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[Durante]

Genre: JRPG
Platform: PS3
Developer: Gust
Publisher: NISA
Release date: September 27, 2011 (NA), Fall 2011 (EU)

Box art - standard edition (50 USD):

Premium set (includes Art book and soundtrack CD, 60 USD):

Special Features:
- Dual audio (which should be so bog-standard at this point to not even really be worth mentioning, but not every publisher is as progressive as NISA)
- Even though it's forbidden for small Japanese developers, Gust bravely uses the dark powers of anti-aliasing

Returning from Rorona:
- The somewhat intricate alchemy system
- Non-linear gameplay and time management, including multiple endings

New in Totori:
- A more complete combat system
- A larger focus on adventuring, including the "Adventurer's License" system for unlocking access to new areas

Product description Blurb:
- Classic turn-based RPG combat brings strategy and a sense of nostalgia for gamers new and old
- Synthesize hundreds of items: ingredients, weapons, armor, and explosives to help you on your journey
- Homunculi, in-game characters that can be hired to search for needed items
- Several unique endings to experience will keep you playing even after finishing it the first time
- Assist System which allows AI party members to assist in specific ways and Super Moves, which can be used to deal maximum damage

Home sweet home: (this game looks fantastic)

Manage your own personal cleaning/alchemy/gathering homunculi squad:

Or gather ingredients on your own:

Quests!

Treasure!

Alchemy!

Battle!

 

[Volcynika]

Can't wait.

Toto!

 

[Cheska]

Wonder if the NIS store will ship this out early again.

 

[The_Monk]

What a lovely cover. Really liked, very clean.

 

[Durante]

Can't wait.

Toto!

I can't wait either!

(You're quick!)

 

[Volcynika]

I can't wait either!

(You're quick!)

I just got home! I have timing. EXCELLENT TIMING.

 

[Rarutos]

I can't wait either! I Platinumed Rorona to get ready for the release and NOW I'M TOTORI READY!

I also hope NISA ships this one early.

 

[Deeku]

Nice.

In game models looks so much better this time.

Can't wait!!

 

[Hours Left]

I'm excited.

I wish Gerhard was playable.

 

[matmanx1]

Thank you for the reminder! I just pre-ordered from the NIS online store. I initially held off because my September was so jam packed but I've finished some things and sold off others that I'm not going to finish to make room. Bring on Totori!

 

[Coxy]

Aw yeah, I'm not nearly finished with Disgaea 4 but the second this arrives I wont touch anything else until I've platinumed it. Really excited since I enjoyed Rorona a lot and this is considerably improved

 

[KeioSquad2]

How formulaic to the Jrpg is this game? Is it traditional or are the fundamentals different?

 

[Rarutos]

How formulaic to the Jrpg is this game? Is it traditional or are the fundamentals different?

Battle system is pretty traditional. But the whole game is not. It revolves doing jobs, gathering ingredients, and synthesizing items for the most part! If you're looking for a traditional RPG experience, I wouldn't look to this game.

 

[Finaika]

Their shirts are too big.

 

[Durante]

How formulaic to the Jrpg is this game? Is it traditional or are the fundamentals different?

"Formulaic" isn't a word I'd use to describe the Atelier series. It's very different from the usual linear/story driven JRPG. Basically, you play for 3 years in-game time and can freely decide what to do with these days (with a few exceptions). Actions such as alchemy and dungeon crawling consume time, and you have some milestones you need to reach at certain points. The game also has 11 different endings depending on what you achieve.

 

[The Last Wizard]

If I do try this series, this is where i'm jumping in

 

[Big Papa Husker]

I still haven't played Rorona... its still sealed on my shelf. :\ Hell, I haven't actually beat any of the Atelier games that have came out in the US.

 

[Rarutos]

I still haven't played Rorona... its still sealed on my shelf. :\ Hell, I haven't actually beat any of the Atelier games that have came out in the US.

Open it and play it now! You can totally beat the game before Totori comes out!

 

[Lucentto]

I wanted to play Rorona, but i'm going to skip it and just play this one. I don't really have the time with Persona 2 to play.

 

[Durante]

If I do try this series, this is where i'm jumping in

It's a fantastic point to do so, by all accounts Totori is a great improvement on Rorona which is a pretty good game in its own right.

 

[Nix]

Damn those screens look good. If only...who am I kidding, I've got this shit pre-ordered, loli-girls galore or not.

 

[Durante]

Just a heads-up: both the standard edition and the premium set are $5 off at amazon right now.

 

[panty]

Already ordered the premium edition. I have to start & finish Atelier Rorona first, I have to.. Game looks good.

I still haven't played Rorona... its still sealed on my shelf. :\ Hell, I haven't actually beat any of the Atelier games that have came out in the US.

This x 1000000.

 

[maomaoIYP]

On the 27th? Same day as the ICO + Shadow of Colossus?

TAKE MY MONIES NOW

 

[Rarutos]

I'm so excited! Hard to believe we're getting it next week! I really hope there aren't as many bugs in Totori as there were in Rorona... It is kind of silly how lackluster the QA is compared to the N1 titles, since they take a lot longer to come out between Japanese and American release.

 

[kyo_daikun]

Still haven't played Rorona, got a bit butt hurt when I ordered the premium edition on ebay and the seller sent me the standard edition...

No news of a premium edition in europe so I might have to chance ebay again and hope I get the right edition.

 

[Keys]

Still haven't played Rorona, got a bit butt hurt when I ordered the premium edition on ebay and the seller sent me the standard edition...

No news of a premium edition in europe so I might have to chance ebay again and hope I get the right edition.

Or you can order it here http://www.planetaxel.com/productDetails/813633011295
They ship from Europe so no customs and delivery times should be acceptable.

 

[Durante]

Still haven't played Rorona, got a bit butt hurt when I ordered the premium edition on ebay and the seller sent me the standard edition...

No news of a premium edition in europe so I might have to chance ebay again and hope I get the right edition.

You can use the shop Keys mentioned, or order from http://www.videogamesplus.ca/
That's where I get all my US imports from. (I'd like to order from the NISA store but their shipping fees to Europe are obscene)

 

[Deeku]

Rorona's a relatively short game (roughly 20 hours) if you don't try to 100% it. So anyone that hasn't play it really should.

Man, play-asia needs to open pre-orders already. Shipping from NIS shop is too expensive for me

 

[dakkumauji]

I am so looking forward to getting an email from NISA about them shipping this out.
This has to be my most looked forward to game this year!

 

[Durante]

Rorona's a relatively short game (roughly 20 hours) if you don't try to 100% it. So anyone that hasn't play it really should.

If those 20 hours are accurate then the game really has a huge range between just completing it and trying to 100% it. It took me almost 50 hours for one play-through, so that's just a single ending out of what, a dozen? But I really tried to optimize everything I was doing and use every single day. (I maxed out all friendships, killed all the optional bosses and crafted all the items)

How long did it take the people that platinum'd it?

 

[Gravijah]

I'm so behind on GUST games. Damn you, time.

 

[A Huge Battleship]

Add me to the list of people who've bought Rorona but haven't gotten around to playing it yet.

For anyone knowledgeable about this game, which of the characters in the OP are actual party members?

 

[OceanBlue]

Super excited for this game, can't wait! I really liked the alchemy system in Rorona, so I know this game will be fun.

I heard that the alchemy in Totori was harder than in Rorona. Is it the same or are there minor differences?

Edit: You can choose traits?!

 

[Torillian]

Add me to the list of people who've bought Rorona but haven't gotten around to playing it yet.

For anyone knowledgeable about this game, which of the characters in the OP are actual party members?

Totori, Rorona, Gino, Mimi, Sterk, Marc, and Melvia are all party members

Edit: You can choose traits?!

Yes, when you synthesize something you get a list of possible traits to give the final product based on the traits of the materials you chose. Each of these possible traits has a point value and the total points you can use to put traits on the final product is based on the general quality of the materials you used. You can then use these points to put on as many traits as you can afford up to a maximum of 6.

 

[R_thanatos]

I still haven't played Rorona... its still sealed on my shelf. :\ Hell, I haven't actually beat any of the Atelier games that have came out in the US.

You can start now AND with TIME MANAGEMENT Skills you can finish or platinium it ..before totori is out ....

the question is : Are you good with time and planning ?

 

[kyubajin]

Really need to go back to Rorona... I know Totori is leagues better and Meruru is the best in the (PS3) series so far.

 

[Einbroch]

I absolutely hate the time management system. I enjoyed Rorona a few months back, but...ugh. The time thing was just not fun.

I'll queue it up in GameFly when this holiday blitz is over.

 

[notworksafe]

Oh shit! Totori is going to be out soon? And with a better battle system? I'm in!

Are there videos of the "more complete" battle system anywhere?

 

[KariOhki]

Shit, this game looks even prettier than Rorona did. I already got it preordered from NISA's store, it'll probably be the last thing I buy myself this year unless there's an awesome sale somewhere.

No clue if I'll actually PLAY it this year. Rorona took me a month to finish, but I had more free time then.

 

[lljride]

I want to play this so bad, but that means I'd have to stop playing Disgaea 4. And hold off on Dark Souls. And continue holding off on WKC2.

Damn you Fall 2011 JRPGS!

 

[Rarutos]

Honestly, as I was getting the Platinum in Rorona, the time management wasn't really a problem at all. In fact, I had plenty of time to do everything I needed to do, and then some! I pretty much had the whole last assignment months with nothing to do but synth the one item for the last assignment.

I hear Totori takes place in 5 years this time around, so they give you even more time! Although I think to compensate, they've made some dungeons and such farther to walk to...

 

[Einbroch]

Honestly, as I was getting the Platinum in Rorona, the time management wasn't really a problem at all. In fact, I had plenty of time to do everything I needed to do, and then some! I pretty much had the whole last assignment months with nothing to do but synth the one item for the last assignment.

I hear Totori takes place in 5 years this time around, so they give you even more time! Although I think to compensate, they've made some dungeons and such farther to walk to...

See, the thing is it really makes it a non-pick-up-and-play RPG, if that makes sense. If I have 30 minutes before work, I can go grind a few enemies in Disgaea, craft some items in Star Ocean, or whatever. In this...everything takes time, and a completionist like myself can't just go "Oh, today I feel like doing this!". You have to follow a pretty strict walkthrough or guide to get a specific ending or a certain trophy.

Not saying I won't enjoy this game, I just wish the time element was either removed or REALLY toned down.

 

[Rarutos]

See, the thing is it really makes it a non-pick-up-and-play RPG, if that makes sense. If I have 30 minutes before work, I can go grind a few enemies in Disgaea, craft some items in Star Ocean, or whatever. In this...everything takes time, and a completionist like myself can't just go "Oh, today I feel like doing this!". You have to follow a pretty strict walkthrough or guide to get a specific ending or a certain trophy.

Not saying I won't enjoy this game, I just wish the time element was either removed or REALLY toned down.

Oh I see, yes I understand that. It's just that this is the way Atelier games have always been, sans the Iris trilogy and Mana-Khemia, so it's obviously a formula that works for a majority of GUST's fans! I guess you should sit down and play it when you have more time then?

I do hear that Totori is better about the time management thing though. Lots of things have improved, so I really have to play it to see how it stacks up to Rorona! We'll see in a week I guess.

 

[Durante]

Yes, when you synthesize something you get a list of possible traits to give the final product based on the traits of the materials you chose. Each of these possible traits has a point value and the total points you can use to put traits on the final product is based on the general quality of the materials you used. You can then use these points to put on as many traits as you can afford up to a maximum of 6.

That sounds about 5 times better than the system in Rorona, mostly because it makes item quality matter a lot more beyond completionism. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Coxy]

I want to play this so bad, but that means I'd have to stop playing Disgaea 4. And hold off on Dark Souls. And continue holding off on WKC2.

Damn you Fall 2011 JRPGS!

Getting/got all those and Rune Factory:Oceans too but Totori overrules all else for me.

If I remember correctly there's 2 DLC characters too right?

Spoiler

Ceci and Cordelia?

 

[Torillian]

That sounds about 5 times better than the system in Rorona, mostly because it makes item quality matter a lot more beyond completionism. Thanks for the explanation.

My only real issue with the new system is that I don't see how there's a point in negative traits anymore. Never saw any quests that required specific traits so other than increasing the rank of your item when you don't have better options I don't see why you would ever put a negative trait like "more difficult to synthesize" on your items.

Other than that though I agree, definitely an improvement.

 

[Rarutos]

Getting/got all those and Rune Factory:Oceans too but Totori overrules all else for me.

If I remember correctly there's 2 DLC characters too right?

Spoiler

Ceci and Cordelia?

Three actually!

Spoiler

Cordelia, Iksel (I'm pretty sure they're in a pack together), and Cecilia.

Also a bunch of BGM from other GUST games! I'll probably grab them all because I'm such a GUST fanboy...

 

[Einbroch]

My only real issue with the new system is that I don't see how there's a point in negative traits anymore. Never saw any quests that required specific traits so other than increasing the rank of your item when you don't have better options I don't see why you would ever put a negative trait like "more difficult to synthesize" on your items.

Other than that though I agree, definitely an improvement.

Do they give you more points to play with if you throw a negative one on there?

 

[Torillian]

Do they give you more points to play with if you throw a negative one on there?

Nope, the negative traits cost points just like the positive ones. That's a good idea though, they should use that if they ever read these forums.