Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland

Atelier Lulua continues the story of the Arland trilogy of games while taking the mechanics of more recent Atelier titles and refining them.

Gust and Koei Tecmo have been busy releasing oodles of charming Atelier games recently so let's journey back to Arland and see if Lulua can fill the shoes of her legendary alchemist mother.

It's more of the same Atelier, but it also takes the best from its predecessors to synthesize a fun and customizable adventure.

Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland is both a solid continuation and entry in the series, boasting a combination of addictive alchemy and endearing characters that will appeal to existing fans and newcomers alike. That said, the latter would certainly get more out of the return if they play the original trilogy first.

There’s something about the long-running Atelier games from developer Gust and publisher Koei Tecmo that always has the same consistency throughout each title. While most JRPGs focus on a greater goal to save the world from some bad mojo, the Atelier games have scaled it back for its players for a more laid back experience. While of course there will always be towns or kingdoms to be helped, it’s never as something so drastic and really more so focus’ on the characters and alchemy. Atelier Lulua: Scion of Arland is now the 4th game to the Arland Trilogy which originally premiered almost 10 yea...

Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland maintains the magic that this long-running JRPG series is known for. From relaxing gameplay to adorable characters, Atelier Lulua doesn't disappoint. Newcomers to the series might have some larger story beats go over their head, while long-time fans might be miffed at the fact that so few returning characters are playable in battle. Still, when it comes to the Atelier series, Lulua manages to blend the best of the new with the best of the old with incredibly successful results.

I think that longtime fans will enjoy this one, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this could also serve as a starting point for newcomers as well. Atelier games are remarkably consistent in quality. Even though Lulua may not blow the doors off in a number of ways, it’s a nice little game that knows how to show you a good time.

Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland may feel like it could have pulled on the nostalgia of the original trilogy a bit better but this entry in the franchise delivers a comfortable storyline like fans have come to expect with enough refinements to both the synthesis and combat systems to keep them feeling fresh even to longtime fans.

Gust's Atelier series has managed, over the years, to garner a respectable following in the West without the developer trying to change many of series' staples to conform to the North American and European audiences' tastes. This is a double-edged sword, in a way, but it is also why the series' popularity is on a slow yet steady growth: you want a true Japanese role-playing game experience? You go to the Atelier series.

When it comes to JRPGs, there are plenty of titles that have elements which make them great but can’t shine due to flaws carried over from their series or genre. Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland is, for better and worse, one of those titles.

Atelier Lulua is a fun game to play in small spurts. It combines crafting/gathering with a decent JRPG combat system. While crafting and gathering can be tedious at times, the general concept is pretty fun. Discovering new ways to create better items is where the real fun lies. If you're looking for a game with a meaty story to it, you should look elsewhere. If you can overlook the story, and play simply for the mechanics, Lulua brings a lot to the table. The game is genuinely fun for the ...