Release
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Critic score
76/100
Platform families
2
Editorial overview
Inside Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book
What it is
Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book is an upcoming Japanese role-playing video game. It is the 17th main game in the "Atelier" series.
The game features a completely reformed world view from earlier titles within the series, in addition to a new alchemy-centric system. Sophie is able to obtain ideas for recipes from activities such as harvesting, exploring, battling, or from events, and these ideas are used as a basis of improving her knowledge of alchemy.
When she performs alchemy, the player is presented with various predetermined shapes representing the ingredients used, and arranges each shape on a puzzle board that represents the cauldron. This process involves visual trial-and-error, and if the shapes are arranged perfectly, the player receives a bonus. The materials selected affect the quality of the item synthesized. This system is intended to offer a high degree of freedom based on the player's own play style.
The premise
"Lush trees rustle in the wind. Birds sing their songs with the morning sun, and the light shines upon flowers growing along the roads.
The atmosphere on the edge of town is warm and gentle. The sunlight filtering through trees spreads out like a tapestry of light and shade down a single path. It leads to a small house where a girl lives.
She's cheerful and bright, though somewhat absentminded. An ordinary girl you might find anywhere. However, she possesses one special power that the townspeople do not have.
The mysterious power to mix several materials and create something entirely different: "Alchemy"...
Unfortunately, she continues to fail at an essential skill, Synthesis. She reaches her limit, with no alchemy books to read, and no mentor to guide her.
But one day, the girl encounters a mysterious book that can move and talk on its own accord. The book claims to be the "knowledge" of alchemy itself. This meeting between a book and a young alchemist will become a quiet, yet certain, step forward."
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