Gust announces new Atelier game: Atelier Meruru

[Mickeymac92]

Geez, another one? And I've still yet to pick up Rorona and we've yet to get Totori. Man, I just can't keep up with this series. Oh well, I'll still keep an eye on it and hope it turns out well.

[Kevadu]

The screenshots look nice.  Gust is slowly getting better at this new-fangled 3D thing...

One interesting thing to note is that it looks like you have Meruru, Totori, and Rorona in your party at the same time.  Though Rorona is chibified for mysterious reasons (the game is supposed to take place a few years after Totori which takes place a few years after Rorona, yet Rorona looks younger than she did in the first game...).  Having a party of three alchemists is a little different.

I notice a theme of repeated sounds in the heroines' names for this series.

[Cyril]

The new screens are quite beautiful.  I'm surprised at how much Gust has improved, considering how at the end of the PS2 they were still using some relatively simple sprites. The character models at least can compete with some of the bigger companies.  The backgrounds still seem a bit lackluster, though.

I also like the atmosphere of the one screen where Meruru is running through what appears to be a smaller village.  That "feel" embodies Atelier for me.

[Lazlowe1984]

Meruru looks pretty.

I didn't finish up all the Rorona endings so I have plenty to do still.

[Alisha]

i need to see some battle screen shots.

[Cyril]

http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/Atelier_Meruru_The_Alchemist_of_Arland_3/ss-006.jpg
This one looks like a battle screen.

http://www.rpgfan.com/pics/Atelier_Meruru_The_Alchemist_of_Arland_3/ss-007.jpg
This one definitely is a battle screen.

Though I can't imagine anyone plays traditional Atelier games for the battle system.

[Dice]

The graphics have certainly taken leaps and bounds with every new title.  I just wonder what NISA is planning... how were the sales, I guess?

[CDFN]

I never played an Atelier game. I remember looking at some Rorona screens and thinking it looked very nice. I just noticed that Patrick gave it a 85%, metacritic is 65 though. Oficial PS mag gave it a 40, that's less than half the score it got here lol.
"Play time is kept to a minimum, with most of the development effort put into designing reams of menus for you to navigate...ensuring that you never start to have actual fun."
I might still check it out though, desperate times...

[Kevadu]

Personally I really enjoyed Rorona.  I wouldn't consider it something for 'desperate times' (I also don't consider these times desperate...I have a glut of games in my backlog).  It's clearly not for everyone, though.  It's slow-paced, character-centric, lacks any sort of epic plot, and emphasizes resource and time management more than anything else.  If you think you will enjoy those qualities then by all means get it.  Otherwise steer clear.

[Dice]

Personally I really enjoyed Rorona.  I wouldn't consider it something for 'desperate times' (I also don't consider these times desperate...I have a glut of games in my backlog).  It's clearly not for everyone, though.  It's slow-paced, character-centric, lacks any sort of epic plot, and emphasizes resource and time management more than anything else.  If you think you will enjoy those qualities then by all means get it.  Otherwise steer clear.

Will do! 

I don't mind a nice simple RPG, but given the reviews.... =/
Doesn't look like something I want (but I do follow it, I'm hopeful that way...and the artwork is gorgeous).

waaait a minute.
Ro-ro na
To-to ri
Me ru-ru.
Cute. =P

[Cyril]

"Simple" isn't really the way to explain Atelier.  Quite the opposite, actually.

The battle system is barebones simple.  Everything else requires quite a bit of management - arguably too much.  It's overwhelming at times because there's simply so much to do, so little time. The series is something of an acquired taste.  Maybe start with Atelier Annie on DS?

It's one of those series that you can't really judge by reviews alone.  You have to play it to know whether or not you'll enjoy it.  Because even if all of the games were getting 90+ on metacritic, they still wouldn't be for everyone.

[Dice]

"Simple" isn't really the way to explain Atelier.  Quite the opposite, actually.

The battle system is simple.  Everything else requires quite a bit of management. The series is something of an acquired taste.  Maybe start with Atelier Annie on DS?

BLEH.  I liked the Iris series... well just the first one actually.  I don't know I have a real love-hate thing with these titles.  On one hand I love what they do, on the other, I hate them for what they are.  The titles puts a ton of time into alchemy, and really get lazy with the rest of the lot.  By that point it's a matter of charm in characters/story and the too strong a relation it has to most anime titles. 

[ZeronHitaro]

Lol, they should've just done truth in advertising and renamed this Atelier Lolita. *just looked at the screen shots* I don't mind having a cutesy protagonist or two but for the love of all that's holy Gust is getting about as bad at loli-overload as SE is at bishonen and stupid hair-overload. XP

[CDFN]

Personally I really enjoyed Rorona.  I wouldn't consider it something for 'desperate times' (I also don't consider these times desperate...I have a glut of games in my backlog).  It's clearly not for everyone, though.  It's slow-paced, character-centric, lacks any sort of epic plot, and emphasizes resource and time management more than anything else.  If you think you will enjoy those qualities then by all means get it.  Otherwise steer clear.

Desperate times when it comes to jrpgs to play on the PS3. We all know how crazy this year is as far as gaming in general is concerned.

[CDFN]

The game is already in the bargain bin, might give it a shot.