The Magic of Atelier

Courtesy of Koei-Tecmo

Atelier Marie remake hit the shelves last year and for many fans it's a new game within the Atelier series. Though for Japan it marks the first game in the series. Known for it's anime style graphics and cutscenes, slice of life stories, alchemy and day progression, this series has been a main stay of JRPGs. So let's dive in.

Item Synthesis

Courtesy of Koei Tecmo

In a game about alchemy, item synthesis has been the main focal point in regards to the game. I can tell you without a doubt that I spent hours not only mindlessly gathering items and spending them making bombs and other things. Now that's not a fault of the system itself, nor is it necessarily a bad thing.

It's a time killer at best. Though if you're playing games like Atelier Marie or Atelier Rorona which most of the game is based on getting tasks done in a certain amount of days then it can hurt your chances at getting the good ending.

The Friends You Made Along the Way

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Whether they were a group of random strangers in Atelier Iris, or a few childhood friends in Atelier Sophie and beyond, it was the party that made the game. And not just the party but the interactions with the party that made the game. Traveling for a long time, the characters all bonded with each other and made them seem like family for the main protagonist.

It was the magic of those cutscenes and interactions that made love the game series all that more.

Breaking The Fourth Wall

Courtesy of Koei Tecmo

One of the best moments I had was in playing Atelier Iris and coming across this scene. It's been about twenty years since I last played the game but from what I recall Norn couldn't sleep and asked if she could lay with Klein. If memory serves, it was because she used to sleep in the same bed as Zedalia before and that helped her be able to sleep. Klein I think wants to say it was okay and this amazing line came up.

Atelier has had this funny way of breaking the fourth wall. Whether it was intentional or not is left up to the player.

Conclusion

There are many different ways that the Atelier series has captured our hearts over the years. The magic of the games is within it's item crafting system, the party members that we meet and the times the game has completely broken the fourth wall. The games will always be apart of our lives as time goes on.