Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian Reviews
Part dungeon crawler, part economy sim, Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian has a lot going on without being too complicated. The graphics and overworld controls land somewhere between nostalgic for PS2-era JRPGs and perhaps underwhelming for a modern game, but more attention has been placed on characters and enemies, which pop with energy and are given extra life by enthusiastic actors. The story and characters have a charm that reflects the laid-back but never underwhelming gameplay, which offers many different subsystems or metagames players can often choose how much or how little to focus on. Performing alchemy is a minigame itself, as is running the shop, and combining it all means The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian offers hours of content, carried by charming characters who have believable motives, often driven by their own care for each other, and making this a no-brainer for anyone who wants a dense JRPG they can pour hours into on the go.
Continuing the Atelier Resleriana series in this form after pulling the plug on Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator is a fitting decision. It's a delightful Atelier game, peppered with characters from previous installments.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
A fun entry that takes a look back at the experiences that allowed us to get here
Its title may be a mouthful, but Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is an excellent entry into the long-running Atelier series. Series fans will love the wealth of familiar faces that pop up, and JRPG fans will love its tight story, its fun combat and its varied gameplay.
There’s still a lot to like here — I appreciate combat and alchemy systems that make you think at least a little bit. I just wish this had either been a direct adaption of Forgotten Alchemy & the Liberator of Polar Night, or a completely original game instead.
This is a review in progress due to the fact I'm not quite done with the game and can't speak to the completed story, but I think the gameplay and characters show just why so many fans like myself have fallen in love with the Atelier series. It incorporates classic Atelier gameplay with fan favorite characters while still including fresh gameplay ideas. While this was definitely made with existing fans of the series in mind, Atelier Resleriana is something that new fans can also appreciate as well.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian is a fun and rewarding celebration of the series, delivering a lighthearted adventure that compiles many of the elements that have made it so beloved by its fans. While less accessible to newcomers and with some issues, such as the overly simplified synthesis system, if you've been a fan of Gust's work with the franchise for roughly a decade, this game will warm your heart.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If you have a big heart, love cuteness, and want to be immersed in a bubbly game world teeming with upstanding welcoming characters then Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is an RPG that you have to play even if it can be a bit simple gameplay-wise.
Atelier Resleriana is a must-play. It successfully returns to its roots by removing tedious menus, making alchemy incredibly engaging, and delivering its best combat yet. Don't sleep on this JRPG.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Atelier Resleriana doesn't reinvent the series' formula, but it expands upon it with well-thought-out adjustments. The combat is excellent, the alchemy deep and addictive, and Hallfein's reconstruction cycle works like clockwork. The dimensional portals add that extra layer of replayability that fans expect. It's a solid JRPG that stands out for its tactical combat system, its deep alchemy, and its satisfying progression loop centered on Hallfein's reconstruction. The Dimensional Paths add a layer of replayability that will keep series fans hooked for many hours. However, the game is not without flaws. The excessive dialogue can be exhausting, difficulty spikes appear without warning, and the language barrier will limit access for some players. Visually it delivers without standing out, falling short of what would be expected in the current generation.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist and the White Guardian is a truly fantastic game. It simultaneously takes the game design back a step, but in doing so, comes out as a far stronger experience than it might have had if it aimed too high. The turn-based combat and tweaks to other returning systems mean that there is a lack of nuance and technique to master, and it’s satisfying to do so. While it’s a shame players likely won’t see the previous game’s story, now that it’s offline, this is a brilliant new Atelier adventure with a mature narrative and characters.
in the end, Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian felt very much like a mobile spin-off game. While it is mostly standalone, the events of the mobile game starring Resna are constantly vaguely referenced. Plus, it clearly didn’t get the same effort and care typically put into a mainline title, and it didn’t run amazingly on Switch either. I should note real quick, I have yet to get my hands on Atelier Yumia, so I can only compare to the two Ryza games I’ve played, as the most recent offline titles. Despite having some issues with this one, though, I did have a lot of fun playing Resleriana RW overall. Mostly, I enjoyed the relationship between Rias and Slade, and learning more about the mystery behind what happened to Hallfein when they were both kids. I think that’s where this game shines the most. Unfortunately, due to the various issues performance wise, the aspects where it felt like a quickly made mobile spin-off and with the game freezing in the worst possible place it could, I can’t be as generous with my score as I wanted to be. Sure I had a lot of fun playing this one, but there were still a lot of problems. Regardless, if you’re an old fan of the Atelier franchise, I think you’ll find a lot to love.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a fantastic brew of an RPG, with so many things to do, it almost boils over. And the many quality-of-life features make sure that every type of player can enjoy it.
With Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian, Koei Tecmo Games and Gust are returning somewhat to the roots of the series, offering a pleasant, cozy gaming experience that focuses on likable characters, colorful presentation, an offensive turn-based combat system, and exploration of the game world. Particularly noteworthy are the very beginner-friendly alchemy system and the expansion of the general store, which goes hand in hand with the upgrade of the city. On the downside, the story gets off to a slow (but somehow typical) start, and there are some minor technical issues in the form of stuttering. The collision detection within the game world could also use a little work. Personally, I liked the darker approach of Atelier Yumia a little better, as I felt that Atelier Resleriana: somehow lacked a common thread apart from the village expansion. However, Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a pleasant, cozy JRPG that definitely makes for relaxing evenings exploring the game world.
Review in German | Read full review
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian offers hours of fun gameplay for both longtime Atelier fans and newcomers to the series. It combines strategy, creativity, and stories into a polished, memorable experience.
I have hesitated quite a while before giving my final verdict. I love that with Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist and the White Guardian, Gust catered to us fans of the original series. As I understand it, this doesn’t mean that they won’t move along in the direction taken with Atelier Yumia; the two can exist very well together. In the end, I decided on our highest rating. The turn-based fights, the new alchemy system and the depth of the characters and NPCs, plus the added Fairies and their hard work, make this an excellent cozy addition to the Atelier series.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian brings the beloved series back to its roots. With charming visuals, classic alchemy mechanics, and a cozy yet engaging story, it feels like a love letter to longtime fans—though its safe approach may not surprise everyone.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a heartfelt, deliberate return to what makes this series special. Its pacing drags and its repetition shows, but few games reward curiosity and care quite like it. The alchemy sings, the town grows, and the characters feel real enough to linger after you’ve put the controller down.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian competently delivers much of the essence that fans of the series have come to expect: exploration in search of raw materials, rich and rewarding synthesis, charismatic characters, and a fun and strategic combat system. Although some plot moments drag on unnecessarily and the pace of progression is constantly interrupted by a shallow management system, the overall balance is still quite positive. Overall, the title offers an engaging and fun RPG experience, worth checking out for franchise enthusiasts and those who enjoy the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian doesn’t provide a shockingly different or awe-inspiring experience, it is still a respectable and enjoyable entry in the Atelier series.