By: RJ (@rga_02)
The plot is akin to a Saturday morning cartoon. You are a teenage girl trying to save your teacher’s workshop from closing. The evil government is trying to thwart your progress but fails constantly. It’s nothing great or horrid. The plot isn’t the reason why I adore this game. It’s the quirkiness displayed by the protagonist Rorona and the vibrant cheerful mood of the Atelier Rorona Plus captured my post-ironic heart.
Yes. I unironically adore this game. Atelier Rorona Plus is the first time I have enjoyed a jRPG since 2013 (with the release of Lightning Returns and the remaster of Final Fantasy X). Perhaps it’s just because I have been engulfed by the overall serious attitude of videogames in recent months, but seeing the lighthearted attitude of the whole game just sucked me in. The protagonist, Rorona is probably one the more “normal” protagonists I’ve seen a jRPG in a while. She isn’t some girl from the slums who is friends with some edgy teenager nor is she some spirit lord from the boonies. She’s just a regular student, who just happens to practice alchemy.
The game is a three year journey for Rorona. She’s not on a quest to defeat God, she’s on a quest to save her Master’s workshop. At the same time she is learning and perfecting alchemy. Surrounded by people bringing her down or unsure of her capabilities, Rorona stays cheerful and upbeat during the whole process. At the very end, she overcomes all of her doubts and succeeds in what she worked hard for over the years. It’s delightful to see it all unfold and will leave you with a smile.
The lighthearted simple plot isn’t the only refreshing thing. The crafting system is one of the best I’ve experienced in a videogame. I spent hours gathering materials so I can make a perfect pie or a powerful bomb, making sure it had all the correct traits and values. It’s simplistic but every rewarding experience.
Sadly, the battle system is boring. Perhaps I have been spoiled with the ATB/CTB/CSB systems from Final Fantasy, but throughout the whole game I found myself wishing that the game was just solely based on the crafting system.
A lot of people will probably shrug this game off as “weeaboo moe garbage”. Those people are missing out. In a sea of dramatic jRPGs, Atelier Rorona Plus provides a breath of fresh air that I didn’t even know I wanted in a jRPG. There was a part of me who didn’t want the game to end - I was going to miss this little adventure. It’s one game that I wouldn’t mind spending another 20 hours with.