Atelier Meruru ~The Apprentice of Arland~ DX

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 140 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Atelier Meruru ~The Apprentice of Arland~ DX Game Cover
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"Atelier Meruru ~The Apprentice of Arland~ DX" is a role-playing game where players help Princess Meruru develop her kingdom, Arls, through the use of alchemy, exploration, and battle. By accumulating development points and fulfilling requests from the people, players can build new facilities and advance the kingdom. The English version of the game includes English voice acting for an enhanced gaming experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 140 reviews
story16 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • Atelier Meruru is considered the best of the Arland trilogy, featuring a charming protagonist and a diverse cast of characters that enhance the gameplay experience.
  • The game introduces a more lenient time management system, allowing players to explore and develop their kingdom without feeling overly pressured.
  • The crafting and synthesis systems are well-designed, providing depth and rewarding players for their efforts in item creation and kingdom development.
  • Some players found the time limit to be still somewhat strict, making it challenging to juggle all tasks and achieve desired endings.
  • There are reports of bugs and glitches, particularly related to quest progression and character interactions, which can hinder the overall experience.
  • The reliance on returning characters from previous games may alienate newcomers who haven't played the earlier titles, as they might miss out on important context and character development.
  • story62 mentions

    The story in "Atelier Meruru" is generally viewed as light and humorous, focusing on slice-of-life elements rather than high-stakes drama, which may appeal to fans of the genre. While it features a charming cast and integrates characters from previous titles, many reviewers suggest that newcomers should play earlier games in the series to fully appreciate the narrative and character development. Overall, the story is considered enjoyable but not as strong as its predecessors, with some players wishing for more time to explore its quests and endings.

    • “An excellent crafting system and a fun slice-of-life story!”
    • “Fantastic cast and an enjoyable story.”
    • “The story has former characters from prior entries in the Arland trilogy who return and get further developed, but the game also introduces a new great cast of characters who are very likable.”
    • “I'd say the weakest part of Meruru DX is the story.”
    • “While the game brings back characters from the previous titles, Atelier Rorona and Atelier Totori, it presents side stories and cutscenes for fan service rather than developing the main storyline.”
    • “If you want to be the hero of the story, saving princesses in faraway castles, this game is definitely not for you.”
  • gameplay32 mentions

    The gameplay in "Meruru" is praised for its addictive loop and polished mechanics, blending elements from previous titles in the Atelier series while introducing unique features like kingdom development and battle items that enhance engagement. Players appreciate the satisfying combat system and the replay value offered through various unlockable facilities and endings, despite some criticism regarding time limits and stack size reductions. Overall, it stands out as a favorite in the Arland trilogy, delivering a modern and enjoyable experience.

    • “But all it took was a couple of hours to get me completely hooked on Meruru's gameplay loop.”
    • “The characters were fun, the gameplay loop was satisfying, and there's tons of replay value with different facilities to unlock and endings to reach.”
    • “Overall, this is my favorite game in the original Arland trilogy in terms of gameplay as it's a lot more polished and plays like a modern Atelier game.”
    • “Gameplay: 3/5; the time limit and forced new game+ was a mistake.”
    • “With time mechanics following the framework of 'Atelier Totori', it creates a strict guideline, lacking the flexibility found in previous titles.”
    • “I'm on my third playthrough and I'm trying to conquer Makina Domain, which is a difficult post-game map. Maximizing and optimizing gear and items for these bosses on my own would probably cost me more hours of gameplay.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics in "Meruru" show significant improvement over its predecessors, with a soft color palette and artwork that aligns with the Arland series, though they max out at 1080p. While performance is generally stable, some users noted issues with jagged 3D models and limited graphics options, requiring adjustments for optimal performance. Overall, the game delivers a visually appealing experience, especially for its time on the PS3.

    • “The graphics in Meruru are better; there are no crashing issues (there's just one glitch in the volcano boss, but you can fix it by running in windowed mode), and I was able to run it at 1440p60 with a very stable frame rate.”
    • “Coming toward the end of the PS3 in 2012, it has really good graphics and is a fun game with a memorable story.”
    • “The artwork and soft color palette are on par with the previous titles of the Arland series.”
    • “The graphics in Meruru are better, but 3D models and shadows are jagged. There are exactly two options for graphics: resolution, which fails to work at resolutions above 1080p, and upscaling from 1080p. You can hex edit it, but why should you have to? The menus aren't positioned correctly if you do so.”
    • “Performance is awesome in general, but the game defaults to using integrated graphics on my laptop, so be sure to allow it access to your GPU to get solid 60fps.”
    • “Just like the previous titles, graphics max out at 1080p, and while the artwork and soft color palette are on par with the previous titles of the Arland series, it feels like a missed opportunity for improvement.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised, with many considering it a standout feature that continues the Atelier series' tradition of excellent soundtracks. While some fans feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor, Atelier Totori, the overall consensus is that it offers a delightful mix of catchy tunes and alternative tracks for various settings, enhancing the gameplay experience.

    • “They nailed it again with the music!”
    • “Best gameplay and music in the trilogy by far.”
    • “The usual great Atelier music returns with a nice list of alternative music for battle and city areas!”
  • optimization6 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with users reporting smooth performance and no crashes on various systems. However, some players noted that it defaults to integrated graphics on laptops, which can lead to stuttering; ensuring the game uses a dedicated GPU is essential for achieving a stable 60fps.

    • “Performance is awesome in general, but the game defaults to using integrated graphics on my laptop, so be sure to allow it access to your GPU to get solid 60fps.”
    • “The performance is smoother than PS3 and RPCS3 gameplay. No crashes on both my Ryzen system with different GPUs; it's an enjoyable experience.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development initially appears unappealing, particularly due to the protagonist's stereotypical portrayal as a spoiled princess and the fujoshi-influenced character designs. However, players often find themselves growing more attached to the characters over time, with standout figures like Sterk enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Character designs are off-putting at first, but they grow on you. The coolest character for me here would be Sterk.”
    • “I wasn't really keen on Meruru from the cover and assumed I would be playing a typical spoiled bratty princess. However, I ended up loving and immersing myself in the game more and more.”
    • “I wasn't really keen on Meruru from the cover and assumed I would be playing a typical spoiled bratty princess, which really turned me off. The shift to fujoshi pandering character designs by Mel Kishida also contributed to my initial dislike.”
    • “Character designs are off-putting at first, but they grow on you. However, I still feel that the character development could have been more engaging.”
    • “While I eventually immersed myself in the game, the initial character designs and the portrayal of the main character left me feeling disconnected.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, featuring a satisfying gameplay loop, fun characters, and numerous endings to explore. Players can unlock various facilities, engage in refined item crafting, and face challenging optional bosses, further enhanced by a New Game+ mode. Overall, the combination of these elements ensures a rich and engaging experience upon replay.

    • “The characters were fun, the gameplay loop was satisfying, and there's tons of replay value with different facilities to unlock and endings to reach.”
    • “The item crafting is refined, the battles are more challenging and fun, there's tons of endings to get, great replay value with New Game Plus and many challenging optional bosses.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game features a wealth of humor woven into its storyline, providing plenty of laughs without becoming excessive or tiresome. Overall, players appreciate the balance of comedic elements throughout the experience.

    • “There was still plenty of humor, but it didn't overstay its welcome.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the heartwarming relationship between the wizened adventurer Totori and her apprentice, showcasing a supportive and nurturing dynamic that enhances the sequel's appeal. Despite some technical shortcomings, the emotional depth of the characters remains a standout feature.

    • “Speaking of Totori... her inclusion as a supportive and nonobtrusive teacher also makes this an outstanding sequel - it's extremely heartwarming to see a wizened adventurer do her best for her apprentice.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability on Windows PCs, with users reporting minimal issues, including only one crash noted during gameplay.

    • “The game runs great on a Windows PC; I had one crash, but that's about it.”
    • “The game runs great on a Windows PC; I had one crash, but that's about it.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players generally find that grinding for money in this game is more enjoyable and less tedious compared to other titles, making the farming experience feel less burdensome.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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