Atelier Ayesha

[Kevadu]

Love how the trailer is two minutes long and gives no actual information about the game.

...wait, I don't love that.

[Dice]

Love how the trailer is two minutes long and gives no actual information about the game.

...wait, I don't love that.

That's japan for ya!  They spend the first minute of a "teaser" touting the long legacy of the series, and the other minute showing off what can be described as "nothing important".

...I like the original Atelier formula and all, but anyone ever wish they'd try the more RPG-oriented route again like they did for Iris??  I mean that insofar of a more in-depth battle system and bigger emphasis on story/world than characters.

[Zendervai]

I would prefer they do it with the spinoff titles. That were all exclusive to the PS2 (with the occasional PSP port) with the exception of Ar Tonelico Qoga. I really want to see a new Mana Khemia or something.

[Eusis]

...I like the original Atelier formula and all, but anyone ever wish they'd try the more RPG-oriented route again like they did for Iris??  I mean that insofar of a more in-depth battle system and bigger emphasis on story/world than characters.

After how dull I found Iris: no, not particularly. Maybe if they can improve on that while keeping a strong alchemy focus it'd be a different story.

[Cyril]

I can't say I'm fond of pigtails or pink hair and, given all of the fanservice and the blatant hints about Ayesha in parallel to Marie, I was expecting someone more...Elie-like.  My first impression is that I very much dislike the new design, but I also disliked Totori's design, and she ended up my favorite of the heroines, save for Rorona in 2.

To Dice:
Ayesha is definitely more world focused than just about every traditional Atelier title to date.  That's one of the main themes of the game: truth and understanding of the world around you.  They've put a larger emphasis on lore and background.  I like the change, and I think this game might be going in a direction you prefer.  All I have to say is, as warned on the previous page, you really need to to Keith's set of events before beating the final boss.

[Dice]

To Dice:
Ayesha is definitely more world focused than just about every traditional Atelier title to date.  That's one of the main themes of the game: truth and understanding of the world around you.  They've put a larger emphasis on lore and background.  I like the change, and I think this game might be going in a direction you prefer.  All I have to say is, as warned on the previous page, you really need to to Keith's set of events before beating the final boss.

Cyril: Events feel so totally random in this game, I have no idea if I'm on track for Keith or not....  I might do another playthrough with a guide (I'm just less than half way through in Year 2 and I don't have Juris yet... I heard the game can be beaten by Year 1 on a good playthrough).

I liked Totori's outfit enough, but I didn't get the semi-see-through plastic-looking dress thing going on.  I adore her A2 outfit, the darker blue really suited.

Eusis:  I thought Iris-1 was good enough.  It certainly felt downhill after that.  And yeah, I'm going on the basic idea that the developers get better at the thing they do.  I'm saying a new Iris-like game that's hopefully a little less...odd in certain ways.

[Ranadiel]

...I like the original Atelier formula and all, but anyone ever wish they'd try the more RPG-oriented route again like they did for Iris??  I mean that insofar of a more in-depth battle system and bigger emphasis on story/world than characters.

I frequently wish they would, but then again I absolutely love Gust's non-Atelier games and am only meh on the traditional Atelier games(although I am currently playing Totori and so far it seems at least slightly better than the others I have played).

[Dice]

Atelier Ayesha is like Canada.  Everything is spaced really far apart and takes forever to get anywhere.

[Zendervai]

Oh come on, Canada isn't that bad. From Toronto, it only takes like 5 hours to get to Quebec and a couple days to reach Manitoba. The people who think a couple hours is far are wimps.

(joking)

[Embryon]

Casey Ormond, arranger/performer of the FFXII Piano Collections album and Valkyria Chronicles Piano album, just uploaded a piano arrangement of "Memorizing" on SoundCloud. It's absolutely delightful.

https://soundcloud.com/casey-ormond/memorizing

[Dice]

Haha of all the tracks on that album