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I can’t say I was excited to play Atelier Yumia because it releases one day after my most anticipated game since the Nintendo Switch launched, Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Moreover, Atelier games never resonated with me, since they seem to be geared towards a more female audience. However, my interest in the series started to peak with Atelier Ryza, which many consider to be a great entry point to the series.
And I will definitely play it in the future, since the Atelier Yumia Demo has convinced me that this series is worthy of time and money, despite some flaws.
With this said, here are my thoughts on Atelier Yumia, from the Demo.
Performance
Usually, I leave performance to the end, but the frame drops stick out as soon as you launch the game. Even during less demanding cutscenes and gameplay, you won’t be getting a steady 30 fps experience on either docked or handheld.
Also, you can tell by comparing it with other console versions that there are many compromises in visual fidelity. Looking at a distance, things look okay, but if you get too close to objects, you’ll be met with low-resolution renders.
Is the performance a dealbreaker?
From what I’ve played in the demo, it’s not. There are some fun elements in the game that make me forget about the performance issues, even though I’m constantly staring at them.
The Story
The story opens with Yumia and her friends exploring some ruins, but she’s suddenly forced to leave the group behind and meet later on. When she does, two mysterious figures appear and attack them.
Then, Yumia is quickly defeated and thrown into the river to drown. While she does, she starts recollecting the events that led her to that moment, leading us to the start of the real game.
It’s her job to help explore a forgotten continent ruined by Alchemy while convincing others of its benefits.
The Gameplay
There’s a lot to love in the gameplay department—from the free roam exploration to the base building and the fun and engaging combat system.
Being open-world, there’s a lot of land to explore, and in it, you’ll find all sorts of ingredients ready to be harvested. You can later use them to build items for your base and Alchemy, which I haven’t grasped fully yet.
With Alchemy, you can synthesize all sorts of items, from bandages to spells, equipment, and even bullets.
Yumia’s main weapon is a long rifle, which can be used during combat or exploration.
You can use different kinds of bullets to stun enemies before initiating a battle, analyze their stats, or interact with the world—from shooting ladders to make them fall, to hitting switches that open doors.
There are also several points of interest in every given area, like ruins that hide treasures or challenges to complete. But sometimes, you’ll be faced with monsters, and battle is the only option.
Battle
When battling, there will always be three party members on the field, but you can only control one at a time.
While you can’t move freely, you can perform circular motions to dodge and position yourself, as well as moving to the rear position if needed.
Each move you have can only be used a certain number of times before it goes on cooldown. While it might seem like a good idea to mash every skill, doing this against tougher opponents is not wise.
To fully master the combat, paying attention to the enemy’s movements is a must. Knowing when to attack and when to defend can be the difference between victory and getting obliterated, especially on harder difficulties.
Personally, I love the battle system, and it’s one of the highlights of this Atelier Yumia Demo.
Should You Buy Atelier Yumia?
It’s difficult to recommend, but I’d say yes, after a price drop or a patch to fix the performance. Personally, I liked what I played and decided to purchase the full game.
The exploration and the combat system are enough to keep me engaged in a game like this for long hours, so I’m eager to play the full game once it arrives!
I had to import it since I’m from Europe, and unfortunately, there is no physical release planned in the future.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you’ve enjoyed my Atelier Yumia Demo Review!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
• Engaging combat system with strategic movement and cooldown-based skills
• Interesting open-world exploration with alchemy and resource gathering
• Base building adds depth to the gameplay
• Yuma’s rifle mechanics make exploration and combat more engaging
Cons:
• Poor performance on Switch, with frequent frame drops
• Visual fidelity is lacking, especially when looking up close
• Story setup is intriguing but not groundbreaking
• No physical release in Europe, making it harder for collectors to get a copy