Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy Reviews
Atelier Ryza 2 improves on the original in almost every way and, despite a few stumbling points, proves Gust is still one of the best at making something magical out of ordinary things.
Gust's experiment with giving a beloved character a direct sequel has paid off. Anyone who enjoyed the first Atelier Ryza - and many place it right at the top of their series favourites for a reason - will love the subtle improvements that Gust has brought on board, without messing with the qualities that made the original so enjoyable. It has also been nice to play an Atelier that isn't also a coming of age story, and while Ryza isn't my favourite character in the series, the two-game arc that Gust has given her has given us one of the finest female heroes across all JRPGs. Atelier is really pushing into the upper echelons of JRPGs now, and I'm quite confident that the next game in the series will continue to build on the brilliant achievement of Ryza and its sequel (can we go back to more traditional Atelier protagonists with the next one though, please, Gust?).
While Atelier Ryza 2 won't set your world on fire, it does serve as comfort food for JRPG fans looking for a fix. However, those who aren't fans of the genre should stay far, far away.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a great JRPG and an excellent sequel to one of the most loved and entertaining titles of this generation. Its exploration and combat work well and further elevate a well-constructed narrative that should appeal to fans of the previous title.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The slow beginning of the first Ryza game is remedied somewhat here, and the ability to fast-travel from anywhere to almost anywhere else is pure bliss. The story's lighter fare, doubly so for the side quests, won't appeal to everyone, but the solid battle system, intuitive but deep crafting system, and decent overall gameplay loop were all enough to hold my attention and then some. Even though the concoction might not have come out perfect, it absolutely Ryza's to the occasion.
Ryza’s new onfield actions, the improved battle mechanics, and the deeper alchemy systems also impress in this quality sequel. Minor annoyances tied to the map layout and the more complex features attached to the alchemy system hamper the game’s overall experience a bit. But all in all, Ryza’s return is a lighthearted pleasure that is entertaining from start to finish.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy might not be ambitious, but if you enjoy Atelier titles, it's a solid and engaging experience. It's basically the original Ryza title, only larger and more polished. The Atelier franchise usually keeps things fresh with a new protagonist and cast for every game, but with the full cast from the original title, Ryza 2 can sometimes feel like a repeat of the previous adventure. This isn't bad, since the original Ryza was fun and the gameplay is solid, but it can sometimes feel a touch too familiar.
Although I still prefer the original, Atelier Ryza 2 is a wonderful experience that fans of the first game will love. It may be a confusing journey at times but the amount of wonder and charm throughout make persevering consistently feel rewarding.
Will Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy prove to be as successful as its 2019 predecessor?
Overall, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy takes what's good about the first game and improves upon it. It's set apart from other games in its genre through its charmingly wholesome tone and low-stakes narrative that allow its characters and their relationships to shine while conveying relatably human themes filtered through an optimistic, sometimes-wistful lens. The game's systems are sometimes at odds but are each entertaining, and exploring ancient ruins with Ryza and her friends on a quest for knowledge regularly instills a hopeful sense of adventure. Atelier Ryza 2 will well-suit anyone looking for a leisurely, character-centric, self-paced, and intimate JRPG journey.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy has seen improvements across the board that may move it further from what older Atelier games may have been but offers a great upbeat RPG that will delight anyone looking for a fun, almost relaxing, time.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy is an excellent sequel to an already great game, and the two together really feel like a flashpoint for the series. These games have always been curious to outsiders, but hard to get into, even if you love JRPGs. But what we have here is the result of decades of iteration, and a breakthrough that gives Ryza 2 healthy audience-expanding potential.
Atelier Ryza 2 is a beautiful role-playing title that refines the first Ryza game’s mechanics. The world is well crafted, and the new movement, battle, and exploration mechanics are a joy to experience.
The series tradition of scavenging for items and conjuring materials and tools with alchemy has become far more ideal and enjoyable. The plot however, felt like a quick patch up of leftover question marks from the prequel. As a fan, It still packs a wholesome gameplay experience, as you get to discover what happened to all the characters in the 3 years since the first adventure.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Lets you head out on an adventure with friends, explore ruins to your heart’s content, solve mysteries with relics, and use alchemy to create useless explosive Uni in a big pot. What more do you need?
Overall, Atelia Ryza 2 is an excellent Japanese RPG that doesn’t reinvent the genre but provides an enjoyable story and gameplay experience wrapped up in outstanding graphics and musical score. As a result, Atelia Ryza 2 should be picked up by any Japanese RPG fan. It was an absolute pleasure to play.
The latest effort by Gust and Koei Tecmo is still promoted, as it really takes a step forward compared to the previous chapter. Even in the face of the limitations of the plot and some uncertainty in terms of the graphics sector, the product is completely satisfactory and offers players exactly what they expect. There is no reason to be disappointed: Atelier Ryza 2 doesn’t risk anything and can only win, and indeed it is. The future of the series is assured and even this latest entry does nothing but consolidate the tracks that are already extremely solid. We, for our part, will stay on board and see where the Atelier saga will take us, perhaps still in the company of the solar Ryza Stout.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Reinventing a series can be a difficult task, one which the first installment did with great success. However, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a great example of fixing something that was never broken to begin with.
Atelier Ryza 2 is a fun game with a crafting system that easily ranks as one of the best among the series. It doesn't offer any major leap for a sequel and the story is rather lukewarm, but the engaging cast and addictive gameplay loop makes it easy to recommend to others.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is just a great game from start to finish. The characters are amazing, the world is very intriguing, and gameplay is just fantastic. I’ve played a lot of games in this series over the years, and this one is certainly one of my favorites. Gust has done something a lot of folks fail at. They took a very well-received title and made a sequel that is even better. It will take you right round 35 to 40 hours to complete the story here, and it’s worth every penny of the $59.99 retail price. I can’t wait to see where Ryza and her crew go from here!