Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX is a great jumping-in point for newcomers to the series. It's a welcoming start to the Dusk trilogy which hits the ground running whilst dialling back the traditional time limit aspect of the game, gently easing players into its core alchemy as well as firmly establishing the gameplay loops and systems which are carried on throughout the two follow-up games.

Atelier Ayesha DX is by far the best version of the game to date and a perfect place for newcomers to start.

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX is a wonderful slice-of-life adventure and a great introduction to a unique world on the verge of coming to an end. With a great cast of characters and an extremely developed crafting system, it is a game players can easily sink countless hours into. While the battle system isn’t anything to write home about, this cozy game is well worth it for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX is an RPG that bets on tenderness, affection and an extremely introspectiv approach. Its subtle narrative allied with an expressive cast makes a compelling experience while alchemy, though challenging, opens an entire universe of possibilities to those who wish to dive into its complexities. On the other hand, the game doesn't hold our hand: vague tutorials, unclear objectives and confusing navigation can be tiresome and get in the way of the time-limited adventure. Even so, Ayesha has soul, a element that, in a game about rediscoving connections and embracing little moments, is worth a lot.

While the debut Dusk title shows little advancement from the Arland trilogy, it holds promise for future entries while remaining a solid Atelier experience.

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX begins another trilogy of the Atelier series to the Nintendo Switch and this improved version definitely features a good plot and a very developed game world. Alas, it's also afflicted by some performance issues which should have been solved by now and its last moments fail to captivate but the return of Atelier's Dusk trilogy is off to a good start on the Switch.

Atelier Ayesha feels as though it was released at a time when the series was at an inflexion point. Looking at the combat and synthesis systems, I see familiar elements that have been repeatedly iterated and improved upon over the years, which is what led me to play and finish my first Atelier game last year! In many ways, Ayesha herself serves as the perfect metaphor for the momentous occasion when a new legacy is about to be formed, but with one foot planted firmly in the past. It’s through this that I’ve come to cherish the first act of the Atelier Dusk DX trilogy both as a game and its contributions to the future of the series beyond itself, and the promise of sweeping, coming changes only makes me eager to continue my journey through the rest of the Dusk trilogy!

To conclude, I am happy to be able to replay this trilogy again. Hoping with the added bonuses and enhanced gameplay it would make Ayesha a joy to play. Unfortunately, the game is still as lacking to me as it was back on the PS3. Visually, more pleasing to the eye and am extremely happy they gave us the option to fast forward over most parts of the game. However, falls short with bland characters and a weak storytelling. I am giving this game a score of 6.5 out of 10.

Overall, I really enjoyed Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX. In terms of the story and characters, I feel it to be the strongest of the Atelier titles I have experienced so far. While I may have some mixed feelings about the alchemy system and took issue with the difficulty spike, I enjoyed the world, all the side stories experienced along the journey and the relaxed feeling of the game. I highly recommend it.

Atelier Ayesha DX is a solid entry starting off the Dusk trilogy, with compelling crafting and gameplay loops, as well as plenty of loveable characters.