Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy Reviews

im lost too

Very nice and don't know why not popular. Fi...I miss you

So you played the first game in the new Atelier series and are back for the second chapter. Wait, you missed it…. No worries, this game has you covered I think? Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy, takes place 3 years after you save your small town (and ultimately the world) from an unknown invasion of super bugs from the underworld. Your bookworm friend moves to the big city and you have been working on your magic wait, I mean “Alchemy” skills. Your friend finds some ruins and believes they are related to alchemy and has asked you to come up to the city and help out. Now you are on a grand new adventure where you pack up almost none of your alchemy items and move to the big city. And this is how you start a sequel where you have to create everything again. Opening things up for new players. The game in the very beginning even mentions how Ryza felt she should have brought some of her stuff. If you need a recap for how this game works, here ya go: In this game you will be doing one of 3 items. One listing to the towns disbelief of alchemy yet giving you a large to-do list. Second, running around fighting creatures and harvesting materials. Three, mixing things together to make something else to make something else in order to make the thing you want. You will be sitting in front of the cauldron quite a bit! Alchemy = the ability to combine things to make other things utilizing a cauldron. You know: deserts, clothing, dynamite, crafting tools, metals, and the occasional philosophers stone. This game holds very true to the what was done in the first game but streamlining the overall look and feel. The core concepts have not really been touched which is a double edged sword. Combat has had some slight modifications yet is similar to just about every turn based game you have. You and your enemies take turns based off a timer in the lower corner of the screen. You have your normal attacks, magic, special moves, and everyone’s favorite super mega specialty power move. The audio of the game has not changed at all from the first game. You have a lovely variety of musical scores that are well orchestrated. But they are so short considering how long you will be in each location that they get very repetitive rather quickly. The small conversation pieces that pop up when you are gathering items are still there, still enjoyable, and still super repetitive. As gathering is the name of the game... You start out with your staff to start collecting the thousands of materials to use your “alchemy” skills to make items for (big change) a group of people who still know nothing about alchemy but are happy to exploit your skills for their benefit. Literally, the merchant market is affected by your contributions to them. While running around, be sure to remember that each harvesting tool will gather a different item. A staff, axe, and net all get something different from a bush. That is part of the fun of this game. Figuring out what you need and how you have to attain it. Then we have the story. They took the original and essentially redid everything again. Right down to the evil bug monsters from the underworld. The only difference this time is your newest companion FI. A lovable flying creature that coincidentally was handed to you while leaving your small town but but us the major mcguffin for exploring the ruins around the city. The game is really enjoyable and definitely something to pick up. I only have 2 major complaints. Those focus on inventory management and characters. In a game where inventory is the major focus, why is there no way to easily organize items by type and levels! Secondly, the thing that made even less sense. EVERY major character from the first game ends up in this game. When I said earlier that they took everything from the first and just tweaked it, I was not kidding. All the side characters, visitors, and main characters all find their way to the big city and it becomes a reunion party with all the new characters feeling left out. Ultimately still a fun game that will take about 40 hours to play though. Still in my opinion not a $60 game especially considering the cut and paste efforts to the game.

Even thiccer thighs, even better gameplay, even better crafting.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is the direct sequel to Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout, and it manages to build upon the charm and mechanics of its predecessor while evolving into a more refined and emotionally resonant RPG experience. Developed by Gust and published by Koei Tecmo, this installment in the long-running Atelier series continues the journey of Reisalin “Ryza” Stout as she transitions from a curious island girl into a confident and capable alchemist navigating a much wider world. Set three years after the first game, Ryza 2 transports the protagonist from her sleepy home island to the bustling royal capital of Ashra-am Baird, a vibrant setting brimming with secrets, ancient ruins, and new characters. The shift to an urban environment brings a welcomed change in atmosphere, offering a greater sense of scope and density in both narrative and exploration. The story of Atelier Ryza 2 is notably more mature and emotionally layered than the first game. While still maintaining the series' signature optimistic tone, this sequel grapples with themes of growing up, changing friendships, and the weight of responsibility. Ryza, now more experienced, is contacted to investigate a series of ancient ruins connected by a mysterious phenomenon involving lost legends. Along the way, she encounters a mysterious creature named Fi, whose origins and fate become central to the plot. The narrative successfully balances lighthearted slice-of-life moments with more serious storytelling, and the return of familiar faces—like Lent, Tao, and Klaudia—adds emotional depth and a rewarding sense of continuity. The character development is more nuanced this time around, with returning party members showing growth that feels both earned and authentic. The alchemy system, the cornerstone of the Atelier franchise, has been significantly improved in Ryza 2. The Linkage Synthesis mechanic retains the approachable yet deep puzzle-like system from the first game, but with added features that expand creative possibilities. Material loops, elemental alignments, and the ability to easily trace ingredient effects all contribute to an alchemy system that is more robust and intuitive than ever. New additions, like the Essence system—which allows players to alter item properties mid-synthesis—open up avenues for greater experimentation and power scaling. Moreover, the game provides a smoother curve in learning and applying alchemy, ensuring that newcomers can gradually master its complexity while veterans can dive into min-maxing high-level gear and items. Gathering, a core activity tied to synthesis, has also been enhanced through new field actions such as swimming, climbing, and riding creatures, making exploration feel more dynamic and rewarding. Combat in Atelier Ryza 2 also receives a significant overhaul. The real-time turn-based hybrid battle system has been refined for better pacing and responsiveness. The Action Point (AP) and Core Charge systems return but are more fluidly integrated, encouraging strategic timing and team synergy. Characters can chain attacks together in real-time and unleash devastating skills once tactical gauges fill, giving combat a kinetic and satisfying rhythm. The game supports fast character switching mid-battle, and the AI of party members is generally competent, making team-based tactics more viable and enjoyable. While still not on the same level of complexity as traditional hardcore JRPGs, the combat strikes a nice balance between accessibility and tactical engagement, keeping encounters lively without becoming overly repetitive. From a visual and auditory standpoint, Atelier Ryza 2 is one of the best-looking games in the series. Gust’s engine has been further polished, and the capital city, surrounding landscapes, and mysterious ruins are brought to life with bright colors, expressive lighting, and smooth animations. Character designs by Toridamono remain a standout, with distinct, stylish aesthetics that enhance the game’s appeal without falling into overt fan service. Fi, in particular, is a beautifully animated and endearing presence, adding emotional resonance to the story’s central mystery. The soundtrack is another highlight, delivering a whimsical yet sometimes melancholic score that perfectly complements the game’s shifting tones—whether you're gathering herbs in a sunlit forest, exploring ancient catacombs, or sharing a quiet conversation with a friend under the stars. Despite its many strengths, Atelier Ryza 2 does carry a few shortcomings. The pacing can feel uneven at times, especially in the middle portion of the game, where repetitive dungeon mechanics and fetch-based quests can slow narrative momentum. Side quests, while occasionally touching, often lack variety and mostly serve as padding or shallow character development. Additionally, inventory and item management, particularly in late-game synthesis, can become overwhelming for players who haven’t kept a close eye on material quality and quantity throughout. The game also relies heavily on dialogue and worldbuilding, which might not appeal to players looking for high-stakes drama or fast-paced action. Still, these issues are minor in the broader context of what the game offers. Ultimately, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a triumph in character-driven RPG design. It manages to deepen its alchemy systems, improve its combat, and expand its world while retaining the warmth, curiosity, and emotional honesty that made the first game so beloved. It’s a rare RPG that chooses introspection over spectacle, focusing on growth—not just of stats and items, but of its characters and their personal journeys. For fans of the Atelier series or those new to it, Ryza 2 stands out as one of the most well-rounded and rewarding entries, and it serves as a shining example of how sequels can build meaningfully on their predecessors without losing their heart. Rating: 9/10

It's a good expansion on what the first Atelier Ryza had to offer. Character events(including side characters) are back in great numbers and the alchemy system got new features. What's not so great however is the difficulty. I played on hard difficulty which is the highest it goes on the first playthrough and after making a decent bomb that was basically the rest of the game finished in terms of fights. Fiighting without items is still a challenge though. For the story I'm not sure if was because of my long focus on Alchemy and a long break from the game but it felt like the end was cut short. I was absolutely expecting for more to come after the last fight but that was it... The rest was completely fine, though it felt a bit dumbed down at times as the characters struggle to figure something obvious out. While I would absolutely like to recommend the game, the Atelier Ryza DX versions with new content in each game just got announced so I would highly recommend to wait for those releases and decide what to buy then.