Review of Atelier Sophie (A17DX) & Atelier Firis (A18DX)

Considering that I have been turning down several invitations for new game in recent years with excuse like "no time for a new series", my visiting Atelier series is then quite strange. Actually it was on a whim. I like games with female protagonist and was recommended with this when in search of a time killer. Thing happened then.

Regarding that only main stories of two works cost my ~120 hours, there is no doubt for the title of time killer. Also for such a reason, I wrote nothing after the story of Mlle Sophie Neuenmuller. Narrative of Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Book DX (I'm sorry but it always worths a full name) is actually with few to discuss. (The streamer offering walkthrough guide is somewhat more attractive, lol) (I'm sorry for failing to translate her ID and skipping it, but she is fascinating) As a result of the time limit at the beginning of Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey DX, there is even more criticism about its gameplay. I was also tortured at the beginning but my appraisal rose later with the development of story.

To make long story short, A18DX is of more integrative structure, comparing with the main story of A17DX, where Sophie was simply "living" with Plachta. Maybe it is the nature of everyday life that is trivial and lacks structure so it is inevitable, but story of A18DX is better organized under the theme of "Journey" and further Mlle Firis Mistlud's seeking of life meaning. Its branching structure based on relations with other supporting characters is also impressive. The late gameplay is quite satisfactory, providing me with new convenience each time I found it repetitive and boring. (But farming materials is always a torment) Moreover, I'd like to talk about the depths of its stories, which are characteristic of "Japanese tragedy".

You cannot count on a branching story to unveil fundamental question of lifetime while it has successfully touched some. Destined life-death cycle, concept of benefaction, et cetera. Among then, family story of Mlle Liane Mistlud is quite unexpected for me. I mean... they are both lady of Mistlud and the spoiling is plausible though a little exaggerated. Then... it is reasonable, saying that families are those who always choose to be there and support.

I promised and was promised to write something and something more these days. Then the story of Liane could be a trigger. My things would also be impossible without support from mine. At least, as a reminder from Prof. Dr Yi Rao, I am not asked to immediately support my family after my graduation, lol. However, in retrospect, I am convinced that this was not given, but bought by me.

I occasionally forget things of past, probably shattering them and hiding some pieces. But I still remember my mother's crying for my growing up to have secrets of mine and her concept of having me as a connection to the world. It is probably not hard for me to construct her thought in the beginning, but I won't. I know I never know her, but I know she is also growing and has been gradually changing her mind too, lol.

When it comes to me, I was first taught to construct relations around me and manage them, probably taught to be like her, lol. During those early years I must have had some questions about her and myself, but my memory failed to record any helpful answer. Understanding this world of mystery must be difficult for someone surrounded by mystery himself that the most powerful weapon of self-consistency was developed then and maintained well till today. The plans went well until the very junction before my entering junior high school. A corner of the curtain is uncovered so casually that, fed up with lies and nonsenses, I, probably at that moment, came to slightly realize that I can always choose something else. I can still remember my little "abnormal" happiness when I was rejected, could it be for my being astray, lol?

I WAS astray, but only for one year. Then my lady came and became salvation of mine. I was self-taught to have own identity and, more important, to rely on nobody but myself this time. Another junction came when I was preparing myself and my mother was preparing hers. Fortunately I was worth not to use her plan. And during this time when she was learning not to supervise everything, I flourished. When she came to realize it after my college entrance examination, I'm prepared to walk my way with extreme stubbornness.

It was then the self-proving journey of mine alone, actually there was another fruitless year of preparation and wide-accepted result was not acquired until these days. (So probably I have not bought anything but have just asked for them until now, lol) I can say things finally start to strike a formal balance from their view now, at least in my view. My burden is also somewhat released somehow.

How about from my view in my view? Actually I was asked about this earlier in a classic form of "Is there anyone who you want to blame?" A non-classic answer from me went like "I never ever want to blame anyone, (thanks to my lady,) when I came to have my own name, what I have already had is a blackbox. To know how it came to be is important that it would be important sooner or later. But for me, it is of greater importance now to just examine this blackbox and figure out its function for later modification and development."

Pic shot by Syl in
Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey DX

by Syl & Sylvia @ 2023-07-30 20:37:43 @ Changsha, Yuelu District
originally posted @ https://www.cnblogs.com @ 2023-07-30