Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land review

After 26 mainline entries across a 28-year span, you might assume that the Atelier franchise has run its course. After all, how many times can you tell the story of a clumsy girl who slowly masters alchemy with her purpose and proficiencies inspiring those around her? Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land demonstrates that Gust still has plenty of ideas for their plucky protagonists.

When we first meet Yumia Liessfeldt, she hardly seems like the cauldron-exploding klutz that has become a running joke for the series. Instead, she’s an audacious adventurer, lithely sliding through cavernous crevasses and giving monsters the business end of her gun-staff. Yes, beyond navigational proficiencies that are more Lara Croft and less Lulua Frixell, she rides a badass bike and shoots down out-of-reach resources across an expansive open-world. While I’ve relished the Kiki’s Delivery Service vibe that’s long been a part of the franchise, Yumia opts for a less jovial approach.

A Collector of Resources and Empathy

Previous entries framed alchemy as archaic art form, but the item synthesis is undoubtedly more controversial in Envisioned Land. At one time, the Aladissian Empire employed alchemy to protect their lands from hostility. However, sentiments shifted when a mysterious disaster occurred and clean-up efforts become stalled, causing the craft to be prohibited in most parts. As a rare practitioner of the alchemical arts, the military reluctantly asks Yumia to help cleanse the area of mana. Largely, she’s their only hope, since the pools of mana around the accident site cause everyone else to become drained.

Given this reflection of the drawbacks that technologies habitually usher in, Envisioned Land’s context is undeniably powerful. Some might be reminded of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, the consequent conversations about reactor safety, and the valiant heroism of those who assisted with the clean-up. But even if you’re uninterested in the allegory, Yumia can still captivate. The game envisions lapsed thoughts embedded in the scattered mana and restoration conveys those lost memories to our protagonist.

Expectedly, these recollections help to push the plot along. Some memories provide solace for the long-secluded protagonist, whose vocation often produces contempt when people first meet her. Without spoiling anything, witnessing folks gradually let their guard down and trust the kind-hearted alchemist is fulfilling. But mana isn’t just used as a narrative device. Memories also provide everything from new recipes to experience that propels Yumia towards her next character level, helping to bridge the game’s exposition and play mechanics.

Fights are Fast, Atelier (I Tell Ya)

Fast-paced field synthesis and combat systems ensure that Envisioned Land’s tempo rarely slackens. The former means that Yumia doesn’t have to trek back to her atelier to craft simple items, which could have been a chore given the game’s open-world approach. The latter adopts a real-time approach where attacks are mapped to a controller’s face buttons. Early battles against subordinates can be accomplished with some basic button mashing or letting your fellow party members do the work.

However, once you confront the game’s heavyweights, Envisioned Land tests your mastery of mechanics. Fundamentals like swapping positions to shift between skills and ranged attacks or sidestepping area-of-effect assaults will be acquired immediately. But proficiencies such as absorbing the rhythm of cooldown timers and knowing when to use crafted items might take a bit longer. Although I grew a bit fatigued with the combat by the end of the 40-50 hour campaign, Memories & the Envisioned Land’s base-building helped incentivize the encounters.

No Glamping for This Alchemist

Sure, a multitude of other games task you with combining items into construction resources. But few have you cultivating the ‘comfort level’ of your outpost and earning ability bonuses in the process. And largely, Yumia is far too delightful to be forced to rough it with a tent and sleeping bag.

Much of the Atelier series was produced on a slender budget, resulting in engaging ideas surrounded by substandard environments. But Atelier Ryza’s locations grew larger, less linear, and more picturesque. Comprehensively, Yumia pushes the aesthetics further, with lifeline animations and a draw distance stretches surprisingly far.

Perhaps, it’s the dark long-bob, ahoge, and heels, or maybe it’s the intermittent pout, but Ms. Liessfeldt is a walking paradigm of character design. Either way, you won’t be disappointed by the visual fidelity. Even on portable PCs like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally, low settings produced a relatively solid 30 frames per second experience. With most contemporary GPUs, PC owners should be able to enjoy well-optimized 60 FPS performance.

Conclusion

Exploring Envisioned Land’s four main areas is mostly executed smoothly. A map full of question marks stimulates through exploration, while resource collection doesn’t always require you to come to a complete stop. Beyond having a triple-jump to propel herself upward, Yumia can also repair ziplines for speedy travel. However, the shift toward open spaces isn’t without imperfection. Often, the game’s camera can be awkward, especially in interior spaces. The only other snag is that the game can be jargon-heavy. Although there’s in-game reference materials, newcomers will be required to acclimate.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land
was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.