Review: Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout
Fire burn and cauldron bubble
I'm willing to openly admit that I've never touched the Atelier series before. Going into Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout, I knew very little. It's a series focused on alchemy and it's been around for a hog's age, but that's about it. However, I was drawn to it purely because you play as a cute anime girl and I was in a mood.
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That's also not to say Atelier Ryza isn't an enjoyable game, it most certainly is. There's something infectious about its optimistic attitude and absorbing about its crafting-centric gameplay. There's always something available to unlock just around the corner; all that's needed is a specific set of items that could be hidden anywhere.
The characters have ridiculous designs and dress like they were in the vicinity of a department store explosion, but their personalities are likable enough. Their problems are small and petty, but sometimes it's nice to have a character motivated by personal growth rather than self-righteousness or the death of their loved ones.
Score: 7/10
