The gameplay construction of Atelier Resleriana: The Purple Alchemist & the White Guardian feels a bit like a recipe, with intertwining parts that every contribute to the sum of its components.
That is becoming, we suppose, as a result of the sport is all about brewing concoctions as an alchemist to each help you in turn-based fight and – crucially – flog in your store. Extra on that shortly.
This newest effort from long-time developer Gust – the second all-new Atelier title this yr, and that’s ignoring the trio of Ryza remasters due out in November – inserts itself into the timeline of shuttered gacha sport Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy & the Polar Evening Liberator.
However don’t fear if you happen to’ve by no means touched the cell spin-off – its service ended for a purpose, in spite of everything – as a result of twin protagonists Rias and Slade are newcomers, and also you don’t really want to know a lot in regards to the backstory of returnees like Resna to comply with the plot.
The story centres in town of Hallfein, which befell a tragic catastrophe, rendering it deserted and derelict. Image it as any present UK excessive avenue, and also you’ll be roughly heading in the right direction.
The twist is that Atelier Resleriana has characters who actively need to vary the fortunes of Hallfein, reasonably than go away it to rot.
And that’s the place you, as a fledgling alchemist, enter the equation; as wannabe VTuber Rias you’ll use your newfound abilities to concoct gadgets that may each help you in fight and produce wealth again to your hometown.
The loop is multilayered however pretty simple: you discover and have interaction in battles to seek out supplies which might be crafted to create gadgets you possibly can then use in fight or promote in your retailer.
Mistletoe Miscellaneous, or in less complicated phrases Your Store, is a giant characteristic on this sport: you possibly can inventory any gadgets in your stock at your retailer, after which flog them to build up earnings and degree up Hallfein.
As you promote more and more precious merchandise, you’ll appeal to extra clients to the realm, which in flip will encourage extra retailers to arrange their very own outlets. You’ll be able to then buy new crafting recipes and gadgets from mentioned distributors, permitting you to forge even rarer gadgets, which feeds the general loop.
It’s a satisfying cycle which has a visible affect in your environment; Hallfein is derelict and deserted initially of the journey, however you’ll watch it rework right into a bustling metropolis as you progress.
There’s rather more to the tycoon parts than our rudimentary clarification lets on, together with the power to speculate into sure specialties and even ship allies out on extraction missions, but it surely’s that underlying sense of gradual development that makes the entire thing sing.
Sadly, the sport does prefer to cease you from really taking part in it at instances, with an overabundance of irritatingly chipper dialogue interspersing each quest you full. There are occasions, significantly early within the marketing campaign, the place you’ll want everybody would simply shut up so you possibly can benefit from the sport. Mercifully, you possibly can fast-forward and even skip some dialogue in case your persistence is operating skinny.
We must also point out the fight system which is a extra conventional tackle the sequence than the latest Atelier Yumia. The extra conventional turn-based fight system has some fascinating wrinkles involving flip order, team-ups, and multi-action instructions which add a strategic layer to the motion.
Particularly, we like how the results of things you’ve synthesised might be mixed to unleash highly effective further assaults, or how one can insert celebration members out of your again line to vary up the formation of your entrance row and earn the upper-hand.
Whereas fight is a typical gameplay side once you’re out exploring, it additionally elements closely into the Dimensional Paths, that are randomly generated dungeons designed for grinding, the place the problem determines the rarity of the gadgets you uncover.
Whereas there are some antiquated parts to its design, given the complexity of a number of the alchemical mixtures, we really assume the UI is pretty properly honed total. It might probably nonetheless develop into a cluster of objects and statistics at instances, however the sport usually does job of creating such an absurd quantity of knowledge accessible.
It seems to be good, too, though a number of the character designs could show an acquired style. Rias’ dumb ears and New Period cap finally grew on us, however we are able to’t argue with anybody who’s turned off your complete title simply by her look alone. Not less than all of it runs easily and appears presentable and vibrant on a base PS5.
Conclusion
Atelier Resleriana: The Purple Alchemist & the White Guardian succeeds by means of the energy of the sum of its components. Its story and dialogue are a bit obtrusive at factors, however the easy loop of fashioning gadgets to flog them to forge even higher ones is compelling. With strategic turn-based fight and breezy presentation, that is an total satisfying RPG time sink – even when its character designs and anime tropes could instantly flip some gamers away.
