Customer Reviews

Atelier Iris Eternal Mana

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Atelier Iris is a truly incredible accomplishment that has everything you could ever want in an RPG: story, gameplay, variety, emotional attachment...and so much more. There's far more to this game than could ever be described in the space allowed, but I'll try my best.

First, the graphics. They may not be the epitome of high-tech, but the nice clean lines, bright colors, and overall smoothness make for an easy-on-the-eyes affair. Plus, the simplicity makes it hard to miss treasure chests and such hidden in the environments. It's my sincerest hope that this magical 2-D style is not lost in the forthcoming round of next-gen systems.

As for the sound, not much to say. Backround music fits the areas it's assigned to, and the tunes will never grate, but they won't move you to tears or stick in your head forever, like the music of Chrono Cross for example.

The story is perfectly tuned. The plot has its share of twists and turns, there's plenty of humorous dialogue (especially in the optional sub-quests), and the characters are compelling. Like the graphics, the story is elegant in its simplicity, avoiding the overblown, head-scratching plotlines of Square-developed RPGs.

The real draw of this game, however, is all the things there are to DO. It's incredibly deep. All the characters have several skills, which can be leveled up in any way you please. There are tons of different Mana (kind of like pet spirits) to collect, which give you new, outside-of-battle powers. Not to mention the ingenious item-creation system. By bringing ingredients to the shopkeepers, you'll be able to create tons of new, useful items, which will subsequently be added to the shop's menu. Better yet, each new item you create results in a short, funny dialogue scene. Also, collecting a few different items that fit into the same category will unlock special bonuses, such as concept art.

Speaking of those shopkeepers, kudos to Gust for its work with the game's NPCs. Instead of creating a huge, spread-out game world with hundreds of identical, boring NPCs, the developers instead chose to keep the world a bit smaller than most, with NPCs that have their own backstories. I found myself really caring about Norman the barkeep, Blaire the breadmaker, and all the rest.

All things considered, Atelier Iris is best described as a towering achievement. Despite adhering to a few tried-and-true conventions, such as a standard battle system, the game's depth, variety, and downright fun carry it to the pinnacle of the RPG peak. I can't tell you how happy I am that Nippon Ichi finally put out a real RPG instead of a "quirky" strategy title, and I also can't wait for more of this stellar series.

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana is the sixth installment in a popular line of alchemy-based simulation titles. Unlike its predecessors which were primarily focused on collecting ingredients, synthesizing items, and supporting economic growth within a particular community, Eternal Mana puts these aspects of the gameplay in the back seat and has a conventional emphasis on story, character development, and exploration. The result is a feast for the senses.

Long ago, there existed Avanberry, a majestic city in the sky. The people who inhabited the land possessed a sacred power known as 'Mana'. In harnessing the ability to purify the elements and synthesize all forms of matter, they became known as 'Alchemists' and enjoyed a prosperous era that they thought would never end. However, their reign of peace came crashing down upon them when the city was mysteriously destroyed by unknown forces. The legacy of Mana was seemingly lost forever. Several generations later, a child is born with the gift of Alchemy. His name is Krein, and from a very young age, he was blessed with the ability to hear the sounds of Mana and communicate with spirits. Krein's grandmother possessed the same talents and impressed him with elaborate stories of the legendary city in the sky. After she passed away, Krein set out to discover the 'ultimate alchemy' and unearth the secrets of the fabled Iris.

The tale of Eternal Mana is enhanced greatly due to the inclusion of a strong character-driven storyline. The cast of characters who accompany Krein along his journey are not particularly original, but are thoroughly developed in a three-dimensional manner which fleshes them out and renders them easy to become attached to. Throughout the course of the game, the player not only witnesses the poignant moments which expose each individual's humanity, but also humorous occurrences with companions like Delsas, a roguish and arrogant character who manipulates a Mana Spirit into helping him hit on a woman in the bar. Typically monotonous tutorial lectures are brought to life by the slapstick comedy routines of Popo and the other Mana Spirits, making the process of learning the ropes all the more enjoyable.

Given the complicated nature of Eternal Mana's ever-expanding array of gameplay systems, such tutorials quickly become essential to realizing the full potential your entourage is capable of. Skills are relatively limited upon starting the adventure, but as the player proceeds through the game, an increasing number of options are made available to tweak and customize. Aside from traditional equipment, each character learns various spells and techniques which can be enhanced through a point distribution system upon leveling up. Eventually, Krein's Mana Spirit friends will be able to assist the party in this process; equipping a particular spirit allows a character to gain bonus points in particular abilities. Mana Spirits are also required in order to utilize alchemic synthesis; given the correct 'elements', Krein is able to create consumable Mana Items for use in and out of battle. Collected in colored test tubes, Fire, Sky, Water, Light, and Dark are a mere handful of the fourteen elements Krein is able to obtain by smiting enemies in battle with his staff, or smashing various objects scattered throughout each area in order to extract their essences. In addition to elements, 'synthesis ingredients' are also abundant throughout each zone and can be collected for a different purpose altogether. Given a specific recipe and the right combination of synthesis ingredients, shopkeepers in town are able to create new items and make them available to purchase. If a truly exceptional item is made, the shop's popularity can increase and give yield to even better recipes for the player to experiment with. Money is relatively hard to come by, so item synthesis becomes a crucial factor contributing to the player's success.

Despite the restrictions of a traditional turn-based battle system, the ability to fully interact with each environment is a definite plus. Krein is able to run, jump, and climb his way through magnificent cities and dense forests in search of treasure. It becomes easy to forget that Eternal Mana is an RPG when presented with so many platform and action elements which continually keep the gameplay fresh and interesting. In addition to extracting elements by smashing objects with his staff, Mana Spirits are able to grant Krein various powers such as fireballs, levitation, manipulating the encounter rate, and so forth. Understandably, Mana Spirits can become fatigued from the amount of hard work they are subjected to, so they must occasionally be provided with 'presents' in the form of synthesis items in order to maintain their health and happiness. Although it is often difficult to appease each Mana Spirit due to their different tastes and preferences, keeping them all happy quickly becomes an important factor in maintaining the team's efficiency.

The old adage holds true: a picture is worth a thousand words when discussing Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana's impressive graphical presentation. Featuring some of the most gorgeous two-dimensional artwork and animation available on the PlayStation 2, the amount of care and detail invested here truly shines forth. Unfortunately, Eternal Mana suffers from 'Tales syndrome'; the world map design is absolutely atrocious and seems like little more than an afterthought. Dull, lifeless paths connect each area to be conquered, and the gamer is restricted from outside exploration by the need to trigger specific key events in the ultimately linear storyline. Upon doing so, new paths will instantly open up and make themselves available for the entourage to traverse. This faux pas in Eternal Mana's design is among the game's most severe flaws in terms of both graphical presentation as well as execution. On the other hand, Eternal Mana's soundtrack rises above and beyond all standards of video game composition. Ken Nakagawa, Daisuke Achiwa, and Akira Tsuchiya have provided us with a collection of songs that are diverse, unique, and overflowing with inspiration. The opening theme, "White Night Imagination," is the among the best vocal songs to grace an RPG since Yasunori Mitsuda and Joanne Hogg's "Pain," from the Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht OST. "Ferocious Drive" and "Deceitful Wings," two of several boss battle themes, make excellent use of electric guitars in order to produce an amazing, adrenaline-filled rush during combat. Every track blazes with energy and does an excellent job of breathing life into each scenario experienced in Eternal Mana.

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana is an ambitious title which exceeds expectations in almost every regard imaginable. Given the series' track record, a domestic release is seemingly improbable, but we can always hope that publishers will begin to take note of quality titles like these and grant them the exposure they deserve.

I have to say that this game is very under rated. Its got everything from great sound, impressive storyline, a cross between Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger battle system. The Implemented Alchemy system is quite amazing and simple to understand. The Graphics I give 10/10 and for anyone who puts this game down because its not in 3D is a fool. The soundtrack and SFX are decent (The Japanese Voice Overs of the music and character voices go well with the story). The replay value is extremely well implemented into the story because beating this game once is not enough. I highly reccommend this game to any fan of the RPG or Strategy Genre. Plus the bigger the fanbase the more chance the sequels will be released in America too. Good Luck and Enjoy the adventure of Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana 1.

This game feels like a stroll down memory lane. With all the action junkies these days, it is rare to see a classic RPG with a turn-based combat system.

That's right, this is a classic RPG, not a strategy or action RPG which some people have mistook it for. However, it does have some elements of strategic formations. Too bad these mean very little to actual combat. In fact, a regular attack will reset your character's position even if they've been pushed back.

The mana and store synthesis features are fairly unique. You can get different results if you use different items in synthesis. The stores also gain a popularity and approval rating based on the items you synthesis in them.

The game also has a lot of side quests to keep you running around. However you can only undertake one at a time and can't accept others until you're done with the current one.

The story's nothing special. We all know this type of plot. There are some humorous dialog though.

In conclusion, a good game if you miss the old style of RPGs. If you're looking for quick action or in-depth combat, this is not the one.

So I got this game last christmas since I loved the screenshots and heard that it's based on alchemy. The game starts off with an amazing CGI scene with phenomenal music. The battle system is quite easy is to follow except you have a lack of HP. I like the idea of using mana synthesis to create more duplicates of items such as a heal jar, to heal your HP when your running out. As well as using your mase to turn an object like a barrel to a certain element to use to create more and more duplicates of items. The only problem is that you can only create 9 items for each instead of more. I love the animations, as well as the character sprites which reminds me of the good ol times when RPG's first came out. Anyway this was a pretty underated game from an underated company.

If you love to explore and create things, this is the game for you. Old school turn-based JRPG is the best! Graphics and game play is greatand lasts ove 40 hours or more. One down side is the horrible voice acting. But in the end, I would recommend this game and all the sequals!

if you like synthesizing, which I love! Other than that the story is also great. Of course the graphics are dated but great for this time period.

This review was written by James Shea, my son.

Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana is the first game for the PS2 (and the 6th game overall) in a role-playing series by Nippon Ichi Software, the gaming company that made Disgaea and Makai Kingdom. Many of the graphical conventions used in the game are familiar in style and elements.

Atelier Iris, compared to Disgaea, is a much more traditional RPG. Set in a fantasy land where mana - the source of magic - is running out, Atelier Iris' story is for the most part fairly standard for an RPG like this. The characters, too, are fairly standard caricatures of RPG conventions, like the good-intentioned but clumsy main character, or the overbearing female sidekick, or the catgirl wizard. Despite its creator, the wacky humor found in the Disgaea is not especially present here. For the most part, the story isn't even a requirement to play.

Despite its simplistic turn-based gameplay, said gameplay is probably the game's strongest point. Each character - there are six total - has a different ability to use on the world map. The first one, for the main character, is converting items into alchemic elements to use as spells. This means that he collects or transmogrifies almost ANYTHING he can find. Walking down the street and spot some crates? Go ahead and turn them into Wood points. See a pitcher of water? Hit it with your staff and make some ice grenades out of it. The hilarity of going through a town and just smashing and disintegrating everything you see doesn't wear off quickly, let me tell you. With these elements, Klein (the alchemist character) can synthesize potions, weapons, and other comestibles. To do this, he also needs the assistance of his Manas, or alchemic spirits; work them too hard, and they'll become cranky and less capable. Other characters are capable of demolishing objects, flight, or summoning spirits to help with a specific problem.

The combat system is, mainly, as expected for an RPG. It works decently, however. The same cannot be said of the moving-around parts of the game. There are awkward jumping puzzles to reach chests and bonuses that are difficult to pull off because of the camera's view and the game's arbitrary invisible walls.

The graphics are very similar to the cartoonish style of the Disgaea games, with a bit of a more conventional fantasy motif than that series. However, any way you look at it, it's very reminiscent. Depending on your opinion, this can be good or bad, but as a rule in this game the towns are well-animated and well-drawn (with lots of little side animations also coming into play, not just the same 2 or 3 recolored sprites over and over).

The music isn't noticeable one way or the other. It's the same kind of background music that every console RPG has used, and it's so generic that it's unbelievable. The voice actors sound like they're trying, but are constrained by the weird, sappy lines. Because of an effort to match the voices up to the graphics, most of the voices are cutesy; at times, this gets a little obnoxious.

As a whole, this game isn't remarkably different from its peers, but by itself it's not that bad. There are enough fun little elements to keep things interesting, though if you generally don't like RPGs, this probably isn't going to change your mind about that.

Rating: 8/10.

Love the game. The condition is good,as prmised,and as the first game in the series,it sets the tone for all the others. The packaging was also good.

A great game from the past, and one of my favorite RPGs, with a relaxing story and decent combat system