Video Game Review: Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy

Koei Tecmo Games

Genre: JRPG

PlayStation 4

The Atelier series has been around for generations but has never pushed itself into the mainstream. It’s always been a niche series, even for a JRPG. Atelier Ryza helped to change that in 2019. With some great marketing and new life to the game’s signature crafting mechanic, the series was finally pushed into the mainstream. Now, Atelier Ryza‘s sequel is here, promising a new adventure for the small-town alchemist.

Atelier Ryza 2 doesn’t need to spend a significant amount of time developing its characters like every other Atelier game needs to do. Instead, Ryza and the rest of the cast get to develop more than anyone else has in series history. Atelier Ryza 2 is full of familiar faces, so if there was a party member that a player loved in the first game, they will likely get more of them. Ryza in particular gets the most growth, as she is a much more confident, adventurous character. Seeing Ryza take on new challenges is satisfying, and fans of the original game will love all the fanservice that this entry throws at players.

The established characters and fun setting makes Atelier Ryza 2 a breath of fresh air. It’s not too accessible to newcomers since it is a sequel. PLayers will miss out on a lot of essential world and character building. There is a small summary in the opening cutscene, but it is pretty barebones. For those who have played the first one though, this is a fun journey that both exciting and cozy. This is the perfect game for someone who wants to relax and play a solid JRPG. Plus, it’s nice to get into a JRPG that doesn’t end with killing god or something. It’s a nice story that feels intimate throughout.

Atelier Ryza 2 builds off of the battle system that was introduced in the previous entry.  It is turn-based in that characters queue to go in a certain order. On the characters’ turn, everything feels active, with a timer determining how much the characters can do. The AP system has been improved significantly, allowing for players to chain moves well with the AP that they stock over the course of a battle. This allows for players to pull off satisfying combos and combination attacks. In some ways, this makes Atelier Ryza 2‘s combat easier than it was in the first entry, but that doesn’t ruin the experience.

The alchemy system continues to be the series signature mechanic. Atelier Ryza 2 features a robust crafting system that allows players to create all sorts of useful items and tools. The alchemy experience has been significantly streamlined in this sequel. It’s not clunky and is genuinely fun to experiment with. It’s able to appeal to casual players who want the system to be as simple as possible. On the other hand, those who want to be as efficient as possible have all the tools to do so. The blend of accessibility and depth make this a fantastic system to play around with.

Graphically, there are a few nice improvements. The character models are all mostly the same, and all the environments aren’t really enhanced. Everything does look just a little bit sharper though. Clearly, the developers were able to put more time into cleaning the visuals this time around. There is a bit of fanservice throughout, especially when it comes to Ryza’s feminine assets. Some will be turned away from this, but otherwise, Aterlier Ryza 2 is a visual delight.

Atelier Ryza 2 isn’t the most accessible game in the series, but it’s one of the most improved. Every mechanic that was streamlined in the previous game is improved, making this a delight to play. This is the perfect JRPG for someone looking for a bit of a lighter story and experience.