Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is a re-imagined take on the classic RPG Adventure, and includes all-new graphics along with plenty of new elements to enhance the gaming experience. Atelier is probably one of the longest-running RPG franchises on the market. Starting on the PSOne, it has continued to generate new entries and spin-offs for several decades, even as “bigger name” series have gone dark. Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is an updated version of the game that started it all, and it finally gives Western audiences a chance to see where so many of the tropes began.
Atelier Marie puts players in the shoes of the titular Marie, who is a member of the Salsburg Academy, home to the greatest alchemists of the age. Marie is also absolutely terrible at being an alchemist and constantly ranks at the bottom of the class. She is so terrible that she’s given an assignment: She has five years to craft an item so incredible that it impresses her strict teacher, or else Marie will fail. She has to run her own atelier, make her own money, get her own supplies, and prove that she is capable of standing on her own without being an embarrassment to the prestigious academy.
The most important thing to note about Atelier Marie is that it’s a remake of the very first game in the franchise, which has evolved a lot since then. I’m not just talking about the inevitable shift from the PSOne to modern consoles but also in core gameplay design. The more recent games are laid-back and low-stress, with an emphasis on hanging out, seeing events, and gradually working toward goals. There are more complex combat mechanics and alchemy mechanics. Atelier Marie is a lot more of a light simulation game. Many familiar elements are present, but the goal is less about relaxing and more about meeting a relatively strict deadline.
Atelier Marie basically gives players a few years to complete the ultimate objective, and it involves a much heavier investment of time. Pretty much everything in the game takes up time. Gathering uses up days, as does synthesis, and you even have a fatigue meter that builds up and requires you to rest. Unlike more recent offerings in the series, you can’t do everything in the game and need to focus on specific goals. There are multiple endings that are determined by how you act.
All in all, Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is still a classic worth taking a look at. This game is challenging but not unfair. And frankly, the challenge is half the appeal. The other half of the appeal is crafting and cute girls!
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