Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Landis the next game in the long-running Atelier series, and aims to one-up the most recent success,Atelier Ryza 3.
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It’s something that looks like a very distinct possibility based on first impressions, as many fans have been blown away by what was showcased in the most recent trailer.
YouTube comments and social media posts alike have suggested the game is serving shades of Xenoblade Chronicles, Genshin Impact, and more.
However, in a recent interview with Junzo Hosoi, the creative lead at Gust, we found out exactly what titles have helped shape and influence this new chapterin the Atelier series.
Atelier Yumia Takes Notes From Unlikely Sources
During our exclusive interview with the man leading the line for Gust, we asked about the ‘the apparent similarities between this title and games like Genshin Impact and Xenoblade Chronicles.’
To which Junzo had this to say:
Being honest, within the development team, there aren’t a lot of people who aren’t aware and haven’t played Genshin Impact. And during the development of Ryza 3, that title would have definitely been the core inspiration.
But when it comes to Yumia, there are multiple JRPGs that have been part of our thought process. Games such as Persona and the Tales series spring to mind. Not to mention survival crafting games like Valheim.
So, we would say that there hasn’t been a primary inspiration or focus on any one game out there today. Genshin Impact is primarily an online game, but we aim to create a story-driven, consumer-packaged JRPG."
While Genshin Impact’s influence is hardly a surprise due to the focus on creating a Breath of the Wild-style open-world, the mention of Persona and Valheim was certainly more out of left field.
The influences of Persona can certainly be seen through the dynamic between the various characters, as well as the focus on offering stylish UI, which the Persona series is famous for.
However, the nod to Valheim might not be quite as obvious at first glance. But, seeing as this game is the first in the series that allows fans to build their own Atelier Shop, it’s not as crazy of a statement as you might think.
Atelier Yumia Embraces Valheim-Esque Base Building
While there are very few things you could call out-and-out survival mechanics in Atelier Yumia, the base building present is rather reminiscent of the Viking-fuelled breakout indie.
This title allows you to create home bases and structures where you may change outfits, keep all your ingredients and items, craft trait crystals, synthesize materials, and much more. This is great from a functional perspective, but equally, it allows players to express themselves more than ever.
You can be as meticulous as you want, by placing every wall, decoration, and machine exactly where you like. Or, if you’re keen to get back to exploring again, you can simply farm materials and make a pre-fab, which is good to go without any need to snap walls into place.
It’s a great addition to the game, and one of many improvementsto the Atelier formulapresent in Yumia. So, if you’re looking for your next open-world fix, this could be a good one to check out.
