Atelier Ryza 3 Review: Is it Any Good?

Atelier Ryza 3 features the third appearance of the beloved Ryza as she embarks on a journey to becoming the sought-after alchemist she always aspires to be.

As the third installment in the series, this one marks the bittersweet end of an adventure. And for fans of the series, there’s no denying the massive improvement that the latest Atelier Ryza game has to offer.

That said, is Atelier Ryza 3 any good? Is it worth the $60 price point that it offers? Let’s find out!

A Brief Review of Atelier Ryza 3

Titled Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, Atelier Ryza 3 follows Ryza on her final adventure as she went on to investigate several mysterious islands that appeared out of nowhere.

By far, this is the most ambitious project that its developers, Gust, have done so far. Unlike the previous titles in the series, Atelier Ryza 3 features a massive world, albeit not an open one.

There are four massive regions to discover, tons of quests to complete, and lots of amazing characters to meet along the way.

Story

That said, the game’s story follows the events of the previous games. As such, we highly recommend playing them if you want to have the best possible experience. Moreover, the game’s cast is mostly composed of characters from previous games as well.

Of course, there are also new characters introduced such as Dian, Federica, and Kala. Despite being newcomers, each of them has his own unique charm and personality that easily fits the existing cast.

In a way, the game’s cast has nearly doubled in size compared to previous games.

There are two sections in the game’s story. First, the Alchemist of the End, tackles the Klint Kingdom and the history involving alchemists who did everything they can just to satiate their greed.

Unlike Atelier Ryza 3, the third game offers a more straightforward approach to storytelling.

This is where Atelier Ryza 3 shines, as it features well-crafted scenes that make the story much better. It also features a glossary in dialog windows to make it easier to recall names and locations.

The second section, the Secret Key, features the use of secret keys that you can use to unlock secrets throughout the world.

This might seem like a gimmick, but it does have a massive impact on the gameplay as Ryza learns how to use these keys to unlock doors that are locked physically and metaphorically.

Mechanics

The combat system in the game is an improved version of its predecessor. However, one notable change is the removal of the action timelines. Moreover, the UI has been improved in a way that only a few important elements as shown.

As far as combat goes, it still remains to be fast and flashy, basically following the same combat system as Atelier Ryza 2.

One major addition is the use of secret keys, as mentioned previously. You will be able to use a secret key each time an enemy’s HP drop to 80%. You can use it to boost stats, generate more AP, convert damage to a certain element, and more.

These mechanics add a bit more depth to the game’s combat system. Also, the order system has been improved in that it’s now much simpler than it was before.

Visuals and Audio

Albeit the game’s fast and flashy combat, exploration is a bit slow-paced. However, it’s not necessarily a bad thing, as you’ll be able to explore a lot of stuff along the way.

The game’s visuals are revamped as well, giving you a sense of immersion as you explore the game’s gigantic world.

Then, as you can expect from an Atelier game, the soundtrack in Atelier Ryza 3 is superb. Of course, it won’t do justice if we just mention it to you. It’s best if you play the game so you can check it out for yourself.

The Verdict

With all things considered, Atelier Ryza 3 is the culmination of the Atelier series that Gust has been proudly working on. It’s an excellent game that managed to showcase the team’s skills and abilities with more time, creative freedom, and budget allocated.

It’s the perfect ending to the beloved Atelier Ryza series, and for a price tag of $60, this gem is definitely worth playing.

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