Atelier Iris

Despite almost everyone else, I really enjoyed Grand Phantasm. It may have been a departure from the first two, but I liked it. Even the annoying time limit in each world wasn't that bad. As for my favorite it would probably be Azoth of Destiny or Grand Phantasm. I didn't enjoy the first game, the characters were so bland.

I only played the first one, sadly... but I loved every second of it.

The other two games are pretty hard to find IMO, so I dunno when I'll get to play them.

It wasn't that AI3 was bad, it was just lacking compared to just how well done AI2's plot was. Sort of how Xenosaga Ep. 2 is a good game on its own, but when compared with Eps. 1 and 3, it isn't anything special. Of course AI3 has some really good things going for it with how it turned the Grandia-esque battle system of AI2 and really made it its own thing with the Burst Gauge. And that would wind up being altered even further in both Ar Tonelico and Mana Khemia. Then the enemies appearing on-screen and being able to kill the much weaker ones and get ingredients from them with an initiative strike. Although, the mission-based progression and limited number of areas didn't help AI3 much. And it had a weaker soundtrack. And damn did have some annoying voices! What's the point of switching to Japanese when those voices were equally terrible, yeah I'm talking about you, Nell and Phenyl!

As for AI1, it happens to have a special place in my heart for several reasons:

One: You gain abilities to access new areas as you progress in a sort of small-time Metroidvania sense.

Two: It introduced me the whole Item Synthesis thing and being able to alter the ingredients within a recipe to make more stuff (which few JRPGs actually do).

Three: Hilarious tutorials that I was actually sad when I found out there would be no more.

Four: Veola (and shop-keep synthesis as a whole). Strangely, it wasn't until Ar Tonelico 2 where shop-keep synthesis came back with shop-keeps with actual personality.

Fifth: This is the first game where I really felt that the mage-type character was a must-have member to have on the active party. I used Power Item and Wide Item so many times in battle ...

Sixth: Being able to customize my characters in a clever way to destroy those Golden Pigs so easily.

Are all 3 games for PS2?
I'd really like to find one of them... @-@

Yes.

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I have 1 and 2. I've finished the first one. I've got to agree with Zero that the shop lady in Kavok was awesome, and how she and Lita always bickered back and fourth almost everytime you shopped there. :lol:


But overall it was meh. Nothing bad but not a game I see myself replaying anytime soon. Played the 2 for a bit but I just found it strange that the alchemist girl doesn't even come with you! She stays behind and whenever you need to synthesis items you have to go camp in a tent, go to the save point and switch characters (with that little loading screen)....

I played all and well I don't remember much of them except 3.
I remembered I enjoyed AI 1 and AI 3. AI 2 was kinda so-so but I also finished it. Iris looked best in 3, in my opinion.

And were AI 1 & 2 connected? I thought they weren't.

Favorite characters were:
1. Lita - the only one I remember lolz
2. Felt
3. Iris

Ever played Tales of Destiny 2? (not to be confused with Tales of Eternia, which was named Tales of Destiny II in the US)

Mages OWN that game. Physical attacks are so weak it's ridiculous... :o

What do you mean not connected???
Every part of that game is about Iris....
Oh... I miss Lita.... The ending isn`t showing what they are doing after that....
AT 2 is kinda great.... makes me think that Iris is actually the heroine of AT3..... Hahahaha.....
AT3.... Great, the thought about making mana into parts of the weapon style is awesome.... the protagonist is so cool....

I'll play it eventually. I only have like two dozen other games to finish, and it's not like I even bought a new console recently.


It's amazing what powerful skills do with a bunch of "Hit +1"s attached to your characters. Of course, Gust realized how broken it was and "Hit +#"s in the later games are severely nerfed.

Was it? Maybe I'll replay em someday~
btw, I really liked 3.

Um yea I only played the first and the third, should I have played the 2nd? I don't have a lot of time for games lately, so I am asking if it really necessary to play 2, or even if its good enough in comparison to 1 and 3

It's not necessary to play, but I recommend playing it. I consider it to have the best story out of the Atelier series that are out in English.

I have Atelier Iris Eternal Mana and Azoth of Destiny sitting on my shelf, but I've yet to get to 'em just yet. I have played the Mana Khemia series however and I've enjoyed them very much so!

Never did get around to Mana Khemia. Considering the fact I'd probably have to pay top dollar for them despite age and being on the Playstation 2, I probably won't any time soon either.