If you’ve been following the gaming scene since the late ’90s, you might have come across the Atelier series, known for its rich lineage of over two dozen games. Yet, until now, Xbox owners were left out of the loop. Enter Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land — a debut that promises to be not only the first of its kind on Xbox, but also the most ambitious installment we’ve seen yet.
I chatted with producer Junzo Hosoi, who shared his excitement. “As a huge Xbox fan, I’m thrilled to finally bring the series to the system,” Hosoi told me. “But when I look at the game as a whole, I don’t describe Atelier Yumia as the next Atelier game. I describe it as a completely new JRPG series that has Atelier features.”
From my initial playthrough, the game feels like a fresh take on JRPGs, bringing elements like strategic, real-time battles, crafting, and exploration into a unified experience. The showstopper, though, is the incredibly intricate crafting system.
“The essence of the Atelier series is in its synthesis and alchemy,” Hosoi-san confirmed. “The game cycle is quite unique with field collecting, battling, and utilizing the synthesis system all interlinked.”
This distinctive charm shines through the characters, particularly Yumia Liessfeldt. Unlike past protagonists, Yumia is more mature, a 21-year-old navigating the complexities of adulthood.
Hosoi-san elaborates: “The story revolves around Yumia growing into adulthood, focusing on her strong values like independence and charm. Unlike younger heroes before her, Yumia doesn’t need mentors; she’s equipped with her own identity and decision-making skills. Oh, and did I mention she owns a motorcycle?”
In Hopes of Aladiss — the game’s new continent — alchemy isn’t well-received, pushing Yumia to prove her skills. While her synthesis prowess stands out, it was her combat abilities that caught me off guard.
Unlike the traditional turn-based combat seen in the past, Atelier Yumia takes a nod from more recent titles with real-time combat, enhancing player choices.
“Combat mechanics were redesigned from the ground up,” Hosoi-san explains. “We’ve introduced close and ranged combat zones. Players can navigate freely, guard and dodge in real-time, and even coordinate powerful attacks with companions when enemies are stunned. We want to focus on showcasing player skills during battle.”
Battles are fast-paced, allowing players to switch between Yumia and her companions. Positioning is crucial. While fighting a single foe is manageable, it’s a whole different ball game when multiple adversaries join the fray — each with unique weaknesses and counter-attack opportunities.
What’s more, as you journey through the game, you’ll encounter multiple characters who add depth to the unfolding tale. One that stood out during my demo was Flammi, Yumia’s quirky, floating companion. Interestingly, Hosoi-san revealed that Flammi was inspired by none other than Halo’s Cortana.
“Flammi was inspired by Halo’s Cortana. I envisioned a perpetual dialogue between a protagonist and a close companion. Playing Halo was such a joy, and I wanted a similar mascot for Atelier Yumia.”
Koei Tecmo is on a roll, with a string of successful releases. Hosoi-san notes that the synergy between brands at Koei Tecmo fuels their creativity.
“The brand producers at Koei Tecmo have a great rapport. We have conferences where games in development are reviewed by different teams. This collaboration helps us to refine our games. I hope Atelier Yumia ascends to become the pinnacle of the series worldwide.”
From crafting to combat, Atelier Yumia seems poised to carve out a distinct niche on Xbox, grabbing the attention of both new fans and veterans of the series alike.
