Of all of the Atelier video games I’ve performed and reviewed, the three that comprise the Ryza collection are simply my favorites. I suppose I’m extra of a fighter (of the turn-based college) than an alchemist, and I discovered their steadiness of fight, crafting, and exploration to be extra consistent with my tastes. It’s subsequently fairly simple for me to advocate the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Version releases. Earlier than I get to that, although, I ought to deal with the colossus golem within the room.
It might be too early for the GOAT’s return.
It’s widespread for KOEI TECMO to remaster or remake video games within the Atelier collection for rerelease on present programs, however the Ryza video games aren’t precisely outdated. All three have been initially launched on the Change between 2019 and 2023. Right here they’re once more with the customary enhancements and new content material, however at full worth. Even in the event you bought, say, Atelier Ryza 3 and all of its DLC a mere two years in the past, you get no improve path to this new launch. You don’t even get to hold over your earlier recreation saves.
Is that honest? Effectively, certain it’s. It’s unlucky, however it’s the way in which the leisure trade works. I just lately purchased the TRON 4K steelcase launch, and do you suppose Disney gave me a reduction for having already bought it on VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray? Did Queen give me a reduction on their 5.1 DTS launch of “A Night time on the Opera” although I’d already bought the album on LP, cassette, CD, and CD remaster?
I level this out just because I’m not factoring the shortage of improve pricing into my evaluate. What I’m taking a look at is the standard of the fabric provided for $90, and it’s fairly spectacular.
First, all three video games have acquired a glow-up. That is extra noticeable on the Change 2 than with the Change model, and with 2019’s Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout than with 2023’s Alchemist of the Finish & the Secret Key.
The visuals have been already colourful and properly detailed, however they now include extra trendy touches and a larger consistency throughout all three video games. The video games additionally provide graphic choices you possibly can regulate to your liking. I had all the pieces jacked up on my Change 2 and bought no interference from efficiency points; the one instances issues behaved oddly have been when the digicam had hassle determining the place to put itself.
Second, there’s loads of new content material to work by. Along with the entire free and paid DLC of the unique releases, all three video games get new ranges and even new characters to play. That is enjoyable, however a number of the new content material is simply fluff. The brand new stage with Bos and Kilo in Ever Darkness and Secret Hideout, for instance, is over in a short time and presents no actual problem. It’s extra about character improvement than anything. A few of that is labored properly into the primary video games, whereas others are merely tacked onto the top.
The DX releases additionally include periphery options comparable to quite a few costumes for the primary characters and the sport’s photograph mode. There’s a customized fight mode in which you’ll arrange battles for lineup methods and expertise apply. Varied UI enhancements have been made. Basket capability for materials gathering has been elevated (that means you possibly can keep on the sector and in dungeons longer earlier than having to return to your atelier to empty it). You’ll be able to take earlier NPCs into fight.
In Atelier Ryza 2, Fi truly turns into helpful!
In fact, none of this could matter if the video games weren’t value enjoying, however they completely are. You’ll be able to take a look at our critiques of the unique Change releases for the small print…
…however the gist is that Reisalin Stout and her evolving circle of pals go on initially breezy summer season adventures that contain a whole lot of character development, ability improvement, and fight. The worlds are enjoyable to discover, particularly as they open up with underwater exploration and fewer restrictions within the later video games. As you attain new areas and combat new monsters, you’ll purchase supplies that should be mixed alchemically to create newer, higher gadgets to be used in fight, to finish a loopy variety of quests, and to achieve unexplored areas.
All three video games are pushed by low-stakes tales (you gained’t be going into outer house to combat God, right here) which are nonetheless very compelling, largely because of the characters themselves. Everyone seems to be likeable and individually vital, and so they’re all enjoyable to make use of in fight. Mixing and matching their skillsets is enjoyable and rewarding. It’s additionally crucial, because the fight system actually depends on the co-op instructions they difficulty one another.
The battles are constructed on an lively, turn-based system that flows as you wait your flip. In the event you meet sure goals, the characters you aren’t controlling could make requests comparable to asking you to make use of a magic assault or to cut back the enemy’s stats. In the event you accomplish that, the character who made the request will get a strong bonus assault.
The system is rather more advanced than that (merchandise use, AP build-up, stuns, core merchandise administration, character swapping, combo chains), and it varies considerably throughout the three video games. There’s an excessive amount of to element right here, so, once more, see the unique critiques linked above. I’ll say that after digging again into all three video games, I nonetheless really feel fight peaked in Ryza 2; Ryza didn’t afford sufficient management, whereas Ryza 3 made issues a bit too convoluted.
All three entries are very lengthy, and so they’re longer now with the entire new content material. $90 could appear to be so much, however you’re getting tons of of hours of gameplay right here. Every recreation can also be out there individually for $40. That’s good for individuals who could have missed one and don’t wish to double-dip into the others. What’s not good is that there’s no bodily launch of this assortment within the U.S. The trilogy begs for a bodily commemorative package deal, so I really feel like KOEI TECMO ought to’ve brewed up one thing right here.
Regardless, in the event you’re a JRPG fan who has by no means performed a Ryza recreation (or by no means purchased the DLC), choosing up this trilogy is a no brainer. All three video games are nice (or higher), and the DX variations provide you with loads of new content material and options. In case you have paid for and performed them beforehand—particularly in the event you additionally paid for the myriad DLC choices—that’s a harder name. All that new content material is good, however not crucial. It’ll be simpler for Switch 2 homeowners to justify the monetary and time investments.
For everybody else? Effectively, I suppose it’s as much as the person to find out if at this time remains to be, “The right day for an journey.”
