Atelier Meruru ~The Apprentice of Arland~ DX
- December 3, 2018
- KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.
Get on Steam"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.
Reviews
- Atelier Meruru is considered the best of the Arland trilogy, featuring a charming protagonist and a robust crafting system that enhances gameplay.
- The game offers a more lenient time limit compared to its predecessors, allowing players to explore and complete tasks without feeling overly rushed.
- The character roster is extensive, with many returning favorites and new characters, providing a rich narrative experience and plenty of replay value through multiple endings.
- Some players experienced bugs and glitches, including issues with the final boss and a lack of new development tasks, which could hinder progress.
- The game requires multiple playthroughs to unlock all endings, which some players found frustrating, especially with certain endings being locked behind New Game+.
- While the graphics and gameplay are improved, some players noted that the soundtrack and character designs felt less appealing compared to previous titles in the series.
- story31 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally viewed as a light-hearted slice-of-life narrative, with a focus on character development and crafting rather than traditional heroics. While it features a charming cast and integrates returning characters from previous titles, many reviewers suggest that it lacks the dramatic depth found in earlier entries of the series, making it less suitable for newcomers. Overall, the story is enjoyable but may feel incomplete without prior knowledge of the preceding games.
“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.”
“Story-wise, it's alright.”
“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.”
“I'd say the weakest part of Meruru DX is the story.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Meruru" is praised for its addictive loop and polished mechanics, offering a satisfying blend of combat and kingdom development that enhances player engagement. While some players noted limitations due to time constraints and reduced stack sizes, the overall experience is enriched by replay value and the introduction of unique battle items. Many consider it the best in the Arland trilogy, with smooth performance and enjoyable character interactions.
“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.”
“The gameplay is awesome, the combat system is a mix between Rorona and Totori, but the biggest thing for me is the importance of the battle item.”
“Gameplay: 3/5; the time limit and forced New Game+ were 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.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Meruru" show significant improvement over its predecessors, with a soft color palette and artwork that aligns with the Arland series, maintaining a maximum resolution of 1080p. While performance is generally solid, with the ability to run at 1440p60 on capable systems, some users noted jagged 3D models and limited graphical options, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite minor glitches, the game is visually appealing and offers a fun experience.
“Meruru is significantly improved over Rorona/Totori in terms of quality of life and graphics.”
“The artwork and soft color palette are on par with the previous titles of the Arland series.”
“The graphics in Meruru are better; I was able to run it at 1440p60 with a very stable frame rate.”
“The graphics in Meruru are better, but there are jagged 3D models and shadows. There are only two options for graphics resolution, which fails to work at resolutions above 1080p. Upscaling from 1080p is possible through hex editing, but why should you have to? Additionally, the menus aren't positioned correctly if you do so.”
“Performance is generally awesome, but the game defaults to using integrated graphics on my laptop. Be sure to allow it access to your GPU to achieve a solid 60fps.”
“While the artwork and soft color palette are on par with the previous titles of the Arland series, the graphics max out at 1080p, which feels limiting.”
- music6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as a standout feature, with many calling it a classic addition to the Atelier series. While some feel it doesn't quite match the quality of its predecessor, Atelier Totori, the soundtrack is still considered enjoyable and complements the game's charming art style and gameplay. Overall, it features a diverse range of tracks, including alternative music for battles and city areas.
“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!”
“The soundtrack is yet another certified Atelier hood classic.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the background music to be bland and forgettable, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, delivering smooth performance and stable 60fps when configured to use dedicated graphics. However, some users noted that it defaults to integrated graphics on laptops, which can lead to performance issues like stuttering if not adjusted.
“The 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.”
“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 development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development initially appears unappealing, particularly due to the protagonist's princess-like design and perceived personality traits, which may deter some players. However, as the game progresses, players find themselves increasingly immersed in the story and characters, with standout figures like Sterk gaining appreciation despite initial reservations about the character designs.
“I wasn't really keen on Meruru from the cover, as I 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, but in the end, I found myself loving and immersing more into the game.”
“Character designs are off-putting at first, but they grow on you. The coolest character for me here would be Sterk.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the high replayability of the game, citing enjoyable characters, a satisfying gameplay loop, and numerous unlockable facilities and endings. The refined item crafting, challenging battles, and the inclusion of New Game+ and optional bosses further enhance the incentive to 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.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a wealth of humor woven into its storyline, striking a balance that keeps it entertaining without becoming excessive. Players appreciate the comedic elements for enhancing the experience without overshadowing the main narrative.
“A lot of funny stories.”
“There was still plenty of humor, but it didn't overstay its welcome.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the heartwarming relationship between the supportive teacher and her apprentice, which adds depth to the sequel. However, technical issues such as jagged models and shadows detract from the overall experience, leaving some doubts about future improvements.
“Speaking of Totori... her inclusion as a supportive and non-obtrusive teacher also makes this an outstanding sequel - it's extremely heartwarming to see a wizened adventurer do her best for her apprentice.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability on Windows PCs, with users reporting minimal issues, including only a single crash.
“The game runs great on a Windows PC; I experienced only one crash, but that's about it.”
“Overall, the stability of the game is impressive, with minimal issues during gameplay.”
“I've had a smooth experience with the game, encountering very few bugs or crashes.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative 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 more rewarding.
“Farming for money doesn't feel as bad here.”
“The grinding is repetitive and feels like a chore rather than a fun activity.”
“I spent hours grinding for resources, and it felt like I was just wasting my time.”
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