Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea [PlayStation 3]

Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is the sixteenth game in the Atelier series and the third game in the Dusk subseries that focuses less on the time management the series is known for. The game is set six years after the beginning of Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky and ten years after the start of Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk. The Dusk subset series takes place after the tragic conclusion of the Age of Alchemy. The world runs dry, seas turns into deserts and monsters run rampant. Two very different alchemists, Shallistera (Shallie) and Shallotte Elminus (also Shallie), meet at an oasis town where the water sources dry up. Shallotte tries to make ends meet to support her mother and become an alchemist, while Shallistera focuses on saving the village. The player chooses one of the two alchemists and unlike the previous dual hero Atelier games they each have a different adventure and the initial choice has a distinct impact on the story, even though they eventually meet, need to work together and bond.

The time management elements from the main series are replaced by life tasks, a number of quests and missions similar to the assignment board in Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky. The plot is split up in several chapters where specific tasks need to be completed for the Stellade merchants' association. After these are completed the environment can also be freely explored to gather items and harvest raw materials for mixing, to pursue the main alchemy goals to receive item traits, bonuses, improved statistics and experience bonuses. The tasks are also the main way to receive global experience, rather than through combat. The characters have different abilities that lead to specific tasks. Shalotte will catch fish or clean rooms, while Shallistera can uncover hidden items. Both characters are able to mine for items. Tasks vary based on the chosen character and change based on the play style. For instance, players focusing on combat will more often be given battle related tasks. The fields also change dynamically during exploration based on the life tasks.

Items are created through blueprints and ingredients and items can also be combined into new ones. Next to selecting the ingredients the order can be defined, which has an influence, and later in the game certain skills can also be used at this step. At a certain level access to Chain is provided. It influences the effect of skills and can be built up by using skills of the same elements. Chain can also be used during the item creation process, finished off with additional effects. The same process is also used to craft weapons and armor, but this is done by the character Miruca as the Shallies are not able to.

Just like the previous games a turn-based battle system is used with a party of up to six characters. Next to the two Shallies there are six additional characters with two additional ones that can only be accessed through DLC. Some elements of combat have been simplified, as constantly shifting positions is no longer an element and assist attacks are only introduced later in the game. Through consecutive attacks a Burst gauge is filled that can activate a Burst state where special skills can be used along with effect boosts through the Chain.

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