| Game |
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout (Japanese: ライザのアトリエ ～常闇の女王と秘密の隠れ家～, Raiza no Atorie ～Tokoyami no Joou to Himitsu no Kakurega～) is a 2019 JRPG for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows.
It's the 21st main entry in the Atelier series, and the first entry in a new sub-series of games. The theme of the game is Summer Memories. It was followed by a direct sequel, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy, which released on Winter 2020.
Plot[]
The game follows the story of Reisalin Stout, a girl living on Kurken Island seeking adventure. One summer day, she finds an abandoned rowboat and ventures to the mainland with her friends Lent Marslink and Tao Mongarten. Along the way, save the daughter of a traveling merchant and meet the alchemist Empel Vollmer with his companion Lila Decyrus, which starts Ryza on the path of learning alchemy and her interlining adventures and soon discover the real truth about her home.
Gameplay[]
Gathering[]
Atelier Ryza features a variety of gathering tools such as axes, hammers and scythes. Using different tools on the same gathering spot allows the player to obtain different materials. For example, in a tree you can use the axe to get lumber, the staff to get fruit and the scythe to get wood chips.
Gathering areas can be created with alchemy. With different materials, players can tune the type of field, the obtainable items and the enemies present. These areas can also be shared with other players.
Combat[]
A new real-time, turn-based system is introduced. During battle, time continuously passes, and characters and enemies can only act when it's their turn, without time stopping. Up to three characters can take part in battles, and the player can switch freely which one to control, while the AI takes care of the other two.
The MP bar, present in every previous entry, is replaced by a shared AP (Action Points) system. Action Points are gained during the course of the battle, and they are used to trigger skills. During combat, the new "Tactics Lever" meter increases. This system serves to boost skill effects.
Follow-up attacks between party members can be triggered with "Action Orders", and an ultimate attack once the Tactic Level is fully maxed called "Fatal Drive" can be activated when a party member is waiting for an order.
The difficulty can be changed from Very Easy to Legend and can be accessible at all times in settings.
Atelier Customization[]
For more information, go to Atelier Customization (Atelier Ryza)
The appearance of Ryza's atelier can be customized. The interior walls, exterior walls, floor, roof, terrace, and rug can be changed to one of several themes with bonus effects, varying from weather conditions or rare chance of appearances. Inside the secret hideout also consists a sofa, bed, and table that can also be customized, with some of them exclusively changed differently from the exterior customization.
Characters[]
Playable Characters[]
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An ordinary girl whose unique characteristic is just that - ordinary. Ryza has a wild and tomboyish personality with a strong sense of justice. While she can be stubborn in her convictions, her heart is in the right place. Her whole world is turned upside down during an extraordinary encounter... | |
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A childhood friend of Ryza and Tao. Due to the events of his past, Lent is treated as an outcast in his village. Using this as his drive, he hopes to accomplish a great achievement and prove himself to the villagers. He has a heart of gold and acts as Ryza's moral compass when things get perilous | |
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A childhood friend of Ryza and Lent. Tao always walks around with a cryptic old book he found in the basement of his house. Since he's continually trying to decipher it, the villagers consider him to be eccentric. Although he's timid and not the best at socializing, he never abandons his friends. He has a thirst for knowledge that borders on being obsessive, and an extraordinary ability to concentrate. | |
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Because she is always traveling together with her merchant father, she hasn't had the opportunity to make any friends. Although she has a gentle personality, there's a hidden side to her that is decisive and resolute, and she possesses an unexpected amount of courage. | |
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A wandering alchemist, bearing wounds to both body and soul. Empel is a traveling alchemist with an extraordinary curiosity for ruins. He spends time at his dwelling in the village where he performs daily research. Due to an incident in his past, he is no longer able to perform high-level alchemy. In contrast to his youthful appearance, he is dignified and mature | |
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A female warrior shrouded in mystery who accompanies Empel. Together with Empel, Lila is a roaming female warrior who finds her way to Rasenboden Village. Though she has a mysterious appearance, she is highly skilled in combat and agrees to teach Ryza and her friends how to fight in real battles. Lila has a cool and composed demeanor. She uses words sparingly and keeps to the point. It seems she is surveying the ruins on Kurken Island… |
Non-Playable Characters[]
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Music[]
Development[]
The game was first teased on 23 May, 2019, when the Gust Youtube channel posted a short video teasing their next game. The video showed a clip of four characters standing in a field of grass under a blue sky, followed with a text ("our adventure is about to begin") and then the announcement of more information coming the 28th of the same month.[1] The teaser trailer was hosted in a temporary website, but since the game was officially announced the site shows a link to the official Atelier Ryza website instead of the teaser video.[2]
Two days after the teaser, the magazine Dengeki PlayStation revealed that the teased game was called Atelier Ryza and that it was expected to be released for the PlayStation 4 in autumn. The magazine interviewed the producer, Junzo Hoso, who revealed many details about the title.[3] Among other things, he confirmed that the development of the game started around July 2018 (at the same time as Atelier Lulua), that they are using a new engine and that development was at around 45%.
The 27th of May, the magazine Famitsu showed their online preview for the week, with Atelier Ryza on it. They revealed that the game is expected for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Steam and showed some images, including the logo of the game.[4]
The 28th of May, Atelier Ryza was officially announced[5] and the website was launched. During the month of June, it was revealed that the game would launch the 26th of September. The localization for the west was also announced for the 29th of October (North America)[6] and the 1st of November (Europe)[7].
Changes[]
The following are the significant changes made from the game that differs from the previous Atelier Games
- You cannot fail synthesis, the player's alchemy level will signify or increases the item count you can material loop. If the player's alchemy level is too low to synthesize the item, that option to synthesize is locked until you get to that level.
- Voiced-lines are only prioritized to the main story. Side-stories and quest are either semi-voiced or fully non-voiced.
- Friendship level is removed. There are still story arcs with the characters in the game but it connects to the main story, thus in a single playthrough the player is able to access all of it.
- This is the first time Pamela Ibis, or called Pamila in the game, do not feature a voice actor over her lines.
- Ending routes are removed. The game follows a straight linear story with one ending.
- While they continued having the game to have no time limit, resting the bed changed from being able to put how many hours or days to sleep to choosing four options: Morning, Day, Dusk, Evening, which at the latest, only consist of 1 day maximum worth of rest.
Downloadable Content[]
A summer-themed costume for Ryza (Summer Adventure!) is available for free in the PS Store, Nintendo eShop and Steam for those players that bought the game during the first two weeks after launch.
Another costume for Ryza (Divertimento's Embrace) is also given as a free bonus for players that pre-ordered the game. A special event scene is also included with the costume.
Purchasers of the Digital Deluxe Edition also have access to various costumes, decorative elements for the atelier and other items.
A few weeks after the game was released in Japan, a season pass was announced. Its content is scheduled to be released between October and December 2019, and it will include tracks from previous Gust games, weapon skins, additional character stories, costumes and an additional high-difficulty area.[8][9][10]
| Name | Release date | Type | Cost | Contents |
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| Season Pass "Kurken Island Jam-packed Pass" |  October 10, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Season Pass | ¥7480 $54.99 €54.99 |
Collection of the paid DLC from the game. |
| Atelier Series Legacy BGM Pack | October 24, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Music | Free | Over 960 tracks from the previous Atelier games to use with the "Change BGM" feature. It includes every main Atelier game up to Atelier Lydie & Suelle and the side games Atelier Marie, Elie & Anis, Marie & Elie ~Our Atelier~, Hermina and Culus, Atelier Lise, Atelier Annie and Atelier Lina. |
| GUST Extra BGM Pack | October 23, 2019 January 14, 2020 January 14, 2020
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Music | ¥990 $8.49 €7.99 |
Over 350 tracks from other Gust games to use with the "Change BGM" feature. It includes: Atelier Lulua, Blue Reflection, Nights of Azure, Nights of Azure 2, Ciel Nosurge, Ar Nosurge and Augmented Reality Girls Trinary. |
| Lent's Story "True Strenght" | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Character Story | ¥660 $5.99 €5.49 |
An additional story centered on Lent, where the player controls him as the main character. Can be played by selecting it on the title screen. |
| Tao's Story "Interwoven Fate" | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Character Story | ¥660 $5.99 €5.49 |
An additional story centered on Tao, where the player controls him as the main character. Can be played by selecting it on the title screen. |
| Empel & Lila's Story "The End of an Adventure and Beyond" | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019
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Character Story | ¥660 $5.49 €5.49 |
An additional story centered on Empel and Lila, where the player controls Lila as the main character. Can be played by selecting it on the title screen. |
| Klaudia's Story "Atelier Klaudia" | November 27, 2019 January 14, 2020 January 14, 2020
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Character Story | ¥660 $5.49 €5.49 |
An additional story centered on Klaudia, where the player controls her as the main character. Can be played by selecting it on the title screen. |
| Seasonal Event "Ever Summer Queen & the Secret Island" | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 TBC
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Season Event | ¥660 $5.49 €5.49 |
An additional story that takes place on a private beach. Can be played through selecting it on the title screen. After finishing the story the location unlocks in the main game. |
| Extra High Difficulty Area "Secret Solitary Island" | November 28, 2019 January 14, 2020 January 14, 2020
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Location | ¥990 $8.49 €7.99 |
An additional area with strong monsters and bosses. |
| Stylish Weapon Skins - Ryza | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Weapon Skins | ¥220 $1.99 €1.75 |
Three weapon skins to change Ryza's weapon appearance: "Red Hot Cooking Stick", "Rainbow Grapevine" and "Blooming Sun Rod". |
| Stylish Weapon Skins - Lent | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Weapon Skins | ¥220 $1.99 €1.75 |
Three weapon skins to change Lent's weapon appearance: "Rice Cake Smasher", "Log" and "Icicle Breaker". |
| Stylish Weapon Skins - Tao | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Weapon Skins | ¥220 $1.99 €1.75 |
Three weapon skins to change Tao's weapon appearance: "Party Hammer", "A Certain Blacksmith's Mallet" and "Starry Night". |
| Stylish Weapon Skins - Klaudia | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Weapon Skins | ¥220 $1.99 €1.75 |
Three weapon skins to change Klaudia's weapon appearance: "Roasted Corn (Soy Sauce)", "Bearded Bamboo" and "Glass Flute". |
| Stylish Weapon Skins - Empel | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Weapon Skins | ¥220 $1.99 €1.75 |
Three weapon skins to change Empel's weapon appearance: "Summer Festival Fan", "Fairy Tale Stick" and "Tropical King's Iron Fist". |
| Stylish Weapon Skins - Lila | October 31, 2019 November 19, 2019 November 19, 2019
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Weapon Skins | ¥220 $1.99 €1.75 |
Three weapon skins to change Lila's weapon appearance: "Meow Meow Scissors", "BBW Meat Trifecta" and "Mariner". |
| Sunlight Flower | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019
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Costume | ¥330 $2.99 €2.49 |
Swimsuit for Ryza. |
| Elegant Mermaid | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019
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Costume | ¥330 $2.99 €2.49 |
Swimsuit for Klaudia. |
| Muscle Volcano | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019
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Costume | ¥330 $2.99 €2.49 |
Swimsuit for Lent. |
| Captain Tao | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019
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Costume | ¥330 $2.99 €2.49 |
Swimsuit for Tao. |
| Ocean Dandy | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019
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Costume | ¥330 $2.99 €2.49 |
Swimsuit for Empel. |
| Cool Selenite | November 14, 2019 December 17, 2019 December 17, 2019
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Costume | ¥330 $2.99 €2.49 |
Swimsuit for Lila. |
Editions[]
Standard Edition[]
Available physically only on PS4 and Switch, and digitally on all three platforms (PS Store, Nintendo eShop and Steam).
Digital Deluxe Edition[]
Only available digitally on the three platforms. It includes:
- Costume Set "Another Fashion": a set of 3 recolors of the defaul outfits for Ryza (Midnight Black, Blue Skies, Sunny Smile), Lent (Gothic Wolf, Forest Guardian, Desert Squall), Tao (Twilight Raconteur, Wonder Pastel, Book Fairy) and Klaudia (White Princess, Pure Maiden, Strawberry Parfait).
- Costume Set "Summer Style": a set of 1 summer costume for Lent (Warrior's Day Off), Tao (Island Explorer) and Klaudia (Summer Memories).
- Hideout Parts "Pixie Forest": decorative elements for the atelier with a "pixie forest" theme, with an unique slight ability-raising effect for the characters during nighttime.
- Hideout Parts "Lakeside Hideout": decorative elements for the atelier with a "lakeside town" theme, with an unique slight ability-raising effects for the characters during rainy weather.
- Initial Dash Item Set: includes 2 gathering items: Wind Shoes (increases movement speed) and Knapsack (increases basket capacity).
- Extra Large! Rebuild Gem Pack: 100,000 gems to use in the item rebuilding system.
Reception[]
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout got "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic receiving a metascore of 84/100 on Nintendo Switch based on 13 critic reviews,[11] 75/100 on PC based on 4 critic reviews,[12] and 74/100 on PS4 based on 19 critic reviews.[13]
Sales[]
During its first week in Japan, Atelier Ryza sold more than 150,000 copies.[14]. On February 14th, 2020 Gust announced over 350,000 copies was sold worldwide. [15] The game had hit 420,000 units in shipments and digital sales in fiscal year ending March 2020, and had surpassed Atelier Sophie, which was the previous best-selling Atelier game.[16]
By 26th March 2020 hits, Atelier Ryza reaches 500,000 in shipments and digital sales worldwide, surpassing any other Atelier titles existed. They commemorated the celebration by an artwork by the game's character designer on the Gust's Twitter page.[17]
Gallery[]
- See also: Atelier Ryza Images
References[]
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3AwyLJxKQk
- ↑ https://www.gamecity.ne.jp/gust2019/
- ↑ https://gematsu.com/2019/05/atelier-ryza-announced-for-ps4-switch-and-pc
- ↑ https://www.famitsu.com/news/201905/28176832.html
- ↑ https://twitter.com/GustAtelierPR/status/1133305730897854464
- ↑ https://twitter.com/KoeiTecmoUS/status/1144228890770120704
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/ateliergames/photos/a.397699476940916/2517518371625672/
- ↑ https://www.siliconera.com/2019/10/09/atelier-ryza-season-pass-schedule-has-new-weapon-skins-costumes-additional-story-maps-and-bgm/
- ↑ Atelier Ryza Add-Ons section in the US, UK and Japan PlayStation Store. store.playstation.com
- ↑ Official website's DLC page. koeitecmoamerica.com
- ↑ Metascore for Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout on Nintendo SwitchMetacritic, Retrieved March 18, 2020
- ↑ Metascore for Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout on PCMetacritic, Retrieved March 18, 2020
- ↑ Metascore for Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout on PS4Metacritic, Retrieved March 18, 2020
- ↑ https://gematsu.com/2019/09/atelier-ryza-sales-top-150000-in-first-week-in-japan
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ https://www.siliconera.com/atelier-ryza-becomes-best-selling-atelier-game-with-420000-units-in-shipments-and-digital-sales/
- ↑ https://www.siliconera.com/atelier-ryza-ever-darkness-the-secret-hideout-reaches-500000-in-shipments-and-digital-sales/
External links[]
- Official Website (Japan)
- Official Website (North America)
- Official Website (Europe)
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