Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 67 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.

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

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 67 reviews
story10 positive mentions
grinding4 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 mission structure repetitive and lacking depth, leading to a grindy experience.
  • The battle system can feel unbalanced, with encounters being either too easy or frustratingly difficult.
  • story49 mentions

    The story aspect of the games reviewed varies significantly, with "Persona" praised for its linear storytelling that prioritizes narrative over gameplay mechanics, while the "Atelier" series is noted for its innocent and well-written stories, though some entries suffer from a lack of urgency and depth. Players appreciate character interactions and unique storylines, but some feel that the plots can be repetitive and fail to create a compelling narrative experience. Overall, while some games offer engaging character-driven stories, others are criticized for their simplistic or checklist-like quest structures.

    • “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.”
    • “You aren't faced with an end-of-the-world plot from the offset; instead, most times, you start off as a young girl about to begin studying alchemy and learn about her future hopes and dreams.”
    • “The story mainly revolves around these two unique characters interacting with each other and forging a friendship.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay26 mentions

    The gameplay in the Atelier series, particularly in the latest installment, features improved turn-based mechanics that prioritize item synthesis and mission completion over complex strategy, making it accessible for new players. 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 mixed opinions on the overall mechanics. Despite minor translation issues and bugs, the core gameplay remains engaging for fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay is improved slightly over earlier Atelier games and takes advantage of the PS3 graphics capabilities.”
    • “One day, we may see remastered PS4 (or PS5) versions of the Atelier games; the entire Dusk series would be an easy conversion, needing only a 4K image upgrade as the controls and gameplay are close to perfect.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics15 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and smoothness, showcasing a significant improvement over earlier titles in the series, particularly benefiting from the PS3's capabilities. Players appreciate the charming, cute art style and character designs, although some feel that the graphics do not align well with the story's tone. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, contributing to an engaging aesthetic experience.

    • “Earlier games, like Rorona, looked like enhanced PS2 games; Shallie is smooth in both gameplay and graphics.”
    • “Plus, this game has such beautiful graphics (like all the dusk games), and the story is intriguing, too.”
    • “As a huge fan of these games, I have to say it is beautiful...the artwork and music leave a fan in awe.”
    • “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 exp), 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”
  • music10 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 great soundtrack and memorable shop music, with dual audio options enhancing the experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding its impact on the game's emotional tone.

    • “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.”
    • “The soundtrack is great, the voice acting is good (Shallistera is fine but Shallote is just awesome). It's dual audio, so Japanese and English are included.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players appreciate the new task system update, which alleviates some of the tedium associated with time-specific tasks by automatically updating available options. However, many still find the game features repetitive and grindy elements, such as excessive collection quests and the need to frequently return to town due to limited inventory space. Overall, while there are improvements, the grinding aspect remains a significant concern for players seeking a more streamlined experience.

    • “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 a stronger story to drive everything, less grindy and repetitive tasks, and more diversity in enemies.”
    • “Battle transitions happen too quickly, making the combat feel choppy and less smooth, and there are repetitive hunt/collection quests like in prior games.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Recent updates have significantly improved the game's stability, with a patch addressing the growth system glitch and resulting in a nearly bug-free experience for many players. Overall, users report a stable gameplay experience following these fixes.

    • “A patch has been issued and fixes the growth system glitch, so now the game is practically bug-free for me.”
    • “Besides that, the game is bug-free for me.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited despite the inclusion of a new game plus mode and multiple endings. While some familiar characters return, not all are playable, which may affect the incentive to replay. However, the engaging combat system adds a layer of enjoyment that can make replaying worthwhile for some players.

    • “In other words, despite a New Game+ and multiple endings, I find the replay value to be on the slight side.”
    • “Some characters from previous Dusk games make a return, but not all of them are playable.”
    • “Replay value that's well worth the time and an interesting combat system that feels both rewarding and exciting.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by vibrant and detailed character designs, although some users note that the environments may lack richness.

    • “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 focus on character development makes each character feel unique and engaging.”
    • “The depth of character development allows players to form a strong connection with the characters, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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