Between 2019 and 2023, developer Gust released three games in the Atelier Ryza series. A trilogy that many believe really popularised the almost three-decade-old franchise. Now, Gust have compiled all three games into Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack! Each game, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX, and Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key DX includes lots of added content and all previously released DLC.
Sounds like a bit of a big collection, right? This review will be using the PlayStation 5 version, which is available for purchase now! The bundle pack, priced at £73.99, contains all three titles for both PS4 and 5. Alternatively, you’re able to purchase each separately at £32.99.
RPGeeez, this is a Big Collection!
I’ve been a fan of RPGs for as long as I can remember. However, as a relative newcomer to the Atelier series, I’m curious to know, which is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below, but for now, let’s get into the review!
What’s the Deal With DX?
Right off the bat, it’s worth getting into what exactly makes these DX versions different from the original three games. Each one includes all of the DLC, with things like new costumes, music, items, stories, etc. As for what’s actually new, well, there’s quite a lot!
Atelier Ryza DX features three new playable characters: Agatha, Kilo, and Romy. It also has two new playable stories! One from the perspective of Kilo, and another that bridges the gap between the first two games. Atelier Ryza 2 DX includes Empel and Lila as playable characters, with a side story centred around the two. Finally, Atelier Ryza 3 DX lets you take control of Clifford, Serri, and Kilo, with another scenario focusing on Clifford and Serri.
But wait, there’s more! Across all three you’ll be able to play a custom combat mode with a variety of options. Things such as which monsters to fight and who to add to your party. Then, you’ve got improvements to the UI, additional graphics options, increased storage for containers, and so on. If you’ve already played the trilogy, perhaps there isn’t enough to entice you into buying this bundle, but for those that haven’t, there really is a good amount of extra content!
Alchemical Adventures
Of course, all of these new features and bits of content are nice and all, but what about the core experience? Throughout the Secret trilogy we follow protagonist Reisalin “Ryza” Stout, a plucky young alchemist who dreams of adventure. It feels like a more grounded, emotionally charged narrative than the typical “save the world from certain doom” affair we’re so used to seeing in RPGs. That’s not to say there’s no stakes across the three stories, as you’ll come face-to-face with plenty of danger! Thankfully, Ryza isn’t alone, with a great cast of characters making up your party. Seeing these heroes mature and grow over time can’t help but make you feel connected to them, giving these tales a genuine sense of emotion as you play.
The main gameplay loop remains the same across each title, with three core elements: alchemy, exploration, and combat. Alchemy is more than just a simplistic bit of side content, and will see you spending hours synthesising various materials in order to not only create new items, but also craft new weapons and armour for your team. The menus look daunting at first, but it quickly becomes second nature, and before long you’ll be experimenting with all sorts of different ingredients to concoct something special!
Foraging and Fighting
To get said ingredients, you’ll need to go exploring. Wandering around varied landscapes using a wide assortment of tools to uncover more items was always fun thanks to the various methods of traversal (including a rideable dolphin!) and charming environments.
Defeating monsters is a sure-fire way of getting some rare loot, though! The battle system across all three titles isn’t overly complex, but it is very satisfying. It blends turn-based tactics with real-time action, with a decent amount of depth to it. Combat isn’t the main focus, though, and was never too challenging. You’ll use face button inputs to string together quick combos, acquiring AP as you do. This is then spent unleashing special moves, which not only look cool, but deal much more damage!
Graphics & Audio
All three games are incredibly colourful and charming to look at. From the environments to the characters, there’s a clear anime aesthetic on display here, and it works really well. Though minor characters and the places you explore aren’t always incredibly detailed, the main cast look great. Combat is flashy and just the right amount of over-the-top, with some truly unique monster designs. These are super high-budget videogames, but Gust has helped bring this world to life thanks to a brilliant art design.
The soundtrack is, as expected for a Gust developed title, wonderfully pleasant. From relaxing melodies to booming orchestral pieces, the music really helped draw me into the experience. The voice acting is also very well-done, with the cast putting on a great performance. Some may be disappointed in the Japanese-only vocals, and there aren’t a whole lot of fully voiced dialogue sequences, but when the characters do speak, the actors play their parts perfectly.
Longevity
With each game’s main story clocking in at around 30 hours, this is going to take you a while to finish! That’s not even including the optional side content or integrated DLC. So, although the price may seem steep, you’re getting three complete versions of relatively recent titles.
Final Thoughts
Although not a huge step up from the original releases, Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack is a fantastic collection of three charming and engaging RPGs. For returning players, the new content may not be enough to warrant the cost.
If, however, you’ve yet to play any of the Atelier Ryza series, then this is the best way to experience them! With plenty to see and do, and a great cast of characters to adventure with, this should be on any RPG fan’s radar.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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