This adventurous RPG is all about crafting - Atelier Ryza 3 Quick Review

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT?

Play it, but make sure you play the previous Ryza games first. As the third and final game in the Ryza trilogy, Atelier Ryza 3 isn’t a great jumping in point for new players. There’s a brief prologue movie that summarizes the first two games, but it only goes over the basics. While there are a few new characters, most characters have established relationships and chat with each other about past events. As a long-time Atelier fan that hasn’t gotten around to the Ryza games, I felt like I was eavesdropping on old friends who I barely knew. Atelier Ryza 3 has fantastic combat and a solid alchemy system, but it’s not newcomer-friendly.

TIME PLAYED

I played a little over six hours of Atelier Ryza 3, which gave me the chance to complete lots of quests, meet new and returning characters, and unlock the secret key mechanic mentioned in the game’s title. While I spent a good chunk of time experimenting with the alchemy system, I still had plenty of time for travel. There’s a fast travel system, but you can also swim, travel by boats, or use mounts to get around. Exploration is a huge part of Ryza 3, and I’m excited to see more of its vast world.

WHAT’S AWESOME

• Fun and fast-paced battles. Atelier Ryza 3 blends turn-based and action combat elements, and the resulting combination is an absolute blast. Battles take place in real time, but a time gauge determines when characters can act. I had to wait for my time gauge to fill to attack or use items, but could block enemy attacks at any time. Every successful block and attack earned me Action Points, which I could use to launch powerful special attacks. It’s a great twist on more traditional turn-based systems, and even standard encounters kept me engaged. While only one character can be controlled at a time, you can switch between characters with the push of a button. Each party member has a unique playstyle, and I really enjoyed trying different characters out.

• Deep alchemy system. Alchemy has always been the highlight of the Atelier series, and Atelier Ryza 3 is no exception. Since Ryza is an experienced alchemist, she already has access to a wide range of crafting recipes at the start of the game, including recipes for bombs, healing items, and weapons. Every time I synthesized items, I earned points I could spend on a skill tree, which unlocked perks like new recipes and better materials, and each crafted item also has its own skill tree. I was able to add exploding spikes to bombs, increase the range of my healing items, and improve the critical rate of weapons. I spent tons of time synthesizing items, and I still feel like I only got a glimpse of the customization options.

• Character banter. Whether I was exploring a town, gathering materials, or beating up monsters, my party members were always talking to each other. These conversations mostly consisted of teasing and idle chatter, but it made characters feel like genuine friends. I enjoyed watching interactions between different party members, and this extra dialogue was a fun way to learn more about new characters that joined my party. There are eleven playable characters in Atelier Ryza 3, and thanks to the character banter, all of them feel like a vital part of the game.

• Photo mode. I always love to take pictures in games, but it’s a lot more fun when there’s a detailed photo mode like the one in Atelier Ryza 3. Not only could I adjust the angle of photos, but I could change the time of day, add filters and frames, and even include other characters or NPCs in shots! Every character has tons of poses and expressions, and I loved creating custom scenes.

WHAT SUCKS

• Slow start. Even though Atelier Ryza 3 starts off mid-adventure, it takes a while for things to get going. During the first hour, I spent a lot of time traveling back and forth between two locations, which was extremely tedious. Things quickly picked up after I got access to the secret key system, but I wish the game took less time to get to that point. I love the peaceful, slice-of-life vibe of the Atelier series, but I still found Ryza 3’s opening to be pretty dull.

• Limited tutorials. There are detailed tutorials for Atelier Ryza 3’s battle and alchemy systems, but other aspects go unexplained. I only realized I had access to fast travel when I saw it on my area map, and other features, like systems for crafting superpowered items, also went unexplained. There’s an in-game guide with more information, but it’s still too easy for essential gameplay features to go unnoticed.

💬 Are you ready to uncover the mysteries of Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, or will you be skipping this alchemic adventure. Share your thoughts in the comments!