Atelier video games have been round because the late ’90s, with greater than two dozen titles shipped in that point – however you’re forgiven some unfamiliarity the collection, as Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Recollections and the Envisioned Land would be the very first to arrive on Xbox. After taking part in via the primary few hours of the sport and talking with producer Junzo Hosoi, it’s turning into clear that the primary Atelier title on Xbox isn’t merely the newest within the collection, it’s probably the most formidable entry but.
“As a enormous Xbox fan, I’m thrilled to lastly convey the collection to the system,” Hosoi instructed me by way of e mail, “However once I have a look at the sport as a entire, I don’t describe Atelier Yumia as the following Atelier sport. I describe it as a utterly new JRPG collection that has Atelier options.”
My preview session bore that out; gamers will discover acquainted RPG components aplenty – strategic, actual-time battles, crafting, exploration – however they arrive collectively in approach that feels altogether completely different from others within the style. The key ingredient, if you’ll, lies within the tremendous deep crafting system.
“The allure of the Atelier collection is about synthesis and the alchemy course of,” Hosoi-san confirmed. “The sport cycle is fairly distinctive as there’s accumulating within the subject, preventing in battle, and using the synthesis system, and all three of these issues are associated.”
That allure can also be evident within the playable forged of characters, particularly the eponymous Yumia Liessfeldt, a extra grown-up character than some previous collection headliner heroines.
Hosoi-san shares extra background: “Since Yumia is 21 years previous, the story is about her rising into maturity. That is proven all through the story via her sturdy core values… independence and allure. With [heroes of previous titles] Ryza and Sophie, they have been youthful, so that they wanted mentors so as to develop up, however with Yumia, she has her personal identification and choice-making expertise.” Oh, and she owns a motorbike!
As a result of Aladiss, the brand new continent launched in Atelier Yumia, inherently distrusts alchemy, the sport’s early hours see Yumia in search of to show her value. Whereas her synthesis expertise differentiate her from different characters within the sport, bolstered by a new constructing system that crafting survival followers will get pleasure from, in my playthrough, it was Yumia’s battle prowess that stunned most.
For almost the entire collection’ historical past, Atelier titles have been flip-primarily based affairs. The latest Atelier Ryza titles have been to first to transfer to actual-time, and for Atelier Yumia, the staff heard participant suggestions, leading to a enormous quantity ofc ombat choices for gamers to grasp.
“The mechanics of battle have been utterly redesigned for this sport as shut and ranged fight has been added,” Hosoi-san explains. “Throughout the two assault zones, gamers can transfer the lively character freely across the enemies or between the 2 assault zones in battle. You may also guard and dodge assaults in actual-time and even pull off a highly effective cooperation assault with different characters when an enemy is surprised. For Atelier Yumia, we’re specializing in really displaying the participant’s expertise throughout battle.”
In observe, battles transfer shortly; gamers can management Yumia or shift at any time to considered one of her touring companions. Placement is essential; you may see when and the place assaults will hit, however timing out a precision guard (or getting the heck out of the way in which) takes good timing. It’s not too difficult when going 1 on 1 with a common mob, however in a multi-enemy rumble, with fewer protected areas, there’s a entire lot to account for.
Add in various enemy weaknesses, alternatives to execute highly effective Good friend Actions, balancing offense and protection at completely different ranges – I didn’t anticipate a sport this cute to require such situational consciousness! Happily, your squad enters and exits battle seamlessly as you discover, and it’s quick and enjoyable to construct up preventing expertise, or to keep away from encounters whenever you simply wanna zipline again to city.
As talked about, Yumia isn’t on this journey alone; you’ll meet a number of companions within the sport’s prologue earlier than rewinding to an earlier level within the story. I discovered one character notably entertaining, and Hosoi-san stunned me by unexpectedly mentioning an Xbox icon when requested about Flammi, Yumia’s floating, humorous little companion.
“Flammi was really impressed by Halo’s Cortana. I needed to make one thing the place we may have a dialog between a primary protagonist and any individual shut to them who’re at all times collectively. Taking part in Halo was a lot enjoyable and that’s why I actually needed to add a mascot for Atelier Yumia.“
Atelier Yumia arrives at a very prolific time for Koei Tecmo: Dynasty Warriors Origins was properly-obtained on its latest launch, Group Ninja stunned everybody with Ninja Gaiden 4’s announcement, and we’ve been spoiled with shadow drops of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Warriors: Abyss. To listen to it from Hosoi-san, the optimistic power is boosting everybody’s initiatives.
“Inside Koei Tecmo video games, the model producers get alongside rather well with one another. We’ve a convention the place video games underneath improvement obtain opinions from every of the manufacturers, so not solely can we pay attention to one another’s opinions, we then get to see their video games in improvement as properly. We make the most of one another’s opinions to assist us develop and create higher video games. Ultimately, that helps in my objective of creating Atelier Yumia recognized worldwide as the perfect sport within the collection.”