While I’d never had the privilege of getting to know the Atelier RPG series until this last generation, the two downstream titles that I’ve been able to play have been a treat. Mixing together what are usually fun characters with combat that’s a little more involved than usual and an interesting alchemy system, they go to some pains to be distinctive in the genre crowd. Now, with this more refined release of a trilogy of titles that all feature the same central character, I’ve continued to deepen that appreciation.

All 3 of these titles share the DNA common to the Atelier series, though it is interesting to see over the course of them how the developers evolved some of their systems. In particular, the combat that starts out in Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout with some active elements, continues to get more involved and engaging in each of its sequels. The worlds of each title also continue to grow over the course of the series, starting out a bit more humble, then expanding in the sequel, and culminating in a more open-world feel by the end. Through the lens of 3 full titles, it’s interesting to see the lessons learned and the ambitions realized over the course of the entire series.

Working in parallel to that, it’s also fun to watch Ryza and the other characters in the series grow up and evolve in their own right. Watching them start out essentially as teens who are in search of some adventure and mischief, they then grow to become more responsible young adults, using their talents and abilities to contribute to their world. The core family of characters also slowly grows, adding flavor to the mix to help build opportunities for new side stories and allowing other characters their chance to shine.

Given the way each individual release is priced when compared to the trilogy pack, there’s no question that if you have an interest in Ryza and her full story that the combined pack would be the way to go. You could sample the series by choosing any one point along the way, but then I’d argue one of the other Atelier titles may be a better choice since others are more self-contained. This feels like a case where from the get-go the developers had it in mind to tell a character story that would span multiple releases, and if you’re interested in going all in, it seems to be the best way to experience it.