The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land Hands-On Preview

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home February 21, 2025 11 Views 13 Min Read
The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land Hands-On Preview



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The announcement of Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land during the August 2024 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase stunned longtime fans of the decades-old franchise. A more mature story seemed to be in the works at Gust, along with the addition of some colorful gunplay, a wide-open world to explore, and proper villains in a rare move for the series. The inclusion of a motorcycle and the potential ability to construct and decorate an atelier were instant talking points on social media following the first full trailer, with players applauding Koei Tecmo for stepping outside the box and promising an entirely fresh experience with Atelier Yumia.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land could be the first game in the Envisioned sub-series (with more to come if it sells well), and it quickly differentiates itself from its predecessors. Gone is the purely light-hearted fantasy experience found in the franchise’s 1997 debut, or even the more recent and very popular Atelier Ryza games. This time, the world is in ruins, and alchemists are dubbed the cause of this boundless destruction, leading to some unpleasant moments between the game’s main character and those she encounters on her adventures. As it turns out, this friction may be just what the franchise needed all along, though notably and expectedly, Yumia maintains her whimsy and keeps smiling in the face of adversity. She is an Atelier protagonist, and while the game isn’t as ‘dark’ as fans may have initially thought, it offers a new depth, both in its characters and its worldbuilding.

The 26th title in the Atelier series of JRPGs, Atelier Yumia introduces some useful changes and upgrades while also maintaining the franchise’s somewhat addictive core gameplay loop. While I expected to dive straight into the title’s main story right away, my first chunk of time on the Aladiss continent was spent simply exploring and, in typical Atelier fashion, obsessively picking up every material I could find. Having played the majority of the series, it was immediately clear that this entry felt different, though it took time to fully understand why. If so much felt like it was second nature, why did it also feel like I was stepping into unfamiliar territory?

A Vast Open World, Unexpected Characters, and a Deeper Story Signal a New Age for the Atelier Franchise

From the start, Yumia Liessfeldt faces an uphill battle. Tasked with uncovering how the once alchemy-rich Aladissian Empire fell, trust is hard to come by, as the majority of characters she meets believe that the practice of alchemy is wildly dangerous and forbidden. Despite this, it quickly becomes clear to her companions that Yumia’s skills are not only useful, but also required when it comes to making any progress across the ruined continent. Siblings Viktor and Isla are the first to join your party, with the former extremely wary of the manipulation of mana and the latter more willing to trust her new teammate, regardless of her seemingly frightening abilities. I didn’t expect to be immediately gripped by the story, but it was difficult to walk away without triggering one more cutscene. The characters are a quick high point, both in design and personality. The Japanese voice acting is superb, as is the English localization, something Koei Tecmo and Gust should be applauded for as more companies opt for AI-assisted translation.

Atelier Yumia features an incredibly vast open world filled with plenty of side quests to discover, powerful creatures to take down, and countless ingredients to shove into your pockets and lug back to your base. There’s also a fluidity to the controls that is incredibly pleasing, with Yumia even capable of doing a triple jump to reach certain hard-to-reach spots and a motorcycle later introduced to make speeding across the varied landscapes much less trying. Fast travel is nearly instantaneous, making the idea of trekking back and forth from quest targets to the Atelier a veritable breeze. It’s also possible to set up camp, giving the characters additional time to chat and allowing Yumia to cook up a meal to boost her buddy’s stats.

The majority of Atelier titles don’t include a concrete villain, choosing instead to inject conflict more broadly and without a singular focus. This is where Atelier Yumia breaks tradition, with four antagonists set to appear throughout the title. Two are quickly introduced during the game’s first quest, though their motives aren’t immediately made clear. According to producer Junzo Hosoi, adding villains is a way to add a more human aspect to Atelier Yumia’s story, and also helps to flesh out certain character backgrounds. Hosoi also explained that players have been asking for a proper antagonist via recent Atelier surveys and on social media, with some feeling that the lack of someone to hate was a weak point.

Atelier Yumia Adds More Polish to the Series’ Combat and Synthesis System

The standard gameplay loop in an Atelier game features exploration, synthesis, and battle. All of these facets have been greatly improved in some way, with synthesis becoming notably less daunting and battle taking on a whole new vibe. Don’t get me wrong–the first few hours of the game are chock-full of tutorials that could potentially quickly overwhelm a newcomer to the franchise. However, a handy auto feature included in the synthesis system allows more casual and less sweaty players to simply press a single button rather than selecting ingredients one by one. Players can become as entrenched as they like in the game’s fresh and robust synthesis system, which leaves plenty of room for experimentation and includes some new features. Thankfully, the inclusion of the Simple Synthesis in Atelier Yumia also allows players to quickly craft key exploration items on the go, adding to the game’s overall accessibility.

Players can now also look forward to building an atelier of their very own, furnishing it with helpful tools and creature comforts. Making your home base extra cozy will reward you and your party members with unique bonuses, so it’s crucial not to skimp on the throw pillows and plush rugs. Characters can also change their costumes using a dressing room. Thankfully, the materials used to construct your atelier aren’t the same ones used for synthesis, but unfortunately, this means that your inventory will be filled with even more goodies as you obsessively run from item to item in the field. Having your own digs adds to the overall cozy meter of the JRPG, and players have long asked for a way to create their own living quarters.

Battles in Atelier Yumia force players to carefully consider their tactics and overall approach, with the introduction of real-time enemy engagement. Characters can switch between close or ranged positions, and players can freely swap them back and forth while also parrying and dodging incoming attacks. Doing so perfectly inflicts major damage to enemies, and party members can sometimes work together to unleash a co-op attack dubbed a Friend Action. Players are free to choose from a number of difficulties, with higher levels providing a proper challenge for most.

Atelier Yumia Preview: Final Thoughts

Atelier Yumia runs well on PC, though the lack of ultrawide support is somewhat disappointing in a 2025 title. However, this gripe is relatively small, as the fun I’ve had with the title cannot be understated. Players who haven’t tried an Atelier title should feel free to make Atelier Yumia their first – something confirmed by Hosoi during his recent interview with Game Rant. While the amount of information thrown at players during the first few hours is sizeable, it never feels too overwhelming, with the in-game glossary proving incredibly useful when the details of a phrase or mechanic slips your mind.

During the first hours with Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, one thing was made abundantly clear: the newest entry to the franchise isn’t lacking in personality and style. A dynamic menu shows your current party members taking a selfie or striking a pose, Yumia becomes an interpretive dancer when it’s time to synthesize, and each real-time battle features several unique attacks for each character that can weave together in a melody as smooth as butter. To put it simply, Atelier Yumia just feels good, with each action taken triggering dopamine receptors and making you hungry for just one more hit. It may be a bold claim to make, but we may be about to see the golden age of Gust’s flagship franchise.

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