Atelier Totori: Alchemist of Arland 2 Cel Shading Galore

[Toaddio]

The protagonist in the next Team ICO game looks to be cell shaded. In general, I think it's a fantastic effect and I thought its success last generation was going to open the door to more, varying styles.

 

[Xenus]

This game has been announced by NISA for this fall.

 

[Prophecy2k]

The protagonist in the next Team ICO game looks to be cell shaded. In general, I think it's a fantastic effect and I thought its success last generation was going to open the door to more, varying styles.

I couldn't agree more my friend

Cell-shading and various other surreal graphical styles have been criminally under used this gen. I personally thought that Japanese devs with lower budgets would have opted to make more stylized and cell-shaded games on the consoles. That way they wouldn't have to be competing with westerns devs/pubs with huge budgets by going down the uber-realism route, and the games will still look beautiful and amazing (and would even age much better than half of these western realistic looking games).

CC2's Naruto games & Sega's Valkyria Chronicles are the absolute peak of cell-shaded godliness this gen. It's just a shame that we aren't getting more games with similar graphical styles. (I loved Borderlands too)

P.S. I'm with Patsu, Nasicaa and the Valley of the Wind (or Warriors of the Wind here in EU) desperately needs a game that would do it justice.

 

[patsu]

And here we are:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=445763

Genre: JRPG
Platform: PS3
Developer: Gust
Publisher: NISA
Release date: September 27, 2011 (NA), Fall 2011 (EU)

Review:
http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/Atelier_Totori_The_Adventurer_of_Arland/

...

It's difficult to find fault in Atelier Totori, but I recognize that it is not a game for everyone. The characters are mostly unique and interesting, but their roots in anime archetypes are obvious. Synthesizing items can get repetitive, and the main story is underdeveloped until near the end of the game, but these are fairly negligible issues. Fans of previous games in the series will find a lot to love here, and the modern conveniences are attractive enough to lure in hesitant newcomers. Players looking for a colorful world, a lighthearted story, and deep gameplay need look no further than Atelier Totori.

 

[patsu]

Atelier Meruru Set For Spring 2012
http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/11/17/atelier-meruru-set-for-spring-2012/

In partnership with Tecmo KOEI, Nippon Ichi Software will be launching Gust’s latest PlayStation 3 RPG in early 2012. Titled Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland, the game serves as a sequel to 2010′s Atelier Rorona, which was followed up in September by Atelier Totori, players now assuming the role of Princess Meruru as she pursues her talent in alchemy.

From what we’ve seen Meruru will retain most of the mechanics from past games in the Arland series including traditional turn-based combat, an open approach to player progression, and of course, item synthesis.

...

 

[Xenus]

Nice I need to pic this one up having beat Rurona though I only got the normal ending. I wonder if NISA is a little upset they don't get the last game as it was supposed to be even better then the first 2.

 

[patsu]

Tecmo Koei Purchases Atelier Series Developer Gust
http://www.siliconera.com/2011/12/07/tecmo-koei-purchases-atelier-series-developer-gust/

Hungry to merge more, Tecmo Koei announced plans to purchase Atelier series developer Gust through stock acquisition. Soon, Gust will become a fully owned subsidiary. Tecmo Koei cited the popularity of the Atelier series as one of the reasons for the acquisition.

...

Tecmo Koei To Develop Social Games Based On Gust’s Atelier Series
http://www.siliconera.com/2011/12/0...p-social-games-based-on-gusts-atelier-series/

Now, Nikkei are reporting that Tecmo Koei plan to develop social games based on Gust’s Atelier series of role-playing games. According to Nikkei’s report, Gust were acquired for the sum of 2.2 billion yen (approximately $28 million).

...

 

[Xenus]

Eh I'm not sure I like that news. Gust has been getting better and better and Tecmo hasn't done much of late. Though it will get them bigger budgets. and eww social games. I hope they don't mean turn the Atelier series into one.

 

[patsu]

From what I saw on the sites, other fans have similar concern. The author commented that Tecmo didn't say the social game(s) will replace the existing Atelier titles.

 

[patsu]

Not sure if this is the (social) game they were talking about:
http://www.siliconera.com/2011/12/20/can-you-figure-out-gusts-next-game/

Gust is teasing a new title in Dengeki PlayStation. The developer of the Atelier series posted an ad and with a girl named (something like) Ionasal Cucuroule Prischel who is also identified as GM-0315. Judging by art style alone, it kind of looks like an Ar tonelico title more than Atelier, but that’s just a guess!

 

[patsu]

http://nisamerica.com/nart/pbombs/2012/199/Meruru_release_month_announcement_20120113_finalpb.pdf

NIS America announces today that Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland will bring its alchemic adventure experience to its fans in North America and Europe in May, 2012. Atelier Meruru is the latest installment in the fan-favorite Atelier series.

...

 

[Xenus]

Nice I'm about a 5th of the way through this game. The time management is making me really anal though.