Atelier has been a part of my gaming life since my teenage years. During the PS3 era, I went through the wholesome trilogy of Rorona, Totori, and Meruru as I indulged myself in adorable watercolour anime fantasies where the stakes were low and rewards were plentiful.
Other JRPGs I frequented during my youth included Eternal Sonata, Trinity Universe, Ar Tonelico, Folklore, Resonance of Fate, and many more. That console was a goldmine.
They were incredibly budget offerings that didn’t particularly look or run well, but maintained a niche community made up of hardcore followers and curious weeaboos like myself. They are fun games, and it’s been wonderful in recent years to see them remastered and revived as it goes from strength to strength. Most recently we’ve seen the PS3 entries released on most modern platforms, while Atelier Ryza continues her thicc-thighed domination. But with her now in the rearview mirror, a new heroine has stepped up to the starting line.
Atelier Yumia Might Be Darker, But It’s Just As Wholesome
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land (gosh that’s a mouthful) is now available on all major platforms and marks the beginning of what will likely end up as a new trilogy for the long-running series. And it’s great, with our reviewer praising its cute cast of characters, satisfying gameplay loop, and surprisingly varied open world. Having jumped into it earlier this week, so far I echo every positive thing he has to say about it, adding that the game makes some changes to the formula I’ve been hoping to see for a long time.
What struck me first about Atelier Yumia is its attempt at a darker tone. Ryza might be the most sickeningly sweet protagonist I’ve ever seen in a video game with her desire to be an alchemist and befriend every single living creature in the universe. Yumia is different, and is in her twenties while trying to survive in a world where alchemy has become a forbidden art.
If she mentions her interest in the craft to other characters in the world, she is viewed with a sense of distrust and disgust, leading her to win people over and convince them that there is no reason to be scared of a power that, under the right circumstances, can enrich lives. It’s a big tonal shift for the series, even if it still leans on cutesy anime aesthetics and fan service all the time. But it’s a positive change, and one I’m excited to see develop as things continue.
The cast is as you’d expect it to be: a confident heroine, a smart-mouthed pretty boy, a shy animal girl, and a woman with big boobs and one hell of an attitude. Classic stuff.
There are also changes to the battle system this time around, so it allows consistent freedom of movement as you face off against enemies, while skills are assigned to each button so you can pull off sick combos, dodge attacks, and switch between characters in and out of battle. I wouldn’t say it has a significant amount of depth, but it’s fun, satisfying, and exactly what I’m looking for in an RPG right now. While it’s interesting to play a character shunned by her community rather than being welcomed by it, this doesn’t stop her from being a positive or comforting force.
This is the first entry in the series to fully embrace an open-world format. You explore a vast, varied continent containing a number of small towns and abandoned ruins, each with items to collect and characters to meet. While Atelier Yumia is, so far at least, the most story-heavy I have seen the series in quite some time, it still offers so much freedom to play your way. I’m still pretty early into the narrative, but so far I’m enjoying the balance struck between growing closer to my party, exploring the continent, and learning more about the characters. Much of it feels more earned, melancholic, and nuanced without sacrificing the series’ cosy identity.
No More Thicc Thighs, But One Hell Of A Personality
While I’ve only stumbled upon this mechanic in my playthrough, you will also reach a point where you can build a base of sorts for your allies to call home. And, like most cosy games in the current landscape, decoration is heavily encouraged. There’s a lot going on here and the base building also has practical effects, leading to Rumia’s wider pioneering efforts. The closest comparison I can make is Dondoko Island in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but I’m not sure if it’s going to be as charming or carefree.
It feels like Atelier Yumia is still holding back a lot of its secrets, since after a few hours I am still getting to grips with its gameplay systems and trying to figure out exactly where its story intends to go. But, like the games I played and loved as a teenager, there is something ever so comforting and reassuring about Yumia that makes me eager to see it through to the end.
- Released
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March 21, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Mild Language