Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 37 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea Game Cover
A solid title that ends the Dusk trilogy on a positive note. New and altered gameplay mechanics will determine if you rank this above or below Escha and Logy, but either way it is still a must-have for Atelier and TK RPG fans.
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"Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea" is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game and the third installment of the 'Dusk' storyline in the 'Atelier' series. The game offers players the choice of two characters, each with a unique storyline, and takes place 10 years after "Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk" and 6 years after "Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky." The game features larger fields for exploration and a wider variety of items for harvesting and mixing.

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Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 37 reviews
story7 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Atelier Shallie features improved gameplay mechanics and graphics, making it a visually appealing and enjoyable experience.
  • The removal of the time limit allows for a more relaxed gameplay style, enabling players to explore and complete tasks at their own pace.
  • The game offers a well-written story with charming characters, making it a refreshing addition to the Atelier series.
  • The game suffers from translation errors and bugs, including a game-breaking glitch that can occur at level 40.
  • Some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth, with a focus on item synthesis that may not appeal to everyone.
  • The battle system can feel unbalanced, with encounters being either too easy or frustratingly difficult, leading to a grindy experience.
  • story39 mentions

    The story aspect of the games reviewed varies significantly, with some titles like Persona praised for their linear storytelling that prioritizes character development and narrative depth over gameplay mechanics. In contrast, the Atelier series is noted for its more simplistic and sometimes lackluster plots, often feeling like a series of quests rather than a cohesive narrative, though it does feature well-written characters and charming interactions. Overall, while some games offer engaging and unique storylines, others struggle with pacing and depth, leading to a mixed reception regarding their storytelling quality.

    • “Persona is linear storytelling done right, again with turn-based RPG gameplay, but the story is the primary focus over treasure hunting or item creation.”
    • “The story mainly revolves around these two unique characters interacting with each other and forging a friendship.”
    • “In this one, there's actually a varied plot line depending on who you play, and the game is different enough with each character to make me want to play it again.”
    • “The plot is almost nonexistent and creates no urgency or wonder or anything but 'now do this quest and then after that do this one.' It's like running down a checklist.”
    • “It was hard to get into the story for a number of reasons, one being that the story is more dramatic but the scenery is very bright and cheery compared to the previous dusk games, making it feel out of place.”
    • “The graphics and feel of the game do not seem to fit the story they are trying to tell, and some weird design choices make some things like leveling up and obtaining experience confusing.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay in the Atelier series, particularly in the latest installment, features improved turn-based mechanics and a focus on item synthesis, though it remains relatively simple and accessible. While the graphics have seen a notable upgrade, some players feel that the removal of strict time constraints has not been fully justified, leading to a less engaging experience compared to earlier titles. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable but may not satisfy those seeking deeper strategic elements or a more complex challenge.

    • “The gameplay is improved slightly over earlier Atelier games and takes advantage of the PS3 graphics capabilities.”
    • “The big mechanic that is in the entire series is making items you can later use in combat, which is neat and fun.”
    • “While it is a good thing that this mechanic is well done (because it's the key mechanic), the combat system is also pretty fun while maintaining simplicity.”
    • “The gameplay is regular turn-based, not heavily focused on strategy or the tactical type, so it's a very easy game to pick up and play.”
    • “Lovely graphics, some interesting characters, but the mechanics in this game just aren't as good.”
    • “While I'm appreciative that the devs try to improve upon the mechanics of the series as it goes, this one falls flat because they did away with the time system without fully understanding why they were getting rid of it or why they should be getting rid of it.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and smoothness, showcasing the capabilities of the PS3 and appealing to fans of cute, vibrant art styles. While some players appreciate the character designs and overall aesthetic, there are critiques regarding the maturity of character appearances not aligning with the story's tone. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, though some feel they could better match the game's narrative and mechanics.

    • “The gameplay is improved slightly over earlier Atelier games and takes advantage of the PS3 graphics capabilities.”
    • “They seem custom crafted to appeal to gamers who love chirpy, super cute graphics.”
    • “Plus, this game has such beautiful graphics (like all the dusk games), and the story is intriguing, too.”
    • “The graphics and feel of the game do not seem to fit the story they are trying to tell, and some weird design choices make some things like leveling up and obtaining experience confusing.”
    • “Per series direction/improvements: the series could use a stronger story (and aesthetics to match) to drive everything, less grindy and repetitive tasks, clear feedback to user (whether it be synthesis or combat experience), no forcing the user to end the game due to a time limit (I assume this is not the case for this game, at least), more diversity in enemies.”
    • “Overall opinion/comparison per other games in series (from greatest to worst): characters/story: ayesha; totori; escha; shallie / meruru graphics: ayesha; escha; meruru; totori / shallie gameplay: escha; ayesha; meruru; shallie; totori”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it beautiful and awe-inspiring, others describe it as bland and forgettable. Highlights include a dramatic opening track and unique shop music with a vocaloid-like quality, but overall, the soundtrack does not consistently impress. Voice acting is praised, particularly for certain characters, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game's audio experience.

    • “As a huge fan of these games, I have to say it is beautiful... the artwork and music leave a fan in awe.”
    • “The music never disappoints and the new characters are fun too.”
    • “Miruca's shop music sounds like it has Vocaloid-ish singing/humming, and the opening music is dramatic and cool.”
    • “Sound: the music is bland and entirely forgettable.”
    • “Miruca's shop music sounds like it has Vocaloid-ish singing/humming.”
    • “The opening music is dramatic and cool.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players appreciate the new task system update that reduces the tedium of time-specific tasks, but many still find the game features repetitive and grindy elements, such as excessive collection quests and small inventory limits that necessitate frequent returns to town. While some mechanics, like the synthesis system, are seen as unnecessarily complicated, the overall sentiment suggests a desire for less grinding and more engaging gameplay.

    • “Some particularly grindy activities, like the mission to deliver 50 leather (when you can create ~3 pieces per synthesis), or only collecting 3 water from a point in town every time you visit from the world map, feel like needless grinding.”
    • “The series could use less grindy and repetitive tasks, clear feedback to the user (whether it be synthesis or combat experience), and more diversity in enemies.”
    • “Repetitive hunt/collection quests like prior games contribute to the grind, making the overall experience feel tedious.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Overall, while the game offers a New Game+ mode and multiple endings, many players feel that the replayability is somewhat limited, as not all characters from previous titles are playable.

    • “The game offers a New Game Plus mode and multiple endings, which adds to its replay value.”
    • “Some characters from previous Dusk games make a return, enhancing the experience for fans.”
    • “Despite a new game plus and multiple endings, I find the replay value to be quite limited.”
    • “Some characters from previous Dusk games make a return, but not all of them are playable.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that the game's stability has significantly improved following a recent patch that addressed a major glitch in the growth system, leading to a largely bug-free experience.

    • “A patch has been issued that fixes the growth system glitch, so now the game is practically bug-free for me.”
    • “Besides that, the game is bug-free for me.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by vibrant and detailed character designs, although some users note that the surrounding environments may feel somewhat lacking.

    • “The character design is bright and colorful, showcasing a lot of detail that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The environments can be a little sparse, but the depth of character development makes up for it.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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