Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland
Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland (新・ロロナのアトリエ はじまりの物語～アーランドの錬金術士～, Shin Rorona no Atorie Hajimari no Monogatari ~Aarando no Renkinjutsushi~) is a remake of Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland, released for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in 2013.
While keeping the same story and events of the original, the remake features revamped graphics, major gameplay changes and new content.
Entries
You can find other entries of the game here: Games
Plot
The plot in the remake remains the same as the original. However, an extra fourth year is included after the events of the main game. This extra year ("overtime") follows a new storyline featuring Totori and Meruru, the protagonists of Atelier Totori and Atelier Meruru, respectively.
Gameplay changes
While the flow of the game remains the same, most systems saw an update, and new gameplay elements were added.
HP and MP
Unlike the original game, Rorona now has MP in addition to HP. Item synthesis and battle skills now drain MP instead of HP as in the original. Rorona's MP is restored through resting or eventually through crafting MP restoration items, though HP and MP for party members besides Rorona is restored simply by time passing.
Battle
Atelier Rorona Plus features a new battle system based on Atelier Meruru Plus, as well as a version of the support skill system from Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky. Playable characters now have 3 skills instead of 2 in additional to their new support skills. Sterk's moveset is taken from Atelier Meruru.
Synthesis
The synthesis system has been completely redone to a new one based on Atelier Meruru Plus with some small elements from Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk. The player will be allowed to choose from the available traits for the item, as long as the traits are affordable within the "Cost Level" of the item. Two traits can also combine into one single trait with higher effect. In addition, the player cannot assign unusable traits to an item anymore and the traits list has been pared down to remove useless and unhelpful traits. Some additional items have been added to the synthesis list.
Assignments
Every assignment from the kingdom in Atelier Rorona Plus now consists of one main goal that is necessary to fulfill along with several minor optional goals. A bingo card system similar to that in Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky has been implemented for providing rewards for clearing the additional goals. For every additional assignment completed, a stamp is placed in one square of a bingo board with nine squares. Fulfilling the main assignment will place a stamp in the square in the middle of the board. Once three marks make up a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line, the player will be rewarded with a bonus, such as recipes, stat increases, or vouchers to use in Esty's item exchange. Unlike in Atelier Escha & Logy, completing the additional goals is not counted as part of Rorona's evaluation and they do not impact endings.
In addition, Assignment 10 has been re-balanced to be easier to complete as the player now has multiple gathering nodes that provide the coral.
Quests and Vouchers
All quests, including character quests, are now managed by Esty and reported at her desk. Eventually the option to complete bonus requirements opens up - clearing these bonus objectives earns the player additional vouchers to use in Esty's new item exchange. Completing special requests for Esty herself will update the selection of items purchasable by vouchers and also open her up as a hireable party member.
Hom
Hom is now leveled up through completing lines on the bingo card instead of through working, meaning the player must now achieve a certain amount of the optional goals in time in order to continue leveling them up. Hom can reach a max level 5 in Synthesis and Gathering.
New features
Atelier Rorona Plus includes several new features that were not present in or have been changed from the original Atelier Rorona.
Revamped Graphics
The 3D models of the characters have been revamped in Atelier Rorona Plus. The work on the character models was supervised by Mel Kishida and the models now better resemble his artwork. Field maps were also reworked, in many cases expanding the size of gathering areas as well as improving the visual quality of the models. The game's UI has been completely rebuilt.
Overtime
After the main game has been completed and the chosen ending viewed, the game now continues into an additional year called "Overtime". Overtime includes a new storyline featuring the protagonists from Atelier Meruru and Atelier Totori as well as additional events, CGs, and new dungeons. However, as the game is still considered over after the end of Year 3, additional character flags and wholesale shops cannot be unlocked in Overtime. The adventurer level cap is raised from 50 to 99 after Year 3 is completed and the player can use the extra year to prepare for a new playthrough that carries over into future games.
New Playable Characters
Astrid and Esty are made playable during the course of the main story. Totori and Meruru are added as part of the overtime campaing.
New Dungeons
Two new dungeons are added, accessible in Overtime:
- A new version of Liechtein Soehnle from Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland appears as "Abyss Tower" which also has underwater areas.
- A new version of Machina Domain, a DLC dungeon from Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland.
- Orthogalaxen has additional areas open up to help grind for the top level dungeons added in Overtime.
Garden
A garden is now present in front of the atelier, allowing the player to grow synthesis ingredients. The player can now synthesize seeds for the garden to pass on desired quality and traits to the harvested items.
Time Capsule
The Time Capsule system becomes available in Overtime. By putting items inside a time capsule, they will change into a different item from "the future". Save data from Atelier Totori and Atelier Meruru will alter the items that come from the capsule.
Workshop Decorating
Special items are now used to decorate the workshop instead of being carried in the basket.
Costumes
Like in Atelier Meruru Plus and Atelier Totori Plus, the player will be able to change Rorona's and some of her friends costumes. Totori, Meruru, Cordelia, Sterkenburg, and Lionela have alternative costumes.
Event Updates
A new character ending for Esty is added. Events that went unvoiced have been fully dubbed in the Plus release. In addition, all character flags can be achieved in a single playthrough and the player will choose which ending they want to see at the end of Year 3. This allows for all ending trophies to be attained in one playthrough.
Cross-save
The game supports cross-save between the PS3 and PS Vita versions, meaning the same save can be used simultaneously in both systems.
Characters
While the cast remains the same, two previously non-playable characters become playable (Esty and Astrid), and two characters not present in the original are included as part of the new storyline (Totori and Meruru).
New Playable Characters
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