Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny instead refines their approach, streamlining their system mechanics while remaining robust and satisfying enough to appease longtime fans. The item-oriented combat system of the first effort is almost replaced entirely, with a style that feels like a more primitive version of Grandia's emphasis on turn-manipulation. Beyond its entertaining, strategic combat system lies a dual-perspective story, splitting the alchemy system and the main storyline apart while remaining cohesive. Gust may have finally acknowledged their faults - a severe lack of entertaining plot and interesting characters, but chose to expand upon their strengths to compensate.