Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk

There are some truly fantastic ideas that are here, but the whole thing feels like it should have spent much more time in the design phase. The game’s dearth of compelling content makes the experience a chore, and it’s hard to empathize with any of the characters in any meaningful way. Still, I have no doubt that hard core Atelier fans will dive-in headfirst.

Atelier Ayesha feels like a middling compromise between what fans want, and what the masses need. It doesn't do nearly enough wrong to alienate its loyal, niche fan-base, but as an RPG it's a lesser game than Rorona and Totori. Item synthesis continues to be a big draw, but many other elements have either been simplified or removed, resulting in a game that's admittedly less tedious, but also less challenging.

The Alchemist of Dusk is a competent game; its combat is solid, its alchemy system is fairly fluid and the art and soundtrack are charming. Unfortunately, the story, characters, graphics, alchemy limitations and returning time-constraints make Ayesha a title that’s hard to fully endorse.

Again, I really enjoy these characters, and Atelier Ayesha is definitely a well-polished experience, but it simply lacks the ambition to be a true hit, or worthy of its $50 price tag. So, if you’re a middle school girl currently confronting your blossoming womanhood, or just a fan of overwhelmingly cute things, maybe grab a copy. Otherwise, I heard Tomb Raider is pretty good.

That seems to be the fate that the Atelier franchise simply can’t escape: good games kept down by an assortment of small faults. For every step forward a new chapter makes, it takes a step backward at the same time, resulting in a series that just keeps progressing sideways instead of ahead.

Standard, uninspired JRPG combat is thankfully bookended by the more compelling alchemy mechanic, but as a package Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk offers little in the way of variety or excitement, and while there is fun to be had mixing medicines and synthesising cure-alls, grating dialogue and painfully unlikeable music get in the way. A good game to idle away a few lazy afternoons, but nothing to trouble 2013’s legion of AAAs.

Complemented by a beautiful watercolour and cel-shaded art style, and cloaked in an aura of innocence, this is an enjoyable adventure, but it's let down by some occassionally mundane gameplay, frame rate issues, and voice dub faults.

I think that what goes unexplained about the world of Ayesha could make for a very interesting storyline in the next few games, and I'm hopeful that Gust can find that sweet point again between funny and meaningful narrative that they managed to achieve Totori. If they can do that, they can get back on the track of consistently improving the series and hopefully it can start to get some of the recognition it deserves.

Girl Power levels up as this game is designed for the girl gamer or those wanting a fun, relaxing storyline in the sea of grim seriousness. It is easy to pick-up and enjoy but suffers from a lack of customizable depth and doesn’t pull the right heartstrings in the story to make it an instant classic.

The Atelier series has always taken its name from the concept of an artisan at work in a workshop.

Esta nueva encarnación de la serie Atelier presenta todos los factores e ingredientes clave que suelen depararnos los juegos de rol japoneses: batallas por turnos bastante estratégicas, protagonistas variados y carismáticos, un amplio mundo que explorar, decenas de personajes secundarios… Y lo cierto es que estamos ante un buen representante del género, si bien no revoluciona para nada ni la saga ni el género.

Un poquito corto, aunque rejugable, Ayesha se presenta como una alternativa válida para los fans del JRPG junto al próximo Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory en espera del desembarco en los meses siguientes de este año de tres nuevas obras de NIS America como son Disgaea D2, Guided Fate Paradox y Time and Eternity. Una alternativa con un sistema de juego único que constituye una de sus diferencias con el resto de RPGs del mercado y que podí dar pie a una nueva trilogía.

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk es una "producción media", algo corta –en menos de 30 horas podrías llegar a su final, aunque no habrías visto todo-, pero que puede divertir como el que más. Tiene novedades respecto a Atelier Meruru tanto en el desarrollo como en los combates –sin duda a mejor en esto último-. No decepcionará a los seguidores de la saga.

Man kann relativ frei umherziehen, Rohstoffe sammeln, Monster jagen und natürlich alchemistische Experimente betreiben, während man dem Verschwinden der eigenen Schwester nachgeht. Der Mix aus Erkunden, Sammeln, Kämpfen und Produzieren weiß trotz altbackener Technik und Präsentation nach wie vor zu gefallen. Das rundenbasierte Kampfsystem hat durch kleine, aber gelungene Verbesserungen sogar deutlich an Attraktivität gewonnen.