I wasn’t an hour into Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg earlier than marveling at how far this sequence has come. Taking part in this laid-back JRPG having not too long ago accomplished Atelier Ryza 3 isn’t a lot totally different from beginning up Hyperlink’s Awakening proper after Breath of the Wild. And as with Hyperlink’s Awakening, Atelier Marie Remake just isn’t a step backwards, it’s only a step in a distinct route.
There have been practically 25 video games in Gust’s Atelier sequence, a lot of which are actually accessible 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. A lot of the enhancements are visible: chibi-style 3D characters, higher-definition backgrounds, new 2D animations, and so on. The brand new visuals are partaking, and the lovable, 3D strategy to the characters is an efficient match for the sport’s tone and theme. As a lot as I really like the extra fashionable visuals of the Ryza video games, I felt immediately at house 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 means of doing issues.
The latter is necessary, as a result of Atelier Marie Remake doesn’t play fairly the identical as its extra fashionable counterparts. Earlier than I get to that, nonetheless, let’s meet Marie herself. She’s attending the Royal Academy of Magic, and she or he’s not doing nicely. In any respect. Actually, she could be the worst scholar on the faculty. However reasonably than fail her and kick her out, Marie’s professor provides 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 sort 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 bother 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 encompassing areas. Touring takes time, so you may be squandering precious days attending to areas which have monsters you’re not able to battle. Fortunately, the five-year schedule is forgiving.
Your purpose 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 difficult 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 rapidly as doable.
This contains resting; a drained Marie just isn’t as efficient within the atelier, so sleeping is necessary. Crafting additionally typically includes cash, which you’ll receive by accepting quests or promoting the objects you’ve crafted. You possibly can rent fairies that will help you receive sure objects, and you may rent occasion members to discover areas and fight enemies you in any other case wouldn’t be capable of. Construct up your status doing this and also you’ll get entry to extra profitable quests and highly effective occasion members.
The turn-based battles are additionally extra primary, reverting to the straightforward assault/defend/buff strategy. You possibly can 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 occasion setup, it’s nearly being on the proper stage. And in the event you’re not, the sport will helpfully recommend you might not be prepared to simply accept that exact quest. If you do interact in battle, the animations are easy however nicely carried out.
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 necessary, 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 photograph mode and a group of mini-games. Photograph mode is definitely ignored (Koei Tecmo do love themselves some photograph 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 have been left open or not accepted. Objects nonetheless wanted to be crafted. Questions wanted to be answered. Marie’s choices are open sufficient that totally different selections can result in a considerably totally different expertise.
Atelier Marie Remake just isn’t compelling sufficient for gamers to hop proper again into instantly, however Salburg may turn into a repeated weekend vacation spot for the fitting sort of gamer.