Atelier Yumia Release Date Announced, And The First Gameplay Trailer Is Beautiful

Do all the Atelier games feature a lead female in a suggestive pose? Lol. Just a little something I've noticed a trend on.

Pretty interesting. I wonder what the gameplay footage was captured on.

Excited for this new entry. Just found out about this series earlier this year. Finished Ryza 1, playing Ryza 2 now and hope to get to Ryza 3 by the end of the year. Loving the games, might explore earlier entries or the recently released Sophie 2 or Marie Remake.

This game would benefit immensely if running on Switch 2. A late March release date could suggest that if the Switch 2 is going to possibly follow the Switch 1 early March launch strategy. In fact, this is the first somewhat big Switch game with a confirmed Spring launch date.

@Oubie I blasted through Ryzas 1 and 2 last year — still have 3 on my shelf waiting to be played. While they're a lot of fun, I think moving to real-time ARPG combat will make grinding/farming for resources, especially in a game where resources are crucial, much more of a streamlined process.

@Andee Fully agree yes. Though i will miss the chill and relaxed flow of the series if i have to be honest. Have you played Sophie 2 or Marie Remake as well? I'm wondering if i should play them after Ryza 3 and if they differ from the Ryza trilogy.

@Oubie I was a little late to the party, Ryza being my first entry into the series (the review of 3 inspired me to check out the first game), and yeah I do enjoy the chill/fluffy nature of the series as a whole. Apparently a lot of the earlier games operate under a time limit though, which would actually be something of a dealbreaker, personally — I don't like the idea of feeling rushed, especially in a game so vast as a crafting RPG.

@Andee We're very like-minded haha! I don't enjoy the games in the series with a time limit as well. I do think that they removed that feature in Sophie 2 and the Marie Remake, but i'm not 100% quite sure of it. Perhaps i'll stick to the Ryza trilogy and then move on to the new Yumia next Spring!

@Andee

I also hate games that rush you, but the time limits in the early games in this series are not only fine, they enhance the experience. Sophie and Shallie suffer a bit by not having one, and Lydie & Suelle is the worst the series, largely because it's the game they committed to the no time limit formula and they didn't have it quite right yet.

The gripe about these time limits comes almost exclusively from people who haven't played them. You're not rushed, you're given direction and bite sized tasks. You have plenty of time to explore and craft. What you don't have time to do, by design, is iteration chains. So you're first playthrough you're focused on the story and world rather then doing a paper - water - neutralizer - water chain 50 times to get every property on a max quality item.

And if that's your thing ... well, that's what the second playthrough is for. The games are quick (for JRPGs), and along the way you craft items that mitigate the time limit, like teleport items that remove travel time, and you get to keep them, as well as most of your items, in new game plus. Multiple playthroughs are fun too, seeing you get to focus on different relationship and explore some gatekept content. Totori in particular does some masterful story telling in having you experience one emotional arc in your first playthrough so that you're really invested in something that likely happens differently in the second. Ayesha has one of the funniest and most charming ending in the series ... but only if you don't complete an objective on time.

I would say in all the games with time limits, I've never felt rushed my first playthrough, and on my second I sleep for days because I had too much time.

@MeloMan Why is the first thing you notice is her arse?!

Sigh

Just not a fan of the tone. Even the color pallet is taking itself way to seriously.

This is the least excited I've ever been for a Atelier game.

Which, in fairness, is still really excited. And while I don't really vibe with what it's doing, it's doing it really well. Looks incredible.

@HeadPirate I think my chief counterpoint to that is, especially considering my backlog, I'm unlikely ever to revisit a game once I've completed it - especially not a 30+ hour RPG (although the earlier games are apparently shorter from what I've read), and I'd always like to get as much as I can out of it in my first playthrough. I've seen people online talking about their second/third playthrough of FFVII Rebirth, which boggles my mind — that was a game I sank well into the triple digits of hours, and by the end I was just glad to see the back of it.

This looks like it could be a Xenoblade game tbh

Gonna give this a spin after getting scared of Ryza when I realized that story was three games in 😅

Looks pretty, but it's not something I'll play on switch.

So they've upgraded from thighs to butts now lol

Still hoping for Blue Reflection 3!

looks good and man of culture as well.....Sold!!!

I've never played an Atelier game before but always heard good things about them. This looks pretty cool. Just wish Koei started dubbing Atelier again or at least have the option to pick between English and Japanese like most modern JRPGs.

It saves money I get it but more options is always a good thing.

@Andee

I feel ya.

But like I mentioned, they are not 30+ hour RPGs. If you just go with it and don't focus on trying to min-max your equipment WAY past the point of what's required, you can do a run in about 4 hours.

And I say "run" because, in all I honestly view them more like like roguelites. You play once, experiencing some content, unlock global buffs, play again and everything is a bit differently. They are nothing like Finial Fantasy. They are also nothing like Ryza, for that mater. They are much shorter and far more linear. They were made in an era where you couldn't jam content into a game and had to make it up with replayablity.

Nothing wrong with that playstyle! I'm mostly the same way. I'm just saying you might have the wrong impression of what the games are like because they are nothing like the new games, and when people talk about them the discourse almost always revolves around the mostly irrelevant time limit.

@MeloMan Don't point it out, they might stop doing it.

But seriously, I don't mind a suggestive pose. However, this is in the "uncomfortable pose" realm, as it is tough to have both the posterior and the bust facing the same general direction. Not impossible, just... yeah.

I'm a fan of the series, so I'm in, but I'm a little concerned about Switch performance. This looks like it will have large, visually detailed areas. I'm hoping they do a good job optimizing the Switch version.

@MeloMan That’s intentional. The series’ creator has always favored putting fanservice on his games.

I am turned off of this series because of the emphasis on crafting. But they are consistently so well put together, beautiful RPGs and I’m happy they have a fan base!

Honestly the medium is stronger for having these sort of strong franchises

@aznable

No judgment, but it's important to understand Japan is not as uptight about sexual expression in art as the US or the UK. As someone who's lived in many countries, there is no objective cut off point where art becomes "uncomfortable". People are uncomfortable with art because of their cultural norms.

Check out the per-order bonus that are exclusive to Japan. Nothing here would even be considered risque in Japan. Family friendly box stores are advertising them openly.

The Atelier series is considered pretty tame, to be honest.

https://noisypixel.net/atelier-yumia-the-alchemist-of-memories-the-envisioned-land-reveals-plenty-of-gorgeous-art-as-japan-retailer-bonuses/

@ScalenePowers

If you asked me, I would say the series, excluding Ryza, feel a lot more like crafting games with light RPG elements then RPGs with heavy crafting elements.

Every mission is to make something. Your power level is determined by your items. The vast majority of the cut senses and story are the slice of life stuff you get in crafting games. The " RPG plot" is secondary, In Ayesha you can completely ignore the it and someone else handles it for you. Firis has no RPG plot, the whole goal of the game is just to get your Alchemy license.

You don't win by getting to the end of the story and killing the "boss", you win by meeting all the production goals. It's why the series is named Atelier. Your work is always the focus.

Ryza is much more like what you are describing, but I mean ... that's A21. There are 20 games in the core series that are nothing like it. They are way closer to Strange Horticulture then they are to finial fantasy.

And btw, I totally get being turned off by crafting heavy RPGs. My main gripe with the series is that it's turning into that. If I'm trying to save the world, crafting is a distraction that takes me out of the story. If I'm trying to make friends and sell potions while living my anime life, but I have the option to go save the world in my spare time, that's a neat and original concept.

i really dont mind the fanservice the more ecchi games on the switch the better so glad nintendo is letting these type of games come to their systems with less censorship not like sony on the other hand.

I'm a simple man I see anime girl I add game to wishlist.

This trailer gameplay was amazing. İ have never played this serie but it is possible that İ can try it one day. Games from Koei Tecmo are mostly good. İ liked it.

@HeadPirate The "uncomfortable" part is being in that pose. While you can do that if you're flexible it's not a natural pose you'd just do.

Atelier Yumia should’ve been called Atelier Yummier. The developers have gone all out enlarging certain features of the leading lady lol.

@BTB20

I can dig that. No argument.

But in the video a character does a jump backwards from a standstill, manages a 360 degree roll in the air without modifying her center of gravity by tucking, then flawlessly lands with forward momentum.

I feel if the OP's real problem was with body physics they would be making far more posts. Sometimes sub text is important. What people chose to complain about is as important as the complaints they make.

@Samalik Cause she's in a ridiculous pose just so that you can see her ass and boobs? A fine example of an Escher girl if I ever saw one.

There’s a Ridley cameo in this trailer

@HeadPirate huh? The lack of time limit in Sophie is what got me into the series.
Removal of the time limit is the best thing that happened to the series, IMO.

Looks great in all departments: gameplay, visual style, character design, etc. So it seems that the "lolita era" is over for good and it's the time for more mature main heroine design. Wasn't sure where will they go after Ryza. I don't mind both designs, love frills as much as leather.
I just wish they showed more Switch gameplay. Wanna know how it works on it.
Koei been know for their awful ports, like "Fate Remnant/Samurai" for example.

@YourDaddy

Yap. That's how opinions work.

Just curious, what games before Sophie have you played? What exactly about the time limit in those game did you fell held you back?

Love the Atelier games, I prefer the turn based fighting though.
I've beaten Sophie 2, Lydie & Suelle, currently playing Escha & Logy.

Any other good ones? I also dislike the earlier time limits, I prefer to go at my own pace, discovering recipes and effects

@Ursaking After looking up what an escher girl is, not even close.

If all you're gonna notice is her chest and ass that's on you.

@YourDaddy Eh. The lolita era made a spook with Sophie 2. And more sequels might come in.

@HeadPirate I might be mistaken, but it might've been Rorona on PS3 and something on PS2
It's mere existence terrified me and I just couldn't concentrate on playing the game.
No enjoyment because of this constant ticking clock.
That's why I was super sad going into Firis, after Sophie. The only reason I've completed it, was because I've been told that time limit in Firis is super lenient (almost like the time limit in the Shenmue I & II).

Took them long enough to realize that more grown women sell more copies than loli.

Turns out that this was just the motivation I needed to get back into the Ryza games and hopefully finish that trilogy.

Gonna keep my eye on this and hope Gust makes another decent Switch port.

Looks good. Will keep an eye on it.

@YourDaddy

My first was Sophie as well, for the same reason, I don't like time limits. Loved that game and considered it my favorite in the series for a long time. I loved it enough then I ended up playing all of them and was surprised how much the time limits didn't bother me once I just accepted them. Ended up really loving the early ones. My best friend asked me what game to start on and I said Sophie, but he didn't like it. So I went back and played it again.

I was pretty surprised in how much I now felt that game was lacking because it didn't have a time limit or use the timed mission format. A little introspection and I realized that, without every really thinking about it, the two other games without time limits are the only ones I have a hard time sticking to, even though Shallotte is likely my favorite PC and that entry has the best combat before Ryza.

If you ever feel like going back, I would suggest just ignoring the timer. It's extremely forgiving. One I just accepted them, I never felt pressed for time.

As for Firis, that time limit is mostly for show. Not only can you easily get your license with 100+ days to spare, but once you do the time limit goes away. It's their first experiment with "no time limit", and it's more a story thing. It's just to make sure that, like Firis, you understand getting your license is your first priority.

So you should totally play Firis if you liked the rest of the "Mysterious series". I wouldn't even consider that GAME as having a "time limit" given there is only one timed mission, and it's 2 to 5 hours of a 30+ hour game. We don't call FF7 a game with a time limit because there is a timer on the Mako Reactor mission.

Pretty interesting that the main character is living in a state of collective disapproval by the rest of society. It'll be a change of pace for the storyline and the way character interaction is framed. I think it's a compelling angle, still a cozy experience but the campaign will be more of a redemption arc.

@HeadPirate When I say "uncomfortable," I don't mean that I'M uncomfortable, I mean the model would be physically uncomfortable in that pose.

@HeadPirate sorry if I didn't make it clear: I've played Firis and completed it, getting platinum trophy on my PS Vita. And just as you said, I had more than 100 days to spare. Right now I'm on the Lydie & Suelle.

Sadly, I won't be able to "ignore" the time limit. As I said, it's the feeling of constant dread that keeps me from enjoying the experience. It either has to be super lenient as I mentioned before, or it should be super focused on day by day as in Persona 3-5 games.

@YourDaddy

I get that. It's funny, you sound a lot like me when it comes to time limits, we just have a slight disconnect when it comes to this series. I have a hard time playing games when you have to worry about time because I get stressed. It generally makes the game a non-starter for me. Even classics like Fallout 1&2 I have a real hard time enjoying.

I guess the only point I would remake is that all the time limits are as lenient as Firis IMHO. I can't think of a single game where I didn't have more then enough time for both the 90 day objectives and the game as a whole.

Odd you mention Persona. I'm actually the opposite. I play them and love them, but the day to day break up makes it super stressful for me, way more then a time limit. I always feel that I didn't spend that "chuck" of time correctly and second guess myself. It's a testament to how compelling they are that I've managed to finish them dispute that. The rollback feature in 3 reloaded is so great, I hope they keep that in the next game.

@HeadPirate I mean, in Persona you can only do so much in a single day. And I don't mean the things you choose to do. I mean the things you CAN do at any given day. Those are usually limited.
Even then, you simply choose what you think benefits you the most at any given point of the game, or you choose what you WANT to do.
It's only stressful in Persona if you're trying to min/max everything (or simply trying to get a platinum trophy).
And again, you can't do everything in one playthrough, so there's no need to stress out.

I guess similar example (kinda, not really) would be Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, where you given "action" points to spend with different characters.

The other question would be: "Is there enough content to fill this time limit?"
For that we have to take a look at Disco Elysium. I was able to complete every side quest, exaust every dialog option with every character I've met and still had time left. Except I didn't know I would do this and was stressing out, thinking I won't be able to see everything in the game.

With Atelier Sophie, even if there's not many locations or places to explore, I still spent a LOT of time gathering and trying to min/max my equipment, because as you remember the max level being 20, so no sense in grinding monsters.
I'm all for the time limit removal. Or at least, I'd like to be given an option to turn it off, like in Marie.
I'm not a Sonyboy anymore, there's to trophies to earn, no need to rush, no restrictions whatsoever.
So I just want to relax and dive into the world of Atelier, not to stress out about time limits.
Unless I missed something and completely misunderstood time limits in previous Atelier games.
Would you kindly remind me how it works in previous titles? Let's say Totori.

@Samalik Clearly you didn't look properly. That thumbnail image right above the comment section is an Escher girl with a swivel waist. If you want to pretend this isn't a thing, that's up to you. We'll just have to agree to disagree and move on.

@Ursaking All I'm seeing is just the side of her skirt, with a separation where it was sewn. Shape wise, nothing is out of the ordinary for her pose. Even fashion models do this with ease. So if you're gonna talk about anatomical correctness, well, it is. Just look more carefully.

@Samalik Yeah, no. Maybe we're each looking at a different picture. So be it, I don't care enough to keep arguing about it.