The Atelier series has, to me, always represented something of a middle-ground in JRPG development. Gust’s games are caught somewhere between being a tried-and-true anime adventure and a deconstruction of classic genre tropes, often in a way that sees the game’s message and delivery clashing with themselves. Which would you rather have: a sickly-sweet heroine in a fairy tale narrative or something sinister lurking beneath the pastels"
Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings doesn’t beat around the bush; it has absolutely no interest in delivering something that makes you think about it once you’ve finished your stay in its extremely colorful world. While that initially made the game feel a little bit pointless, I’ve come around on it now that I’ve experienced it as a whole. There might not be a huge, philosophical concern at the center of everything that happens to Lydie and Suelle, but the fact is, there are enough games like that in existence today, especially when it comes to JRPGs. Sometimes it’s nice to just kick back, beat up some angry-looking mushrooms, and synthesize literal Liquid Gold that you can, but thanks to alchemy being commonplace, only sell for a small amount of money. So Take Me To The Paradise

World-building in Lydie & Suelle is one of its greatest strengths. The main quest hub city, the outskirts of the region it occupies, and the insides of character homes are all ...