Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk | |
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Developer(s) | Gust Co. Ltd. |
Publisher(s) |
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Director(s) | Yoshito Okamura |
Producer(s) | Tadanobu Inoue |
Designer(s) | Azusa Takahashi |
Programmer(s) | Yuji Higuchi |
Artist(s) | Hidari |
Composer(s) | Daisuke Achiwa Kazuki Yanagawa Yu Shimoda |
Series | Atelier |
Engine | PhyreEngine |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, [1] Nintendo Switch, [1] Microsoft Windows [1] |
Release | June 28, 2012
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Genre(s) | Role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk [lower-alpha 1] is a Japanese role-playing video game developed by Gust Co. Ltd. The character designs are by Hidari. It is the fourteenth title in the Atelier series, coming after Atelier Meruru , but has a storyline independent from previous titles in the series. The game is the first installment in the Dusk storyline. [7] An English language release was published in March 2013 by Tecmo Koei in western regions. [8] A PlayStation Vita version titled Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk [lower-alpha 2] was released on March 27, 2014 in Japan, January 13, 2015 in North America and January 14, 2015 in Europe. [9] There is also a drama CD [10] and novel [11] based on the game.
A port of the game titled Atelier Ayesha DX for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 was released on December 25, 2019 in Japan, [3] and on January 14, 2020 in the West along with an additional Microsoft Windows release worldwide. [12]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019) |
The game proceeds through that the player completes objectives through harvesting items, combat, or fusing items together. Objectives are given as the game's story proceeds. [13] There is, however, no systematic objectives, and the only goal is to reunite Ayesha with her sister Nio again. Instead, the player will have to find out answers by making their own choices and in so doing, continue the story. [10]
Combat commences when the player character comes in contact with an enemy. The battle system is turn-based and the fastest of the participating characters will receive the first turn. The distance between the player's characters and the enemies has an effect on the battle. The game's main character, Ayesha, is the only character in the game who can use items in battle, which is the main element in the game's battle system. [14] The party of characters can support each other by performing actions such as defending or attacking, and characters that are close to each other can support each other with attacks. There are also skills and items that are effective within a certain range. When an enemy is attacked from behind, a ”Back Attack” occurs, which will make the attack into a critical hit. [15]
The player is able to write in a diary by using points obtained from completing objectives. The diary allows the player to look back on the story so far, as well as obtain bonus rewards. [16]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2019) |
Atelier Ayesha stars Ayesha Altugle, who runs an herbalist's workshop with her sister Nio. After Nio disappears mysteriously, Ayesha meets an alchemist called Keithgriff Hazeldine, who reveals that she must master the art of alchemy herself in order to rescue her sister, but she has only a few years to do so, or Nio will eventually be lost forever. Overcoming sadness is one of the game's themes and players will see Ayesha grow as she writes diary entries, while she gathers allies and improves her alchemy skills in her quest to reunite with her missing sister. [17]
Atelier Ayesha takes place in a new world separate from the Arland saga where the art of alchemy used to thrive in the past, but now only a few know about its secrets. [18]
Atelier Ayesha Plus: The Alchemist of Dusk (アーシャのアトリエPlus ~黄昏の大地の錬金術士~) is a PlayStation Vita port of the game with additional content. It was released in Japan on March 27, 2014. [34] This port includes almost all downloadable content that is available for the PlayStation 3 version of the game, such as costumes and characters, as well as new content, such as a harder difficulty to play the game in, new enemies and costumes [35] [36] and the ability to change the members of the party at any time. [37]
Aggregator | Score |
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Metacritic | PS3: 70/100 [38] VITA: 76/100 [39] NS: 66/100 [40] |
Publication | Score |
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Electronic Gaming Monthly | 7.5/10 [41] |
Famitsu | PS3: 34/40 [42] VITA: 31/40 [43] |
IGN | 6.2/10 [44] |
The PS3 version of the game received a Famitsu review score of 34/40, [45] whilst the PS Vita version attained a score of 31/40. [46]
A novel by the name アーシャのアトリエ~ある錬金術士の旅の日記より~ was released on March 26, 2013. The novel details events that was not included in the game, in the form of eight short stories. The novel was written by Toru Shizuki, illustrated by Hiroki Haruse, and published by Koei Tecmo. [47]
A CD narrated by Marina Inoue and Mariya Ise was bundled with pre-orders of the PlayStation 3 game in Japan. It is called the World Guide CD(ワールドガイドCD). It contained explanations of the setting of the story and there were six different designs available for the records’ surface. [48]
Gust is a video game developer and division of Koei Tecmo Games, known for their Atelier franchise.
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