Before I started playing Atelier Totori last year, I never heard of these games since it was not a traditional Japanese RPG. Instead of focusing on saving the world from an evil person, Atelier games focuses more on collecting ingredients, doing tasks, exploration and of course item crafting. Back in the 90s, these games were ground breaking as it introduced item crafting for the first time, which subsequently got added to other Japanese RPGs.
To commemorate Gust’s 20th anniversary, they decided to make their first anime adaption for the franchise starting with Atelier Escha & Logy. While I have shared my first impressions of the game last year, I wonder how the anime adaptation will fare?
The adaptation follows closely to the original game, which is centered on a village named Colseit. A young female apprentice alchemist named Escha Malier is recently assigned with Logix Friscario to work at the R&D division. From Marion Quinn’s direction, they have to fulfill various tasks and requests. In addition, they have to figure out a way to reach an unreachable ruin that floats above the village, which Escha dreams of visiting someday. What secret lies in the ruins and who is the mysterious girl who lives in it?
While some people compare this show with the disastrous Shining Hearts Happiness of Bread, I disagree with this comparison. Although this show is not as action packed compared to other Japanese RPG adaptations, I can see why a viewer may feel that way since the actual RPG had a lot of cheery slice of life moments. Sure, the Dusk trilogy has a darker feeling similar to Mana Khemia games (especially when you play as Logy in the actual game). Despite this, the story still has a lot of light-hearted moments since the story is told from Escha’s point of view in order to appeal to people who played the games.
Although the anime adaptation managed to cover most of the events of all the popular characters (Wilbell, Linca, Lucille), I felt that all the male characters and Threia pretty much got the shaft with little screen time. It’s kind of expected since they only had 12 episodes to fit the main story. Even so, the poor treatment of Logy compared to the actual games kind of bothers me. As seen in various scenes, he gets left out of parties and even have things hurled at him because he and Escha’s older brother was in the same hot springs as the girls. Because of this reason, it gives me an impression that he is not needed at all and is there for the sake of having dual protagonists. To me, the adaptation heavily favored the female cast.
As a whole, the anime adaptation of Atelier Escha & Logy was still enjoyable even if it has some flaws. Sure, the main plot felt a bit rushed with some questionable animation quality in some scenes, but aside from Logy being treated unfairly, at least the anime was close to the actual game as much as possible. Sure, this show won’t excite people who are expecting action, but for those who are interested the games or played them, I think its worth a look.
Overall Rating: 8.5/10, B, Good ¶
“Pats Macho Chikorita on the shoulder after reading his sadness for Logy’s unfair treatment on the show”. Surely you know which of the two is the major moneymaker of the duo, correct? Contrary to the West’s possible belief that E&S is the best “MOTHERF’ING” Atelier game in the world, it is clear as day why these games have a fanbase and it sure as crikey isn’t because of male protagonists. Oh and do not try to use sales charts to convince me otherwise.
Anyway I plan on checking this one out sooner or later as Linca’s antics intrigue me.
I haven’t played the earlier games, but I recall that Gust tried to experiment with male characters for Iris and Mana Khemia (2 reintroduced the female protagonist with dual protagonists). If I remember correctly, those games are not well received in Japan as in, it was a mixed bag because it lacked a female protagonist.
As a whole, while the male protagonist was okay in Escha and Logy, I don’t care about playing as him and don’t plan on replaying the whole game since the changes to the story are somewhat minor. Of course, the main reason I play these games is to get away from playing as male characters (not to mention, I prefer playing as a female character). If I want to play as a male character, there is always other RPGs such as the Tales of games. But still, it’s good to know that there are still a good number of these games one can play as a female, especially when more women are becoming gamers.
Nintendo is slowly starting to pay attention to female gamers…in their own way.
I play the Atelier games (and most JP games with a female lead) for the same reason you do and not because of fetishism.
I know a friend who owns the game who played the Logy route solely for trophies. I plan on EVENTUALLY doing the same in Tales of Xillia 1 after beating Milla’s route but that will have to wait till after I’ve beaten Xillia 2 and later Zestiria.