RPGFan: "I would call Atelier Ayesha a side-step more than a step forward for the series. It adds as many features as it removes, ending up in the same place in terms of quality. It is a must-play for fans of the Arland series, and it comes with my recommendation for any RPG fan that isn't put off by an anime aesthetic and a slower pace. Like the Atelier games before it, it may appeal to a somewhat limited audience, but Atelier Ayesha is a quaint, relaxing adventure that provides a refreshing contrast to high-stakes JRPG melodrama."
PS3 exclusive Atelier Escha & Logy to be running on Dynasty Warriors game engine and features two protagonists.
Gust and Tecmo Koei announced on a recent issue of Japanese magazine that it will be releasing a new Atelier title in Japan this year, exclusively for the PS3.
The new title is called Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky and will be out in June 27 in Japan. The RPG begins right where the previous game, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk, ended and stars two alchemists, the happy-go-lucky female Escha and the calm sword-wielding male Logy. Players can choose which character to start with; from there, the same story will play out from different perspectives depending on who they picked. The game also has multiple endings.
The game is also using the LTGL engine that's commonly used in Tecmo Koei's Dynasty Warriors franchise. Battles in the game now feature a six-person party who can switch between front and back rows.
There is currently no news on an English version of the game at this point in time. Atelier Ayesha was recently out in North America on March 5. For formation, check out
DHGF: Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk veers off the standard JRPG path of offering a typical save-the-world-from-mass-genocide plot line, and instead focuses on a smaller scale adventure surrounding a gentle apothecary and her desire to rescue her sister. The game is quite a visual treat for such a niche title, and the soundtrack is top notch. The lack of dual language option might be a sore spot for some, but sound volumes can be adjusted down and is certainly not worth missing out on the game over. The majority of the game is spent either engaging in item synthesis or cutscenes, with a relatively small window reserved for combat and exploration. Its certainly not for everyone, but those that partake will find an easygoing adventure with plenty of content to keep them busy for sometime. So if youre looking for something a little different than the run-of-the-mill JRPG tropes, give Atelier Ayesha a look.
SnackBarGames: "Atelier Ayesha may be the start of a new Atelier series from Gust, but itll still feel familiar to fans of the Alchemist of Arland series. A few small changes to the usual formula, both good and bad, set Ayesha apart from previous games, enough so that fans of the series will enjoy it as much as ever."
Travis Bruno of Capsule Computers writes:
"There is something to be said for remaining the same and working towards your strengths while refining your weaknesses and over the last few years, the Atelier franchise has done just that. With the Arland Trilogy coming to an end, Gust has moved on to create a new series of Atelier titles, the first of which being Atelier Ayesha: Alchemist of Dusk. Now with a new publisher and a few design changes from the Arland Trilogy, does Ayesha deserve her own time in the spotlight and more recognition than its publisher wishes to give it?"
Developer Gust's Atelier franchise has found itself upon stable footing in the West as the cute-but-serious anime RPG has garnished quite a cult following. To date, every one of the last Atelier games has been published in the States by NIS America. The latest title, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk, marks new beginnings as it not only kicks off a new story arc in the Atelier franchise, but it marks the first game not published by NISA. Released by Tecmo KOEI, Atelier Ayesha tries a few new things to (presumably) attract a larger following. Are those alterations worth it? We're not so sure.
IGN: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. If you play this franchise exclusively for the crafting, you'll have just as good a time here as any of the previous games. But if you're looking for the demanding resource management and memorable charm of the Arland Trilogy, then this isn't the alchemist you're looking for.
