Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout tells the story of a girl named Ryza, who is tired of the sleepy life of her native island. Together with her friends, she dreams of adventure and one day gets it in full: the company goes beyond familiar places, where a completely different, unprecedented half of the world awaits them. It's based on alchemy. Ingredients are collected in fields, near water, in dungeons, and then turned into objects: from medicines and bombs to tools. Recipes are not given ready-made: the quality of the material affects the result, and you have to tinker with combinations for a long time. This process is the main pleasure of the game. The battles take place step-by-step, but with tempo: the characters act in turns, and a correctly constructed team allows you to interrupt the enemy’s move and win the battle through preparation. The companions are revealed as the story progresses, and their stories are connected by a common goal. It is also worth noting that the quality of items depends not only on the recipe, but also on the properties of the materials: sometimes it is more profitable to spend a rare ingredient in order to get an item with the required parameters. There are also side quests that give rare raw materials - it’s usually better not to skip them. Due to this, ordinary herbal collection turns into a meaningful activity with a clear goal. The game's duration is long, but it can be completed at a comfortable pace: chapters do not require long continuous sessions, and saves are made frequently. The game turned out to be warm and leisurely, with an emphasis on friendship and growing up. For those who love role-playing games about ordinary people and crafts, this is a suitable option: what is more important here is what and how you did, and not who you defeated.