I’m almost tearing up at how great this review was. You summed up why I love Atelier and Gust games so much. It looks like they really didn’t half-ass this one (unlike the Mysterious trilogy, which was pretty bland in comparison). Thanks for the in-depth explanation of the battle, synthesis, soundtrack and art direction. I REALLY appreciate how you didn’t just talk about the thighs/tits. Honestly, I really appreciate it.
I’m flattered by your comment! Thank you so much! One of my goals for this review was to really try to convey the spirit and the mood of the game and I’m happy to know that you felt it! How are you finding the game so far? Did you pick it up?
For me I find it insane that you think the Mysterious trilogy was bland considering they contained Firis, probably my favorite Atelier game ever. Though thinking about it Sophie was pretty bland, and Lydie & Suelle was overall good but not incredible, so maybe as a whole I can see what you mean. The alchemy system in those games is my favorite of any atelier I have played though.
@@Dante1282 i don't understand why, i loved the feeling of adventure, loved the characters, loved pretty much everything about it tbh other than that it was probably the best argument against having a time limit because it made it really hard to do everything you wanted to as you played through it.
Squiggleblorg I LOVED Firis!! I liked that they took a chance with an open-world Atelier and took lots of risks. It was so fun uncovering new towns and quests. I was talking more about Sophie and Lydie/Suelle, and about the characters/plot development in general. For me, the trilogy in general was just very shallow and full of missed opportunities.
Having randomly found your channel through recommendations and watching a majority of your reviews, it's quite baffling knowing you don't have more subs. Your reviews are so in depth, really well scripted and paced, it's absurd you aren't in the 100k+ mark if not more. Honestly keep up the amazing work, you genuinely deserve a lot more recognition !
Thank you so much! I couldn't have done what I've been doing without my wonderful community! I post a lot on the Community tab, and this review almost didn't make it out at all. But everyone kept telling me to get well (I was sick with the flu) and here it is, finally out! I really owe it all to them!
Boy, if all of the background music in this video is from Atelier Ryza, then I'm already in love. Every song I heard in this video had such a romantic/whimsical feeling to it. I definitely have to look into this game.
This was my first Atelier game, and now I can't stop collecting the games. I also beat Ryza 2, now I'm playing Sophie 1 and got a backlog of 7 Atelier games.
This may be the first time I’ve gotten chills while watching a review video. That pause after talking about the soundtrack where you let the music flourish was great! Also, this is just an excellent review. You’re incredibly thorough. Great job!
Thank you very much! I’ve been building up to this review all month, practicing things with the other games I’ve covered! I hope I can deliver this same kind of feeling in future videos!
I found this series through ValkyrieAurora’s excellent videos on the Atelier, Nier, and Drakengard games. It’s nice to see Atelier finally get so much attention in 2019.
@@BacklogBattle i just hope they don't change it too much too get more sales I dont want another fire emblem situation or smt/persona situation I don't want it to get more fanservice or get dating elements Pls no
I have to say this is one of the best reviews I've seen on UA-cam on a video game. It wasn't technical and focused on the points you would like to hear about the game. Made me click on that "add to cart" option for this game on Steam. Cheers to the creator(s) for a great job!
Your review was so eloquently and consistently worded and the subtle nuances that you caught onto in the art direction and the overall theming of this game mirrored my own thoughts to a tee as I was playing Ryza. You've voiced a generation of people's oversight on this franchise's appreciation to help this refreshing game further come into popularity and I'm earnestly so happy for that! Easily won my subscription - also you have a beautiful voice. -
Read and watched many reviews and etc but yours was the one that sold me. About 30 hours in I like it to the point where I'm waiting for all the others on steam to go on special. Thanks dude for getting me into this franchise! It's so good
Are you aware that Ryza 2 is coming next month? Keep an eye out for a review for that too! And thank you for watching and, most importantly, checking the game out! It's definitely one of my favorites!
Never gotten into this franchise in the past but after watching this review wife and I just ordered this thru Amazon as we keep hearing this is a good place for new to the series players to jump in on. Not to mention a really in depth crafting system and one of the cutest anime looks to a main girl and series games we have seen in a long time. Thanks so much for the in depth intelligent review @Backlog Battle. We are very glad we were told to come check out the channel and subbed a few videos ago :)
I'm curious who recommended you to the channel and how! I'm always fascinated with how people found us! Also, Ryza's a great game! I still have very fond memories playing this last year and I'm on the lookout for similar games to recommend and play in the future!
Are there awards for UA-cam Reviews? You have my nomination, my like, and sub! This review on its own was amazing, loved your writing, and the tone as well! I am so relaxed now.
Thank you so much! If there was one, I’ll be sure you let you know right away! I hope to keep surprising you with some of the ways I make my videos and I’m doubly glad to have you as part of our growing community! 🙏
@@BacklogBattle I can back that up! Your review actually set it for me, I was long dwelling whether I should buy it or not, but after seeing many other reviews focusing on her tighs while talking somewhat down on the alchemy system, I kinda started doubting myself if I was buying it for aesthetics. Not in a cheesy way, it was excellent you didn't focus on the tighs - you made it all about the gameplay itself, not merely in a vague way, which cleared my doubts! I was searching for a review that outlined all the positives, you earned a subscriber!
Thank you so much! I do feel that my video is better without it, and in a way, I actually talked about that indirectly through the game’s art design! Apart from that, I try to organically talk about aspects of the game that are very important to me, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. One review might have me mention the music and another won’t, for example. That’s usually a clue that I didn’t find that part of the game noteworthy to mention! Either way, thank you for the wonderful comment and I hope I’ve earned your viewership and continue to do so in the weeks and months to come!
Picked this one up on launch having only played the Iris games way back when. It's cool seeing everyone sort of wake up to the existence of this series thanks to Ryza. The battle theme has been on loop in my head since the other day.
I like your way of making a review, you go in such detail about every aspect instead of just saying it's good or not and enjoyed the entire video, thank you!
You’re welcome! I try to talk about the things I cared about in a game rather than going through a checklist of things I HAVE to talk about. Sometimes doing that latter part can be boring, after all. One time someone criticized me for not talking about sound design for a visual novel. Think about that, for a change! At any rate, thank you for watching my video and if you do get the game, I hope you enjoy it! 🙏
Indeed, I've been going through reviews and their like 6 minutes long and while I was listening to yours I was like, "man this guy is still going...AND NOW he's talking about the music?" Like I was surprised it was so long and that actually made it better, for me a least. And yeah! I bought the game but had to spend my first day going to Destiny 2's Haloween event, I got the preorder digital delux edition and cant wait to crack it open
To be fair, the music IS really good! 😁 If you check out my other reviews, I don’t talk about things that aren’t worth talking about for me. I try to highlight the best aspects of the game, while balancing talking about what other people might have issues with. Either way, I’m curious what you’ll think of the game when you finally play it!
It apparently looks even way better on PS4 and PC than what it looks like on the Switch, which boggles my mind! I might have to make a quick video on that...
Each game, while retaining certain core staples of the Atelier franchise, all have their own unique stories and take on the combat, crafting, and time management that makes them worth playing. It's kinda like ice cream: pick your flavor (title), sample it, and keep coming back for more if you like it.
“Apparently” it is, meaning I’ve yet to personally check when I posted that comment! That aside, I’ve checked since then and I’m happy to report that aside from resolution and some graphical trickery, the Switch and PS4 look very close to one another! I’m also planning to make a video comparing the two versions as well! Hoping to get it out sometime tomorrow, maybe!
The Atelier series' character design is consistently incredible, though if you're looking for Hidari's art specifically, he only worked on the Dusk series.
Wow I only just saw this review, thanks for reviewing one of my favourite series ever! I'm just like you, I got into the series late a couple of years back with Lulua. I'd never even heard of the games before. But since then I've bought literally every game of the series I can, and played about 1/3 of them now slowly. There isn't another series like Atelier, and the devs have a clear passion for their work. My favourite part of the games is that every one is different. The developers are always trying something new, always looking to improve and because of that, no matter what game I start up, I'm getting a unique - and often times better in later series - experience. I agree with all your points. Not every Atelier has a strong story, some fall off at points. But all of them are a joy to experience and focus on the characters and their adventure instead of some world pressing calamity. This makes the games feel great to play and you get that sense of adventure and not knowing what's around the corner. That sense of 'mystery' is the hardest thing to capture in any entertainment medium, and it's always a fantastic feeling when it is captured. My biggest critique with the series, and this is a long-going problem, is the end-game crafting. It's incredibly hard to balance and I've yet to see a game where they're able to nail that end-game. It's sort of like a build-up with a lackluster climax. Which isn't their fault, and it's something they've always worked on. It's just a hard area to solve for their game design philosophy in the atelier games. My other pet peeve is that their NG+ mode is never worth playing. There are no new experiences in NG+, just harder enemies which is redundant when you max your weapons and armor with the end-game crafting. I've always found that unfortunate.
I've reviewed a good portion of Gust games since this review, and I do agree with all of your points. I also feel that Gust doesn't get a lot of budget and time to work on some of these games and lament what kind of games they'd make had they been given both. It even surprises Koei Tecmo that I wanted to reach out to them because of Atelier and not Nioh, or Dead or Alive, or Dynasty Warriors! Nope, Atelier for me, thank you!
I love the DIY attitude of the Atelier games. I cooked up a spreadsheet to list out all the materials I would need to make the absolute best weapon and armor for Lent and went at it. At the final boss, the other 2 party members died instantly but Lent was an unstoppable force.
Terrific review my dude! Professional and easy to follow! The characters really sold the game for me. Sure the combat, crafting and world are all good and interesting, but following the characters through all their hardships and seeing them grow into better versions of themselves? You have no idea how much love and pride I feel for them! I was legitimately sad when I finished the game because it meant my time with the characters was over, but hopefully the new story DLC will give me even more joy!
I read somewhere that the devs are actually considering having the same characters for the next game, which apparently is something that doesn’t happen often in the series! Here’s to hoping this is still in consideration!
I really hope that's true! That would also explain why there are some unresolved stuff between the characters (namely Klaudia and Ryza). If they're planning a sequel with the same squad it makes sense they would follow up on things like that in the next game.
As someone who just recently fell in love with the series this year (thanks to Lydie & Suelle, which made me buy sophie, firis, and the arland trilogy as well as Lulua) and is pretty bored with the state of modern jrpgs (being basically just isekais in tone) I was kinda worried with Ryza aiming at that very same style/demographic, THANKS to your review that fear has been completely erased. It was such a joy to hear a review that actually makes justice to the game and franchise (it’s pretty hard to find actually good ones because most of them don’t care for the actual game), this is the best review I’ve seen for this game by far. On other note, Lulua is great too. I understand the visuals might not be for everyone but as a game it also has that unique Atelier charm, not to mention Lulua herself might be one of the best female characters ever, such a great protagonist is hard to come by. Although the mysterious trilogy is my favorite as of now, even though I’ve seen a lot of people call it dull I completely fell in love with its characters and stories.
Another endorsement for the Mysterious trilogy! So far, it’s that or the Dusk trilogy in the comments in terms of popularity! Also, thank you for the kind words! Glad to make fans of the series proud!
I suggest you try out the dusk trilogy when it comes out in January. It has a much more somber tone than the rest of the titles and you'll be blown away by the art and music of Ayesha's title in particular.
I definitely have the Dusk trilogy on my radar! I’ve also been told that the Mysterious Trilogy is really good! Thank you for recommending the Dusk Trilogy!
Just now discovering your channel. Dude your review style is sick! Narration is great, graphical assets are beautiful. Seriously jealous as hell of your style! Subbed!
Picked this game up on sale over the holiday after looking over some videos. This was definitely the best one I found. Echoing the pinned comment, I really appreciate there were no jokes about the characters' "assets." The summary of the game and why it's great was so well-articulated. I'm excited to start this soon!
I thought I wasn’t the only one thinking that some elements in Ryza reminded me a bit of Persona 5. Nice touch of little details here and there that took me by surprised. Honestly I was expecting this game to be like your typical JRPG but playing this game is so refreshing and relaxing! The combat system is really fun too and can be a challenge. I was afraid this game might be too easy. Definitely a must play. I have it on PC but kinda wished I bought it for the Switch for the portability. Also as a personal note, I view the Atelier series being the “shoujo” of JRPGs where they don’t follow your usual JRPG story direction in saving the world or whatever. It’s cute and focuses on the characters and their challenges. Perhaps that’s why the series is so niche because initially it doesn’t seem like it will appeal to hardcore JRPG fans. But give Atelier Ryza a try. It’s fun!
I think you hit the nail in the head there with the series being shoujo, and I honestly think that with Ryza, the devs were really aiming to cast a wider net beyond that category. On the note of difficulty, I’ve been thinking of dialing it up to Hard to see how it is!
I love the Atelier games and I am so glad you didn't put "Thicc" in the title, I saw so many youtube reviews with Thicc in the title that it really started to annoy me! You are doing really well with the review and I am happy to see newcomers to one of my favourite Franchises!
Thank you so much! I'm glad you found my video! I wasn't ever planning on emphasizing on that aspect of the game, so I suppose it worked out for the best! Very happy to be playing a game from one of your favorite franchises as well!
I have a shopping list of Atelier games to play! First, the Dusk Trilogy, then the Mysterious Trilogy! Let me know if there's more that I should check out!
@@BacklogBattle Personally I love the Mysterious Trilogy the most so you are all settled! I still need to buy some of the older games myself, but hey money doesn't grow on trees for me yet :p hopefully with my art it will soon become viable to earn money from it :3 Though on the switch there is the arland series which is really great, oh and Atelier Nelke is enjoyable if you want a different take on the Atelier Series!
Recently got really into JRPGs every since I got Fire Emblem Three Houses a few months ago. Since then I played Persona 5, Final Fantasy 7, and Tales of Berseria. I spent much of today researching and trying to decide about getting into the Atelier franchise, and it wasn't until this video that I made up my mind. As soon as I finish Tales of Berseria I will for sure pick this one up. I went from undecided to excited, great video.
Thank you! I haven't slowed down so far! Highly recommend checking out the Check Out Our Spoiler-Free Reviews playlist on the channel! There's some great games that came out this year!
Just wanted to thank you for this review, saw that Ryza 1 & 2 are on sale in Nintendo eShop and your review made decide to buy the first one ^^ Excited to try it out! So thank you for this in-depth review!
Very good and in depth review. I can’t believe I have never heard of the Atelier series before until now. Hopefully this one makes a good starting point for a first timer like me. May pick this up on the switch in the near future.
I’m still totally baffled by how few of subscribers this channel has. The production value and articulation of talking points and analysis is excellent.
Thank you! If you go back and watch my older videos, I'm hoping you can tell if I have done that! I would like to think that every video I try to release is of the highest quality! Either way, thank you again for your kind words! 🙏
It's a fun game! I also have guides that'll help in case the crafting and battle system become too difficult to understand thanks to the game's tutorials, should you need it!
I just read an article where the creator of atelier ryza stated that ryza will make an appearance in the next chapter of this series. I can't wait to play it.this is the game that got me into the atelier series.
This is a great review. It does a good job of pointing out serious flaws and never getting caught up in points that don't impact the overall quality of the game. On top of that, it's well-structured, flowing from one point to the next briskly while managing to go into detail on each of one of its points. I just wanted to compliment you on all this so your hard work didn't go unnoticed. On a side note, this isn't really an issue with the review but the Atelier series reverted back to its older artstyle for Lulua. It first opted for a more inviting one that isn't far from Ryza's in the Mysterious Trilogy. I think you'd like those games as well, although I wouldn't be surprised if Ryza held your top spot even if you were to visit them. EDIT: Reworded some sentences to make my post flow better. Ironic, I know.
Thanks a lot for this! I want to say a lot of the commenters said that they're playing Sophie, which is part of the Mysterious Trilogy, so my curiosity is definitely piqued! Also, I've been told that the Dusk Trilogy is great as well, and it's arriving early next year! I'll be sure to pass along your comments to my script editors! We worked really hard to make sure that the flow of each video matches the kind of mood I want to convey and based on your comments here, I'm glad that we were able to achieved that! We'll make sure to try and keep this level of quality for future videos! Thanks again!
Never played an Atelier game before, but I've been curious about them. I think I'll try this one! The music sounds so great, and OMG THAT BATTLE THEME!!!
At this point, I’ve played quite a bit of games in the Atelier series. I have to say though, Ryza still has my favorite songs! I think you’ve made the right choice!
I've seen some people say that they complete this in 20 hours or less which had me a bit concerned, but seeing as you put almost three times the time in those concerns are relieved. I'll definitely be taking my time with this one, everything looks so good! Also you deserve a ton more subscribers, your videos are of very high quality and I feel you're definitely up there with the best of them! Instantly subscribed.
Unless they completely ignored side quests and just rushed through the main story exclusively I can’t see how it’d take them that fast. I spent a lot of time crafting and doing all the side quests because I loved the stories they were all telling, which made me appreciate the town even more. Above all else, thank you for your support! I hope you browse around and check out the other games I’ve covered! You might find some new games you might want to consider checking out! 🙏
What an excellent review! I just finished the game yesterday as a newcomer to the series and the overall atmosphere and narrative was a breath of fresh air to me. I don't think this game necessarily made me a huge fan of the franchise just yet but I am without a doubt interested to see what's next from Gust! Also, I commend highly you for doing this review professionally without gushing over Ryza's thighs. The entire package should be the selling point of consumers!
Agree with you on all points! I’m really happy many people have taken a chance with Ryza and with Fairy Tale coming in June, I’m hoping we get to see more quality games from Gust in the coming months!
Never been interested in Atelier before and wouldn't ever play the other games, but Ryza looks fantastic. I hope to see them do more like this in the future and I think I'm picking this one up at some point.
Thanks for you great reviews I just picked up both Atelier Ryza games just now it helped me understand what the excitement was all about. I really enjoy the fast paced combat system and the graphics is really good at the same. Still not that far in the game with first one but enjoying the ride so far.
I've been trying to figure out if I've wanted this game for months, and this review finally convinced me. I've watched perhaps a dozen others, but they never went in depth with what actually sets this game apart. Thank you for this - I nearly missed out on a great game.
On sale right now on PSN and I am so glad to finally pick it up. Ryza seems like a quality game and Rysalin is considered by many to be one of the most loveable characters in all of JRPGdom. I'm excited to start it!
Thanks for this review. Was pretty much sold when you got to the story, that this isnt about some "world ending event" and instead its about the characters. Its a....fresh....look on the RPG. Alot of the other stuff seems really interesting up to that point but seeing a story that isnt about me being the super once in a 1000 years hero to save everyone actually sold me on it lol. . Also I would like to just douse you in praise for reviewing the game and not trying to make a statement about it. It is insane to say this but having a review of the game about the game is so rare I cant help but appreciate it. First video I have seen from you but you have my sub if only for this singular reason. Thank you.
Wow! Thank you for the wonderful compliment! I hope the reviews I’ve made since this one has met or exceeded the standards you’ve mentioned! I also hope you enjoy Ryza, as it’s been a game that I truly have enjoyed ever since I learned about it! And with a sequel coming this year, there’s more Ryza arriving soon!
Great Review bro! I never played an Atelier game but you did a great job selling the game its good points and pointing out bad ones. Im convinced now to try it out lol.
About a week ago i watch this review, halfway viewing, not even finishing watch this review, i decided to give Atelier Ryza a shot. And wow, what a game! Now i'm back to finish watching the review. You nailed it, it's all the things you mention that make this game great. But you also absolutely right when you said the synth in game tutorial is not friendly for new player. I end up doing whatever random stuff. Only near the end of the game i finally get it, which is kinda too late. Lost moment of enjoyment opportunities for new player. I wish it become trilogy, and from the story, it might like it.
Thank you for watching my review - twice, in a way! I’m so happy you enjoyed the game as much as I did! And don’t worry - this IS going to be a new trilogy in the Atelier series - and Ryza just might be returning in the sequel too!
Thanks for this review, I just pre order this game and got nervous if I might not like it or not. Also thanks also for letting us know when you’ll make videos how to understand the game mechanics. Hopefully it will open up to me when I get my copy for the switch!
@@BacklogBattle Hmm, lets see. Legend of Heroes, Astral Chain, Genshin Impact, Granblue Fantasy, Crystar and more.. amazing. Yep, I will definitively watch more in the next few days! ^^
oohhh. Interesting. I also just noticed your color scheme. Reviews have a special color. That's a cool little detail and makes it easier to find! Good idea!
That’s awesome that you noticed that detail! It’s not something I explicitly explain on the channel, so for you to take notice means it’s working! At least subconsciously, probably 😁
Woah what a great review, simple and straightforward. I think you covered this game fair and objective, showing the good and the bad, as well as the overall experience. Between life and other titles on my list it's going to be tough, but you sold me Atelier Ryza on a first impression/first time basis! Definitely going to save up my days off to play this next year :)
I have a video to help with that! If you need help when you pick up the game, I encourage you to check it out and post in the comments! Also, thank you for watching my review! I'm really happy with all the positive comments and, moreover, that so many people want to try this game thanks to my review! I hope you enjoy the game just as much as I did!
Thank you for this! This was an excellent review. Adding it to my list. Still keeping fingers crossed we can an english dub one day (hoping the next game maybe).
It seems like English dub was a cost-cutting initiative and it hasn't been a thing for a good bit of time. I'm hoping that KT finds a way to make it feasible moving forward!
You should check then the Dusk trilogy of Atelier games, it has one of the best stories of Atelier games while maintaining the time management that the games were known of
It really is! Despite the tutorials being a bit obtuse when explaining things - which I help with by making videos on - it’s definitely one of my favorite games of last year! I’m glad I took a chance with this game!
Backlog Battle I am aswell now as I'm only past the first major plot point with learning the beginning of alchemy but it's just really chill to play and feels like it's cute and comfy for a change. Yeah the videos did help out as I do find the tutorials kinda overwhelming to read as it feels like a tad too much at once
Your narration is really good. I’ve been wanting to see what this game is about and you do a fantastic job explaining^^ thanks for the video! Will sub~
Backlog Battle Oh hey! So I played the game for 5 hours after ordering a physical copy and that took like 2 weeks. The game seems really good! I like the graphics and the gameplay seems more intuitive than I expected though creating items with alchemy is still a bit confusing, but your guide on it helped a lot as well the battle system tutorial. Wanted to play a bit more before getting back to you but seeing myself sucked into the game for 5 hours, I was surprised how good the graphics are and how the pacing of the game went. Thanks for making the video! Was worth the buy xD
Toshiro2115 thank you for letting me know! I’ve spent so many hours crafting in this game that it can get addicting! Hope you enjoy the rest of the game! 😉
Just picked up Ryza a few days ago. I’ve never like JRPG Turn-based before but this game managed to hook me in. It’s true that for newcomers like me, the synthesis system and its tutorials are overwhelming. So I just cheat and get myself familiar with it until half the game before restart from the beginning. It’s actually my go to method for any game that have complex systems, really. Combat feel a little too easy compared to jrpg I’ve played even on hard. Maybe because I already know a lot of tips and tricks from my cheated half playthrough and really optimize my crafted gear from that. But overall, everything is as your video said. I apparently love it. And looking forward to the sequel when I finish this game. I’m still at the first map of underworld bc I’ve spend too much time min maxing than progressing the story 😂
I know this video is old and you probably won’t see this but man I’ve been sitting here for about a hour on steam going back and forth with either buying trials of mana, Y’s, Valkyrie and many other rpgs. But this review did it. Thanks a lot man appreciate it
I really struggled to get into Ryza, I always find it hard to get into RPGs without an English dub. I found the world so lackluster, I think this is something I find in most Koei Tecmo RPGs, NPCs in the town just feel super flat and nowhere felt lived in. Really wish I could enjoy the series as much as others do, as Ryza is a dope lead protag.
It’s definitely got an art style that serves the developers more, so I understand that completely. This dev puts out games annually, which explains a lot.
Since you mentioned the somewhat 'girly' art style of the series, and since you've only recently been introduced to the series, you might be interested to know that there are a few games in the series where this is toned down quite a bit. Atelier Lulua (and the other games in the Arland series) was probably the wrong choice if you're not a fan of pastels and pink. However, the Atelier Iris series, Atelier Escha & Logy (with the possible exception of Escha herself), and the spin-off series Mana Khemia tend to play down the frills and cutesy stuff and also tend to turn up the darker, more dramatic story aspects. The Atelier Iris series and the Mana Khemia spin-off (which is my personal favorite) also tend to stretch the fantasy elements a bit further, too, with the mana, magical creatures that enhance the abilities of the alchemists they make a pact with. Because they're PS2 games, the graphics are a little dated, but Mana Khemia is still a favorite. I still hold out hope that they'll continue that series some day.
I have a friend who swears by Mana Khemia and I’m a bit sad that they’ve never chosen to make new ones of those. Currently I’m looking into the Dusk rerelease in January as well as trying out the Mysterious trilogy, since many people in the community are playing through Sophie at the moment. Since releasing this review, I’ve certainly learned a lot about the series from the comments and really appreciate the fanbase’s passion!
stopping the video now to answer the question how many games ive played where i had to save the world from a disaster: not that much! i mostly played games like pokemon, professor layton, animal crossing and etrian odyssey (with EO comes nearest to the world safing though thats not plot advancing the first 40 hours) and i think this really is the right game for me! its always hard to tell from just reading a games backcover so im really glad i found this review!
I'd never even heard of the games let alone ever seen the title "Atelier" before today. If my friend didn't even mention the up coming 2nd game I'd never even have known it existed xD
Enough to say it's gonna be the next game I buy when I have the money :D though I dunno if I should get it on my Ps4 or my Switch since I got both xD I might go for Switch since I need more games there
So the Switch recently had a 3 pack... but it is not this game. Kind of confused on where to start with this series lol... Should I start with this one?
Yes! It’s my first and loved it! Highly recommended! I’m currently playing through the 3 pack you mentioned and I intend to review each as I finish them
Sounds great, I'll definitely add this to the top of my list, even though I'm sort of scared of coming-of-age stories these days - their more bittersweet aspects often hit me a tad too hard in the old man feels. I haven't played an Atelier game since the original release of Rorona on the PS3, in which the intense focus on menu management quickly drained my enthusiasm. One thing of note - it's interesting how physical copies of this game haven't dropped at all in price over here, that usually only happens with Atlus releases and speaks for its quality.
I used to feel the color palette and art style as being too feminine to get into but I just learned to get over it. Lulua is very charming and humorous
I think I mentioned this exactly thing as a response to an earlier comment! It's like a random passerby's like, "Hey! She looks good! What's this about? Oh, a chill RPG? Don't mind if I do!" *later* "OMG this is the best game!"
thank you for the wholesome video i just bought Atelier Rorona 3 in 1 Rorona , Totori, Meruru and i fall in love with it i just finished rorona and started again for a better ending after i feel satisfied with it i will go to totori and than Meruru i only bought it because i saw it once in playstation 3 my brother bought it but did not like it only because the MC is a girl, i tried it a little and i really enjoy it but never played it again because am lazy so when i saw in in playstation 4 i just said i will try it again because i know i will like it and am so thankful i did really its just a joyful game with its story the only thing i hated was that after finishing the game i could not keep playing as long as i wanted to max all items and stuff i had to go back to the story again from the start with the timeline...
Picked it up because I loved the art style, but never expected to actually enjoy it The combat is simple even for jrpg newcomers like me And the alchemy system is quite addicting Hunting and gathering items to create new recipes to synthesize was just so fun to do in this game Not to mention the quick fast travel Which cuts down time for side quests Only 8 hours into it, but I can’t wait to hop back onto it and also pick up the sequel this month
For me, playing this game makes me wish I was playing Xenoblade. The one thing keeping me engaged is how well rounded Ryza is turning out to be. She makes this game.
I’m Loving the game so far, the battle system is quite fun. And the switch version runs great, obviously doesn’t fully showcase the major graphical changes that KT/Gust made for this new atelier game like the shadows and sharper character models. Still, the end of the day it still looks and plays great. The OST for Ryza is great so far from what I’m hearing so far. To be expected at this point from Gust. And off topic of Ryza. My favorite alchemist female characters from previous games so far is meruru & Sophie. Ryza is definitely up there with those two when it comes to personality, cute factor and design. Hopefully you’ll give a chance to the older games as well when you’ve gone through Ryza. Since atelier Dusk DX trilogy is set to release early 2020.
Thank you for posting your thoughts on the game, and I’m doubly happy to read that you’re enjoying it so far! As a matter of fact, I am thinking of checking out the Dusk games early next year! I do wonder how it’ll fare compared to Lulua. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Dusk trilogy!
im starting to like my anime more light and slice of life styled as i get older maybe its time to try to apply that to my RPGs this looks very interresting. Ty for the review.
Was just chatting with a friend how JRPGs are very typically about world ending disasters and phenomena, and Atelier Ryza almost being the anti-JRPG in that sense. I think you’ll enjoy it quite a bit!
Thank you for this review. I have the game but put it down due to feeling overwhelmed with all the different mechanics. I will be checking out your videos to help brake down anything I get stuck with. Yet again thank you for the video.
I tried Firis and Sophie. I played a couple of hours in Sophie but immediately dropped Firis since I got bored from it quicky. But I heard good things about this one so I might check it out.
As someone who started with the Dusk trilogy, it's great that the series returned to and exceeded it's former glory, as the Mysterious trilogy and Lulua were some of the worst, and I played the original Rorona game so I know how bad it can be.
Thanks for sharing your experience! As I mentioned in the review, I did start with Lulua and quickly felt that something was amiss, even though I was in for a good portion of the game. I’m eagerly anticipating the release of the Dusk trilogy as so many people have told me that it’s one of the best in the series! January can’t come soon enough!
I really liked Ryza. Previously, I've only played Rorona, Totori, meruru and Lulua. Really liked Meruru and Rorona, Lulua will probably never finish, (the story in there felt so uniteresting, and I never felt like I had really any real goal)and I often just skipped through dialogues. In Ryza however I loved dialogues and story so much more! I also loved that we had kind of a antagonist in the beginning. And I loved all the new features, soundtracks is definitely so much better than the others. I love so much almost every track. It almost felt like I was playing some big premium game, like kingdom hearts or final fantasy. I'd say the world is still a bit barren and movement can be bit janky at times, but so far this have became my most favorite atlier game in the series. I'm hyped and worried about Ryza 2. But I hope that they will take time and make it even better with the resources that came from first Ryza.
Despite all the comments about her character design, I've always thought that the way Gust streamlined Atelier Ryza was going to be the right thing for them to do to garner some more mainstream attention, and it shows! I agree with you though that if they only spend a little bit more time to polish and iron out certain areas that Ryza would gain even more of a following, but I'm hoping that they're able to capture what made Ryza great in the sequel. And by that, I mean building on top of the success that they had and understanding why it became so popular in the first place.
Thanks for the great review! I'm also playing this game right now on my Nintendo Switch and I was wondering, if you might have played the story DLCs as well? I'm asking, because I really like this game so far and I was thinking about getting the "Kurken Island Jam-packed Pass" since it's on sale right now, but it's still about 38,50 € which is quite a lot, considering that you can get a complete new game for the same money ... So if you have played the story DLCs as well, would you recommend getting them? Thanks in advance :)
@@BacklogBattle I see. Well, thanks anyways for your reply! Btw. I have watched a few of your other reviews by now. All of them filled with great quality content. Worth a subscription for me. Keep up the good work! Have a nice day :)
I’m almost tearing up at how great this review was. You summed up why I love Atelier and Gust games so much. It looks like they really didn’t half-ass this one (unlike the Mysterious trilogy, which was pretty bland in comparison). Thanks for the in-depth explanation of the battle, synthesis, soundtrack and art direction. I REALLY appreciate how you didn’t just talk about the thighs/tits. Honestly, I really appreciate it.
I’m flattered by your comment! Thank you so much! One of my goals for this review was to really try to convey the spirit and the mood of the game and I’m happy to know that you felt it! How are you finding the game so far? Did you pick it up?
For me I find it insane that you think the Mysterious trilogy was bland considering they contained Firis, probably my favorite Atelier game ever. Though thinking about it Sophie was pretty bland, and Lydie & Suelle was overall good but not incredible, so maybe as a whole I can see what you mean. The alchemy system in those games is my favorite of any atelier I have played though.
@@panko2848 firis is for some reason really hated by the community...
@@Dante1282 i don't understand why, i loved the feeling of adventure, loved the characters, loved pretty much everything about it tbh other than that it was probably the best argument against having a time limit because it made it really hard to do everything you wanted to as you played through it.
Squiggleblorg I LOVED Firis!! I liked that they took a chance with an open-world Atelier and took lots of risks. It was so fun uncovering new towns and quests. I was talking more about Sophie and Lydie/Suelle, and about the characters/plot development in general. For me, the trilogy in general was just very shallow and full of missed opportunities.
Having randomly found your channel through recommendations and watching a majority of your reviews, it's quite baffling knowing you don't have more subs. Your reviews are so in depth, really well scripted and paced, it's absurd you aren't in the 100k+ mark if not more.
Honestly keep up the amazing work, you genuinely deserve a lot more recognition !
Thank you so much! I couldn't have done what I've been doing without my wonderful community! I post a lot on the Community tab, and this review almost didn't make it out at all. But everyone kept telling me to get well (I was sick with the flu) and here it is, finally out! I really owe it all to them!
Boy, if all of the background music in this video is from Atelier Ryza, then I'm already in love. Every song I heard in this video had such a romantic/whimsical feeling to it. I definitely have to look into this game.
Yep! I try to use the game's soundtracks as much as I can in my reviews and videos, so yes - everything you've listened to is from the game itself!
@@BacklogBattle Thank you for the prompt reply on a video that's over a year old, lmao. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer!
Dude gut games have good ost.
Try blue reflection. Tried it then i ended up getting a platinum trophy!
This was my first Atelier game, and now I can't stop collecting the games. I also beat Ryza 2, now I'm playing Sophie 1 and got a backlog of 7 Atelier games.
Does Sophie have a happy ending like Ryza or a downer ending like Escha?
@@420sakura1 a satisfying one
This may be the first time I’ve gotten chills while watching a review video. That pause after talking about the soundtrack where you let the music flourish was great! Also, this is just an excellent review. You’re incredibly thorough. Great job!
Thank you very much! I’ve been building up to this review all month, practicing things with the other games I’ve covered! I hope I can deliver this same kind of feeling in future videos!
Despite falling off the series a long time ago, this review has convinced me that Ryza is the one worth coming back to the series for, great review!
You won’t be disappointed! I’m still playing it!
Same feelings here! Haven’t played an Atelier game for years but this one is finally looking to pull me back in.
I found this series through ValkyrieAurora’s excellent videos on the Atelier, Nier, and Drakengard games. It’s nice to see Atelier finally get so much attention in 2019.
I’m hoping Ryza sells well and convinced KT to spend more marketing and production money on it!
@@BacklogBattle i just hope they don't change it too much too get more sales
I dont want another fire emblem situation or smt/persona situation
I don't want it to get more fanservice or get dating elements
Pls no
I have to say this is one of the best reviews I've seen on UA-cam on a video game. It wasn't technical and focused on the points you would like to hear about the game. Made me click on that "add to cart" option for this game on Steam. Cheers to the creator(s) for a great job!
Thank you! As the only person working on the videos on this channel, it’s truly an honor! Hope you enjoy my other reviews and videos!
Your review was so eloquently and consistently worded and the subtle nuances that you caught onto in the art direction and the overall theming of this game mirrored my own thoughts to a tee as I was playing Ryza. You've voiced a generation of people's oversight on this franchise's appreciation to help this refreshing game further come into popularity and I'm earnestly so happy for that!
Easily won my subscription - also you have a beautiful voice. -
Read and watched many reviews and etc but yours was the one that sold me. About 30 hours in I like it to the point where I'm waiting for all the others on steam to go on special. Thanks dude for getting me into this franchise! It's so good
Are you aware that Ryza 2 is coming next month? Keep an eye out for a review for that too! And thank you for watching and, most importantly, checking the game out! It's definitely one of my favorites!
Never gotten into this franchise in the past but after watching this review wife and I just ordered this thru Amazon as we keep hearing this is a good place for new to the series players to jump in on. Not to mention a really in depth crafting system and one of the cutest anime looks to a main girl and series games we have seen in a long time. Thanks so much for the in depth intelligent review @Backlog Battle. We are very glad we were told to come check out the channel and subbed a few videos ago :)
I'm curious who recommended you to the channel and how! I'm always fascinated with how people found us! Also, Ryza's a great game! I still have very fond memories playing this last year and I'm on the lookout for similar games to recommend and play in the future!
@@BacklogBattle I do not know her name but my younger sister's friend told us about it and said it had a rpg jrpg focus.
Are there awards for UA-cam Reviews? You have my nomination, my like, and sub! This review on its own was amazing, loved your writing, and the tone as well! I am so relaxed now.
Thank you so much! If there was one, I’ll be sure you let you know right away! I hope to keep surprising you with some of the ways I make my videos and I’m doubly glad to have you as part of our growing community! 🙏
@@BacklogBattle I can back that up! Your review actually set it for me, I was long dwelling whether I should buy it or not, but after seeing many other reviews focusing on her tighs while talking somewhat down on the alchemy system, I kinda started doubting myself if I was buying it for aesthetics.
Not in a cheesy way, it was excellent you didn't focus on the tighs - you made it all about the gameplay itself, not merely in a vague way, which cleared my doubts! I was searching for a review that outlined all the positives, you earned a subscriber!
Thank you so much! I do feel that my video is better without it, and in a way, I actually talked about that indirectly through the game’s art design!
Apart from that, I try to organically talk about aspects of the game that are very important to me, which isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. One review might have me mention the music and another won’t, for example. That’s usually a clue that I didn’t find that part of the game noteworthy to mention!
Either way, thank you for the wonderful comment and I hope I’ve earned your viewership and continue to do so in the weeks and months to come!
Picked this one up on launch having only played the Iris games way back when. It's cool seeing everyone sort of wake up to the existence of this series thanks to Ryza. The battle theme has been on loop in my head since the other day.
It does have an addicting battle theme 😁
I like your way of making a review, you go in such detail about every aspect instead of just saying it's good or not and enjoyed the entire video, thank you!
You’re welcome! I try to talk about the things I cared about in a game rather than going through a checklist of things I HAVE to talk about. Sometimes doing that latter part can be boring, after all. One time someone criticized me for not talking about sound design for a visual novel. Think about that, for a change! At any rate, thank you for watching my video and if you do get the game, I hope you enjoy it! 🙏
Indeed, I've been going through reviews and their like 6 minutes long and while I was listening to yours I was like, "man this guy is still going...AND NOW he's talking about the music?" Like I was surprised it was so long and that actually made it better, for me a least.
And yeah! I bought the game but had to spend my first day going to Destiny 2's Haloween event, I got the preorder digital delux edition and cant wait to crack it open
To be fair, the music IS really good! 😁 If you check out my other reviews, I don’t talk about things that aren’t worth talking about for me. I try to highlight the best aspects of the game, while balancing talking about what other people might have issues with. Either way, I’m curious what you’ll think of the game when you finally play it!
Thx for recommendations i alrdy bought it on eshop sale yesterday
Glad to hear! Hope you enjoy! Check out my guides if you need help!
I've dismissed most of the games in this series, but this one seems worth a look!
It apparently looks even way better on PS4 and PC than what it looks like on the Switch, which boggles my mind! I might have to make a quick video on that...
Each game, while retaining certain core staples of the Atelier franchise, all have their own unique stories and take on the combat, crafting, and time management that makes them worth playing. It's kinda like ice cream: pick your flavor (title), sample it, and keep coming back for more if you like it.
Not at all different! The Switch version performs and looks great regardless of how you decide to play it!
“Apparently” it is, meaning I’ve yet to personally check when I posted that comment! That aside, I’ve checked since then and I’m happy to report that aside from resolution and some graphical trickery, the Switch and PS4 look very close to one another!
I’m also planning to make a video comparing the two versions as well! Hoping to get it out sometime tomorrow, maybe!
@@BacklogBattle so.... PS4 and PC version look better lol
Please do more reviews! Stumbled upon your channel and the quality is up there. Subbed
Thank you! I highly encourage you to check my other reviews and see if my quality has improved! I always aim to make the best reviews out there! 🙏
@@BacklogBattle dude all 3 atelier ryza is 59.99
best commentator to review a game the end. subed and liked. Also the way you describe in dept the battle system.
Pierre Frigault thank you so much!
This game has been on my peripheral vision ever since Fire Emblem Echoes. I love the character designer so much.
Same! The character design is actually one of the reasons why I gave this game a shot! Glad I did!
The Atelier series' character design is consistently incredible, though if you're looking for Hidari's art specifically, he only worked on the Dusk series.
@@stephaniesek8640 I finished my third Dusk game earlier this year! I played the four Arland games first, too.
Wow I only just saw this review, thanks for reviewing one of my favourite series ever! I'm just like you, I got into the series late a couple of years back with Lulua. I'd never even heard of the games before. But since then I've bought literally every game of the series I can, and played about 1/3 of them now slowly. There isn't another series like Atelier, and the devs have a clear passion for their work.
My favourite part of the games is that every one is different. The developers are always trying something new, always looking to improve and because of that, no matter what game I start up, I'm getting a unique - and often times better in later series - experience.
I agree with all your points. Not every Atelier has a strong story, some fall off at points. But all of them are a joy to experience and focus on the characters and their adventure instead of some world pressing calamity. This makes the games feel great to play and you get that sense of adventure and not knowing what's around the corner. That sense of 'mystery' is the hardest thing to capture in any entertainment medium, and it's always a fantastic feeling when it is captured.
My biggest critique with the series, and this is a long-going problem, is the end-game crafting. It's incredibly hard to balance and I've yet to see a game where they're able to nail that end-game. It's sort of like a build-up with a lackluster climax. Which isn't their fault, and it's something they've always worked on. It's just a hard area to solve for their game design philosophy in the atelier games. My other pet peeve is that their NG+ mode is never worth playing. There are no new experiences in NG+, just harder enemies which is redundant when you max your weapons and armor with the end-game crafting. I've always found that unfortunate.
I've reviewed a good portion of Gust games since this review, and I do agree with all of your points. I also feel that Gust doesn't get a lot of budget and time to work on some of these games and lament what kind of games they'd make had they been given both. It even surprises Koei Tecmo that I wanted to reach out to them because of Atelier and not Nioh, or Dead or Alive, or Dynasty Warriors! Nope, Atelier for me, thank you!
I love the DIY attitude of the Atelier games. I cooked up a spreadsheet to list out all the materials I would need to make the absolute best weapon and armor for Lent and went at it. At the final boss, the other 2 party members died instantly but Lent was an unstoppable force.
Terrific review my dude! Professional and easy to follow! The characters really sold the game for me. Sure the combat, crafting and world are all good and interesting, but following the characters through all their hardships and seeing them grow into better versions of themselves? You have no idea how much love and pride I feel for them! I was legitimately sad when I finished the game because it meant my time with the characters was over, but hopefully the new story DLC will give me even more joy!
I read somewhere that the devs are actually considering having the same characters for the next game, which apparently is something that doesn’t happen often in the series! Here’s to hoping this is still in consideration!
I really hope that's true! That would also explain why there are some unresolved stuff between the characters (namely Klaudia and Ryza). If they're planning a sequel with the same squad it makes sense they would follow up on things like that in the next game.
As someone who just recently fell in love with the series this year (thanks to Lydie & Suelle, which made me buy sophie, firis, and the arland trilogy as well as Lulua) and is pretty bored with the state of modern jrpgs (being basically just isekais in tone) I was kinda worried with Ryza aiming at that very same style/demographic, THANKS to your review that fear has been completely erased. It was such a joy to hear a review that actually makes justice to the game and franchise (it’s pretty hard to find actually good ones because most of them don’t care for the actual game), this is the best review I’ve seen for this game by far.
On other note, Lulua is great too. I understand the visuals might not be for everyone but as a game it also has that unique Atelier charm, not to mention Lulua herself might be one of the best female characters ever, such a great protagonist is hard to come by. Although the mysterious trilogy is my favorite as of now, even though I’ve seen a lot of people call it dull I completely fell in love with its characters and stories.
Another endorsement for the Mysterious trilogy! So far, it’s that or the Dusk trilogy in the comments in terms of popularity! Also, thank you for the kind words! Glad to make fans of the series proud!
I suggest you try out the dusk trilogy when it comes out in January. It has a much more somber tone than the rest of the titles and you'll be blown away by the art and music of Ayesha's title in particular.
I definitely have the Dusk trilogy on my radar! I’ve also been told that the Mysterious Trilogy is really good! Thank you for recommending the Dusk Trilogy!
Just now discovering your channel. Dude your review style is sick! Narration is great, graphical assets are beautiful. Seriously jealous as hell of your style! Subbed!
Thanks!
Picked this game up on sale over the holiday after looking over some videos. This was definitely the best one I found. Echoing the pinned comment, I really appreciate there were no jokes about the characters' "assets." The summary of the game and why it's great was so well-articulated. I'm excited to start this soon!
Vesves keep an eye out for a review of the second game coming later this month!
I thought I wasn’t the only one thinking that some elements in Ryza reminded me a bit of Persona 5. Nice touch of little details here and there that took me by surprised. Honestly I was expecting this game to be like your typical JRPG but playing this game is so refreshing and relaxing! The combat system is really fun too and can be a challenge. I was afraid this game might be too easy. Definitely a must play. I have it on PC but kinda wished I bought it for the Switch for the portability.
Also as a personal note, I view the Atelier series being the “shoujo” of JRPGs where they don’t follow your usual JRPG story direction in saving the world or whatever. It’s cute and focuses on the characters and their challenges. Perhaps that’s why the series is so niche because initially it doesn’t seem like it will appeal to hardcore JRPG fans. But give Atelier Ryza a try. It’s fun!
I think you hit the nail in the head there with the series being shoujo, and I honestly think that with Ryza, the devs were really aiming to cast a wider net beyond that category. On the note of difficulty, I’ve been thinking of dialing it up to Hard to see how it is!
What is the music score that plays at 6:40?
Solramimi
I love the Atelier games and I am so glad you didn't put "Thicc" in the title, I saw so many youtube reviews with Thicc in the title that it really started to annoy me! You are doing really well with the review and I am happy to see newcomers to one of my favourite Franchises!
Thank you so much! I'm glad you found my video! I wasn't ever planning on emphasizing on that aspect of the game, so I suppose it worked out for the best! Very happy to be playing a game from one of your favorite franchises as well!
@@BacklogBattle Yes! I hope you will enjoy other games of the Franchise too! Either way I am loving your other vids too!
I have a shopping list of Atelier games to play! First, the Dusk Trilogy, then the Mysterious Trilogy! Let me know if there's more that I should check out!
@@BacklogBattle Personally I love the Mysterious Trilogy the most so you are all settled! I still need to buy some of the older games myself, but hey money doesn't grow on trees for me yet :p hopefully with my art it will soon become viable to earn money from it :3 Though on the switch there is the arland series which is really great, oh and Atelier Nelke is enjoyable if you want a different take on the Atelier Series!
I just checked out Sophie and I’m dead. It sounds like such a fun game to check out but I’ve no money! Oh the life of a starving UA-camr! 😂
Recently got really into JRPGs every since I got Fire Emblem Three Houses a few months ago. Since then I played Persona 5, Final Fantasy 7, and Tales of Berseria. I spent much of today researching and trying to decide about getting into the Atelier franchise, and it wasn't until this video that I made up my mind. As soon as I finish Tales of Berseria I will for sure pick this one up. I went from undecided to excited, great video.
Hope you continue to review more games. This was a finely crafted review ;) looking forward to future content :)
Thank you! I haven't slowed down so far! Highly recommend checking out the Check Out Our Spoiler-Free Reviews playlist on the channel! There's some great games that came out this year!
A good man! Thank you so much for this recommendation. The game looks really heartwarming and sweet, that's what I needed in my life right now.
I think everyone deserves something heartwarming and sweet in their lives! Thanks for watching!
This is the first review that gave me a clear idea of what the game and story actually are. Thanks!
You’re quite welcome! I’m surprised other reviews glossed over these very important details!
Just wanted to thank you for this review, saw that Ryza 1 & 2 are on sale in Nintendo eShop and your review made decide to buy the first one ^^ Excited to try it out! So thank you for this in-depth review!
Very good and in depth review. I can’t believe I have never heard of the Atelier series before until now. Hopefully this one makes a good starting point for a first timer like me. May pick this up on the switch in the near future.
Great starting point! Highly recommended! And thank you! 🙏
You sound like an anime dad/scientist. Nice review on this jrpg gem.
Wolf Niotg Thank you! And glad you enjoyed the review!
Not related to the video but I like how you respond to every comment. Made me smile while scrolling lol great review btw!
Thank you! I try my best to respond to everyone!
I’m still totally baffled by how few of subscribers this channel has. The production value and articulation of talking points and analysis is excellent.
Thank you so much! Spread the word and maybe we can get up there! 😉
Ugh I want to play this but I’m still trying to beat Dragon Quest 11 and Luigis Mansion 3 comes out on 10/31. It’s a backlog...battle. Great review!
You totally get it! 😆
If you keep up this quality my guy, your channel is gonna explode within months, I'm sure. Keep it up!!
Thank you! If you go back and watch my older videos, I'm hoping you can tell if I have done that! I would like to think that every video I try to release is of the highest quality! Either way, thank you again for your kind words! 🙏
Excellent review. I'm finally going to start this series.
Randomnly stumbled upon this review. Never heard of the game or series but you definitely got me interested!
It's a fun game! I also have guides that'll help in case the crafting and battle system become too difficult to understand thanks to the game's tutorials, should you need it!
I just read an article where the creator of atelier ryza stated that ryza will make an appearance in the next chapter of this series. I can't wait to play it.this is the game that got me into the atelier series.
I read that same article! Here’s hoping we get to continue their story! Loved the cast of Ryza!
Great review. I love the Atelier series. So happy we got 3 this year, ending with the best one. :)
I heard the Dusk games next year are also really good! I’m thinking of checking those out as well!
This is a great review. It does a good job of pointing out serious flaws and never getting caught up in points that don't impact the overall quality of the game. On top of that, it's well-structured, flowing from one point to the next briskly while managing to go into detail on each of one of its points. I just wanted to compliment you on all this so your hard work didn't go unnoticed.
On a side note, this isn't really an issue with the review but the Atelier series reverted back to its older artstyle for Lulua. It first opted for a more inviting one that isn't far from Ryza's in the Mysterious Trilogy. I think you'd like those games as well, although I wouldn't be surprised if Ryza held your top spot even if you were to visit them.
EDIT: Reworded some sentences to make my post flow better. Ironic, I know.
Thanks a lot for this! I want to say a lot of the commenters said that they're playing Sophie, which is part of the Mysterious Trilogy, so my curiosity is definitely piqued! Also, I've been told that the Dusk Trilogy is great as well, and it's arriving early next year!
I'll be sure to pass along your comments to my script editors! We worked really hard to make sure that the flow of each video matches the kind of mood I want to convey and based on your comments here, I'm glad that we were able to achieved that! We'll make sure to try and keep this level of quality for future videos! Thanks again!
Script editor here. Thanks so much for the comment!
@@kythlyn No problem, man. Keep up the good work.
Never played an Atelier game before, but I've been curious about them. I think I'll try this one! The music sounds so great, and OMG THAT BATTLE THEME!!!
At this point, I’ve played quite a bit of games in the Atelier series. I have to say though, Ryza still has my favorite songs! I think you’ve made the right choice!
I've seen some people say that they complete this in 20 hours or less which had me a bit concerned, but seeing as you put almost three times the time in those concerns are relieved. I'll definitely be taking my time with this one, everything looks so good!
Also you deserve a ton more subscribers, your videos are of very high quality and I feel you're definitely up there with the best of them! Instantly subscribed.
Unless they completely ignored side quests and just rushed through the main story exclusively I can’t see how it’d take them that fast. I spent a lot of time crafting and doing all the side quests because I loved the stories they were all telling, which made me appreciate the town even more.
Above all else, thank you for your support! I hope you browse around and check out the other games I’ve covered! You might find some new games you might want to consider checking out! 🙏
Ok that was an amazingly in-depth review. You have earned a new sub from me.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
It’s on sale right now on the eShop. Never played the series before so I’m going in blind but I’m really excited to try it out.
Great first game to try the Atelier series! Let me know what you think when you play it more!
I love character-driven stories that sounds right up my alley thanks for the review 😊
I saw that battle system resembles Grandia, one of my all time favorite RPG ever. I am gonna buy this now.
I haven't played Grandia in years! I still have my PS1 copy!
Lightthrower oh no! I didn’t hear about that! Oh well, time to bust out the PS1!
What an excellent review! I just finished the game yesterday as a newcomer to the series and the overall atmosphere and narrative was a breath of fresh air to me. I don't think this game necessarily made me a huge fan of the franchise just yet but I am without a doubt interested to see what's next from Gust!
Also, I commend highly you for doing this review professionally without gushing over Ryza's thighs. The entire package should be the selling point of consumers!
Agree with you on all points! I’m really happy many people have taken a chance with Ryza and with Fairy Tale coming in June, I’m hoping we get to see more quality games from Gust in the coming months!
Never been interested in Atelier before and wouldn't ever play the other games, but Ryza looks fantastic. I hope to see them do more like this in the future and I think I'm picking this one up at some point.
that was the best opening to a review ever. I like that. Adventure
Thanks for you great reviews I just picked up both Atelier Ryza games just now it helped me understand what the excitement was all about. I really enjoy the fast paced combat system and the graphics is really good at the same. Still not that far in the game with first one but enjoying the ride so far.
Glad to hear that you're enjoying it! I have some crafting and battle system videos if you need some extra help too!
I've been trying to figure out if I've wanted this game for months, and this review finally convinced me. I've watched perhaps a dozen others, but they never went in depth with what actually sets this game apart. Thank you for this - I nearly missed out on a great game.
Thank you so much! I'm glad to be able to capture the game's feeling through this review and that it's helped you pick it up!
Thank you for the time spent on the battle system. That was most helpful.
You’re welcome! Glad to be of help!
On sale right now on PSN and I am so glad to finally pick it up. Ryza seems like a quality game and Rysalin is considered by many to be one of the most loveable characters in all of JRPGdom. I'm excited to start it!
Awesome and welcome! Do let me know what you think of it the further you get into it!
Thanks for this review. Was pretty much sold when you got to the story, that this isnt about some "world ending event" and instead its about the characters. Its a....fresh....look on the RPG. Alot of the other stuff seems really interesting up to that point but seeing a story that isnt about me being the super once in a 1000 years hero to save everyone actually sold me on it lol.
.
Also I would like to just douse you in praise for reviewing the game and not trying to make a statement about it. It is insane to say this but having a review of the game about the game is so rare I cant help but appreciate it. First video I have seen from you but you have my sub if only for this singular reason. Thank you.
Wow! Thank you for the wonderful compliment! I hope the reviews I’ve made since this one has met or exceeded the standards you’ve mentioned! I also hope you enjoy Ryza, as it’s been a game that I truly have enjoyed ever since I learned about it! And with a sequel coming this year, there’s more Ryza arriving soon!
I really like classical fantasy ARPGs.. Would you perhaps recommend this for an YS fan?
Great Review bro! I never played an Atelier game but you did a great job selling the game its good points and pointing out bad ones. Im convinced now to try it out lol.
Much appreciated! Do let me know what you think of it if you do pick it up!
About a week ago i watch this review, halfway viewing, not even finishing watch this review, i decided to give Atelier Ryza a shot.
And wow, what a game!
Now i'm back to finish watching the review.
You nailed it, it's all the things you mention that make this game great.
But you also absolutely right when you said the synth in game tutorial is not friendly for new player.
I end up doing whatever random stuff. Only near the end of the game i finally get it, which is kinda too late. Lost moment of enjoyment opportunities for new player.
I wish it become trilogy, and from the story, it might like it.
Thank you for watching my review - twice, in a way! I’m so happy you enjoyed the game as much as I did! And don’t worry - this IS going to be a new trilogy in the Atelier series - and Ryza just might be returning in the sequel too!
Thanks for this review, I just pre order this game and got nervous if I might not like it or not. Also thanks also for letting us know when you’ll make videos how to understand the game mechanics. Hopefully it will open up to me when I get my copy for the switch!
No problem! I’m working on those videos right now! I expect them to be done in a few days!
Great review! Not 3 Minutes "long" crap with a randomized score at the end. Thank you very much!
Thank you! I work really hard on making these videos informative and entertaining at the same time! I hope to earn more of your views in the future!
@@BacklogBattle Hmm, lets see. Legend of Heroes, Astral Chain, Genshin Impact, Granblue Fantasy, Crystar and more.. amazing. Yep, I will definitively watch more in the next few days! ^^
oohhh. Interesting. I also just noticed your color scheme. Reviews have a special color. That's a cool little detail and makes it easier to find! Good idea!
That’s awesome that you noticed that detail! It’s not something I explicitly explain on the channel, so for you to take notice means it’s working! At least subconsciously, probably 😁
Woah what a great review, simple and straightforward. I think you covered this game fair and objective, showing the good and the bad, as well as the overall experience. Between life and other titles on my list it's going to be tough, but you sold me Atelier Ryza on a first impression/first time basis! Definitely going to save up my days off to play this next year :)
To add to my comment, the crafting system really intrigued me seems exiting and daunting at the same time!
I have a video to help with that! If you need help when you pick up the game, I encourage you to check it out and post in the comments! Also, thank you for watching my review! I'm really happy with all the positive comments and, moreover, that so many people want to try this game thanks to my review! I hope you enjoy the game just as much as I did!
@@BacklogBattle I will do that, thanks :)
Thank you for this! This was an excellent review. Adding it to my list. Still keeping fingers crossed we can an english dub one day (hoping the next game maybe).
It seems like English dub was a cost-cutting initiative and it hasn't been a thing for a good bit of time. I'm hoping that KT finds a way to make it feasible moving forward!
@@BacklogBattle Agreed. I hadn't yet realized this was the first game in a trilogy yet either.
You should check then the Dusk trilogy of Atelier games, it has one of the best stories of Atelier games while maintaining the time management that the games were known of
I’m planning on checking the Dusk trilogy out!
You have talent dude. I subbed and liked because this is a very very good review. Keep them videos coming!
Thanks a lot meng!
honestly i only knew this game because of all the ryza art but this actually looks like a really fun solid game to play
It really is! Despite the tutorials being a bit obtuse when explaining things - which I help with by making videos on - it’s definitely one of my favorite games of last year! I’m glad I took a chance with this game!
Backlog Battle I am aswell now as I'm only past the first major plot point with learning the beginning of alchemy but it's just really chill to play and feels like it's cute and comfy for a change.
Yeah the videos did help out as I do find the tutorials kinda overwhelming to read as it feels like a tad too much at once
Your narration is really good. I’ve been wanting to see what this game is about and you do a fantastic job explaining^^ thanks for the video! Will sub~
Thank you so much! Let me know what you think of the game when you get it!
Backlog Battle will do!
Backlog Battle Oh hey! So I played the game for 5 hours after ordering a physical copy and that took like 2 weeks. The game seems really good! I like the graphics and the gameplay seems more intuitive than I expected though creating items with alchemy is still a bit confusing, but your guide on it helped a lot as well the battle system tutorial. Wanted to play a bit more before getting back to you but seeing myself sucked into the game for 5 hours, I was surprised how good the graphics are and how the pacing of the game went. Thanks for making the video! Was worth the buy xD
Toshiro2115 thank you for letting me know! I’ve spent so many hours crafting in this game that it can get addicting! Hope you enjoy the rest of the game! 😉
Backlog Battle yeah for sure! Thank you!
I’m sold. Picking it up when I get the chance. Thank you for the great review. You sir have earned another subscriber.
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the rest of my videos!
Just picked up Ryza a few days ago. I’ve never like JRPG Turn-based before but this game managed to hook me in.
It’s true that for newcomers like me, the synthesis system and its tutorials are overwhelming.
So I just cheat and get myself familiar with it until half the game before restart from the beginning. It’s actually my go to method for any game that have complex systems, really.
Combat feel a little too easy compared to jrpg I’ve played even on hard. Maybe because I already know a lot of tips and tricks from my cheated half playthrough and really optimize my crafted gear from that.
But overall, everything is as your video said. I apparently love it. And looking forward to the sequel when I finish this game. I’m still at the first map of underworld bc I’ve spend too much time min maxing than progressing the story 😂
I know this video is old and you probably won’t see this but man I’ve been sitting here for about a hour on steam going back and forth with either buying trials of mana, Y’s, Valkyrie and many other rpgs. But this review did it. Thanks a lot man appreciate it
Gary Nichols I sure did see it! And I’m glad you went with Ryza! Hope you have a great time!
@@BacklogBattle 😂I just got to the borders actually with lent and Tao. Subscribed!
Gary Nichols that’s a great part! Hope you’re enjoying it!
I really struggled to get into Ryza, I always find it hard to get into RPGs without an English dub. I found the world so lackluster, I think this is something I find in most Koei Tecmo RPGs, NPCs in the town just feel super flat and nowhere felt lived in. Really wish I could enjoy the series as much as others do, as Ryza is a dope lead protag.
It’s definitely got an art style that serves the developers more, so I understand that completely. This dev puts out games annually, which explains a lot.
I saw the art of this game and couldn’t resist… I have not played it yet, but I have gotten the urge lately to jump into it. :)
I hope you enjoy it! It's one of my favorite games of recent memory!
Since you mentioned the somewhat 'girly' art style of the series, and since you've only recently been introduced to the series, you might be interested to know that there are a few games in the series where this is toned down quite a bit. Atelier Lulua (and the other games in the Arland series) was probably the wrong choice if you're not a fan of pastels and pink. However, the Atelier Iris series, Atelier Escha & Logy (with the possible exception of Escha herself), and the spin-off series Mana Khemia tend to play down the frills and cutesy stuff and also tend to turn up the darker, more dramatic story aspects. The Atelier Iris series and the Mana Khemia spin-off (which is my personal favorite) also tend to stretch the fantasy elements a bit further, too, with the mana, magical creatures that enhance the abilities of the alchemists they make a pact with. Because they're PS2 games, the graphics are a little dated, but Mana Khemia is still a favorite. I still hold out hope that they'll continue that series some day.
I have a friend who swears by Mana Khemia and I’m a bit sad that they’ve never chosen to make new ones of those. Currently I’m looking into the Dusk rerelease in January as well as trying out the Mysterious trilogy, since many people in the community are playing through Sophie at the moment. Since releasing this review, I’ve certainly learned a lot about the series from the comments and really appreciate the fanbase’s passion!
stopping the video now to answer the question how many games ive played where i had to save the world from a disaster: not that much! i mostly played games like pokemon, professor layton, animal crossing and etrian odyssey (with EO comes nearest to the world safing though thats not plot advancing the first 40 hours) and i think this really is the right game for me! its always hard to tell from just reading a games backcover so im really glad i found this review!
Glad you found my review as well! Let us know what you think when you do pick it up!
I'd never even heard of the games let alone ever seen the title "Atelier" before today. If my friend didn't even mention the up coming 2nd game I'd never even have known it existed xD
What do you think of it based on what you've seen so far? :)
Enough to say it's gonna be the next game I buy when I have the money :D though I dunno if I should get it on my Ps4 or my Switch since I got both xD I might go for Switch since I need more games there
i havent played any Atelier games but there is a sale now on Steam and i think i may start with this one. looks pretty good.
It’s a great starting point imo! I’m playing through Atelier Ayesha DX right now and it’s taking a little bit of getting used to.
So the Switch recently had a 3 pack... but it is not this game. Kind of confused on where to start with this series lol... Should I start with this one?
Yes! It’s my first and loved it! Highly recommended! I’m currently playing through the 3 pack you mentioned and I intend to review each as I finish them
Sounds great, I'll definitely add this to the top of my list, even though I'm sort of scared of coming-of-age stories these days - their more bittersweet aspects often hit me a tad too hard in the old man feels.
I haven't played an Atelier game since the original release of Rorona on the PS3, in which the intense focus on menu management quickly drained my enthusiasm.
One thing of note - it's interesting how physical copies of this game haven't dropped at all in price over here, that usually only happens with Atlus releases and speaks for its quality.
That’s very interesting to hear about the prices! The Atelier games do seem like they retain their value for longer!
I think about buying the game, but idk if I should buy game 1, 2 or 3
I used to feel the color palette and art style as being too feminine to get into but I just learned to get over it. Lulua is very charming and humorous
I always say that every adventure requires a first step. I’m happy to take mine with Ryza 😊
@@BacklogBattle they are decent games
The thicc is just to get you to look at it. Then it really gets ya. I actually played the first few games and always loved the crafting aspect.
I think I mentioned this exactly thing as a response to an earlier comment! It's like a random passerby's like, "Hey! She looks good! What's this about? Oh, a chill RPG? Don't mind if I do!" *later* "OMG this is the best game!"
@@BacklogBattle I only played rorona and totori but loved em both. The time aspect was the only thing I didn't like.
I’m not a fan of time limits, so those are a deal breaker for me
Just heard about this game a week ago and thanks to this review I'll be buying the game today.
You’re welcome! If you need help with crafting and battles I have a couple of videos for those! Enjoy!
@@BacklogBattle awesome!! Thank you very much!
Took me 10 hours to actually grip the game and restart for actual game play. Bought the game on Steam sale and I am really into now. 👌👌👌
If you need them, I do have guides for combat and synthesis!
Backlog Battle really? Where and how?
thank you for the wholesome video i just bought Atelier Rorona 3 in 1 Rorona , Totori, Meruru and i fall in love with it i just finished rorona and started again for a better ending after i feel satisfied with it i will go to totori and than Meruru i only bought it because i saw it once in playstation 3 my brother bought it but did not like it only because the MC is a girl, i tried it a little and i really enjoy it but never played it again because am lazy so when i saw in in playstation 4 i just said i will try it again because i know i will like it and am so thankful i did really its just a joyful game with its story the only thing i hated was that after finishing the game i could not keep playing as long as i wanted to max all items and stuff i had to go back to the story again from the start with the timeline...
Thank you for watching! I’m glad you enjoyed your time with Ryza!
Good review man. I like your videos.
Thanks a lot! 🙏
Picked it up because I loved the art style, but never expected to actually enjoy it
The combat is simple even for jrpg newcomers like me
And the alchemy system is quite addicting
Hunting and gathering items to create new recipes to synthesize was just so fun to do in this game
Not to mention the quick fast travel
Which cuts down time for side quests
Only 8 hours into it, but I can’t wait to hop back onto it and also pick up the sequel this month
deku I’m currently playing through Ryza 2 for review and I honestly can’t wait to talk about it!
@@BacklogBattle can’t wait to see your review for it
Also am surprised you don’t have that many subscribers
Your content is way too good to pass on
For me, playing this game makes me wish I was playing Xenoblade. The one thing keeping me engaged is how well rounded Ryza is turning out to be. She makes this game.
Her attitude and the way she thinks is such a great! I agree that she makes the game!
I’m Loving the game so far, the battle system is quite fun. And the switch version runs great, obviously doesn’t fully showcase the major graphical changes that KT/Gust made for this new atelier game like the shadows and sharper character models. Still, the end of the day it still looks and plays great.
The OST for Ryza is great so far from what I’m hearing so far. To be expected at this point from Gust.
And off topic of Ryza.
My favorite alchemist female characters from previous games so far is meruru & Sophie. Ryza is definitely up there with those two when it comes to personality, cute factor and design.
Hopefully you’ll give a chance to the older games as well when you’ve gone through Ryza. Since atelier Dusk DX trilogy is set to release early 2020.
Thank you for posting your thoughts on the game, and I’m doubly happy to read that you’re enjoying it so far!
As a matter of fact, I am thinking of checking out the Dusk games early next year! I do wonder how it’ll fare compared to Lulua. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Dusk trilogy!
im starting to like my anime more light and slice of life styled as i get older maybe its time to try to apply that to my RPGs this looks very interresting. Ty for the review.
Was just chatting with a friend how JRPGs are very typically about world ending disasters and phenomena, and Atelier Ryza almost being the anti-JRPG in that sense. I think you’ll enjoy it quite a bit!
Excellent review. I think I’ll try this one out! On sale on eshop right now!
Thank you for watching!
Thank you for this review. I have the game but put it down due to feeling overwhelmed with all the different mechanics. I will be checking out your videos to help brake down anything I get stuck with. Yet again thank you for the video.
You’re very welcome! Feel free to post a question in a comment in each respective video if you need more help!
I tried Firis and Sophie. I played a couple of hours in Sophie but immediately dropped Firis since I got bored from it quicky. But I heard good things about this one so I might check it out.
Am curious what you'll think of this game! And if you need a guide, I have a couple of starters!
Great review!! Not having an English dub is definitely disappointing
In an age where we’re getting more options, not having them for Ryza seems silly to me. And thanks for watching!
As someone who started with the Dusk trilogy, it's great that the series returned to and exceeded it's former glory, as the Mysterious trilogy and Lulua were some of the worst, and I played the original Rorona game so I know how bad it can be.
Thanks for sharing your experience! As I mentioned in the review, I did start with Lulua and quickly felt that something was amiss, even though I was in for a good portion of the game. I’m eagerly anticipating the release of the Dusk trilogy as so many people have told me that it’s one of the best in the series! January can’t come soon enough!
Worth reminding everyone that the dusk trilogy will be coming to PC/PS4 early next year, absolutely worth checking it out.
Definitely on my wish list!
This review really helped me in finding out if I want to play this game or not. And I think I will play it! Thank you :D
You're very welcome! I'm glad you found the review! Hope you enjoy the game!
@@BacklogBattle so far I'm 3 hours into the game and enjoying it :D
I really liked Ryza. Previously, I've only played Rorona, Totori, meruru and Lulua. Really liked Meruru and Rorona, Lulua will probably never finish, (the story in there felt so uniteresting, and I never felt like I had really any real goal)and I often just skipped through dialogues. In Ryza however I loved dialogues and story so much more! I also loved that we had kind of a antagonist in the beginning. And I loved all the new features, soundtracks is definitely so much better than the others. I love so much almost every track. It almost felt like I was playing some big premium game, like kingdom hearts or final fantasy.
I'd say the world is still a bit barren and movement can be bit janky at times, but so far this have became my most favorite atlier game in the series. I'm hyped and worried about Ryza 2. But I hope that they will take time and make it even better with the resources that came from first Ryza.
Despite all the comments about her character design, I've always thought that the way Gust streamlined Atelier Ryza was going to be the right thing for them to do to garner some more mainstream attention, and it shows! I agree with you though that if they only spend a little bit more time to polish and iron out certain areas that Ryza would gain even more of a following, but I'm hoping that they're able to capture what made Ryza great in the sequel. And by that, I mean building on top of the success that they had and understanding why it became so popular in the first place.
Thanks for the great review! I'm also playing this game right now on my Nintendo Switch and I was wondering, if you might have played the story DLCs as well? I'm asking, because I really like this game so far and I was thinking about getting the "Kurken Island Jam-packed Pass" since it's on sale right now, but it's still about 38,50 € which is quite a lot, considering that you can get a complete new game for the same money ...
So if you have played the story DLCs as well, would you recommend getting them?
Thanks in advance :)
I haven’t played the DLC sadly, but it never felt as though I was missing out on anything in the base game! You can skip that pass 😊
@@BacklogBattle I see. Well, thanks anyways for your reply!
Btw. I have watched a few of your other reviews by now. All of them filled with great quality content.
Worth a subscription for me. Keep up the good work!
Have a nice day :)
@@WoodenKiwi thank you so much! There’s plenty more coming soon!