Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm | A Deep Dive Into Disappointment
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- Опубліковано 11 лют 2025
- Welp, time to cover what's considered to be the worst Atelier game to date, Atelier Iris 3. I've never played this game before, so I was actually looking forward to seeing what all the hubbub was about. This is probably the most unique title in the series, going from a typical RPG structure to a dungeon crawler, and... it's no wonder they didn't try this again. Still, let's take a look and see what good there is buried here.
Iris 1: • Atelier Iris: Eternal ...
Iris 2: • Atelier Iris 2: Azoth ...
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What’s a feature, mechanic, or whatever else you’d like to call it you’d like to see used more from a game that’s otherwise pretty boring or bad?
I understand the faults in this game but I just love it to death. The music, characters, game's battle mechanics, the visuals, i love it all. The things I'd do for a port of the iris trilogy on modern consoles man.
The second you said no deep story and dungeon crawler I was sold. I need this game.
Hope you aren’t hoping for a physical copy. They’re pretty hard to come by, last I checked.
Makes me so happy that somebody is covering this series game-by-game! I just got into it with Rorona like a month ago and I already feel starved for content on the games
Well, I’ve made three so far… there are, like, 17 left, but I’ve got 3 done.
I got into the atelier series recently, it's great to see someone make such long-form content on it! :) You got a new subscriber. Love your work
Thank ya kindly, I really appreciate the support. I’ll get back to the series soon.
Yoo this is great work man! I enjoy hearing about this game since many people don't talk about it to begin with.
Thank ya kindly. That’s basically my MO here.
I liked this one more than Eternal Mana but I never finished either of them. Atelier Iris 2 is still the only Atelier game I have ever finished, it's also the first game in the series I ever played.
19:35 - Oh Lawd, she dabbin'.
He's easily in the top 2 list of JRPG protagonists named Edge
That's why you think the story isn't good. Two last chapter is important part, and the main story. I really like the ending, the reason why Crowley become like that.
Been waiting for this!
Maybe it's nostalgia or maybe I just have odd tastes. But I actually greatly enjoyed playing this game a lot. It's definitely the one I've replayed the most out of the three. The second one was my introduction to this series and in all honesty I love the trilogy and it is nice to see others give it a shot. The music was catchy so I loved it. I actually liked the story. While generic I like their own spin on it. I will agree that the dungeon crawling was pretty weak and repetitive and the one major gripe I have about this game is how disconnected from the other two it is, but it's still one of my favorites regardless. Idk I just have a soft spot for it I suppose.
Glad you enjoy it.
What game is in 12:05?
Etrian Odyssey
this was my first turn based action game I played as a kid and even back then I found it more tedious then anything to complete. the story itself didn't do much for the game but I still somewhat enjoyed it I guess
Overall I love Iris-trilogy but yeah, Grand Phantasm was disappointing. First two games had much more interesting characters and story that connected to each other.
Phantasm... it is just there. No ties whatsoever, just girl named Iris and that is just that. I honestly hated the time limit on exploring and never got quite grasp of the plot. It felt like build from pieces.
Let's go!
I'd hardly seen much of Iris 3. Trying to find info or a stable playthrough of it was a chore, and...now I see why. *Man* this game's plot is way more underbaked than I could ever think. It's wild that they went from this straight into Mana Khemia. Music slaps, though.
Glad I could be of service.
Nothing against fan service per se, but giving underage characters continously way too lewd outfits is just questionable, at best.
Shame this game is disappointing. I suppose this is why Gust mostly focus on their characters and slice of life since trying to do an RPG with high stakes just didn't go their way. But that doesn't mean they can't do it since the Atelier games of Dusk trilogy let's you know the world is dying and the ending ((*spoilers*)) implies while they saved the planet - humans may not live to see it happen. But the main characters are optimistic that they will and man do I wanna know what happens next but we may never know.
Anyway, great review, can't wait for the next one!
Thank ya kindly for watching and reminding me how weirdly bleak the Dusk trilogy could be.
Spoilers always seem to show up when least expected. Maybe give a spoiler warning for the dusk trilogy if you are going to talk about the implications of it's ending????
@@AstraProc Sorry. I now added a spoiler tag.
@@KirbyIsCute Thanks
Wasn't she another reincarnation of Iris?
I've heard that theory before, but I couldn't find any proof of it being true. She might be an incarnation of Lilith, but that doesn't mean she's the Iris from 1 and 2, and I couldn't find any proof backing up that idea, either.
Also, here's hoping people do not think that animal bodies passed off as "stakes" are a good thing anymore?
Can confirm, even with nostalgia value AI 3 was still the most bland of the 3 for me. Which...is a disappointment? Since it's the one game where the titular Iris is actually playable. Spoilers for the story to anyone interested will follow but,
I was also a bit salty about characters like Yula or Alvero not joining. Same for Ash. Alvero dying because he used Crowley's dark powers, but then Yula does the same the very next chapter and nothing happens to her. Consistency, much? I think the plot had a good number of ideas that could have made it pretty nice if expanded upon but so much of it is just thrown out there, not explained and never revisited. I will say though that Ouroboros was in concept one of cool final boss. A perfect existence like the God of Alchemy. I mean, I know fighting God as the final boss is everyday JRPG staple but in this case it still seemed pretty epic and hopeless seeing how he may well be technically the source of all alchemy (one thing very interesting that I noticed and don't know if intentional, is that the sound effect for a number of its skills is the exact same as when synthesizing in earlier games. Even in Rorona+ it was still that sound effect. Very nice.). Otherwise not that many fun things to say about this game, it's the weakest story wise and probably the least fun too. Oh but it does have a pretty interesting extra boss, the Shadow Stalker to get Luplus Blades. That guy was the one thing in the whole game that felt legitimately challenging. And the soundtrack to the game is admittedly pretty good too. That Schwarzeiss opening thooooough! But yeah. Agreed. Worst Atelier entry to me so far, still.
So that's what happens at the end, huh? Seems really neat. Shame I'll probably never get to it because the game is dreadful.
Thanks for watching and leaving your thoughts, by the way. Much appreciated.
@@HoodlieRPG Ay, below is a summary of sorts if you're interested but it's a bit of a long paragraph so I'll separate it from my reply. And you're welcome! Yeah Atelier Iris 3 was a hard pill to swallow. But hey not all is lost because I'm pretty sure a lot of Flay's fighting style in Mana Khemia had its roots on Edge's normal blades here, and I loved that guy ahah. And no problem, I should be thanking you for these reviews! Definitely a blast from the past.
The Escalario only shows up if this entity "Ouroboros, the Mediator of Dimensions" is also about to awaken. Ouroboros (Uroboros in the game but I do hate that spelling. Same how they turned the Trismegistus in Atelier Iris 1 into "Amalgam" or Paracelsus in Atelier Iris 2 into Palaxius. Why lose the beautiful flavor of historical alchemy references on translation? Argh!)...So anyways, Ouroboros has beef with all alchemists because in the past they ruled the world but didn't think that was enough and Crowley suggested that they tried to get the power of God. Crowley's true identity was a nameless alchemist of many ages past, possessing this Crowley man in present day, his will having survived through ages by having his essence incorporated into that dark gem seen in the beginning. Crowley hated the world and alchemists for some...Reason that they never delve enough upon. Guess he just thought alchemy was a greedy science of greed hearts by default? So he planted this idea in their minds hoping they'd be stupid enough to try, and try they did, all of them BUT Iris' ancestor died, the world was split into several fragments (the ones we visit through the story). But Iris' ancestor found the Escalario and wished for Ouroborus to be sealed, only half the world was destroyed. Ever since, the Escalario only appears for the holder to make the exact same wish every time: Save the world from Ouroboros, because he is invincible in battle. Upon his "defeat", he just resurrects at full power (true to the alchemy symbol of infinity) and wipes the floor with the team. Oh and Ouroborus hadn't done anything wrong at first, he's retaliating against humans trying to use him for whatever they wanted. Crowley curses Iris somewhere in the game to split Edge between wishing to save her or the world. ...but Ouroboros is sealed again and she comes back in the true ending anyways so, yay? This last part will be pur conjecture on my end, but seems like Ouroboros was ultimately touched by their efforts, judging by her ancestor's words and decided to give her a second chance.
Yes its really BAD.
It certainly is.
However if the Atelier Marie remake sells well I'd love the other IMPORT games the ones that never Left Japan to get a English version as well for the 3 Iris games the 2nd one is easily the best one of the 3.