Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea

With all the Arland and Dusk games re-released on PlayStation Vita, I am happy to have completed this journey all over again. Replaying the Dusk series in particular reminded me why I enjoy this series so much, and Atelier Shallie has a lot of wonderful qualities, even if it isn't the wrap up to the subseries that it needed to be. I still maintain that if you are a newcomer, the Dusk subseries is a great way to start, as the learning curve isn't as high as the Arland games. Atelier Shallie isn't the perfect conclusion, but it offers so much heart and a grand adventure that it's almost forgivable.

Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea changes the formula for the better but still hasn’t got the ingredients quite right. With the time limit gone the other elements have space to breathe but the story and characters are weak meaning the driving force is reliant on the gameplay which thankfully is varied and enjoyable.

If not for the rather terrible framerates and muddy visuals, Atelier Shallie Plus could have proven a true redemption for what I consider to be the worst game in the series. Still, it is a notable improvement in terms of content, with many more events and playable characters. If you have a high tolerance for poor performing games and feel the need to see everything that transpires in the last episode of the dusk trilogy, do so with a Vita instead of your PS3.

The differences compared to the edition for PlayStation 3 are minimal. Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is a good RPG for PS Vita, not particularly memorable, but still fun.

If you know your own tastes in RPGs like I do, if you know what systems baked into these games get your cortex lit up like the dashboard on a 747, Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea might be perfect for you. However, if you play JRPGs for their rich story and beautiful game worlds, maybe give this one a pass.

It might not be as hardcore as other JRPGs, but Atelier Shallie's bite-sized bursts of action are a great fit for the Vita.

Unfortunately, so much of my love for this game is ruined by its choppy frame rate on PS Vita. If this were simply on PS3 or PS4, it would be a nearly flawless experience. As it stands, Atelier Shallie is the best version of the game available in terms of content, but having to suffer through a poorly optimised experience for those benefits is too steep a cost.

Atelier Shallie Plus: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is a nice RPG, not too difficult nor too complex. This title has the best alchemy and combat systems in the series, and it's a perfect fit for the newcomers.