Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX Reviews
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX is a great jumping-in point for newcomers to the series. It's a welcoming start to the Dusk trilogy which hits the ground running whilst dialling back the traditional time limit aspect of the game, gently easing players into its core alchemy as well as firmly establishing the gameplay loops and systems which are carried on throughout the two follow-up games.
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX begins another trilogy of the Atelier series to the Nintendo Switch and this improved version definitely features a good plot and a very developed game world. Alas, it's also afflicted by some performance issues which should have been solved by now and its last moments fail to captivate but the return of Atelier's Dusk trilogy is off to a good start on the Switch.
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Atelier Ayesha DX is by far the best version of the game to date and a perfect place for newcomers to start.
Atelier Ayesha DX is a solid entry starting off the Dusk trilogy, with compelling crafting and gameplay loops, as well as plenty of loveable characters.
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX seems to be a decent entry point into the world of Atelier, and its crafting system hides a depth that will satiate more meticulous players. The main story does take a back seat to the character interactions and exploration of the world, but I had some fun seeing Ayesha's journey (nearly) to completion. Look forward to reviews for the next two games in the Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack coming soon!.
Atelier Ayesha remains one of the best games in the long-running series and this DX version is a great excuse to play it if you haven't already.
While the debut Dusk title shows little advancement from the Arland trilogy, it holds promise for future entries while remaining a solid Atelier experience.
Overall, I really enjoyed Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX. In terms of the story and characters, I feel it to be the strongest of the Atelier titles I have experienced so far. While I may have some mixed feelings about the alchemy system and took issue with the difficulty spike, I enjoyed the world, all the side stories experienced along the journey and the relaxed feeling of the game. I highly recommend it.
To conclude, I am happy to be able to replay this trilogy again. Hoping with the added bonuses and enhanced gameplay it would make Ayesha a joy to play. Unfortunately, the game is still as lacking to me as it was back on the PS3. Visually, more pleasing to the eye and am extremely happy they gave us the option to fast forward over most parts of the game. However, falls short with bland characters and a weak storytelling. I am giving this game a score of 6.5 out of 10.
Its weaknesses are there, but they didn’t change the genuine joy and energy that the game oozes – and when one of my big complaints about a game is “I want freedom to play more of it,” it usually means the core game is pretty fun.
If you are an Atelier fan, Atelier Ayesha is a good addition to your collection. In every Atelier game the synthesis and battle system is slightly different. Still, I feel Atelier Ayesha is the game that made an impact on me mainly because of the story. Plus, every Atelier game is unique because of the character, and Ayesha really is my kind of girl! So I’ll stick to my verdict from all those years ago: