crafting, these keys can, in a way, “unlock” new recipe ranges and traits that wouldn’t usually be current for sure objects. This opens an entire new wave of technique and potentialities to crafting and synthesizing that I discovered myself having fairly a little bit of enjoyable in experimenting with all the brand new potential behind every locked door of supplies. Although it could sound pretty acquainted to different mechanics in prior Atelier titles, the keys lend themselves a big sense of flexibility that basically opens up what’s potential for every respective recipe out and in of battle.
The emphasis on the open world nature of Atelier Ryza 3 is felt straight away as gamers are dropped into an enormous subject with a big map that feels prefer it has no finish in sight. Whereas inside areas like properties, taverns, and outlets nonetheless really feel considerably segmented in opposition to the world, that sense of scale is plain as cities each new and previous give off a deeper sense of exploration and tons of treasure to uncover. Whereas there are tons of advantages to the Atelier components and the Ryza line of video games specifically, the third entry for the Swap feels prefer it’s a bit an excessive amount of to deal with with the entire enhancements which have been included this time round. Atelier Ryza 3 undoubtedly looks like Gust wished to make a JRPG that stands among the many present titans of latest releases, and though the sport technically does an awesome job at giving that grand sense of journey, it’s the {hardware} itself that holds the sport again.
On PC, the sport runs, appears to be like, and performs like an absolute attraction and is surely essentially the most bold and best-looking Atelier sport thus far. Apparently although, the third entry within the collection looks like a step again on Swap in comparison with Ryza’s first two outings. Visually and technically the sport feels prefer it’s misplaced all types of stability and optimization, however the staff nonetheless felt it crucial to ensure the the title noticed a launch on the Swap solely for the truth that the primary two made an look and that is thought-about Ryza’s conclusion. First impressions weren’t nice both as the sport had crashed on me about twenty minutes in, after which as soon as extra an hour after that. It will then go on to occur fairly just a few extra occasions all through my complete playthrough. As somebody who has performed the Atelier collection for years, I’ve seen technical points from entry to entry and platform to platform, however crashes have been subsequent to non-existent for me, so this was a little bit of a shock to see.
Although followers will undoubtedly have a enjoyable time with Atelier Ryza 3, one other draw back is that Atelier continues to have largely unhelpful tutorials that really feel extreme and generally unending. The video games have at all times had a foul behavior of getting pages amongst pages of tricks to learn when introducing a brand new mechanic or characteristic somewhat than simplifying it into just a few sentences at most. As well as, all through its 25-35+ hour journey, arbitrary pop-ups and transitions occur that may make the expertise really feel jarred and disruptive. For brand new gamers, these tutorials are clearly a should because the crafting system – a core a part of the Atelier expertise – can nonetheless be deep regardless of the programs having been extra streamlined from entry to entry, nevertheless it does attain some extent the place you merely need to play with out the complete expertise feeling like one massive hand-holding journey at an opulent theme park you can by no means really be happy in as a result of you need to examine again in with a guardian each couple of minutes. Making it an open world finally means extra tutorials as Atelier explores new territory, however in truth even with the extreme nature of its tutorials, notifications, and pop-ups, the worlds are essentially the most luscious they’ve been and an absolute pleasure to trek by means of.
Atelier as an entire, even with all its evolution and adjustments, has a core perception and worth that retains it standing out in an ever-growing wave of JRPGs yr after yr. It nonetheless stays a relaxed expertise, and although extra monsters, eventualities, and obstacles discover themselves in the best way this time round because the video games naturally develop bigger, it provides a way of wonderment that’s complemented by vibrant colours and design. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the Finish & The Secret Secret is a worthwhile and satisfying conclusion to Ryza’s story and it’ll you should definitely please nearly each fan new and previous that have the title whether or not they’ve been with because the starting or choosing this up as a one-off. Sadly, what’s not so worthwhile and satisfying is taking part in the sport on Swap, so it’s a tough suggestion (although value taking part in by means of) on the system till a sale value matches the standard.
The Verdict
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the Finish & The Secret Key is a good sport in its personal proper however sadly does an excessive amount of for the Swap to deal with this time round. The willingness to alter and evolve needs to be counseled by Gust, however that is one more title in 2023 that’s been hit by the console’s age and lack of optimization that causes it to be the final place for followers to play if they’ve choices on different platforms. Ryza’s journey involves a conclusion in a grand and epic scale, nonetheless, and it’s an thrilling time to be an Atelier fan and get a unbelievable preview of the place the collection may go shifting ahead. It’s nonetheless as healthful and heartwarming as ever, and the solid of Ryza 3 does an distinctive job at feeling genuine and well-written. It’s only a disgrace that its ambition, sense of scale, and general pleasure is hindered by one of many platforms it’s on.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the Finish & the Secret Key copy supplied by the writer for the needs of this assessment.