Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 77 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk Game Cover
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk is easy to pick-up and enjoy, but suffers from a few noticeable flaws that prevent it from being an instant classic.
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Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk is a single-player Fantasy RPG with an intriguing story, good game mechanics, graphics, and soundtrack. Players follow Ayesha Altugle, a young apothecary who discovers her long-lost sister is alive, embarking on a journey to find her and keep her promise. The game offers new features, characters, and DLCs for alchemy RPG fans to explore.

  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews
story17 positive mentions
optimization2 negative mentions
  • Atelier Ayesha features a beautifully crafted world with stunning graphics and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The gameplay has been significantly improved with a more fluid battle system and a user-friendly synthesis mechanic that allows for deeper item creation.
  • The story is well-written and offers a more serious tone compared to previous titles, providing a sense of foreboding and emotional depth.
  • The game is dub-only, lacking the original Japanese voice acting, which has disappointed some fans despite the English dub being of decent quality.
  • There is a time limit mechanic that can feel restrictive, forcing players to rush through the game and limiting exploration and character development.
  • The variety of enemies is limited, with many being palette swaps, which can lead to repetitive combat encounters.
  • story51 mentions

    The story in "Atelier Ayesha" is notably more substantial and well-crafted compared to previous entries in the series, focusing on the protagonist's quest to rescue her sister from a spirit realm. While some players found the narrative engaging and emotionally resonant, others felt it lacked direction and depth, with occasional confusion in quest dialogue. Overall, the game is praised for its charming characters and beautiful graphics, making for a delightful RPG experience despite some narrative shortcomings.

    • “Most Atelier games have a 'story' but nothing very important or serious, a lightly tacked-on point of progression. Here, though, the story is actually very well written, and after getting all the endings, including the true one, you really see that this story is building up into something amazing.”
    • “A beautiful RPG game with an emotional story.”
    • “The story is very engaging and gives one reason to empathize with Ayesha.”
    • “Ayesha's story was a bit underwhelming.”
    • “While part of the magic is discovering and progressing the story on your own, I couldn't help but either feel lost at times or completely misguided in the quest dialogue.”
    • “While the story could be stronger and better tied up, the world that is crafted and the characters and their interactions make for a fun and memorable experience.”
  • graphics21 mentions

    The graphics in the latest installment of the series have received widespread praise for their beauty and artistic design, surpassing previous titles. The visuals feature a vibrant color palette and a hand-drawn aesthetic that enhances the overall experience, with environments ranging from lush forests to whimsical floating islands. While some players noted a tonal shift in the graphical style compared to earlier games, many found the new look to be a refreshing and mature evolution that complements the gameplay and story.

    • “Graphically, this is way more beautiful than the previous games.”
    • “The graphics have a sort of hand-drawn feel to them, especially the ingredient icons, which have a homemade feel to them, more so than the other games.”
    • “Graphics 9/10; the graphics in the Atelier games are amazing, with a nice highlighted cel-shaded kind of look.”
    • “Graphical style took a step back with Atelier Ayesha.”
    • “I really loved the Arland trilogy, so it took me a while to get used to the art style and color palette of the latest English title.”
    • “The graphics have a sort of hand-drawn feel to them, especially the ingredient icons, which have a sort of homemade feel to them, more so than the other games.”
  • gameplay21 mentions

    Gameplay in the latest installment has seen significant improvements, particularly in battle mechanics and the introduction of a positional element that enhances party-member assists. While the game retains the core Atelier formula, it offers a more enjoyable and less stressful experience, though some players find the time-based mechanics restrictive, necessitating multiple playthroughs to fully explore the game. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its enhancements over previous titles, with a good balance of freedom and limitations, making it both engaging and accessible.

    • “Gameplay-wise, a new positional element has been added that integrates into party-member assists.”
    • “They took all the annoyances of the Arland series out of their equation and improved overall gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is good and addictive, even though the game has some technical and presentation issues.”
    • “It adds a new element to the tried and true Atelier formula, but ultimately it only helps to boost battlefield prowess slightly without adding significant depth or differences to core gameplay.”
    • “Great game, great girl, great endings, but the time-based mechanic ruins my explorer soul!”
    • “This mechanic forces you to replay the game a few times if you want to experience it all.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised as a significant improvement over previous titles, featuring a diverse and fitting soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere across various situations. Reviewers highlight the quirky and epic compositions, noting that the music is among the best in the series, contributing to an overall enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “The sometimes quirky, sometimes epic music returns with appropriate tracks for all situations and sets a good atmosphere.”
    • “The music is amazingly good too, probably the best in the series so far.”
    • “The character models are beautiful, the music is great, and the combat is much improved since the days of Atelier Rorona.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted through amusing cutscenes and entertaining character interactions, particularly with Linca, who adds a comedic touch. Players also enjoy the funny events and the quirky narrative surrounding item synthesis, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience.

    • “You will have funny cutscenes and spend your time fighting monsters and harvesting stuff for new equipment or items.”
    • “The events are also a good part, and some of them are funny ^_^.”
    • “The first in the Dusk series, Ayesha delivers a funny story with mind-bending item synthesis facets.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the Atelier series is generally praised for its charming and unique designs, with a blend of homely and exotic aesthetics. Players appreciate the depth of characters and storylines, particularly highlighting "Ayesha" for its superior character and story development compared to others in the series. While some titles may have dated art styles, the likability of characters and quality of voice acting contribute positively to the overall experience.

    • “The storyline is pretty good, the graphics are pretty, and the character designs are adorable.”
    • “Of all of the games Gust has created, I think Mana Khemia (PS2) is the best. The art style on character portraits is a bit dated, but the characters are so likable, and the English voice acting and the character development are so good.”
    • “Character design was shooting for cute over battle equipped, which is the usual for any Atelier game.”
    • “The character design by Hidari is also very particular, reminiscent of Fractale in a way, halfway between homely and exotic.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a diverse and purposeful soundtrack that complements various situations, maintaining an earthy and moody tone. While most music tracks are well-received, some elements, like the voice acting for Pana, received mixed feedback. Overall, the music effectively contributes to the game's immersive experience.

    • “The sometimes quirky, sometimes epic music returns with appropriate tracks for all situations and sets a good atmosphere.”
    • “It never strays too far from the earthy, moody atmosphere, so every track is purposeful, from mischievous to determined.”
    • “The majority of the music fits the atmosphere pleasantly well.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
    • “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
    • “The overall ambiance is forgettable, making it hard to stay engaged with the game's environment.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers a similar level of replayability as its predecessors through features like New Game Plus and multiple endings, despite being shorter in length. However, some players feel it lacks significant replay value, leading to mixed opinions on its overall worth.

    • “The game is a bit shorter than the previous titles, but it offers the same level of replayability with features like New Game Plus and multiple endings to explore.”
    • “With the addition of New Game Plus and various endings, the replayability is on par with older games, making it a worthwhile experience.”
    • “Even though it's shorter, the replayability remains high thanks to new game modes and the opportunity to discover different endings.”
    • “Other contributions to the rating are what I consider a total lack of replay value, and the waste of time playing this game in the first place.”
    • “Furthermore, the game is a bit shorter than the previous games, though it has the same replayability as older games with new game plus and going for new endings.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of voice acting in the game has been criticized, particularly due to the absence of the Japanese voice acting and a lackluster performance from the English voice actor, which fails to meet the standards set by previous titles like Atelier Meruru. The lead character's voice is described as flat and bland, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Not only is the Japanese voice acting missing due to a business decision by the new publisher, Tecmo Koei, but the English voice acting performance is not up to par compared to Atelier Meruru.”
    • “At the very least, Ayesha's voice acting delivers a somewhat flat and bland performance for the lead character.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game is praised for its beautiful RPG elements and a deeply emotional story that resonates with players, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “A beautiful RPG game with an emotional story.”
    • “The characters' journeys deeply resonated with me, making me feel a range of emotions.”
    • “I was moved to tears by the heartfelt moments and the powerful narrative.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, suggesting that it may require repetitive tasks that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “It can be a bit tedious.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and repetitive.”
    • “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over without any real reward.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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