I’m willing to openly admit that I’ve never touched the Atelier series before. Going into Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout, I knew very little. It’s a series focused on alchemy and it’s been around for a hog’s age, but that’s about it. However, I was drawn to it purely because you play as a cute anime girl and I was in a mood.
Sometimes my tastes are simple.
Nothing excites me more than jumping into a new series completely blind. I just want to be upfront that these are the views of a fresh set of eyes and not a seasoned fan. I can’t comment on how this entry compares to previous games, only how it stands on its own.
Source: Destructoid Review: Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout