The Atelier series continues to receive new entries, remasters, and spin-offs at such a steady pace that it has become increasingly difficult to keep track of what is on the horizon. While the mainline titles usually attract the most attention, the series occasionally branches into side projects, and Atelier Resleriana is the most recent example of this.
This spin-off introduces two new protagonists, Rias Eidreise and Slade Clauslyter, who return to their abandoned hometown of Hallfein to uncover the truth behind a mysterious tragedy that caused most of the residents to vanish. Long-time fans will also notice cameo appearances from familiar characters across earlier Atelier games, which adds a layer of fan service to the overall experience.
Narratively, the story here is much simpler than what players may be accustomed to in the mainline installments. Rias’s goal is to restore her grandfather’s shop to its former glory, while Slade seeks answers about the items his father left behind. The presence of two playable characters adds some variety to the storytelling, though the narrative itself can feel paper-thin. Gameplay, meanwhile, attempts to stay true to the series’ alchemical roots while experimenting with a few new elements to keep things fresh.
Atelier Resleriana feels very much like a title designed to welcome newcomers to the franchise while still offering familiar elements for long-time fans. In many ways, it evokes the Atelier games of the PlayStation 3 era, where gameplay took precedence over narrative depth. The classic loop of gathering resources, synthesizing materials, and crafting items is present here, and the alchemy system remains surprisingly intricate, providing enough depth to keep players consistently engaged.
Combat, meanwhile, draws clear inspiration from modern turn-based systems, and in particular, it reminded me of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Like that game, it features a timing mechanic where blocking at the right moment allows for a perfect dodge, though the execution window is much more forgiving in Resleriana. Battles revolve around a combination of standard attacks, skills, special abilities, and chained combos. The result strikes a balance that avoids becoming too punishing while also maintaining enough challenge to remain entertaining.
The most significant criticism stems from the game’s origins as a gacha title, which has been reworked into a console and PC experience. This transition leaves parts of the design feeling overly simplistic at times, even though the alchemy and combat systems are enjoyable in their own right. Unfortunately, the story struggles to inspire much motivation to push forward, and the character banter often falls flat. Fan-service moments offer some fleeting amusement but cannot carry the narrative for long. Dungeon design is another weak point, as environments are far too linear and simplistic to match the otherwise engaging mechanics.
Alchemy is the main focus of the game along with combat. There is a new Gift Color synthesis system. Difficulty-wise, it is not as tough as Atelier Ryza. Items have their own different traits that can be transferred during Alchemy, which can lead to unique creations. Their effects can also be boosted depending on the materials you use.
While characters from other entries in the series make appearances, not all of them get enough attention. They are fun to use in your party, but I had a hard time enjoying the dungeons in this new entry. They feel randomly generated instead of carefully designed. Dimensional Paths are one of the main ways to gather high-quality ingredients, but their randomness is also their weakness.
There is also a new town and shop management system, but it feels poorly integrated into the main gameplay. It lets players sell items or materials found during exploration, and since these make up such a big part of the game, it is a key feature. Later, these resources can be used to develop and restore the town of Hallfein, which is the central goal of the story. The whole setup reminded me of a mobile gacha game where you grind to unlock parts of the narrative. The main story is tied to rebuilding the town, but the gameplay loop itself feels clumsy and disjointed.
When it comes to performance, I was a bit surprised that the game did not automatically detect the Steam Deck as the main platform, so I had to adjust the resolution manually. That said, it runs well enough out of the box, and I do not think many visual tweaks are needed. It supports high frame rates and consistently stayed above 60 FPS on the Steam Deck, which is a big improvement compared to the previous game, Atelier Yumia.
Overall, if you are looking for a new Atelier game, you may enjoy the Alchemy changes and the combat system in Atelier Resleriana, but the story and character development are not its strong points. The writing leans too heavily on familiar anime tropes, and since I was tired of them, I could not bring myself to enjoy the story or care about its direction. Still, I would call it a good game based on gameplay alone. If you value fun gameplay and can overlook a bland story and world, this one may be worth your time.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Koei Tecmo
- Developer: Koei Tecmo
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
