Oct 2019
Welcome to the magical world where alchemy reigns supreme, and teenage abominations hang out in the forests! 'Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout' serves as a fresh breath of air in a series that has had more installments than you can shake a stick at. But does it live up to the hype, or does it leave you wishing you had stayed home instead of sneaking out on a journey to the mainland?
In the world of Atelier Ryza, you'll join Reisalin 'Ryza' Stout, a girl tired of her dull farming life on Kurken Island. Equipped with colorful friends and a peculiar knack for alchemy, Ryza sets out to discover her destiny. The gameplay flows between crafting magical items from the mundane to the downright bizarre, and engaging in turn-based battles that let you unleash chaos with your party. The turn-based combat is agile, allowing you to make decisions in real time, perfect for those who like to channel their inner 'I can multitask in a game and in life!' warrior. Outside combat, you’ll spend time gathering resources, concocting potions, and restoring an old ruin to make it YOUR hideout (because nothing says adventure like real estate). Thanks to the new automated gathering feature, you can spend less time picking flowers and more time crafting items that will make you feel like the wizard you always wanted to be. However, it does take away the enjoyable grind that fans of the series often treasure.
'Atelier Ryza' is brilliantly colorful. The graphical details are on point, flooding your screen with various hues that make even a dark forest seem inviting. The character designs are charming, and Ryza deserves special credit for being the most relatable heroine since your last virtual girlfriend. Animation during combat and cutscenes is fluid, and while it won’t rival the latest blockbuster titles, it definitely entertains without offending your eyeballs — something that Zoom meetings could learn from.
In conclusion, 'Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout' proves to be a delightful escapade filled with charm, heartfelt moments, and an engrossing alchemical system that manages to be both simple and complex. With a cast of quirky characters and a narrative that leads you through adventure and personal growth, it's no wonder it did well in sales! You'll find a title that not only caters to seasoned fans but also welcomes newcomers into its gorgeous world. Just be prepared: the lure of crafting your own items might lead you down an obsessive rabbit hole. So fire up that Switch, and may your alchemical aspirations take flight!
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