Atilier is getting its mojo back!
posted by happythug (VANCOUVER, WA) Jun 30, 2012
Member since Oct 2007
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Many of the NIS released games in this current gen of consoles have been huge failures in my eyes, though I'm still a big fan of the company. Atiler Meruru halts this trend with (finally) a great addition to the Atilier series. It does take a little warming up. Beginning rather slowly, but once you get your rhythm down, you'll find this a very addictive romp.
Speaking of Rhythm, one fault of Meruru is it's clunky pacing. You'll have your master plan to develop 5 ingredients to make one big item you need for a chain of quests, but you can't do anything in this game without being constantly interrupted by inane cutscenes full of vapid babble! I love cutscenes folks! But this was just too much. Almost everything you do takes in-game-days. Cutscenes activate on certain days. Spend too much time adventuring or creating alchemy items and the moment you zone to another region you will be bombarded with cutscenes. Often 2 or more!
Still, the time-management formula is an addictive one, and combat is not as tedious as recent iterations. The combat graphics and ability-sequences are some of the best NIS has to offer.
I really enjoyed playing through this game, but it doesn't do a very good job of giving you important goals. Meruru gives very little indication of the precise goals you are to complete to achieve a good ending... rather than the somewhat depressing normal ending.
The time management system in Meruru is a little oppressive, leaving little time to experiment. There are many time-wasting red-herrings as to things you should do, but upon completion do not produce any useful results. It is difficult just to have enough time to upgrade a single party's equipment, but the game is constantly urging you to switch party members. This makes things intense but also a little bitter.
Over all though, fans of the series will enjoy this game, though i'm not sure I'd recommend it to new comers.
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