Atelier Ryza 2 gets first review in Famitsu, full translation

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy has another month or so to go until its ready for primetime in the west, but the RPG came out in Japan this month. As is tradition, Famitsu published one of the first reviews of the game. Between four reviewers, it earned scores of “8”, “8”, “8”, and “9” for a total score of 33 / 40.

We’ve now prepared a full translation of the review. Continue on below to read it in full.

Reviewer 1 – 8

New field actions like swimming and climbing combined with puzzle solving in the ancient ruins are the perfect ingredients to bring out the series’ charm and add to the excitement of adventure. The game constantly entices players to explore which help make things feel less like of a grind. Being able to easily use items and skills in succession opens the door to some awesome tactics in battle and with new elements like skill trees and room customization, players can really make the adventure feel like their own.

Reviewer 2 – 8

It’s a joy to see a new adventure starring Ryza and her companions, who seemingly have grown a bit since the last time around. The game does a great job depicting the characters’ charm, and Fi is a welcome addition to the cast too. There are times where the game’s structure can feel a little convoluted, but the feeling of running around the game’s beautiful world is incredible. From the puzzle solving in the ruins to the new additions to combat and crafting, it feels like this game improves on its predecessor every way.

Reviewer 3 – 8

Different areas and tools determine the types of ingredients you’re able to harvest which open up things like the skill tree and crafting, allowing players to once again get sucked into alchemy. Investigating the historical ruins give off a real adventure movie vibe, bringing something new to the game’s familiar feel. The ability to easily coordinate with allies in battle is also a lot of fun. Some may find the conversations between characters very thorough, but others could find these interactions a bit slow.

Reviewer 4 – 9

While experiencing the excitement of a story about historical ruins in a new world, players can also enjoy seeing how characters from the previous game have been transformed. As for the battle system, although there are all sorts of systems and items for the player to manage in real time, it’s worth setting up effective tactics to maximise your chances of winning. From item crafting to solving puzzles in the ruins, there’s a lot to get your head around in this game, but the UI makes it easy to understand and the game is thoughtfully crafted, making it an overall enjoyable experience.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is now available for Switch in Japan. It’s due out on January 26, 2021 in North America and January 29 in Europe.

Translation provided by Jarop on behalf of Nintendo Everything.

If you use any of this translation, please be sure to source Nintendo Everything. Do not copy its full contents.