The new part of the well -known series of Role Games Atelier, whose age is already more than 27 years, will soon reach a full release. Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land will be released on March 21, 2025 on PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S and Nintendo Switch.
After the success of the trilogy with the heroine of Ryza, who received recognition around the world, the developers from GUST decided to present a new project with the main character Yumia. This game promises a more serious plot and a fresh approach to the key element of the series – alchemy, which is considered a taboo in the world of the game. In addition to this, the players are waiting for dynamic battles, expanded research opportunities and convenient functions designed to update the alchemical RPG genre. The producer of Hosoi Junzo and developer Abiko Siniti in an interview with Invena said about what awaits s. Highlighted the main points from the article.
Plot and theme
The plot of Atelier Yumia is seriously and depth, and its tone can be characterized as more gloomy compared to previous parts. Alchemy here is prohibited art, and the actions of the main character of Yumia partly resemble the path of atonement.
According to Hosoy, the central theme of the game is memories and memory. History is spinning around the fall of the ancient Empire Aradis, whose traces of Yumi are trying to find, as well as around how different characters the same events differently. Through this topic, the developers wanted to touch on questions about what is happening when the memory disappears, and does not mean the loss of history to an end to everything. The game antagonists are also associated with alchemy – their beliefs are formed by events that radically changed their lives.
The expected time of ing the story campaign will be 40-60 hours, depending on the style of the game.
The main character of Yumi
Yumi as a character is a combination of contrasts, which was deliberately conceived by developers. At first glance, it seems cold and adult, but as it es, especially in communicating with comrades like Aila and Victor, its younger and sweeter side is revealed. Hosoi calls this Gap Moe – the charm of contrast, when restraint is replaced by openness, which fits perfectly into the spirit of the Atelier series.
As the secrets of alchemy is revealed, players will also see the inner power of Yumia. Its dynamic movements in battle and when using alchemy, resembling a dance, emphasize its activity and leadership qualities, which, according to Hosoi, makes it especially attractive and distinguishes it among past heroes.
Equipment and gameplay
The design of equipment in Atelier Yumia combines science fiction and has its own uniqueness. Yumi uses a staff with a gun, and other characters are armed, for example, with shields with guns or motorcycles. Abiko explains that this is due to the dynamics of the battle, where the players switch between neighboring and distant attacks, and the visual production was thought out for each hero individually.
The study of the world has also become more diverse thanks to accelerators on the shoes of Yumia, allowing you to make double jumps and climb high objects. All this is part of the alchemical system: weapons and shoes can be improved by adding new effects, such as increasing jumps or accelerating a motorcycle, which retains the traditions of the series and makes gameplay more active.
Alchemy has become easier and more convenient: automatic synthesis with settings for preferences makes it accessible to beginners, but for veterans there are complex recipes with triple layers and conditions. Fights are now in real time with switching styles, evasion and protection.
Research of the world
The world of Atelier Yumia is highlighted by an emphasis on verticality, which is noticeable in level design. According to Abiko, this is done to expand the possibilities for research. The mini-card does not always help to understand the height-for this, quests are introduced that facilitate navigation. Treasures must be sought independently, but the game design encourages players to pay attention to the environment, for example, through the collection of materials with shots.
Graphics and technical aspects
The graphics in the game have significantly improved: detailed shadows, effects, backgrounds and vegetation create a more lively picture. Hosoi said that if the trilogy of the Ryza strove for anime style, then in Atelier Yumia characters are closer to illustrations, and the environment-to realism. This was made possible thanks to the transition to the new Katana Engine engine.
However, with the improvement of graphics, optimization challenges arose, especially taking into the of Xbox – the first for the series. Abiko emphasizes that the team paid special attention to this aspect, adapting new functions and testing them on different platforms in order to maintain the smoothness of the game.
New mechanics
Among the innovations of Atelier Yumia, the homeowner system and simplified synthesis are distinguished. Household allows players to build and decorate the bases to their liking, which should take a lot of time and inspire creativity. Simplified synthesis makes it possible to create the necessary items directly in the field without returning to the workshop, which, according to Abiko, makes adventures more free and convenient. These changes are designed to keep the players in the world of the game longer and make the research process more comfortable, especially for those who love long trips.
Development and plans
The development of Atelier Yumia could not do without difficulties: Hosoi noted that the balance between the spectacular picture and the dynamics of the battle sometimes caused disputes, and Abiko regretted the impossibility of developing the emotions of the characters in the battles.
As for the future, there are no plans for the trilogy with Yumia yet – it all depends on the reaction of the players. Hosoi reflects on the pluses (recognition) and minuses (possible oversaturation) of such an approach as it was with the Ryza.
Result
At the end of Hosoi, he thanked the Korean fans for their , emphasizing the influence of their culture on the team, and called Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land by the largest GUST project, causing greater pride among developers. Abiko added that the developers are happy with the reviews and urged players to share their impressions for the further development of the series. Both producers hope that the game will find a response from old and new fans.
