How's your backlog?

[Sir Stardust]

I’m thinking of getting another Atelier game. I quite enjoyed Mana Khemia and Totori+, so I’m looking forward to see how the games have advanced. I guess the mechanics are kind of old by now, though having nothing to compare them to, I didn’t really find them that clunky or anything.

I’m thinking of picking up one from Dusk this time, though I’m kind of stuck on which one to choose. :<

I should probably try for the true ending in Totori, but what ending could ever be better than one full of Chims? I know what probably happens during that ending, and I’m sure all those Chims could help Totori achieve it.

I think I’ve finally convinced my BF to try one, we’ll probably be picking up L&S if we can find it on sale. I’ve seen it pretty cheap at GameStop, and then I’d also feel better about it if I ever decided to grab any DLC.

[Bluie]

Me when I hear about people wondering which Atelier games to pick up.


If you want to get into the Dusk Trilogy, i'd say go with Ayesha first because going into Escha&Logy (or Shallie) spoils big parts of the overarching narrative. However, imo, Escha&Logy is the most fun out of the trilogy, mainly because the battle system + the characters are very lovable. Plus, it actually gives you a reason to do NG+, having to decide between party members (there's a point in the story where you have to decide one dungeon over the other, and depending on which one you pick - you'll get either a rowdy treasure hunter or an elegant archaeologist - you WILL get both of them eventually, but still it's a nice touch). It's really fun to play through once as one protag and then another as second protag, making different decisions (thus gaining different party member).

If you don't really care too much about the entire story of Dusk, then go for E&L - because it's very, very fun. If you want to whole story (which is actually pretty good in the first two and kinda eh in Shallie) then start at the beginning.

[Kikki]

There is a disturbance in the internet. An Atelier fan needs me!

I had been going to answer this when I first saw it, since you answered the very same things for me recently (specifically about Escha and Logy, and Ayesha) but then I thought...nah, Bluie'll be along pretty soon anyway Better first hand info than me delivering it second-hand.

[Ronin19]

My friend recommended the Atelier series to me, but I don't know if I'd like them.

Just have the DLCs left for Dragon Age 2 and then I'm going to go for the final achievement for Dragon Age Origins I don't have, and that's beating the Harvester on hard/nightmare.

[Kikki]

My friend recommended the Atelier series to me, but I don't know if I'd like them.

I'm afraid you'd probably really need to try one to know; they're really different from any other RPG, in that they mostly don't seem to follow big or deep stories (except possibly the Dusk trilogy) but rather small, personal stories, more slice-of-life than anything. It doesn't feel like anything else I can compare it to, so...hard to figure out if you like it without actually playing. Too bad I don't know of any demos you can get

[Ronin19]

My friend recommended the Atelier series to me, but I don't know if I'd like them.

I'm afraid you'd probably really need to try one to know; they're really different from any other RPG, in that they mostly don't seem to follow big or deep stories (except possibly the Dusk trilogy) but rather small, personal stories, more slice-of-life than anything. It doesn't feel like anything else I can compare it to, so...hard to figure out if you like it without actually playing. Too bad I don't know of any demos you can get

Well, Atelier Arland is on the Switch now. Is that a good starting point? All three games are available.

[Kikki]

Short answer: Yes, I think so.

Longer answer (because otherwise, who would I be?):

Since you'd want to be using the Switch, I'd say you might as well. I mean, unless you think it's worthwhile to go back to games on a different system?

Lydie and Suelle is on Switch, though it's actually the last of the Mysterious trilogy (Sophie and Firis come before L&S) But honestly, I played L & S first and didn't feel lost at all, because the stories aren't really...well, to me, they're not that important, basically. I haven't tried it yet, but according to Bluie, the Dusk trilogy (Ayesha, Escha and Logy, and then then Shallie) are probably the strongest, story-wise, and so the most connected. L & S didn't really make me feel like I was missing anything, even though Sophie and Firis both show up as side characters in it. In the Arland Trilogy, Rorona comes first, if you want to go for that. Though it may be the same as the Mysterious trilogy and not really matter which you play first. Well, ime. Bluie, of course, is a much more experienced Atelier player than I am.

In any case, I think you're totally fine to begin anywhere, with the first game of any trilogy being the optimal place to start, but even on that count, not being totally necessary since each story (excepting in the Dusk trilogy) is really more a small, personal story, rather than a big story that spans from game to game.

[Ronin19]

Okay, after Christmas, I'm treating myself to the Arland Trilogy. I just saw Cordelia use a skill that summons her servants and they shot a monster to death. This will not help the backlog.

[Bluie]

Here's hoping you enjoy them! :>

I finished Ys8 - true ending. While I overall enjoyed it, some things bogged it down and felt too much like padding. Pretty much; take out all the raids and i'm happy. I think i'll play the demos sitting on my Switch before moving onto my next game. I'm really looking forward to playing Rain World and trying Hyper Light Drifter again. I wonder if i'll be able to finish my backlog before Tales of Vesperia comes out on Jan 11. If not, I have nothing in February (while Nelke and Caligula are March releases), so no worries I guess.

The only other game I skipped this year (besides indies) that I still kinda want is Labyrinth of Refrain. Funds permitting, I plan to pick it up if I enjoy the demo enough.

[ryume]

Been playing London Detective. It's very enjoyable, although I find it odd that the boys often look better in their CG's than their sprites. Was aiming to do Holmes' route first, but in spite of his ink bottle being full by the end of the common route, I ended up with Akechi first in spite of his bottle being half full Nearly done with his route, then it's off to explore the rest.

[Kikki]

Aketchi doesn't seem to need much love before he'll grant access to his route I like the order as Watson (I found his route rather uninteresting), Aketchi, Holmes, Lupin (who has the best CGs, but one of the worst portraits, imo) and then Jack. Though I think the only 'rule' is that you have to do one among Watson, Holmes and Aketchi and then the other two unlock and could be done in any order. Jack's felt the most complete, to me, though it's certainly debatable.

Haven't actually gotten the supposed 'true' (and not romance-based) ending yet, but I decided not to bother, as I don't really want to jump through hoops to unlock it, replaying and replaying that intensely long common route. Thank goodness for the 'last choice' and 'next choice' options, though. That really helps.

I didn't like the raids in Ys VIII, either...they felt so tacked-on. I guess the overall idea sort of ties into the story, and it does encourage you to increase your base rating, but...it just wasn't an interesting part of the game, for me.

[ryume]

I also hated the raids in Ys VIII.

Hey Kikki, I was wondering if you had any issues accessing the epilogues in London Detective. I received the message in game starting I unlocked Holmes', but when I go to the epilogue section, it seems frozen. I can't select anything, an not even Akechi's epilogue, which I had already unlocked and watched. I only have the 2 unlocked right now. Did your game ever do this to you?

[Kikki]

I also hated the raids in Ys VIII.

Hey Kikki, I was wondering if you had any issues accessing the epilogues in London Detective. I received the message in game starting I unlocked Holmes', but when I go to the epilogue section, it seems frozen. I can't select anything, an not even Akechi's epilogue, which I had already unlocked and watched. I only have the 2 unlocked right now. Did your game ever do this to you?

Yup. How it worked for me is...I did Holmes first. Got his epilogue, watched it. Then I did Akechi, and I couldn't move to his epilogue at all. Couldn't use ANY buttons but the back button. Couldn't access Holmes' epilogue any more, either. But then I unlocked Watson's, and after that I was fine again. I don't know why or how it works but it seems like it does sort of lock up the epilogues section at some point. Not sure why but if you check after you unlock any new epilogue, you'll probably find they're accessible again. SEems like it lets you watch the first one but freezes up the option after you unlock a second, then let's you have access back again once you have unlocked 3+. I figure it's a glitch, not game design, but I dunno.

[ryume]

Thanks for your answer! I'm guessing there's a few bugs that needed to be worked out. Decided to try and unlock Watson's while I waited for your response, and as I was using the next choice option, the game has been stuck on a loading screen for two minutes now. I will most likely need to exit and start over. Good thing it was only during parts I was trying to skip!

[Bluie]

Augh, the demo for Labyrinth of Refrain is so good. The mechanics are fun, Dronya is such a lovable « Mr.Gourmet's hat », Luca is adorable, and I just wanna play more. My local EB has a copy, but my copy of Ys VIII wouldn't cover a lot of it's price (I don't like Ys8 enough to play it again, and I can't see my fiance enjoying it - so into the trade pile it goes). I could wait until Christmas has come and gone (because i'm pretty sure there's some cash under the tree for me), but then I run the risk of a crazy scramble on Boxing Day at EB (I have had some... violent experiences on Boxing Day at different EB Games in the past). Urg, so frustrating! >:/

Maybe I can use some of my paid off pre orders to fund the difference then refill them again later...

Edit: MUAHAHAHA! It was on sale for $40! Lucky me! Ys8 +$7 was all I needed! THAT I could afford~