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Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist
Welcome to Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist
of Dusk, a not so classic Japanese RPG that takes gamers into a
mysterious and dying world. The key protagonist in the game is Ayesha
who lives with her grandfather and younger sister but when her
grandfather dies and her sister mysteriously disappears, Ayesha is left
alone.
However upon the anniversary of her sisters
disappearance, Ayesha witnesses that the flowers around the place where
she "vanished" are glowing and this triggers her to become an alchemist
in order to find a way to return her to the living again.
If you have not played the previous games
in this series, you can still thoroughly enjoy this title without being
hampered by previous events as this game is almost a reboot. It also
helps that the menu system is quite simplified and the game does its
best to help newcomers. Another difference in this game than other RPG
titles is the inclusion of memory points which not only assist in
furthering the story but allows for additional skills and experience
points.
Unlike the more traditional Japanese RPG
titles, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk feels more magical as
gamers control this young heroine who has been forced onto a path that
she would not have chosen her self. Ayesha is also a very relatable
character and its easy to become drawn into her story as you meet a
colourful assortment of characters who will both help and hinder your
progress in rescuing her sister.
At its core, the player must perform a
variety of RPG tasks from completing quests for other characters and
some fun mini-games such as hunting and engaging in contests. The game
also allows you to create a wide assortment of items thanks to your
alchemy skills and creating that perfect bomb for combat is thoroughly
entertaining when you suceed.
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk also
features a good combat system that may not be as refined as Western RPG
titles but still provides PS3 gamers with sturdy gaming mechanics.
Thankfully the controls on the DualShock controller are well mapped that
gives you easy to access, especially in combat. Combat is turn based
which definitely assists in your overall strategy but at times can be a
little time consuming. Fortunately Ayesha is backed with some powerful
allies that make up her party.
Boss battles on the other hand are bigger
than Ben Hur and definitely up the difficulty of the game. However a
healthy amount of grinding will assist in getting you read. Add in the
ability to use your alchemy skills and our protagonist can create a
wonderful array of items and potions to crush her enemies.
In terms of story, I loved how the
developers Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk allow the player to
continue the game once the main storyline is complete, provided you have
rescued your sister in time.
That's right, you can fail this game and
you have only three years to rescue your sister. Given that, there were
some missions that I ignored in order to remain closer to the main story
of the game. However there a variety of endings for this game which
means you can definitely play this game again without getting bored.
Graphically, this game looks like an
interactive cartoon on the PS3 with its beautiful cell-shaded graphics
that has some great attention to the detail. The backgrounds look
colourful and wondrous (although sometimes a little bland) and the
cinematics are exciting, especially the finishing manoeuvres which
are a joy to watch. Music is another highlight of the game and does
assist in immersing you into the world of Ayesha.
Final Thoughts?
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of
Dusk is definitely a game for lovers of well made Japanese RPG games.
Combat is fun, exploration is exciting and interactions with NPC's work
well, although sometimes it can be a little lengthy. The multiple
endings is a huge treat to the gamers but you definitely need to watch
the clock and do some micromanagement if you want a happy ending.
Nonetheless, how can you not like a game about a young woman who has a
pet cow!
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