Status SIGINT Dec 22, 2021
When I played my first Atelier game earlier this year (Atelier Rorona), I was struck by how little it felt like a normal JRPG, while still obviously being one. Its low-stakes, laid-back feel didn't quite put it into the territory of something like Rune Factory or Fantasy Life or Stardew Valley or whatever, but it definitely approached it. …
When I played my first Atelier game earlier this year (Atelier Rorona), I was struck by how little it felt like a normal JRPG, while still obviously being one. Its low-stakes, laid-back feel didn't quite put it into the territory of something like Rune Factory or Fantasy Life or Stardew Valley or whatever, but it definitely approached it. This later entry approaches it even more. You will struggle to find a JRPG that feels this... unstructured? I don't think it's as good as Rorona, but I enjoy it almost for slightly different reasons.
Typically with JRPGs if I like them I get sucked in and don't want to put it down until its over. This one is not like that, as it has almost zero forward narrative momentum, and definitely shows some pains of a game series that puts out a brand new game every year, but somehow through a fun gameplay loop and charming feel it just works. It's that kind of game I pick up and play maybe once or twice a week and always enjoy myself. In that sense I feel like Atelier is my new Animal Crossing replacement that also happens to be a decent turn-based RPG and have a lovable main character as a bonus.
I think this is the entry that most fits this description, from what I've heard, so I'll be interested to see how others play out.
