Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 58 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland Game Cover
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Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland is a Japanese role-playing video game developed by Gust. It takes the series alchemy driven gameplay and expands it towards encouraging exploration and discovery. Atelier Totori is the twelfth installment in the Atelier series, and it continues the series' emphasis on item synthesis. The game is the second in the Arland series and a direct sequel to Atelier…

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

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews
story11 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Atelier Totori features beautiful graphics and a vibrant aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.
  • The alchemy system is engaging and allows for a wide variety of item synthesis, providing depth to gameplay.
  • Character interactions and development are well-crafted, with memorable personalities and humorous moments.
  • The strict time management system can be frustrating, often leading to resets and a sense of pressure to complete tasks.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive, with many quests feeling similar and lacking variety.
  • The battle system may feel unbalanced, especially early on, as some characters can overshadow others, making it less enjoyable for new players.
  • story45 mentions

    The story of "Atelier Totori" centers around the protagonist's quest to find her long-lost mother, a famous adventurer, which provides a personal and engaging narrative. While the character interactions are generally well-crafted and light-hearted, many players noted that the quest structure can become repetitive, leading to a sense of grinding. Overall, the story is appreciated for its charm and character development, though some found it lacking in depth compared to previous titles in the series.

    • “The story revolves around the young alchemist Totoria Helmold, or Totori as people call her.”
    • “As such, the overall strength of the story is heavily dependent on the characters being crafted well by the developers, and Atelier Totori does not disappoint.”
    • “The story was light-hearted, the characters were endearing, and the gameplay was very easy to get into.”
    • “The problem with that is that many of the quests are the same; I recall doing the same few quests probably 10-15+ times (defeat blue punis, defeat audras, defeat ear punis, deliver nuse, deliver bomb ice, etc).”
    • “Not sure what happened between that and this game, but this game seriously lacks any storyline.”
    • “Though the game time span increases to 5 years from the 3 years setting in Rorona, it actually has less content than Rorona: less plot for each character and almost no plot for alchemy.”
  • gameplay29 mentions

    The gameplay in the Atelier series has seen notable improvements over time, with later entries offering more polished mechanics and better balance among characters. While earlier games may feel less inviting to newcomers due to some crude mechanics and a lack of strategic depth, they still provide enjoyable experiences with a focus on alchemy, exploration, and light-hearted storytelling. Overall, the series maintains a balance between gameplay elements, though some players may find the emphasis on certain mechanics limiting.

    • “Gameplay-wise, battling, exploring, and alchemy are well-balanced as one aspect does not take away from another.”
    • “Gameplay has all been improved too; quest flow, management, balance, and feature set are all upgraded. Boss fights, dungeons, and all of the meat are just so much more cohesive.”
    • “The story was light-hearted, the characters were endearing, and the gameplay was very easy to get into.”
    • “That said, I can say that game mechanics-wise, the series generally improves, so having knowledge of future games means that I like where the series is going (in general), but it also makes some of the crude and less polished game mechanics that much more noticeable in these earlier games.”
    • “The way it played out emphasizes said character as a 'strong' character, but in terms of gameplay and game balancing, it made the other two characters pretty worthless for hours into the game.”
    • “My one small complaint about the gameplay is the emphasis on keeping your party the same if you want to do both alchemy and battle.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics in the Atelier series are generally praised for their vibrant and colorful aesthetic, with a notable improvement in quality from earlier titles like Totori to later entries such as Meruru and Ayesha. Players appreciate the soft, anime-like visuals and the beautiful environments, often ranking Ayesha as the best in terms of graphics. Overall, the series is recognized for its charming art style and dynamic visuals, making it visually appealing for fans of JRPGs.

    • “Graphics 8.2/10. The graphics of the Atelier series in general are gorgeous.”
    • “The graphics in Totori were not as good as later games, but it still has a very vibrant and colorful aesthetic to it.”
    • “Everything just seems so pretty, and the scenery + characters in the game just look so good. Everyone who played Rorona before will definitely be amazed by the quality of the graphics in this title.”
    • “Mechanically and graphically, Meruru has many improvements over Totori to make it easier for newcomers, but the story is kind of bland and the experience feels a bit disconnected.”
    • “Graphics are soft and very much anime-like; I would have liked more FMV sequences than virtualized characters, but I have not yet finished the game, so there might be more surprises.”
    • “The graphics have a huge jump in this title from Rorona.”
  • music17 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, fitting the setting and enhancing the experience, particularly during events and battles. However, some players find the default tracks underwhelming and recommend purchasing additional DLC for improved music options. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered above average for the genre, opinions vary on its impact, with some praising it as excellent and others viewing it as merely nice.

    • “The music fits well with the game, with some event and the battle music being particularly noteworthy.”
    • “The soundtrack of this game is great and the graphics are clean and dynamic.”
    • “Overall, Atelier Totori is well-balanced and dynamic with a great soundtrack and for the most part, good voice acting.”
    • “Music you may want to download some rather cheap DLC for better workshop and battle music.”
    • “I did, and playing is much improved since the default music in battles/workshop is, in my opinion, rather horrible.”
    • “The game is very bad, come with the opening song interprets of bad contents.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by engaging character interactions and amusing dialogue, with many memorable and funny scenes that enhance the experience. While some content may not be suitable for younger audiences, the overall comedic tone is light-hearted and relatable, making it enjoyable for fans of anime. The absence of crude humor and the inclusion of random, relatable moments contribute positively to the game's charm.

    • “The character interactions are pretty good, some quite funny and memorable.”
    • “Things start off slowly, but with a lot of hilarious and fun scenes involving the principal characters.”
    • “Overall this game is very recommended, especially if you like anime; not to mention the music is nice and the story can sometimes be hilarious.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings, diverse character options, and engaging synthesis mechanics, appealing to players who enjoy exploring different gameplay choices and collecting trophies. Additionally, reasonably priced DLC enhances the experience by introducing new characters and music, further enriching the replay value.

    • “There are numerous endings in the game which lead to a lot of replayability, so if you're one of those people who likes collecting every trophy, there's plenty for you to do.”
    • “There are numerous endings in the game which lead to a lot of replayability (and walkthrough-referencing), so if you're one of those people who likes collecting every trophy, there's plenty for you to do.”
    • “This freedom in both gameplay choices as well as story events gives Atelier Totori a degree of replay value that few single-player games can rival.”
    • “It's quite a great addition, as each character has a full set of moves available to them, adding even more replay value to the game.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and variety, with unique personalities effectively portrayed across a diverse cast. Players rank the character and story quality, with Ayesha consistently coming out on top, followed by Totori and Meruru. While the art style may feel dated, the likability of the characters and the quality of English voice acting enhance the overall experience.

    • “The character development and portrayal, and number of unique personalities is pretty well done for the number of characters that are in it.”
    • “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 is so good.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players highlight a significant grinding element in the game, primarily associated with completing quests and battling, which are essential for earning money. This repetitive gameplay can detract from the overall experience for some users.

    • “I do note that there was a fairly heavy grinding aspect related to these quests, as it is the primary way to earn money.”
    • “Another grinding aspect is battling.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users suggest that the emotional depth of the game is best appreciated after experiencing "Atelier Meruru," indicating that it may build on themes or feelings introduced in that title, enhancing the overall emotional experience.

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

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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