There’s one thing each thrilling and terrifying a couple of new recreation in a beloved franchise. As an enormous fan of the Atelier sequence, I felt each of those emotions going into Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Reminiscences & the Envisioned Land, particularly because the preliminary trailers one thing of a departure. Would Yumia dwell as much as my hopes for the Atelier sequence?
Atelier Yumia is the newest addition to the Atelier franchise and the primary fundamental recreation within the sequence because the finish of the Atelier Ryza trilogy, which introduced a wave of latest consideration to the decades-spanning sequence (not together with the free to play gacha recreation Atelier Resleriana, which is ending service on the finish of this month). Due to the brand new eyes that had been on Ryza, Yumia has quite a bit using on it as the way forward for the franchise.
For individuals who are simply entering into Atelier, the franchise is break up up into a number of sequence which have their very own story and continuity, and Yumia is the beginning of the brand new Envisioned subseries. Which means that Yumia is in some ways designed as an entry level to the Atelier sequence. You want no earlier data of Atelier to play this. All of that is to say that, if you’re somebody who’s curious in regards to the sequence, this may be entry level, as a result of Yumia is a superb recreation each for newcomers and current followers alike.
Atelier Yumia is ready in a world 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 group to research the fallen Aladissian empire. Alongside the best way 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. To date this story is strong – the darker tone of alchemy and its relationship with the world jogs my memory a little bit of the Nightfall subseries. As of writing I’ve put a number of hours on this recreation however I really feel like I haven’t come near discovering its secrets and techniques. The actual pleasure, very similar to different Atelier video games, is within the characters. Yumia is a compelling character, who has to navigate alchemy as a forbidden artwork with the folks round her. She’s very totally different to Ryza, which I think about was on goal, to keep away from comparability, however she’s a pleasant character to comply with round. I additionally actually benefit from the interactions with Yumia, the analysis group, and her get together of character. Yumia, not like many different Atelier protagonists, doesn’t know any get together members forward of time, so you’re feeling the characters develop collectively. It is a enjoyable dynamic, and I like simply how totally different Yumia’s circumstances really feel from the everyday Atelier protagonist.
The world of Atelier Yumia is an open world and a variety of focus is put into the exploration, which is a pleasure in Atelier Yumia. All through your expertise with the analysis group an enormous focus is on pioneering targets, as they set up themselves on this area. Along with fundamental and facet quests you’ve totally different targets which unlock extra in every of the sport’s areas. The extra you discover, the extra substances you discover, which results in the basic Atelier gameplay loop of exploring to search out substances, going again to your atelier to make use of alchemy to make new gadgets, and utilizing these gadgets in fight to get additional and discover extra. It’s a extremely nice loop that works in Yumia nicely.
There are additionally new programs at play in Atelier Yumia. For the primary time you may make some fundamental gadgets on the fly within the subject. Primary bandages for therapeutic, bullets in your gun workers (sure, your fundamental weapon is a workers that can also be a gun, whoever got here up with this deserves a elevate), and instruments for exploring. There’s additionally a complete development system the place, in particular areas that enable for constructing, you are able to do base constructing. Whereas I haven’t gotten into the beauty facet of this a lot but, there’s something good about with the ability to make primarily a second Atelier in several components of the world by constructing an area for alchemy, a container for substances, and the opposite stuff you want. The gadgets you craft for constructing use the decrease high quality substances you decide up, which can also be good as a result of this provides a goal to each merchandise you decide up, even for those who wouldn’t sometimes use it in your alchemy.
The fight can also be actually satisfying. Moderately 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 comply with enemy assault patterns, dodge assaults and use fight expertise in addition to gadgets you crafted with alchemy. It’s not fairly a full motion RPG nevertheless it seems like a pleasant steadiness – the fight flows properly and feels tactile, but in addition strategic.
Regardless of all these modifications and additions, one of many issues I wish to stress most is simply how a lot Atelier Yumia seems like an Atelier recreation, which is one thing I discover to be fairly exceptional. This recreation is making an attempt for lots of various issues and is clearly the Atelier group’s try and increase what the franchise can appear like, however there are such a lot of little moments that simply really feel like Atelier. The core gameplay loop is identical, the characters really feel like Atelier characters, however additionally they achieve this a lot new. I feel this strikes an ideal steadiness of making an attempt new issues however nonetheless finally making an Atelier recreation.
Sadly, there’s one huge caveat to this expertise, and that’s the visuals and efficiency on Change. Whereas a variety of the artwork designs look nice and there are lots of moments the place the sport appears to be like lovely, it’s very clear that the expertise was not tailor-made to the Change’s {hardware}. After I first began the sport, the situation for the tutorial made my coronary heart sink, with textures that seemed, frankly, unhealthy. When you get to the primary open world space it appears to be like quite a bit higher, which is nice, nevertheless it nonetheless wasn’t an excellent first impression. The framerate, whereas often secure, can also be not the most effective. All of this has led to a recreation that, whereas very playable on Change, is clearly not optimized for Change. I’m wondering how Atelier Yumia will play on Change 2 or different consoles. When you solely have a Change or (like me) get pleasure from enjoying Atelier video games on Change then this shouldn’t cease you, simply know that there are a number of moments that really feel irritating primarily based off of the sport’s efficiency.
That each one being stated, Atelier Yumia is a recreation I feel you need to expertise, both if you’re an skilled Atelier fan or are searching for a brand new entry level into the sequence. Whereas I’ve but to complete the sport (therefore why this can be a evaluate in progress)I’m totally having fun with all the pieces new and outdated that Atelier Yumia has to supply. If that is the way forward for the Atelier sequence, the long run is trying shiny for Atelier followers.
Source link
