Over the past 30 years and more than 20 games, the Atelier series has been consistently refining its successful blend of JRPG and craft-making elements. However, Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land might be the most significant departure so far. Yet, don’t let this change alarm you; despite these modifications, Yumia remains an Atelier game at its core, but with a larger scope, more action-oriented gameplay, and a slightly darker tone compared to previous installments.
In the world of Atelier Yumia, a once thriving land now bears the scars of a devastating catastrophe brought about by alchemy’s power. Many years have passed since it came close to destroying everything, and as a result, alchemy is widely shunned, viewed with disgust, and illegal in certain regions. Yumia, a youthful alchemist who dons stylish high heels and carries a magical staff that transforms into a rifle, is the protagonist of our tale. She was taught alchemy by her deceased mother and spends her days living in solitude atop a hill, with only Flammi, her talking floating lamp, for companionship.
When a research group asks her to assist in exploring the remnants of the Aladissian Empire, she views it as a chance to discover why the empire collapsed, uncover the truth about alchemy’s role in the past disaster, and possibly enhance the reputation of her profession. At first, she encounters skepticism from some of her new associates and the individuals she interacts with, but eventually, hearts soften, valuable lessons are gleaned, and the bond of friendship proves stronger than prejudice.
This game has a more serious plot and higher risks compared to most Atelier games. However, don’t anticipate a similar experience to Metaphor: ReFantazio. While there are some criticisms towards Yumia and her craft, it doesn’t delve into harsh negativity. The overall mood is mostly warm and hopeful, with the darker story elements serving as a contrast, enhancing the story rather than overshadowing it.
As you journey through this grand odyssey, you’ll traverse a vast, interconnected landscape. The game offers four substantial regions that become accessible as you progress along the primary storyline. However, each locale teems with an abundance of side missions, hidden treasures to discover, creatures to vanquish, and collectibles to amass. Most side quests are simple tasks: go here, defeat this, return there. Yet, the open world is a delight to navigate, brimming with secrets nestled in every corner of the map.
Frequently, we paused our adventures between story segments to explore the map, visiting each marked spot one by one out of curiosity, and generally finding something worthwhile. It’s beneficial that Yumia is nimble and can triple jump off walls, making it less challenging than expected to clear obstacles. Later, she acquires a sleek motorcycle to hasten her progress even more. Additionally, there are numerous zip lines scattered throughout the world, which when discovered and fixed, make traversing the map effortless.
As you journey through the realm of Atelier Yumia, you’ll encounter various unpleasant creatures that you’ll have to fight against. The combat in this game is action-oriented rather than strategy-based, and although it might be a bit simpler compared to earlier Atelier games, thoughtful design choices ensure it remains engaging throughout the 40 to 50 hours required to complete the main storyline of the game.
In combat, you’ll find yourself commanding a single character, namely Yumia, with her various moves assigned to the four main buttons. Each move comes with a specific usage limit and a recharge time, meaning it’s strategic to employ one skill, then switch to another while the first one is recharging. You’re also free to maneuver Yumia sideways during fights. When an enemy signals an impending attack, you can alter your position so as not to stand within the marked area on the ground, thus avoiding potential damage.
Moving Yumia backwards using the d-pad activates her long-range magical skills against opponents. To take advantage of enemies’ vulnerabilities to both magical and physical attacks, you should switch between attacking from the front and back rows. Stun your adversary first, then inflict heavy damage. As you advance in the game, you’ll gain evasion techniques, team attack options with an ally, and potent Mana Surge abilities that can swiftly shift battle outcomes.
As a gamer, I find that taking on regular enemies during normal difficulty combat is usually smooth sailing, often wrapping up in a flash with just a few button presses, making it enjoyable rather than frustrating to fight monsters, whether for experience or resource farming. However, it’s the boss encounters that truly set this game apart. These battles are more challenging due to the intricate attack patterns of my adversaries and dramatic mid-battle cut-scenes. To top it off, one of the bosses is voiced by none other than Takaya Kuroda, renowned for his work as Kiryu Kazuma in the iconic Yakuza series. Quite the treat indeed!
In battle, you can accumulate all the experience you need, but that alone won’t take you very far. Even if you reach level 100, you might still struggle against lower-level enemies if your gear isn’t top-notch. That’s where alchemy comes into play. At Yumia’s workshop, you can unlock the recipes you’ve discovered during your adventures, provided you have the necessary items. Then, using resources from your backpack, you’ll synthesize a recipe to create better equipment.
As a seasoned gamer, I’ve found that investing in better-quality resources for crafting leads to superior rewards. Once you grasp the art of crafting, you can tweak recipes to generate items with enhanced attributes or unique effects. For instance, you could create a sword with boosted base stats, one that excels at increasing a specific stat, or one designed to deal extra damage against certain types of enemies. Initially, it might seem overwhelming, but with practice, it becomes second nature. And if managing the intricacies of recipe creation isn’t your cup of tea, you can always set up an automated system to handle it for you.
In addition to crafting items, you can also construct various structures like walls, roofs, flooring, and ornaments in the game Atelier Yumia. As you traverse through this world, you’ll encounter building sites where you can establish auxiliary bases and customize them according to your preferences. Although the building possibilities are quite basic, they certainly add value. Camping out in a couple of tents with a sleeping bag won’t be enough when you can build a quaint little cottage with cherry blossom trees for a rest break between missions instead!
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2025-03-14 16:07