@@BacklogBattle Nice! I am pretty new to this saga, but lately I´m feeling like playing some jrpg, and this took my attention more than Ys IX. About difficulty, I assume it´s not a hard game, but I wouldn´t like something too easy, that takes away most of the fun for me. Did you find it challenging enough? Thanks and good job!👍
Thanks! A wonderful in-depth review detailing how the sequel has evolved from its predecessor, and communicating its essence. I only just finished 'secret hideout' and was going to take a breather but you (and the summer outfit) have encouraged me to jump right in.
Dunno why but finishing atelier ryza was kinda chore for me, took a while for me to beat the first one, because I just dropped the game all together... its definitely not the best atelier game in my books... probably not gonna play this game. But not everything has to be liked by everyone.
Great review! This was a clear, direct analysis of the game and it's mechanics. I was a big fan of Mana Khemia but haven't played a game in the series since. Ryza looks like an excellent entry point!
Excellent review as always Alex! It sounds like Gust really put some work in across the board. Always great to see a sequel that improves upon its predecessor’s formula.
I went into this game expecting a lot of the same, so I was really surprised to see how much the battle system was changed! And that one small tweak with how you unlock crafting features and recipes is a really welcome sight! Thanks for watching, as always!
omg I want this game so bad :") I just finished the first one and saw the trailer almost lost my mind from happiness .... I love your reviews they are always the best
my copy came this past weekend, i'm only about 9 hrs in but i love it so far! the battle system is cool, i thinks its more balanced with how they changed item usage and i like the addition of blocking- it make it feel busy and fast paced, definitely a unique jrpg battle system. i like the skill tree change too, makes things seem more attainable and less mysterious. while i usually play with a dub if it's available, the japanese vo just feels natural for this series and is done well. great review, can't wait to get back into it myself :)
Glad to hear that you share the same sentiments as I! I really do love the changes to the battle system and the skill tree is such a fun change! I definitely aimed for more Quantity and Quality so I can really power up the things I make! Hope you enjoy the rest of the game!
Great, extremely in-depth review, as always! I like how you manage to be ridiculously detailed but avoid spoilers where it matters. I’m glad to hear the storytelling is “better than past entries in the series” but I was really hoping you’d mention the character sub-stories and sidequests, as that was one part I felt really lacking in the first game. It might sound like a minor detail but past Atelier games have a TON of those and Ryza 1 felt so empty and rushed to me because they were lacking. Not to mention any sidequests in Ryza 1 weren’t voiced. On the whole, I’m really glad to hear such positivity about the game and it’s made me feel a lot better (saw some negative views about it on Twitter before). Again, GREAT, well-rounded review.
Thank you as always! Honestly, the character sub-stories felt plentiful, though side-quests feel less than the previous game. That said, they have a bulletin board system with repeatable quests that you can do, which makes me think they're trying to move away from having too many side-quests at one time? It's an odd choice, but it's the choice they made. I did notice that the localization got better in places, and the character sub-stories feel more involved. My favorite has to be Bos'! And sadly, these side quests and sub-stories are not voiced, as you might've surmised. All told, I still really loved my experience with the game! Gust is definitely experimenting with a lot of things here and, for the systems that do count such as battles and alchemy, they definitely nailed it! Some of the gripes I had with the original are still in the game (like switching characters when Orders are being asked still cancels them), but the amount of new and streamlined features makes them sound small by comparison! Hope you enjoy the game!
Thanks for recommending it! Glad to see you enjoyed this game! And welcome back to the genre! I’ve got a bunch of reviews in that genre here, if you’re curious to try out more games!
I really enjoy the new battle system and world exploration. I love when they take a sequel and give it a refresh without taking everything out that made it great. Like a evolution if you will.
A great review and video as always, Alex! Surprisingly my focus while watching the video was less focused on the game itself but more of the atmosphere which you described as very positive, colorful and hopeful; not to say that it wasn't interesting, it's just that the overall atmosphere was more interesting to me; I never imagined Ryza's world to be this colorful and alive. And after listening to your presentation to the game's world, the various exploration methods you can undergo and the overall story without going in too much detail, I am really interested in playing the game which puts it (ironically) in my backlog. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this game, I'm looking forward for more content of you and am excited in what new worlds you are gonna introduce me next!
Glad you enjoyed the video! As I mentioned on Discord, it just felt natural for the video to turn out this way! When you have subject matter that you can easily be passionate about, it stops feeling like work and just feels incredible to work on! I finished making the video yesterday mid-day, so I spent a good chunk of the day tweaking the audio as closer to perfect as I could while learning new tricks. As you have already surmised through conversations with me, I don't just stop and be content with what I got. It's always a constant strive for perfection. Or as close to it as I can each time! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and I hope this can get moved up the backlog someday! It really is incredible!
@@BacklogBattle its always nice to see the passion and love that goes into what you do. I may move the game in the priority list after seeing your review but first, I will get the first game before heading into that one! That should be happening soon, I think... God, I just remembered that I pre-ordered Ys IX already... Oh well, but the games are moving up to say the least.
Well written and narrated review! I haven't played the previous Atelier Ryza game--in fact, I've only ever played Atelier Rorona--so I may try the first Ryza as a new entry point. Right now I'm deep in 13 Sentinels, which is an absolutely amazing game, and I want to finish that up before starting something new. Anyway, excellent review!
Ooo, I loved 13 Sentinels! Ryza 1 would be a great thing to play after that game! Heck, Ryza 2 would be a great game to do that with as well! Thanks for watching the review 😉
Thank you for the insightful and well presented reviews on this series! After hearing what you've said about the games, they're definitely on my list to play, especially since the time limit aspect has been removed. It seems like a very enjoyable and heartfelt journey.
I've always said that the time limit conflicted with how chill the game can be, and the Ryza series definitely demonstrates that. Why limit how long anyone can play your game arbitrarily? Do let me know when you take the plunge!
Backlog Battle Ahahah you damn well know that I'll be there to share my impressions on your Discord server! Which is by the way an amazing, comforting and welcoming place! *NOT SPONSORED* hahahah
@@Yusei255 They started to made the time limit very easy with Atelier Escha & Logy, and had no time limit at all for all games after that (except Atelier Firis that also had a very easy time limit). So - While Escha & Logy has a kind of time limit, it's very easy on it and you can play the game in a very relaxed way. The same goes for Firis. In practice that means you can play Escha & Logy without feeling any pressure, and all the games after that (Atelier Shallie, Atelier Sophie, Atelier Firis, Atelier Lydie & Suelle, and I think Atelier Lulua too).
Your reviews are nothing short but dazzling, excellent pace and well detailed, if you write your own review, thn you must be a great writer, keep up the good work, I always look forward to one of your reviews.
Amazing review had many questions coming in all answered plus more that I wasnt yet to encounter since I am still trying to grasp what the game is all about. Really enjoying your presentation and content.
So glad you don't have to play the first one to play the second. I did order the first one but it's coming from UK and postage is super delayed because of covid so i have no idea when i'll get it. Can't wait until i get this one this week. Thanks for the awesome review.
You're welcome! I'm sure you're going to love your experience with this game, if your feelings on the review's any indication! Glad to have been able to capture the mood and feel of the game as well!
Thank you for watching them! Good thing the Synthesis video will work with this one as well! Combat on the other hand, I'm hoping the tutorials in-game are good enough for people to understand how it works! Or at least how I described it in this review!
I enjoyed the video, however there was no mention of the fishing mechanic in the video and I must say, it’s fun! And in all 3 versions of Ryza. It helps with Alchemy and can be sold for gold.
seriously thinking about purchasing this game! it'll be my first jrpg recently have been playing the sims 4 ,red dead 2, and fallout 4, one after the other ,first pay through's, before that i wasnt playing games since ps2 and x box 360 but i got back in, it looks like a good game its on sale right now on steam the ultimate edition
Great review, I like it how you structured it and left no important information out :) haven’t finished Ryza 1 yet, and now 2 looks so tempting... those are the choices in life I enjoy :D
Ryza 1 is a great way to get back into the series, and if you have Ryza 2, you can just roll right in and have to relearn the combat system all over again! 😅
Just finished this game recently. I think I'm now officially a fan of this franchise. The first game was good from my experience, but it wasn't really enough to make me follow the series. But this game honestly became apart of my life, for these past couple of months. The story was great, the new and returning characters were great, and I love how much this game emphasizes the theme of growing up, especially at the ending of the game. It was such a nice, and probably the most wholesome game I've played in years.
Great review as always! I'm considering to buy it now just for the early purchase costumes, wouldn't want to miss those. I have just finished the first game this week, so there's that too!
@@BacklogBattle I sure did. Thanks! The game is on sale right now. I decided to jump straight to Ryza 2. It's just that I don't have much gaming time to start at the first one :/
I'm heartbroken there isn't an English dub because I am visually impaired and struggle to read the subtitles, I'm excited to buy this game tonight though, im getting the £90 version Edit: I always come to this channel and check for your reviews of games I want to buy, sometimes you have em sometimes you don't but when you do they are phenomenal. Love your vids I trust your opinion when purchasing a game.
Thank you so much for watching my videos, and I'm doubly glad to hear you're enjoying them! I've made the decision to pass your comment along to my contacts at Koei Tecmo with the hopes that this will change their opinions on English dubs in the future. Fingers crossed!
The anticipated review of Atelier Ryza 2 is here! The game looks so good and the new battle system seems like a good evolution from the first game. This review is such a treat considering the physical release has been delayed here in NZ... With all the titles coming this year I can only wish you the best as I'm sure your channel will grow a lot. Quality content creators like you deserve to be known :)
I'm so pleased to read that this review is a treat for you! Admittedly, this is one of the easiest reviews I've done for the channel. From time to time, I get a game that's so easy to review because there's very little to really gripe about. I hope the NZ version comes out soon and thank you for taking the time to watch this and many other videos! 2021's just begun, after all 😉
I still really need to get a copy of the first game (the second hand prices are getting out of control) but I'm really looking forward to it, and this one as well. I also want to give the game some real appreciation for tackling the difficulty of moving from teenage to adulthood, and maintaining friendships, even if everyone is walking their own path. It's not something media, especially video games, seems to tackle a lot
I also feel that it's a natural progression from the first game, where that one's like high school and this one's when everyone's off to the real world, doing what they can in the busy world! There's a lot of really neat parallels that everyone can relate to, with a tinge of good ol' JRPG adventuring of course!
@@BacklogBattle And honestly, that's just fantastic. I have a handful of the older Atelier games, but something about the Ryza games just seems to really resonate
I couldn’t get into the combat when first playing the first game but I’m glad I gave it a second try bc now I’m all in … makes me very excited to progress to the second and then eventually the third!
Great review. I'm really interested in the atelier ryza games for the nintendo switch, I'm thinking of getting atelier ryza 2 first. The game really looks beautiful too.
I know I know I know I promised myself that I wasn't gonna watch your review of the game especially since I'm currently playing through it right now but I couldn't help it. Right off the bat from what I've played I am enjoying the fact of the combat is a lot faster but also its feels more smoother and comparison to the 1st one. Not to mention since I did play the 1st game prior whenever I see an older character make a return I'm just like oh my God I remember you from the 1st game you're tall! Meanwhile Ryza still looks as good as even in three years....... Totally not mentioning her design at all innocently whistles. But seriously I'm already digging the idea of the skill tree system because it reminded me so much of Mana Khemia and how that did it which made me go finally you reached one of my two favorite Atelier games! And so far from what I've played within about an hour I'm definitely enjoying the combat a lot better the scope feels a good amount bigger than the 1st game and not just because where in a big city now and the fact that there's a lot of mobility you can do in this game plus the fact that all I don't know they finally tell you what items you get you can make stuff which gives me a huge sigh of relief and not go Oh no am I gonna be running around and looking over Internet guides again!? Thankfully so far it doesn't sound like that's going to be an issue although I am a little bit disappointed in the fact that the crafting is pretty much the same as the 1st game with no real difference. But I will give it this though at least they gave us a bit more new mechanics in this version that's not that big of a problem so far and hopefully the difficulty will scale once I get to the final boss or before I get to the final boss because it's going to be annoying if its the same crap from the 1st one. O and before I forget the switch version is running perfectly fine which is very very odd considering the fairy tale game on switch did not play that fluidly at all but this plays really well in comparison. All in all so far so good with this game at least for the most part and solid review as always Alex!
I do feel as though Fairy Tail on the Switch - along with the other ports - were underfunded and underdeveloped, in some way. Like you can tell Ryza 2 was the priority, especially with how fleshed out everything else. Plus, the fact that they pulled off a PS5 version, no less, is pretty cool! Thanks for watching as always and I hope that when you get around to Ryza 2 that you enjoy it as much as I did!
@@BacklogBattle No problem and while I am sad that this game does not have an English dub I can at least stomach it if only because of the fact that everything else is going to be fine in the game. And so far within my 3 hours it's been going good!
I'm still playing the 1st one amazing game, I can't wait to get my Switch copy of LE Ryza 2 tomorrow hehe.. thanks for the review I think I need to click the subscribe button :) ..
I think anyone starting with this then going back to Ryza will actually have an interesting experience! The two games have similar aspects, but they're also quite different!
Hey all, make sure you get the free DLC costumes here in the US on the PS Store before it expires and they start charging for it in the next few weeks. 👌
I discovered the Atelier series because of this channel! Played a good chunk of the first game but stopped ‘cause Persona 5 Royal came out around that time. Will probably try and finish up the first game before getting the sequel. Great review as always!
Thank you so much! It's been a little over a year since the first Ryza game released, so I'm happy you're still with us and being an avid commenter! Go and finish up that game so you can play the sequel!
I hope you enjoy it! So far, the series is in a fantastic trajectory! This might even eclipse the previous game as the best selling Atelier game of all time at the rate it's sold in Japan!
Backlog Battle on one hand I love that, because it rewards real fans who support it day one, on the other hand there’s me who would like to wait because I have way too many games in my backlog and is too busy to play them all 😭 Thank you for the review though Alex, it’s definitely on my wishlist.
Great Review Alex, glad to know this game is a worthy sequel of the original. Good to see the ps5 upgrade was the 60fps performance, in contrast do you know how the Switch version performs, I assume they did a good job like last time?
A friend of mine is playing through the Switch version and they can confirm that Gust did a good job with that one as well! I would've loved to have played it on there too!
@@BacklogBattle thnxs for your comment and the review. Will have to painfully wait for 3 more days then. Looking forward to test new synthesis and combat features. Once again it's a pity Russia's associated with europe economic region, having no benefits, but all the cons D:
Здравствуйте! I know 3 more days is a pain to wait, but I do hope that you enjoy the game! The combat is probably one of my favorite combat systems in recent memory. It's just really fun and action-packed, while still being turn based! Do let me know what you think when you've played more!
I'm liking the improvements of the combat system (though I would've still preferred the true turn-based combat), so I might just jump straight into 2 and then maybe give 1 another try if I'll like the game enough.
Ryza has to be one of my favorite characters fro the Atelier series. I haven't played many of the Atelier's but I'm quite interested in this one. I really love the character design and art style used for the characters. Also Ryza is just too cute.
Well, this would be a great choice to start with! There's something about Ryza's design and cute demeanor that just really puts me in a good mood! And I've no doubt that she'd do the same for you as well!
@@BacklogBattle Yeah! I'm usually fairly picky with games that have turn based types of combat but I was able to get into the new Yakuza so I think I'll be able to get into this one too.
If I had to buy the game, I still wouldn't get it personally. The Kurken Island gathering experience is just that - gathering. And the game itself has so many neat features already!
@@BacklogBattle The first Ryza got a patch last summer with the very easy mode, I just hoped that they would launch this one with it. I will get it now because I need to claim my bonus costumes but I think I'll be waiting for the patch before I play it myself. I want to play my most anticipated game of the year in a way that I'm most comfortable with 🤗.
Hello Alex, thanks for the review! So optically it looks really nice, and thank you that you also consider PS4 owners for performance, etc. the skill tree system reminds me of the alchemy book from Atelier Sophie, and unlocking recipes with points reminds me of the Idea system from Atelier Ferris where you could unlock certain recipes for "points of knowledge (?)" I would have a general question about that. can you unlock certain / new recipes only with the points on the skill tree? Or you can unlock the repet in a natural way if you, for example, use a certain recipe, we say "uni bomb", that you unlock "big uni bomb" (I hope you understand how I try to ask, I'm sorry)
Not every recipe can be found in the Skill Tree and you'll have to use Recipe Morph - the procedure you explained - in order to get better versions of said materials, weapons, and armor! That said, it's still as approachable as before, if not more so, and being able to just get more Quantities (i.e. ingredients to use) via the Skill Tree make synthesis a ton easier! I hope this answers your question!
Hurrrrm, I think I want to try the first one but the physical edition of it has been really hard to obtain at MSRP the past few months (for the switch). Very good and detailed review though. Definitely peeked my interest. Gust seems to be killing it though. The fairy tail game looks good and I typically avoid licensed IP games but I'm tempted on that too.
It's been ditched before, but then reintroduced, hopefully it stays out for good I hate feeling rushed and this is the kind of game that should be taken slow.
So hyped to play this on PS5, especially when you said it runs at 60fps with barely any loading screens! Does anyone know if there are any missable trophies yet?
Unfortunately I don't really pay attention much to trophies, but I can tell you that I've already shown the only loading screen on the PS5 version in the video!
If you’re looking for difficulty, this is not that game. When I played it, there were no difficulty levels and the difficulty lies with crafting powerful weapons and gear. Outside of that, this is a pretty chill RPG that’s meant to be pretty lax, so it’s not going to be difficult from a battle and build perspective.
Good to hear! As I said, the crafting is where the difficulty lies. There’s a mechanic in the game where certain items can morph into others, and the best items can only be made from starting from the bottom most recipe, then moving through several recipes until the final product. It’s kinda crazy, but it’s there!
This combat system seems better than the the first Ryza, might revisit the now ! I couldn’t finish the first Ryza cause I just didn’t like the combat system
i really liked this game, but i prefer the first one i think. the magic compass gathering stuff and the clues matching mini-game is so tedious and feels like artificial padding. very fun game despite its flaws, but because of its flaws im not readilly gona revisit it like i would the first game
I totally understand. English dubs are expected these days, and for this series to not have one after the success it had in the first game is no excuse.
Great review, I have been looking forward to it. It seems that the combat system has been improved even though I think Ryza 1 was already good. And the board with reciepes seems to be more practical than in 1 where there was a list and you could miss some objects. Is the lore good? do they explain more about the "Ancient civilization?" in 1 they didn't explain much about it
Seriously your reviews are so so good, you definitely earn those review codes. Friday can't come soon enough, I need this game in my life.
Thank you so much! Glad to have made you proud! Hope you enjoy the game!
Thanks for a good review, everything I thought I needed to know any everything’s didn’t, thanks a lot.
Liked & Subscribed 👍🏾
NinjaAimless welcome to the community and thank you for watching the video! Glad to help!
@@BacklogBattle Nice! I am pretty new to this saga, but lately I´m feeling like playing some jrpg, and this took my attention more than Ys IX. About difficulty, I assume it´s not a hard game, but I wouldn´t like something too easy, that takes away most of the fun for me. Did you find it challenging enough? Thanks and good job!👍
Vin Jackson I think it does have challenge, yes!
Bro out of all reviews I've watched about Atelier Ryza, yours the only one convinced me to dive in to this series. Subscribed!
Thank you thank you! Hope you enjoy!
Crazy to think Atlelier has gotten so much larger after 1 year.
A little over a year now!
Ryza introduced me to the series. I can't believe I'd never heard of it until about a year ago.
You mean her legs?
Thanks! A wonderful in-depth review detailing how the sequel has evolved from its predecessor, and communicating its essence. I only just finished 'secret hideout' and was going to take a breather but you (and the summer outfit) have encouraged me to jump right in.
Great job Alex! Mark
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!
Definitely getting Atelier Ryza 2 once I beat the first game.... eventually...
You can do it! It's not a long game!
I know the feeling; I have 30 games in a folder I named "Stories to Finish".
... man, I really need to work on my backlog.
@@UnlimitedFlyers Same here man. Same here
Do I need to finish that one first ?
Dunno why but finishing atelier ryza was kinda chore for me, took a while for me to beat the first one, because I just dropped the game all together... its definitely not the best atelier game in my books... probably not gonna play this game. But not everything has to be liked by everyone.
Great review! This was a clear, direct analysis of the game and it's mechanics. I was a big fan of Mana Khemia but haven't played a game in the series since. Ryza looks like an excellent entry point!
Thank you! Much appreciated!
Excellent review as always Alex! It sounds like Gust really put some work in across the board. Always great to see a sequel that improves upon its predecessor’s formula.
I went into this game expecting a lot of the same, so I was really surprised to see how much the battle system was changed! And that one small tweak with how you unlock crafting features and recipes is a really welcome sight! Thanks for watching, as always!
I just started it, don't get much time to play every day but I did just get outta the first ruins
omg I want this game so bad :") I just finished the first one and saw the trailer almost lost my mind from happiness .... I love your reviews they are always the best
My man Tao turned all his shota energy into bishounen energy.
Also, great review.
my copy came this past weekend, i'm only about 9 hrs in but i love it so far! the battle system is cool, i thinks its more balanced with how they changed item usage and i like the addition of blocking- it make it feel busy and fast paced, definitely a unique jrpg battle system. i like the skill tree change too, makes things seem more attainable and less mysterious. while i usually play with a dub if it's available, the japanese vo just feels natural for this series and is done well. great review, can't wait to get back into it myself :)
Glad to hear that you share the same sentiments as I! I really do love the changes to the battle system and the skill tree is such a fun change! I definitely aimed for more Quantity and Quality so I can really power up the things I make! Hope you enjoy the rest of the game!
Great, extremely in-depth review, as always! I like how you manage to be ridiculously detailed but avoid spoilers where it matters.
I’m glad to hear the storytelling is “better than past entries in the series” but I was really hoping you’d mention the character sub-stories and sidequests, as that was one part I felt really lacking in the first game. It might sound like a minor detail but past Atelier games have a TON of those and Ryza 1 felt so empty and rushed to me because they were lacking. Not to mention any sidequests in Ryza 1 weren’t voiced.
On the whole, I’m really glad to hear such positivity about the game and it’s made me feel a lot better (saw some negative views about it on Twitter before).
Again, GREAT, well-rounded review.
Thank you as always! Honestly, the character sub-stories felt plentiful, though side-quests feel less than the previous game. That said, they have a bulletin board system with repeatable quests that you can do, which makes me think they're trying to move away from having too many side-quests at one time? It's an odd choice, but it's the choice they made. I did notice that the localization got better in places, and the character sub-stories feel more involved. My favorite has to be Bos'! And sadly, these side quests and sub-stories are not voiced, as you might've surmised.
All told, I still really loved my experience with the game! Gust is definitely experimenting with a lot of things here and, for the systems that do count such as battles and alchemy, they definitely nailed it! Some of the gripes I had with the original are still in the game (like switching characters when Orders are being asked still cancels them), but the amount of new and streamlined features makes them sound small by comparison! Hope you enjoy the game!
@@BacklogBattle Thanks for clarifying!! That’s really helpful. I’m sure I’ll still enjoy it regardless of the little issues 👍🏽👍🏽
I haven't played a JRPG in 10 years. I started playing this game yesterday and I love it. Highly recommended.
Thanks for recommending it! Glad to see you enjoyed this game! And welcome back to the genre! I’ve got a bunch of reviews in that genre here, if you’re curious to try out more games!
I really hope I can finish 1 before this weekend so I can play this. I'm pretty hyped now!
I really enjoy the new battle system and world exploration. I love when they take a sequel and give it a refresh without taking everything out that made it great. Like a evolution if you will.
All in the span of two years, no less! I really don't know how they're able to make JRPGs annually, but they somehow pull it off with finesse!
I never play this game, but i keep looking and reviews and opinions, and now i won't regrets what i buy, i finished once and still hungry for more.
A great review and video as always, Alex! Surprisingly my focus while watching the video was less focused on the game itself but more of the atmosphere which you described as very positive, colorful and hopeful; not to say that it wasn't interesting, it's just that the overall atmosphere was more interesting to me; I never imagined Ryza's world to be this colorful and alive. And after listening to your presentation to the game's world, the various exploration methods you can undergo and the overall story without going in too much detail, I am really interested in playing the game which puts it (ironically) in my backlog.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this game, I'm looking forward for more content of you and am excited in what new worlds you are gonna introduce me next!
Glad you enjoyed the video! As I mentioned on Discord, it just felt natural for the video to turn out this way! When you have subject matter that you can easily be passionate about, it stops feeling like work and just feels incredible to work on! I finished making the video yesterday mid-day, so I spent a good chunk of the day tweaking the audio as closer to perfect as I could while learning new tricks. As you have already surmised through conversations with me, I don't just stop and be content with what I got. It's always a constant strive for perfection. Or as close to it as I can each time! Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and I hope this can get moved up the backlog someday! It really is incredible!
@@BacklogBattle its always nice to see the passion and love that goes into what you do. I may move the game in the priority list after seeing your review but first, I will get the first game before heading into that one! That should be happening soon, I think... God, I just remembered that I pre-ordered Ys IX already... Oh well, but the games are moving up to say the least.
Really good review full of passion. Thank you
Well written and narrated review! I haven't played the previous Atelier Ryza game--in fact, I've only ever played Atelier Rorona--so I may try the first Ryza as a new entry point. Right now I'm deep in 13 Sentinels, which is an absolutely amazing game, and I want to finish that up before starting something new. Anyway, excellent review!
Ooo, I loved 13 Sentinels! Ryza 1 would be a great thing to play after that game! Heck, Ryza 2 would be a great game to do that with as well! Thanks for watching the review 😉
All your reviews are so great! Truly impressed.
Thank you so much! Happy to hear you’re enjoying my videos!
Bought this game before I watched this but before I played it. Made me feel so much more comfortable about it! Great review!
Lukas Fogel thank you for watching! Hope you enjoy the game!
Playing ys 9 right now but I’m gonna get back on the first ryza and then play the second. Wow, the atelier games really are special.
The Atelier games really are special!
Awesome review Alex.. I will probably pick this up (with the first one) when it's on sale . Never played an Atelier game
It's worth getting into this series now! I think you'll love it!
Thank you for the insightful and well presented reviews on this series! After hearing what you've said about the games, they're definitely on my list to play, especially since the time limit aspect has been removed. It seems like a very enjoyable and heartfelt journey.
I've always said that the time limit conflicted with how chill the game can be, and the Ryza series definitely demonstrates that. Why limit how long anyone can play your game arbitrarily? Do let me know when you take the plunge!
Backlog Battle Ahahah you damn well know that I'll be there to share my impressions on your Discord server! Which is by the way an amazing, comforting and welcoming place! *NOT SPONSORED* hahahah
Atelier Ryza 2 looks so good. It makes me really want to get into the series. It looks like such a fun and chill game.
Can't find a better time than now! Whether you start with this or the previous game, you're in for a treat!
no time limit system, which is what sucked about the previous game's
cos i hated being restricted.
@@Yusei255 They started to made the time limit very easy with Atelier Escha & Logy, and had no time limit at all for all games after that (except Atelier Firis that also had a very easy time limit). So - While Escha & Logy has a kind of time limit, it's very easy on it and you can play the game in a very relaxed way. The same goes for Firis. In practice that means you can play Escha & Logy without feeling any pressure, and all the games after that (Atelier Shallie, Atelier Sophie, Atelier Firis, Atelier Lydie & Suelle, and I think Atelier Lulua too).
@@10-OSwords All though this one has no time limit System, so you can tackle it at you're own pace.
@@10-OSwords that was Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout correct
Your reviews are nothing short but dazzling, excellent pace and well detailed, if you write your own review, thn you must be a great writer, keep up the good work, I always look forward to one of your reviews.
Thank you so much! I do write my own reviews! Glad you enjoyed it a ton! 😄
Pre-order copy just came in. Can't wait to start
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
Been waiting for this!
Get hype!
Your reviews are the best :)
Amazing review had many questions coming in all answered plus more that I wasnt yet to encounter since I am still trying to grasp what the game is all about. Really enjoying your presentation and content.
Thank you so much! Really glad I was able to clear things up!
So glad you don't have to play the first one to play the second. I did order the first one but it's coming from UK and postage is super delayed because of covid so i have no idea when i'll get it. Can't wait until i get this one this week. Thanks for the awesome review.
You're welcome! I'm sure you're going to love your experience with this game, if your feelings on the review's any indication! Glad to have been able to capture the mood and feel of the game as well!
Your atelier videos are so helpful! Your combat and synthesis tutorial saved me in the first game lmao
Thank you for watching them! Good thing the Synthesis video will work with this one as well! Combat on the other hand, I'm hoping the tutorials in-game are good enough for people to understand how it works! Or at least how I described it in this review!
Oh man I really need to finally play the first one. These games just seem to be a really wholesome time.
It's what I've been telling people for the past two years now! And you can start with this one too! 😉
review was great. subscribed
Thank you so much!
Fantastic Review! Thank You!.
As usual, top-notch review bud. Keep it up!
I enjoyed the video, however there was no mention of the fishing mechanic in the video and I must say, it’s fun! And in all 3 versions of Ryza. It helps with Alchemy and can be sold for gold.
i just watched the first 20 seconds and subbed to u xD I can tell the quality is great.
Thank you so much! Really happy to hear you enjoyed my video so far! More to come, I promise 😉
seriously thinking about purchasing this game! it'll be my first jrpg recently have been playing the sims 4 ,red dead 2, and fallout 4, one after the other ,first pay through's, before that i wasnt playing games since ps2 and x box 360 but i got back in, it looks like a good game its on sale right now on steam the ultimate edition
Great review! I can't wait to get started when I get out of work.
Hope you enjoy the changes to the battle system and the crafting! Let me know what you think when you put down more time into it!
Great review, I like it how you structured it and left no important information out :) haven’t finished Ryza 1 yet, and now 2 looks so tempting... those are the choices in life I enjoy :D
Ryza 1 is a great way to get back into the series, and if you have Ryza 2, you can just roll right in and have to relearn the combat system all over again! 😅
Just finished this game recently.
I think I'm now officially a fan of this franchise. The first game was good from my experience, but it wasn't really enough to make me follow the series. But this game honestly became apart of my life, for these past couple of months. The story was great, the new and returning characters were great, and I love how much this game emphasizes the theme of growing up, especially at the ending of the game. It was such a nice, and probably the most wholesome game I've played in years.
Thank you for your review, very pleasant to watch and very detailed !
Thank you so much! I'm glad I evoked the charm and wholesomeness of Ryza and company with this review!
Great Review! I picked up the game today because if your review.
Awesome! I’m always happy to hear that people got games because of my reviews! Do let me know what you think of it when you’ve played more!
Great review, my guy! I gotta finish the first one, then I'll hop on to 2!
Good luck! The first game is great! Really made me a fan of the series!
Great review like always.
Still need to finish the first one though.
But sounds like I won't regret my pre order of Ryza 2 :)
Do it! Finish the first game! Then just roll into this one! It's really good!
Great review as always! I'm considering to buy it now just for the early purchase costumes, wouldn't want to miss those. I have just finished the first game this week, so there's that too!
That's some incredible timing! Do let me know what you think of it when you start playing it! Am curious!
Great and a very detailed review!
Thanks!
You’re welcome! I hope you got a lot out of it!
@@BacklogBattle I sure did. Thanks!
The game is on sale right now.
I decided to jump straight to Ryza 2.
It's just that I don't have much gaming time to start at the first one :/
You can always go back and play the first one if you really liked the second game ;)
I'm heartbroken there isn't an English dub because I am visually impaired and struggle to read the subtitles,
I'm excited to buy this game tonight though, im getting the £90 version
Edit: I always come to this channel and check for your reviews of games I want to buy, sometimes you have em sometimes you don't but when you do they are phenomenal. Love your vids I trust your opinion when purchasing a game.
Thank you so much for watching my videos, and I'm doubly glad to hear you're enjoying them! I've made the decision to pass your comment along to my contacts at Koei Tecmo with the hopes that this will change their opinions on English dubs in the future. Fingers crossed!
@@BacklogBattle Thats awesome! Thanks so much! I certainly hope it changes their mind it would be a massive help for me and people like me.
The anticipated review of Atelier Ryza 2 is here! The game looks so good and the new battle system seems like a good evolution from the first game.
This review is such a treat considering the physical release has been delayed here in NZ...
With all the titles coming this year I can only wish you the best as I'm sure your channel will grow a lot. Quality content creators like you deserve to be known :)
I'm so pleased to read that this review is a treat for you! Admittedly, this is one of the easiest reviews I've done for the channel. From time to time, I get a game that's so easy to review because there's very little to really gripe about. I hope the NZ version comes out soon and thank you for taking the time to watch this and many other videos! 2021's just begun, after all 😉
Nice! I'm still waiting for some good Steam sale of this franchise to start playing it.
I love your reviews. =D
I still really need to get a copy of the first game (the second hand prices are getting out of control) but I'm really looking forward to it, and this one as well.
I also want to give the game some real appreciation for tackling the difficulty of moving from teenage to adulthood, and maintaining friendships, even if everyone is walking their own path. It's not something media, especially video games, seems to tackle a lot
I also feel that it's a natural progression from the first game, where that one's like high school and this one's when everyone's off to the real world, doing what they can in the busy world! There's a lot of really neat parallels that everyone can relate to, with a tinge of good ol' JRPG adventuring of course!
@@BacklogBattle And honestly, that's just fantastic.
I have a handful of the older Atelier games, but something about the Ryza games just seems to really resonate
I couldn’t get into the combat when first playing the first game but I’m glad I gave it a second try bc now I’m all in … makes me very excited to progress to the second and then eventually the third!
Great review. I'm really interested in the atelier ryza games for the nintendo switch, I'm thinking of getting atelier ryza 2 first. The game really looks beautiful too.
Awesome review! Just got my copy and I'm excited to play it!
Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy the game! Let me know what you think the further you get in!
Heyyyy! Back for more! I can't wait to play this. But I still need to play the first one. ;_;
I really enjoyed this review! I know of this series but I’ve never played any of the games, now I’m just debating if I want to buy Ryza 1 or 2!
Gamingnerd15 it’s a god problem to have!
i'd play the first one first, it's worth it on it's own
Why limit yourself with just one, both great games.
I know I know I know I promised myself that I wasn't gonna watch your review of the game especially since I'm currently playing through it right now but I couldn't help it. Right off the bat from what I've played I am enjoying the fact of the combat is a lot faster but also its feels more smoother and comparison to the 1st one. Not to mention since I did play the 1st game prior whenever I see an older character make a return I'm just like oh my God I remember you from the 1st game you're tall! Meanwhile Ryza still looks as good as even in three years....... Totally not mentioning her design at all innocently whistles. But seriously I'm already digging the idea of the skill tree system because it reminded me so much of Mana Khemia and how that did it which made me go finally you reached one of my two favorite Atelier games! And so far from what I've played within about an hour I'm definitely enjoying the combat a lot better the scope feels a good amount bigger than the 1st game and not just because where in a big city now and the fact that there's a lot of mobility you can do in this game plus the fact that all I don't know they finally tell you what items you get you can make stuff which gives me a huge sigh of relief and not go Oh no am I gonna be running around and looking over Internet guides again!? Thankfully so far it doesn't sound like that's going to be an issue although I am a little bit disappointed in the fact that the crafting is pretty much the same as the 1st game with no real difference. But I will give it this though at least they gave us a bit more new mechanics in this version that's not that big of a problem so far and hopefully the difficulty will scale once I get to the final boss or before I get to the final boss because it's going to be annoying if its the same crap from the 1st one. O and before I forget the switch version is running perfectly fine which is very very odd considering the fairy tale game on switch did not play that fluidly at all but this plays really well in comparison. All in all so far so good with this game at least for the most part and solid review as always Alex!
I do feel as though Fairy Tail on the Switch - along with the other ports - were underfunded and underdeveloped, in some way. Like you can tell Ryza 2 was the priority, especially with how fleshed out everything else. Plus, the fact that they pulled off a PS5 version, no less, is pretty cool! Thanks for watching as always and I hope that when you get around to Ryza 2 that you enjoy it as much as I did!
@@BacklogBattle No problem and while I am sad that this game does not have an English dub I can at least stomach it if only because of the fact that everything else is going to be fine in the game. And so far within my 3 hours it's been going good!
I'm still playing the 1st one amazing game, I can't wait to get my Switch copy of LE Ryza 2 tomorrow hehe.. thanks for the review I think I need to click the subscribe button :) ..
I hope you enjoy Ryza 2! It's an incredible game, and a fantastic follow up to the first one! And thank you for subbing!
I've only played one game in the series, but you sir have me intrigued! I'll start with the first Ryza!
Ryan Blackwell I hope you enjoy it!
Great review. I loved the first Ryza and happy to see the sequel is just as great.
It really is that good! Hope you enjoy whenever you play it!
Being able to go in without prior knowledge really helps.
I think anyone starting with this then going back to Ryza will actually have an interesting experience! The two games have similar aspects, but they're also quite different!
Hey all, make sure you get the free DLC costumes here in the US on the PS Store before it expires and they start charging for it in the next few weeks. 👌
Thank you for the reminder! I gotta download that ASAP!
Awesome I suscribed !
Thank you so much!
I discovered the Atelier series because of this channel! Played a good chunk of the first game but stopped ‘cause Persona 5 Royal came out around that time. Will probably try and finish up the first game before getting the sequel. Great review as always!
Thank you so much! It's been a little over a year since the first Ryza game released, so I'm happy you're still with us and being an avid commenter! Go and finish up that game so you can play the sequel!
Gave you a "watch" with my headphones off so you'd get the view, my friend! Didn't want spoilers. Can't wait to start my game tonight.
Thank you!
I hope the series keeps doing great so the games keep improving. The new one looks great, Can't wait for my copy comes in on PS4.
I hope you enjoy it! So far, the series is in a fantastic trajectory! This might even eclipse the previous game as the best selling Atelier game of all time at the rate it's sold in Japan!
I I wonder if this game physical copies are gonna shoot up in price later down the line, because I would like to wait a little bit :(
More than likely. All the previous Atelier games are still full price in digital, so the physical copies are probably going to be even more expensive
Backlog Battle on one hand I love that, because it rewards real fans who support it day one, on the other hand there’s me who would like to wait because I have way too many games in my backlog and is too busy to play them all 😭 Thank you for the review though Alex, it’s definitely on my wishlist.
I think it depends on which console you are buying it for.
I know the Switch version of Ryza 1 shoot up in price.
I started playing this today and I´m already 11 hours in. I might be in trouble.
lol! Great news!
I have added the Atleier Ryza trilogy to my backlog!
Loved the first game. Got this preordered so can't wait till Friday now
Awesome! You're gonna love what's waiting for you!
Great Review Alex, glad to know this game is a worthy sequel of the original. Good to see the ps5 upgrade was the 60fps performance, in contrast do you know how the Switch version performs, I assume they did a good job like last time?
A friend of mine is playing through the Switch version and they can confirm that Gust did a good job with that one as well! I would've loved to have played it on there too!
im very tempted to get into atelier, but dunno if i should pick Atelier Ryza 1 on steam and play it first and before this game...
All up to you! I've already said my piece about starting with this game - it's absolutely ok!
I finally finished it yesterday, 51 hours too, Ryza 1. :P
Curious that you didn’t post this on my Ryza video instead!
@@BacklogBattle haha because I wanted to say, I'm starting Ryza 2 real soon :3
Woah that boy grew up using dual blades . I see him trying be all cool !
Tao is one of the biggest surprises I've had in my party! I love what they've done with him!
Is it really out? I thought it's scheduled for Friday
Alex usually gets review codes ahead of time.
EDIT: Checked eshop. It is out.
The US version is out! EU gets it Friday!
@@BacklogBattle thnxs for your comment and the review. Will have to painfully wait for 3 more days then. Looking forward to test new synthesis and combat features. Once again it's a pity Russia's associated with europe economic region, having no benefits, but all the cons D:
Здравствуйте! I know 3 more days is a pain to wait, but I do hope that you enjoy the game! The combat is probably one of my favorite combat systems in recent memory. It's just really fun and action-packed, while still being turn based! Do let me know what you think when you've played more!
I'm liking the improvements of the combat system (though I would've still preferred the true turn-based combat), so I might just jump straight into 2 and then maybe give 1 another try if I'll like the game enough.
That's a good idea! Hope you enjoy what you play!
Great review as always! I still need to buy and play the first one.
Or you can start with this one? 😉
Ryza has to be one of my favorite characters fro the Atelier series. I haven't played many of the Atelier's but I'm quite interested in this one. I really love the character design and art style used for the characters. Also Ryza is just too cute.
Well, this would be a great choice to start with! There's something about Ryza's design and cute demeanor that just really puts me in a good mood! And I've no doubt that she'd do the same for you as well!
@@BacklogBattle Yeah! I'm usually fairly picky with games that have turn based types of combat but I was able to get into the new Yakuza so I think I'll be able to get into this one too.
Is it recommended to get the 1st game to play the 2nd game?
Your reviews are really great 👍 I'm still unsure whether I should buy the ultimate download edition though
If I had to buy the game, I still wouldn't get it personally. The Kurken Island gathering experience is just that - gathering. And the game itself has so many neat features already!
Does the game have the very easy difficulty option that was later patched into the first one? I really need it in order to play.
The version I have didn’t have it. I personally haven’t checked to see if Japan ever got such a patch for this game.
@@BacklogBattle The first Ryza got a patch last summer with the very easy mode, I just hoped that they would launch this one with it. I will get it now because I need to claim my bonus costumes but I think I'll be waiting for the patch before I play it myself. I want to play my most anticipated game of the year in a way that I'm most comfortable with 🤗.
Hello Alex, thanks for the review!
So optically it looks really nice, and thank you that you also consider PS4 owners for performance, etc.
the skill tree system reminds me of the alchemy book from Atelier Sophie, and unlocking recipes with points reminds me of the Idea system from Atelier Ferris where you could unlock certain recipes for "points of knowledge (?)"
I would have a general question about that. can you unlock certain / new recipes only with the points on the skill tree? Or you can unlock the repet in a natural way if you, for example, use a certain recipe, we say "uni bomb", that you unlock "big uni bomb" (I hope you understand how I try to ask, I'm sorry)
Not every recipe can be found in the Skill Tree and you'll have to use Recipe Morph - the procedure you explained - in order to get better versions of said materials, weapons, and armor! That said, it's still as approachable as before, if not more so, and being able to just get more Quantities (i.e. ingredients to use) via the Skill Tree make synthesis a ton easier! I hope this answers your question!
2:14 must. focus. on. health bar.
9:55 "incorporating reunions into the main plot heightens these pivotal moments"
*Lent fangirls screaming in the background*
Oh you know it!
Hurrrrm, I think I want to try the first one but the physical edition of it has been really hard to obtain at MSRP the past few months (for the switch). Very good and detailed review though. Definitely peeked my interest. Gust seems to be killing it though. The fairy tail game looks good and I typically avoid licensed IP games but I'm tempted on that too.
excellent review
Thank you kindly!
Will I miss a lot of story bits if I skip the first game?
I think the only thing you’ll be missing is the fact that the characters know each other and the reunion doesn’t feel as meaningful
i'm glad they ditched the time limit system, now if they can just keep it out of any future titles that would be nice.
It's been ditched before, but then reintroduced, hopefully it stays out for good I hate feeling rushed and this is the kind of game that should be taken slow.
@@Darksider087 especially in an RPG type game makes it even worse.
So hyped to play this on PS5, especially when you said it runs at 60fps with barely any loading screens! Does anyone know if there are any missable trophies yet?
Unfortunately I don't really pay attention much to trophies, but I can tell you that I've already shown the only loading screen on the PS5 version in the video!
Very happy with how the combat system has evolved.
and ditching the time limit system was the best move.
To me, I just find it limits what you can do, and with it being an RPG of sorts it's kind of a bad mix.
But that's just my opinion
This game has barely been out a month, yet physical copies are already scarce.
Not all games get the same amount of physical copies, and given how niche the Atelier series is, I believe it!
@@BacklogBattle Any advice on whether to get this for PS5 or Switch?
If you think you’d want to play this on the go, then get it on Switch. Otherwise, PS5.
@@BacklogBattle Same thing for the upcoming trilogy release?
@@c.w.simpsonproductions1230 yup
My question is how is the difficulty. I enjoy games with very hard modes or post game stuff that requires a lot of grinding or insight
If you’re looking for difficulty, this is not that game. When I played it, there were no difficulty levels and the difficulty lies with crafting powerful weapons and gear.
Outside of that, this is a pretty chill RPG that’s meant to be pretty lax, so it’s not going to be difficult from a battle and build perspective.
@@BacklogBattle so the combat would be on the easy side
Ethan Looney yes. And there’s no difficulty settings to adjust afaik
@@BacklogBattle thank you very much. The game looks really fun I may still try it
Good to hear! As I said, the crafting is where the difficulty lies. There’s a mechanic in the game where certain items can morph into others, and the best items can only be made from starting from the bottom most recipe, then moving through several recipes until the final product. It’s kinda crazy, but it’s there!
This combat system seems better than the the first Ryza, might revisit the now ! I couldn’t finish the first Ryza cause I just didn’t like the combat system
I think it’s worth checking out! Loved it!
i really liked this game, but i prefer the first one i think. the magic compass gathering stuff and the clues matching mini-game is so tedious and feels like artificial padding. very fun game despite its flaws, but because of its flaws im not readilly gona revisit it like i would the first game
does having a completed save file from the previous game hold any additional content/reward?
You'll get the Classic Costume Set with the save! No bonuses for having a completed save.
@@BacklogBattle thanks 4 the reply and info mate, gonna sub you now. Keep up the good work on making great content!
Would live to play it and the others since I'm new but no English dub.
I totally understand. English dubs are expected these days, and for this series to not have one after the success it had in the first game is no excuse.
Great review, I have been looking forward to it. It seems that the combat system has been improved even though I think Ryza 1 was already good. And the board with reciepes seems to be more practical than in 1 where there was a list and you could miss some objects. Is the lore good? do they explain more about the "Ancient civilization?" in 1 they didn't explain much about it
can you turn the voice dialog off and just have the subtitles?