Evaluate: Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg (Evaluate)

I wasn’t an hour into Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg earlier than marveling at how far this sequence has come. Enjoying this laid-back JRPG having lately accomplished Atelier Ryza 3 isn’t a lot completely different from beginning up Hyperlink’s Awakening proper after Breath of the Wild. And as with Hyperlink’s Awakening, Atelier Marie Remake will not be a step backwards, it’s only a step in a unique path.

There have been practically 25 video games in Gust’s Atelier sequence, a lot of which are actually out there for the Nintendo Swap. Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg was the primary, having been initially launched in 1997, and it’s now been remade for the Swap. Many of the enhancements are visible: chibi-style 3D characters, higher-definition backgrounds, new 2D animations, and many others. The brand new visuals are participating, and the lovable, 3D strategy to the characters is an efficient match for the sport’s tone and theme. As a lot as I like the extra trendy visuals of the Ryza video games, I felt immediately at residence right here in Salburg.

Atelier Marie Remake additionally gives some usability enhancements. Gameplay has been up to date for contemporary controllers, the UI has been improved, there are new character occasions, and a tutorial has been added to get gamers accustomed to Marie’s approach of doing issues.

The latter is essential, as a result of Atelier Marie Remake doesn’t play fairly the identical as its extra trendy counterparts. Earlier than I get to that, nevertheless, let’s meet Marie herself. She’s attending the Royal Academy of Magic, and he or she’s not doing nicely. In any respect. In truth, she will be the worst pupil on the college. However reasonably than fail her and kick her out, Marie’s professor offers her an atelier and 5 years to make an impression.

Would that my English professors had simply handed me 5 years and a Mac SE.

Marie’s deadline is kind of actual, as there’s an in-game time restrict to get that spectacular merchandise crafted. Or not. The remake permits gamers to pick out an Limitless Mode that turns off the time restriction. I opted to maintain it on, and had no hassle attending to the place I wanted to be inside the time restrict.

I level that out as a result of, regardless of the tutorials, Atelier Marie Remake can have you second-guessing your self all through the primary couple of hours. It’s extra open than I anticipated, leaving the participant to discover the city and the encircling areas. Touring takes time, so you might be squandering precious days attending to areas which have monsters you’re not able to combat. Fortunately, the five-year schedule is forgiving.

Your objective of impressing the professor would require increase relationships with the residents of Salburg so you may get their assist in buying the supplies you’ll have to craft. The precise strategy of crafting isn’t practically as sophisticated as it’s within the more moderen Atelier video games. The Alchemist of Salburg as a substitute focuses on the administration required to get the objects you want as shortly as potential.

This consists of resting; a drained Marie will not be as efficient within the atelier, so sleeping is essential. Crafting additionally typically entails cash, which you’ll receive by accepting quests or promoting the objects you’ve crafted. You’ll be able to rent fairies that can assist you receive sure objects, and you may rent social gathering members to discover areas and fight enemies you in any other case wouldn’t have the ability to. Construct up your popularity doing this and also you’ll get entry to extra profitable quests and highly effective social gathering members.

The turn-based battles are additionally extra fundamental, reverting to the easy assault/defend/buff strategy. You’ll be able to select between bodily and magical assaults. You need to use objects you’ve obtained or crafted. Defeating enemies isn’t about being intelligent along with your social gathering setup, it’s nearly being on the proper stage. And for those who’re not, the sport will helpfully counsel you is probably not prepared to just accept that individual quest. If you do have interaction in battle, the animations are easy however nicely performed.

They’ve a retro really feel with a contemporary look, and the Swap has no downside dealing with them in docked or handheld mode. That latter is essential, as a result of Atelier Marie feels fairly pure on the Swap’s built-in display.

Along with the usual gameplay, this launch of Atelier Marie features a picture mode and a group of mini-games. Photograph mode is definitely ignored (Koei Tecmo do love themselves some picture mode), however finishing the mini-games—resembling Golden Salmon Search, Catch These Rats, and Punipuni Hammer—rewards the participant with some fairly helpful objects.

I used to be in a position to full the story in round 10 hours on my first playthrough. That will not sound like a lot, particularly when in comparison with the 80+ hours I spent with Atelier Ryza 3 earlier this 12 months, however Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is designed to be performed greater than as soon as. Even after I beat the sport, some quests had been left open or not accepted. Objects nonetheless wanted to be crafted. Questions wanted to be answered. Marie’s choices are open sufficient that completely different selections can result in a considerably completely different expertise.

Atelier Marie Remake will not be compelling sufficient for gamers to hop proper again into instantly, however Salburg may change into a repeated weekend vacation spot for the appropriate sort of gamer.