If you’re familiar with the Atelier series then you’ll know that much of the game will require a lot of investment, not just in terms of the gameplay but also the narrative. The story plays an integral role in the growth of the main protagonist, and helps you to better understand the flow of everything that’s unfolding. Of course with gameplay, a lot of it will have much to do with collecting items, creating special items with the power of alchemy, building trust with the locals which directly affects your rank, and much more.

This trilogy will give you an abundance of play time, roughly over 100 hours, if you’re truly invested. The Arland series debuted back in 2009 with Atelier Rorona: The Alchemists of Arland, and since then it has become a cult classic among its fans, spanning sequels which feature brand new characters and previous DLC. With the brand new Atelier title on its way, Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland coming in 2019, this package is sure to help you catch up on the Arland series and ensure you’re ready for the next adventure. Make sure to finish your assignments on time now! Time to get into the lab!

For a game that launched back in 2009 onward, all 3 titles have aged incredibly well, and still look like a current title on the market. Of course there are some texture issues that are evident in some cutscenes, but as far as character design and aesthetics, everything looks very clean. The animations are crisp and the colors really pop, especially on the Nintendo Switch, which really helps in terms of framerate. Atelier Rorona: The Alchemists of Arland debuted on the PlayStation 3 and at the time, the game ran smoothly, and in this case it still continues to do so. All three titles all look splendid and so this is a huge plus for anyone with the need for a beautiful-looking RPG title. From its thrilling battles to just simply running around and collecting items in this lush beautiful world, Atelier Arland Series Deluxe Pack has everything you need.

GUST has always had a wonderful reputation for developing titles with a strong soundtrack that’s compelling, and really adds a lot of emotion to the experience. This is no different in the Atelier Arland Series Deluxe Pack as each game progressively gets better not just in terms of visuals and gameplay, but it’s soundtrack as well. There’s just something so relaxing about playing through an Atelier game and we think it has a lot to do with the great selection of music. Voice acting in the game is always marvelous and never disappoints, as everything is well executed and the voices really match the characters along with their personality.

Much of the Atelier franchise revolves around the art of alchemy, collecting items and using them to create brand new tools, spells, among other things. In Atelier Arland Series Deluxe Pack you’ll also need to develop relationships with people in the city, as it helps in terms of you gaining the trust of the neighbourhood, which in turn helps to open up new quests for you to embark on. Building a strong reputation will open up new doors and opportunities, but also provide chances to obtain rare items that you can use to create very powerful tools. While much of the experience is mostly fetch questing, there are those exciting moments where you’ll need to be prepared for tough battles in the wild.

While these wild encounters aren’t necessarily tough when compared to other core RPG titles, the Atelier Arland Series Deluxe Pack still reinforces the fact that you’ll need to be creative in order to take down certain enemies. Not only that but ensuring your team members are well equipped is also imperative to your long term success. Most of the time, the characters you do encounter have their own pre-loaded set of tools, but it’s still good to make sure you’re prepared for anything that could happen. What really makes the Atelier series so much fun though isn’t just the alchemy or fending off enemies in the wild, but in its overall exploration.

Maybe it looks somewhat linear in its approach, but being able to just run around and get an eyeful of the landscapes and various towns is a sublime feeling. With the cheerful and upbeat music in the background, it really adds to this childlike appeal, where all you want to do is run around and expand your curious mind. Every path is littered with something new to collect and because each item contains its own unique ingredients, you come to learn more about how alchemy works. When it’s all done you still want to go back and play again because of the abundant amount of things you can see and do.

The Atelier Arland Series Deluxe Pack is worth every pretty penny because not only are you getting an awesome trilogy, but you’re also receiving an unforgettable experience that only the Atelier franchise can provide. There are a lot of RPGs out there on the market right now, but nothing will ever come close to the resplendent and captivating story that Atelier is known for. As we said before, if this is your first time picking up an Atelier title, then we’re sure you’ll have an awesome time with it. There were of course some issues like characters clipping into the environment, but nothing to the degree that would tarnish the overall gameplay experience from start to finish.

We’re really excited for the new Atelier title next year, but in the meantime we have a lot more work to do in the lab with Atelier Arland Series Deluxe Pack. Even though we’ve played through the series before on PlayStation 3, it still to this day always brings a smile to our faces, and there’s always something brand new to experience. We hope you found our review to be insightful and that it helps in making your purchase decision that much easier!

As always, for all things sweet, with news straight from Japan, be sure to keep it locked here on Honey’s Anime.