Atelier is finally back to its roots. And I mean that quite literally. Atelier Marie on the PlayStation 1 was released all the way back in 1997 exclusively in Japan. Only now, over 25 years later, do we finally have the chance to play the game that started it all.
Now I know this series is known for being incredibly comfy, but I think this might actually be the comfiest Atelier game I’ve played – which is ironic given that the release brings back the time limit system that more recent Atelier games had dropped. You start the game and are immediately given five in-game years to beat it. Every action you do adds to the internal time. Gathering an item takes a day, finishing a battle takes a day, traveling between areas often takes multiple days, and so does crafting items and even doing something as simple as exiting and entering your home.
This sounds stressful and I was tempted to choose the option at the start of my save to completely disable the time limit – a new feature added by this remake – but honestly, the time limit is extremely generous. I managed to get the game’s true ending with over an entire year to spare and it could easily be done in even less time if you know what you are doing. So those worried about the time limit thing – even if you don’t disable it, it’s really not that big of a deal.
Which brings me back to why I find this game comfy in spite of this artificial deadline. That being literally everything else in the game compared to other Atelier titles. Combat is simplified, crafting is simplified, exploration is simplified – everything takes a bit of a dive in terms of complexity. Don’t go in here expecting the Tetris-grids of crafting or the chain linking of skills in combat or even a story with much stakes at all. This is where Atelier started and it’s really just the basics on display here.
And honestly? I kinda liked it. I mean, I still love recent Atelier games with their challenging combat and super complex crafting systems, but it’s nice to kick back and play a bite-sized version of the series I love. Is it easy? Absolutely, but I also can’t deny that I had a lot of fun crafting every single item, maxing out my reputation and knowledge, and unlocking event after event in the story – which the game makes immensely easier by actually providing you a checklist of things to complete before an event can be viewed.
The story is not really anything special, but it doesn’t do the Atelier classic of going overboard and losing itself as it progresses. The pacing stays relatively steady throughout and might even be a bit too slow, but it makes for a nice change of pace regardless. There are also a bunch of different endings to unlock as well, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
Which might actually be the biggest drawback for some people – the fact that the game can be completed in roughly 5 or 6 hours. There’s definitely more to do if you’re going the completionist route and want to get all the events, but even then, I had a pretty good chunk of them by the end of my first playthrough. For how simplified the game is, this short length kinda matches that change, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind if you’re used to the usual 30+ hour Atelier experience, especially with the fact that this game is priced similarly at 50 USD.
Otherwise, I had a good time with the game. There’s a ton of stuff to craft, the characters are fun to get to know, the combat is straight to the point, and it just radiates that charm I’ve come to love from this series.
And as for the PC port, is it weird if I say that this might actually be the best Atelier PC port to date? Like, I had zero issues here. No framerate dips, no stutters, no bugs, no nothing. The game worked flawlessly out of the box at 4k 144fps and didn’t require me to jump through hoops to change basic settings like past Atelier games have.
Options for resolution and window, frame rate limits, and several different quality sliders and toggles are provided and yeah, this may not be the most demanding Atelier game, but they’re definitely making strides in the right direction by including all of these. I played through on a controller, but mouse and keyboard also works here (even in menus) and has bindings that actually make sense – so props for that too.
Atelier Marie Remake is a nice little bite-sized Atelier experience that exemplifies just how much this series has grown while also being a fun little play in itself. It’s very simple compared to other entries in the series, but that lends it its own charm in a way and I had a lot of fun casually playing through it. I wouldn’t say it’s the best choice for series newcomers, but if you’ve already tackled Ryza and maybe a couple others, then give this one a shot.
Quote: Atelier Marie Remake is a nice little bite-sized Atelier experience that exemplifies just how much this series has grown while also being a fun little play in itself.
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg retails for $50 USD on Steam, but you can get an official Steam key for 10% off using my Gamesplanet partner link. This also applies to the Deluxe Version. It is also available on PS4, PS5, and Switch.
I was provided a review copy of the game in order to write this review. Read more about how I do my game reviews here.
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