Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World

Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World is a combination of a classic jRPG game and a city building simulator. The production, created by the Japanese studio Gust and Koei Tecmo, is a spin-off to the Atelier series and part of a project celebrating its twentieth anniversary. The Atelier series was started back in 1997 on the PlayStation. It differs from other jRPG games by a strong emphasis on crafting system, as well as often simplified combat system. The plot is also important, as it focuses on everyday life and relations between the protagonists, avoiding the clichés repeated by other jRPG titles, in which players save the world from the temptations of black characters or go on an epic journey to the end of a in-game world.

Plot

During the game, players take on the role of Nelke, a young noblewoman who is fascinated by the search for magical relics. Her father sends her to the province, where she has to prove her skills and show her knowledge by managing a small town of Westbald. If she succeeds, she will be able to fulfil her dreams and free herself from the duties entrusted to her. During the game, the heroes of all previously published installments of the Atelier series stop by when passing the city. The story will mostly satisfy those fans of the series, who for the first time will have the opportunity to see the interactions between many of their favorite characters.

Mechanics

Unlike other Ateliergames, Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World introduces strategic and economic elements to the game. Players also don't have to worry about alchemical synthesis of objects, because Nelke has no experience in this field. The game is divided into days, during which players can perform a limited number of actions. After the end of each of them players observe some changes in the city resulting from the decisions they made.

The game starts with players taking care of a small shop and Nelke's residence. When completing the tasks assigned by the citizens and getting to know new alchemists, players get access to new buildings and structures, which they can erect on 3D maps of individual districts within the town. Players assign characters of their choosing to the workshops and shops that attract new residents to Westbald. They will work as long as they have access to the materials they need. Players acquire resources on expeditions, during which they explore the area around the city.

Players form a team of up to five characters who play the role of support or attack in combat. Locations outside Westbald are shown in a very simplified way, as is the case with turn-based battles. Players also can automate the process of collecting materials and discovering new corners of the world.

Technical aspects

The game features characters representing twenty years of the series' existence. Their two-dimensional portraits displayed during dialogues, share a similar graphic style. In terms of quality, the 3D visuals do not differ from what one could see in the latest installments in the Atelier series. The gameplay is accompanied by a high quality soundtrack, containing many references to works from previous installments in the series.

Last updated on 02 April 2019