-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Atelier Ayesha: Alchemist of Dusk |OT|
- Thread starter Rarutos
- Start date
Fine Ham Abounds
Member
Very cute header pic.
What was the consensus on this one again? Not as good as Meruru?
What was the consensus on this one again? Not as good as Meruru?
Considering there hasn't been much media or PR regarding this game aside from screenshots... Nope. I don't think they've even released an English trailer or anything.
SpaceDrake
Member
Probably because absolutely nothing is being done to promote it.
I really fear they're sending this one out to die, which would be a shame as it's probably the best game in the franchise in ages. The new alchemy system is engaging, the characters and plot are honestly engaging, it's the prettiest game Gust has ever made by a country mile, and it even manages to rein in the excessive fanservice that plagued the Arland titles. It's the perfect Atelier title for America, and they're doing nothing with it. :\
I personally say better and I know at least one person who agrees with me; others might say a little worse. It's still unquestionably "top three in the last decade", though, and it scored only slightly lower in the Japanese press than Meruru did (and Meruru was the highest-scoring Atelier title since 1997). It is very, very good.
Still a little sad on the cost cutting they're doing for voice work.
I haven't gotten around to completing Totori yet either. In fact, the case is sitting beside my monitor right now with a few others. I want a second monitor so that I'm not always abandoning my PS3 games in favour of my PC screen.
I haven't gotten around to completing Totori yet either. In fact, the case is sitting beside my monitor right now with a few others. I want a second monitor so that I'm not always abandoning my PS3 games in favour of my PC screen.
Shizzlee
Member
I forgot this series existed. Dropped Rorona because I thought it was ass. Totori is the only game I have a platinum for, and that's just because I wanted to see everything the story had to offer. Thought the gameplay itself was boring, decent, but boring. Meruru sits there not being played. Now there's another one... I shall buy it and let it chill with Meruru until I can find the time to play them both.
Marketing's one of the most expensive parts of a videogame, and depending on how much they poured into it, the question of whether or not they expect a critical success is likely equivalent to the amount of marketing seen in relation to it. Gust isn't a huge developer, and NIS America isn't a huge publisher. They tend to go for quantity at least as much as quality.
Yeah, the timing is pretty bad. Forget the NISA fans (because I couldn't give a crap about Neptunia), this is a week after EO4, and that itself came three weeks after FE.
At least it's not coming out the same day as South Park I guess, that would've been a surreal combo.
Though to Atelier Ayesha's credit (and Tecmo Koei's discredit) I didn't know Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2+ was coming out until bam, it was just about released. They're just plain not marketing anything it seems. Then again I look at the front page of their site and Ayesha's simply not there, I almost expect a delay just because they forgot to ship it out.
At least it's not coming out the same day as South Park I guess, that would've been a surreal combo.
Tecmo Koei this time, not NISA, otherwise NISA would've made sure their circle of fans and the periphery knew about it.
Though to Atelier Ayesha's credit (and Tecmo Koei's discredit) I didn't know Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2+ was coming out until bam, it was just about released. They're just plain not marketing anything it seems. Then again I look at the front page of their site and Ayesha's simply not there, I almost expect a delay just because they forgot to ship it out.
SpaceDrake
Member
He isn't even in this title. This is a new world, new cast.
Uh, I can't tell if this question is serious or not. But no, since this is an entirely new continuity.
Yeah, I knew that, thus the t-t, but I thought he could have made a brief appearence or something. Time travel and shit. You never know.
:C
Not serious. Obviously. >_>
SpaceDrake
Member
It does seem like something wider is up with TKA in general; I don't really see a way to get in touch with their U.S. office that doesn't involve snail mail, and I'd like to ask if they're attending GDC so I can speak with them about things there. Combined with the fact that barely any of their titles outside of, I guess, Dead or Alive get marketed and it seems quite strange for what is, ostensibly, one of Japan's larger publishing houses.
Snegurochka
Neo Member
i have the last three atelier games in my backlog
might as well add this one!
might as well add this one!
Like I said, I couldn't tell! Apologies.
Come on, what did you expect from a guy with an Iksel avatar?
I do feel that, at the very least, the real brains of their international operations are in Europe. The NA branch seems to quite literally only exist to do the essentials: put up a website, handle printing and distribution, and I guess send preview/review copies out. Europe's branch at least seems to actually be DOING THINGS to be in contact with the public.
Never played an atelier game, what type of rpg is it? The 3 year time limit and alchemy theme in the OP makes it seem like it's sort of sim/management-based like harvest moon or something. Is there an ongoing story with location progression/dungeons etc.?
I probably won't be picking this up on ps3 but I'd probably grab the vita port eventually if it's good.
I probably won't be picking this up on ps3 but I'd probably grab the vita port eventually if it's good.
I'd definitely compare it more to Harvest Moon/Rune Factory than a normal RPG, but if I were to compare it to a game outside the series, I'd say it's most like Recettear (though without the strict time limits). It does have story progression based on what you do and how much time progressed, though. Otherwise, you're pretty free to do whatever you want/explore wherever.
afreaknamedpete
Member
I'd say it's sort of a management game. The time limit thing is a pretty essential part of gameplay, since everything takes time and it is the absolute limited resource. Traveling out to dungeons, gathering items, doing alchemy, basically everything runs of it.
Going from Marie and the Arland games, basically as time goes on or you reach certain milestones (get a certain level, reach an event, etc) new stuff unlocks whether that be new recipes, characters and locations. Story progression is similar as well, most of the major plot stuff occurs based on the time, but minor stuff and character vignettes occur based on milestones you reach in the game. Essentially the endings are based on what milestones you achieve.
There aren't any real "dungeons". The locations are usually a large field with item collection points, with very few complex room-based locations in the very end game.
And the only reason I'm part of the loyal fanbase is that we got the games with dual audio. If that stops, I care not whether we get them at all.
Hours Left
Member
While I'm not a fan of TK's lazy audio choices for this game, is the main reason you play these games really the dual audio? It is actually the most important aspect of the game to you?
Hopefully it's just a rocky transition, especially given the EU branch seemed to be sure we'd be getting it. Might well be an oversight from not saying a damn thing until it was too late to change anything.
Thank you, good sir! Glad someone's using one of my avatars.
And that's too bad, I wouldn't mind having a little chat with you about this game! Then again, I don't remember if you've played the Arland ones yet...
archnemesis
Member
Thanks for reminding me to preorder it. Now I need to make sure I wrap up Ni no Kuni next week.
No, but the english audio on the previous games was so bad that being forced to use it would ruin the enjoyment of the characters for me, which is one major component of why I like these games. When I play this one (only after I can get it cheap) it will be without any voices, and that greatly diminishes its value for me.
Thank you! I got Rorona's Platinum too, myself.
I'm still going to buy the game, but no dual audio and no LE means that I'm probably going to hold off on buying it for a few weeks. I don't want to put money down on both EO4 and this game at the same time. I need to finish Meruru as well.
Well, knowing me, I'll probably get it a few days after it releases anyway...
Well, knowing me, I'll probably get it a few days after it releases anyway...
afreaknamedpete
Member
I remember liking the vast majority of the Arland English VAs... except for Meruru. I swear they recorded her voice at like double the volume just to make it more grating.
Of course I did. All of them. I just didn't get the platinum for Meruru yet.
Neither. It's probably just average-level bad. And incomplete.
archnemesis
Member
I played all three Arland games with English voices and while it's incomplete I thought most of it was quite good. It still sucks that they're removing the option for people to choose.
I also thought it was quite good though I am annoyed at removing the option. I would have played through it several times like I am doing with Meruru (first play = English, second = JP) but ah well. As I said with NISA doing the VA/localization, at least I know the quality will be as good as usual but sucks that this will be the worst performing Atelier game this gen :/
Didn't feel like doing another round right after I finished the game (there was probably also some other game I wanted to play at the time) and just haven't picked up the game again since. I also still have to do the platinum for Neptunia mk2, probably won't pick up Victory at launch either (it's stupid to launch those two so close together anyway).
afreaknamedpete
Member
How well did the other Atelier games perform? I'd imagine Rorona would've done the worst, it's arguably the most unpolished of the trio. At least Ayesha has the benefit of having some production values, and what sounds like good gameplay.
Nice OT! I will get this game, I have the Arland Trilogy but haven't played any of them. I must say I loved Iris Trilogy more than the recent output as I have finished them all. I don't mind English only dub because I always play in English voice in most of games but having option is nice. I'll definitely play the Arland Trilogy... Nomura style.
archnemesis
Member
We only have good numbers from Japan.
Code:
[B]Name LTD[/B]
Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland (PS3) 75,063
Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland (PS3 reissue) 8,617
Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland (PS3) 104,711
Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland (PS3 reissue) 6,125
Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland (PSV) 30,956
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland (PS3 ) 137,764
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland (PS3 reissue) 2,648
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Twilight Land 102,145Yeah, I'm going crazy this month because it's so packed with games I want.
My only planned games at the moment are Neptunia Victory and Atelier Ayesha. Not a bad month for me
Incase anyone wanted to see the opening while they wait for next week:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UFjndHvIqk
I didn't like it much when I first saw it but since then, I have really come around to it.
ghostface pizzakid
Member
Ayesha is the combo breaker of the Atelier games on the PS3