This review contains spoilers
Gust's most polished game of all time. Quite possibly the best soundtrack of the HD era of gaming. Genuine humor and pathos with an endearing cast. An explicit lesbian couple whose love is celebrated by the narrative.
I don't think BR Tie is perfect but or even necessarily that novel (outside of Yuuki and Rena's relationship, which is wonderful to see in a JRPG), but I'm giving it a score this high anyway because of what it represents to me. It makes me feel rewarded for supporting Gust for the past 16 years (a little more than half my life), ever since Atelier Iris was localized. I'm really glad they put so much love and care into this. Highly recommended for fans of Tsuchiya's games as well; he was the development producer and came up with the story, so it shares many thematic elements and storytelling devices with the EXA_PICO series.
Strong recommendation to watch the Blue Reflection Ray before playing. Weaker recommendation to play Ar Nosurge beforehand (it's probably the most similar game Gust has made, though maybe not in ways you're expecting). The first BR game is pretty skippable honestly.
I don't think BR Tie is perfect but or even necessarily that novel (outside of Yuuki and Rena's relationship, which is wonderful to see in a JRPG), but I'm giving it a score this high anyway because of what it represents to me. It makes me feel rewarded for supporting Gust for the past 16 years (a little more than half my life), ever since Atelier Iris was localized. I'm really glad they put so much love and care into this. Highly recommended for fans of Tsuchiya's games as well; he was the development producer and came up with the story, so it shares many thematic elements and storytelling devices with the EXA_PICO series.
Strong recommendation to watch the Blue Reflection Ray before playing. Weaker recommendation to play Ar Nosurge beforehand (it's probably the most similar game Gust has made, though maybe not in ways you're expecting). The first BR game is pretty skippable honestly.