Where shall I begin? This is my least favourite of the five Atelier games I have played so far. It's the closest in the series to a traditional modern JRPG (an oxymoronic sentiment I know). There are huge areas to explore as opposed to tiny zones. Multiple smaller seamless towns and cities as opposed to one single zoned city. Etc, etc. Some people may prefer this, but I certainly don't.
Even while Ayesha took me on a continent-spanning journey similar to that of Firis, there were constant fixtures in her travels that built up that sense of familiarity and comfort that I have grown to love from the Atelier series. I suppose I should expect a game with 'Mysterious' in the title to fill me instead with mystery(!) and anxiety, though that is not what I come to this series for. Ayesha's quest to save her sister was also much more of an engaging narrative hook, whereas the narrative in Firis comes across as an anime filler arc. The 'postgame', in reality the true narrative playground, did turn me around on the game quite a bit
Firis herself is a certain downgrade from the wonderfully charming Sophie, who despite appearing for a very limited time in this game all things considered absolutely makes her presence...well, present. That brings me to the greatest issue I have with this game - the character events, and the lack of presence that side characters have. With most of the events shoved to the post-exam period, save for Liane and Ilmeria to an extent, everyone feels two dimensional and replaceable. Even in past Atelier games where I was ambivalent to much of the cast, Escha and Logy's extended cast being such a case, I could simply never forget Micie or Threia despite never using them in battle. Drussel would be lucky if I remember her tomorrow.
All that said, Nicola's letter to Firis that she receives when she is homesick made me cry. Sincerely hoping Lydie and Suelle are closer to the games I love, and I hope to see Firis come into her own as well.
Even while Ayesha took me on a continent-spanning journey similar to that of Firis, there were constant fixtures in her travels that built up that sense of familiarity and comfort that I have grown to love from the Atelier series. I suppose I should expect a game with 'Mysterious' in the title to fill me instead with mystery(!) and anxiety, though that is not what I come to this series for. Ayesha's quest to save her sister was also much more of an engaging narrative hook, whereas the narrative in Firis comes across as an anime filler arc. The 'postgame', in reality the true narrative playground, did turn me around on the game quite a bit
Firis herself is a certain downgrade from the wonderfully charming Sophie, who despite appearing for a very limited time in this game all things considered absolutely makes her presence...well, present. That brings me to the greatest issue I have with this game - the character events, and the lack of presence that side characters have. With most of the events shoved to the post-exam period, save for Liane and Ilmeria to an extent, everyone feels two dimensional and replaceable. Even in past Atelier games where I was ambivalent to much of the cast, Escha and Logy's extended cast being such a case, I could simply never forget Micie or Threia despite never using them in battle. Drussel would be lucky if I remember her tomorrow.
All that said, Nicola's letter to Firis that she receives when she is homesick made me cry. Sincerely hoping Lydie and Suelle are closer to the games I love, and I hope to see Firis come into her own as well.