Spanning some twenty games now, the Atelier series by Gust and Tecmo KOEI is a JRPG franchise that most PlayStation gamers have at least heard of, if not played. It was only a few months ago that the latest in a new story arc of Atelier games was released on PS4 in Atelier Ryza. But for those gamers that missed out or just want to relive the Dusk trilogy from the PS3 days, last week that trilogy was re-released in a Digital Deluxe set (you can also buy the games individually at $30/ea). With a few time-of-life enhancements and all previous DLC, the Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack is a intriguing release for newcomers or fans of this expansive JRPG series.
Over the years, I have reviewed several of the Atelier games including two from this Dusk trilogy. The first game, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk is actually one I hadn’t played until receiving this digital set for review. I haven’t put the time in to get far into this game as these Atelier games can easily clock in over fifty hours each depending on how thorough you are and how you want to play them. Anyhow, Ayesha’s main story point is about finding her lost sister Nio while encountering the Dusk. Ayesha also carries a special diary that is connected with in-game tasks, upon the completion of which players get special bonuses and additional recipes to help them save the day.
Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky was one I reviewed, albeit the re-release ‘Plus’ version on the Vita. I’ll point to my review for it from four years ago as my thoughts on the game really haven’t changed and I haven’t spent much time with it on this PS4 re-release. As I’ll mention shortly, however, the ability to speed up gameplay in both battles and exploration across all three of these games is a very welcomed feature. Anyhow, one unique feature with this game was the ability to use both Escha and Logy, who continue from where Ayesha left off and learn more about the mysterious Dusk. I liked the environment and setting of Dusk Sky the most out of this trilogy.
From land to sky to sea, the trilogy concludes with Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea, in which players take the role of Shallistera and Shallotte, who are also dealing with the Dusk. My original review from 2015 echoes my thoughts on the game now, though with the enhancements that the DX release offers it makes the experience more streamlined and efficient for gamers on a tight time budget, as myself.
Three large games, all solid in their own right, now refined with slight visual upgrades, all their DLC which includes playable episodes, characters, and costumes, as well as the ability to toggle running during Exploration and fast-forward during Battles makes this the best way to play these Atelier games. At $90 for the complete set, it feels a little pricey, however. Regardless, whether you’re a newcomer to the franchise or just nostalgic for last-gen’s Ateliers, this deluxe trilogy set is an easy recommendation to consider adding to your digital library.
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