Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny
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| Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny | |
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| Developer(s) | Gust |
| Publisher(s) |  Gust Nippon Ichi Software Koei |
| Release date(s) | 26 May 2005 |
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) |
| Platform(s) | Playstation 2 |
| Media | 1 DVD-ROM |
Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny is a computer role-playing game developed by Japanese developer Gust for the PlayStation 2. The game was released in Japan on May 26, 2005, and in North America on April 25, 2006. It is a prequel to Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana.
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[edit] Gameplay
The combat system in Atelier Iris 2 has been improved over its predecessors'. However, the out of battle gameplay has been reduced in complexity, resulting in a more linear style of play. The alchemy and invention systems have been merged, to create a more simplistic way of item creation, as well.
[edit] In Battle
Battles are primarily turn-based; an indicator at the top left shows the time that each character or enemy has left until their turn arrives. There is a section of yellow to the left of this indicator that stunned combatants' icon will appear on; when they move out of this space, they are no longer stunned. The longer bar to the right represents the actual wait time until a new turn.
In addition to the turn gauge, there is also a skill gauge. A series of blue bars at the top right of the screen, it represents the current skill level. It can be increased by being attacked by enemies or using a Charge attack. Depending on the level of the skill gauge, various special skills will be able to be used.
There are two basic forms of physical attack: Charge and Break. A Charge attack will increase the skill bar, while a Break attack will move an enemy further back on the turn gauge. If an enemy is moved into the yellow part of the turn gauge and therefore stunned, it is possible to accumulate combo points. Each attack on a stunned enemy will increase the combo counter by 1 and add to the total combo damage. At the end of battle, these counters will result in an increase in the amount of experience gained. Therefore, it is to the player's advantage to use the combo system as much as possible.
Characters may also use skills or items in order to inflict a greater amount or wider range of damage than a physical attack would bring.
[edit] Out of Battle
Outside of battle, Atelier Iris 2 is unique in that it contains two separate playable characters, Felt and Viese, who can be freely switched between at any time. Felt's quest focuses on exploration and battle, while Viese's quest focuses on item creation and support. Although some chapters are meant to be played with one character primarily, switching between the two is possible at any time from an early point in the game. Of particular note is the fact that only Viese can use alchemy; Felt collects alchemical recipes, while Viese creates them. Later on, Viese joins Felt's party, so the aspect of switching characters is removed.
[edit] Alchemy
Outside of battle, Atelier Iris 2 employs a robust item customization and creation scheme known as alchemy. By obtaining a recipe and the necessary ingredients, it is possible to synthesize items that can act as equipment, be used in or out of battle, or be used to progress in the game itself. Since the alchemy system is the main source of both equipment and beneficial items, it is to the player's advantage to collect and make as many recipes as possible.
Alchemy is divided into three categories: Mana Items, Accessories, and Alchemy Items. Mana Items are special items that can be recreated by Felt using Mana power once they have been created by Viese initially. Accessories function as equipment, increasing various statistics and endowing characters with special abilities. Alchemy Items are miscellaneous items that cover a wide range of uses.
Alchemy requires not only the correct ingredients, but the correct Elemental spirit as well. Some recipes may be closed off until later in the game when Viese has acquired more Elemental spirits.
[edit] Skills and Equipment
Each character can be equipped with one weapon, two accessories, and two alchemy items. Weapons provide offensive power, accessories boost various stats, and alchemy items provide skills. While an alchemy item is equipped, its particular skill will be in effect. However, by gaining the appropriate number of Skill Points from battle while it is equipped, it is possible to learn the item's skill permanently. In this way, each character has the potential to learn a wide range of skills, varying from powerful offensive skills to skills that provide defense against certain forms of attack.
[edit] Weapon Synthesis
Weapon synthesis increases the power of weapons and can add special properties. Once the ability to synthesize weapons is attained, it can be done at any time by examining the anvil in the camp with Felt. Through weapon synthesis, any character's weapon can be upgraded to a variety of forms if the correct Elemental spirit and item is present.
[edit] Mana
As the player progresses through the game, he or she will obtain large amounts of elemental Mana. This Mana can be used to synthesize unlimited amounts of Mana items, making it very useful. Mana is obtained by absorbing the essence of various materials in the field. For example, a box may provide water and wood elements, while a rock may provide fire and stone elements.
[edit] Field
Field play has been simplified from Atelier Iris 1. Instead of possessing a number of tools that can be used to solve puzzles, each character instead has only the ability to jump and absorb Mana. However, the random battle system has been improved. Instead of a truly random number of encounters per map, each map has an encounter gauge, which changes color from blue to red when a battle is iminent. Each encounter successfully defeated drains the gauge. When the gauge is empty, no random encounters will occur until the map is reset.
[edit] Story
Felt and Viese, alchemists-in-training living on the floating continent of Eden, are the main characters of Atelier Iris 2. The game begins with Viese becoming a full-fledged alchemist. She proceeds home to tell Felt the news, but he is nowhere to be found. After finding Felt at the Belkhyde Gate, a sealed gateway to another world, they go to a forest so that Viese can make a pact with one of the Elemental spirits living there. Along the way, they came across the Azure Azoth, a sword placed in Eden in ancient times by an unknown force. No one has ever been able to pull the sword from its resting place, although Felt tries daily. After making the pact with the spirit, Eden starts to shake. Throughout the entire island, holy grounds of the Elemental spirits disappear. Felt and Viese decide to head to the Mana Temple and report the damage; however, before they can get there, Felt hears a strange voice calling him from the Azure Azoth. Felt tries to pull the sword out once more and succeeds.
After obtaining the Azure Azoth, Felt hears a voice telling him that he must go to Belkhyde, for Eden is in a period of great turmoil. A week later, after the investigation of the earthquake has been completed, Felt sets out for the Belkhyde gate, which has been unsealed by the Azure Azoth. After a good-bye with Viese, Felt sets out through the gate, to the world of Belkhyde, where he will search for the answers to the mysterious sword and the destruction of Eden.
[edit] Characters
Much like the last game, Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny has several playable characters. Three characters can be in a battle party at once, with the player free to switch the others in and out at any time.
[edit] Main Characters
Felt Blanchimont (フェルト・ブランシモン): The protagonist of the game, Felt is a young alchemist who grew up in Eden. Much of his time is spent gazing at the Belkhyde Gate and imagining himself adventuring in the unknown world. Although he has great potential as an alchemist, Felt would rather learn how to fight. (CV: Wataru Hatano (羽多野渉))
Noin (ノイン): Noin is the first person to join up with Felt. Her actions and demeanor are the opposite of Viese. With her strong fighting skills and Chi attacks, she fights against the Empire on behalf of the oppressed residents of Belkhyde. Noin despises her father for running out on her dying mother for seemingly no reason, although when she eventually meets him, she learns the reason why. (CV: Megumi Teranishi (寺西恵))
Fee (フィー): Fee is a mysterious woman with a cold appearance who encounters Felt one day. Her weapons of choice are two crimson scythes. As an infant, she was found at the steps of the Altena Church and was raised by the high priestess. As an adult, Fee serves as the church's holy warrior and is sent to destroy that which would threaten her religion. At first, unfortunately, that includes Felt. There is much more to Fee's story than the immediate exterior... (CV: Natsumi Yanase (柳瀬なつみ))
Poe: Poe is a fairy who resides in Eden. He has a fateful encounter with Viese and instantly falls in love with her. He eventually travels to Belkhyde after a failed attempt to capture Viese's heart. He becomes good friends with Felt and his party. Poe uses a magical gun in battle. While in his own little world, thinking of what he should say to Viese, he unwittingly proposes marriage to another character, the cat girl Mitsue, whom he is eventually forced to marry, for the benefit of the party. (CV: Rie Kanda (神田理江))
Gray (グレイ): Although he looks like a dragon, Gray was once fully human. He meets Felt in the desert after rescuing him from a monster. Worldly and friendly, he's considered the party's big brother, and is known as a dragonslayer across the land. His appearance as a dragon-man comes from the fact that he's slain so many dragons that it's caused him to be cursed with their shape. (CV: Kenta Miyake (三宅健太))
Viese Blanchimont (ヴィーゼ・ブランシモン): Viese is Felt's childhood friend. She was taken in by the Eden Alchemist Association after the death of her parents. She's fairly average in alchemy and she differs from Felt in that she works hard and can synthesize just about anything. Although Viese acts as Felt's support, she eventually meets a girl named Iris and becomes her guardian. Later in the game, Viese joins Felt's party. (CV: Miwa Kouzuki (倖月美和))
[edit] Supporting Characters
Iris (イリス): The title character of the "Atelier Iris game series." A small young girl who lives in Eden, Iris claims to be an orphan just like Viese and Felt. For much of the game, she accompanies Viese on her adventures throughout Eden. She is a younger version of the same Iris from Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana. (CV: Miki Takahashi (高橋美紀))
Kreuz (クロイツ): The head of the Eden Temple. He is the one who certified Viese as an alchemist. (CV: ?)
Lutanus (ルテネス): A wise Darkness Mana who maintains the Eden Temple library. Viese and other alchemists often turn to her for advice. (CV: ?)
Meila (メイラ): a green haired girl who is a friend of Felt and Viese's, that resides along with them in Noir. To her credit, Meila is essential in acquiring one of the Mana pacts. (CV: ?)
Klavia (歌姫クラウディア): A shy Sound Mana who rarely speaks to anyone. Viese befriends her after Klavia loses confidence in her singing ability. As the game progresses, Klavia overcomes her shyness, and eventually, her friend joins Viese. (CV: ?)
Yach (ヤッケ): A Noir shopkeeper who has ties to Belkhyde. He lost both his parents in the past. (CV: ?)
Melona (メローネ): A Light Mana who runs a shop next door to Viese & Felt's studio. She is constantly having to put up with the actions of her clumsy subordinate, Coco. Melona had a bad experience with her former alchemist which eventually led to his accidental death, this event has prevented Melona from getting close to people since then. (CV: ?)
Coco (ココ): A klutzy Wind Mana who works in Melona's shop. Her antics lead to her being fired for a short while. It is later revealed that Melona simply wanted her to take work more seriously, thus, giving her a "short break".(CV: ?)
Yuveria (ユーヴェリア): AKA "Y-017J", she is the artificial humanoid that guided Felt to Belkhyde. (CV: Shiho Kujima (久嶋志帆))
Mother Eizlen (エーゼリン): The head of the Altena Church, and the one who raised the orphaned Fee after Riesevelt fell. (CV: ?)
Chaos (ケイオス): Chaos is part of the Imperial Army, and was appointed as an Imperial Champion because of his swordsmanship and speed. He moves around the nation as he pleases and frequently runs into Felt. Chaos is fought three times throughout the game, but cannot be defeated the first time. The thrid and final confrontation with him is a one-on-one duel between himself and Felt. (CV: Dai Tsuchida (土田大))
Galahad (ガラハド): An Imperial Champion, and Noin's father. (CV: Hidenari Ugaki (宇垣秀成))
Tolena (トレーネ): An Imperial Champion, Consul Theodore's daughter and Noin's best friend. (CV: Haruhi Terada (寺田はるひ))
Theodore (テオドール): The "Consul" of Riesevelt, and leader of the Silveresta Occupation Forces. Very conceited, he is eventually deposed by our heroes. (CV: Yoshimitsu Gezan (下山吉光))
Max (マックス): The leader of the Simsilt Resistance Movement, and rumored sole heir to the Slaith Dynasty. After Riesevelt fell, he founded Simsilt for two reasons: to overthrow Theodore, and to search for his long-lost sister, Audrey. Max is able to use the secret technique Ein Zecksclaw, which can only be used by members of the royal family. (CV: ? (川本邦弘))
Hagel (ハゲル): A world-famous blacksmith, and key member of the Simsilt Resistance Movement. (CV: Tesshou Genda (玄田哲章))
Mitsue (ミーツェ): A catgirl merchant and native of Zwital Village, Mitsue turns up multiple times in the game. She eventually marries Poe, following certain events of the story. (CV: ?)
Theresa (テレッサ): A famous stylist from Grand City who gives Noin a makeover. (CV: ?)
The Azure Azoth (Elasmus) (深蒼のアゾット/エラスムス): The titular "Azoth of Destiny", and Felt's main weapon. Little is known of the Azoth itself, except that its creation was by the gifted alchemist Elasmus. (CV: ?)
The Crimson Azoth (Palaxius) (真紅のアゾット/パラケルスス): The Azoth of Belkhyde, wielded by Chaos. It is said that this Azoth was responsible for the sealing of Eden, and that it houses the personality of the talented alchemist Palaxius (Paracelsus in the Japanese version). (CV: ?)
[edit] Mana
As in Atelier Iris, the main driving force behind the alchemy of the game are the Mana Spirits. The transformation element has been replaced with a larger number of Mana Spirits. Below is a list of each Mana, and their element:
Dour (木のマナ・ドゥル): The Mana Spirit of Wood. (C.V: Rie Kanda (神田理江))
Zuvelk (金のマナ・ツヴェルク): The Mana Spirit of Metal. (C.V: ?)
Uru (火のマナ・ウル): The Mana Spirit of Fire. (C.V: ?)
Aroma: The Mana of (what else?) Aroma. She joins after Viese finds and grows a particular flower for Meila. (C.V: ?)
Plua (闇のマナ・プルーア ): The Mana Spirit of Darkness. Plua will not join initially, but will automatically once Viese returns after speaking to her friend, Lutanus. (C.V: ?)
Diemia (岩のマナ・ディエメア): The Mana Spirit of Stone. Diemia wants a Glow Lamp so he can read in the darkness of his cavern before he will make a pact. (C.V: ?)
Nymph (水のマナ・ニンフ): The Mana Spirit of Water. (C.V: ?)
Silwest (空のマナ・シルウェスト): The Mana Spirit of Air/Wind. She makes a pact automatically, and actually *gives* an item instead of asking for one. She gives a Hexi Glass to Viese, which helps out in making the Viese Charm accessory. This item bestows great combat ability upon Felt when equipped. (C.V: ?)
Jiptus (毒のマナ・ジフトス): The Mana Spirit of Poison, she tells Viese to read the monolith in her sanctuary before she will make a pact with her. Thusly, a Rainbow Cloth is required for her pact. (C.V: ?)
Faustus (幻のマナ・ファウスタス ): The Mana Spirit of Dreams. He always ends a sentence with "poyo". Faustus makes a pact in exchange for being freed from a treasure chest abandoned in the library, which stems from an illfated game of hide and seek. (C.V: ?)
Siren (音のマナ・サイレン): The Mana Spirit of Sound. She joins automatically after Klavia gains her confidence. (C.V: ?)
Aeon (命のマナ・アイオン): The Mana Spirit of Life. She is one of the oldest of the Mana Spirits, second only to the Mana Spirit of Creation, Lilith. Aeon has also proved to be very difficult to work with, as her knowledge of her abilities have given her a very high opinion of herself. She tells Viese to make pacts with light and dark mana before she will make a pact herself. (C.V: ?)
Eital (光のマナ・エイテル): The Mana Spirit of Light. Eital wants a comet gem in exchange for making a pact with Viese. (C.V: ?)
Lilith (?のマナ・リリス): The Mana Spirit of Creation, whom all other Mana are descended from. No one has seen her in many centuries. (C.V: Miki Takahashi (高橋美紀))
[edit] Reaction
Azoth of Destiny was released to mixed reviews with scores ranging from 50% to 75% out of 100% with an average of 71% on Game Rankings. 1
GameSpot's review praised the game for its funny cast of characters and straightforward battle system but criticised battles for being too easy. The review also criticised the game's quest design as "tiresome and unrewarding". 2
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- IGN.com
- RPGamer.com
- Zale Shine - Shrine to Fee.
- Gust Developer Interview
- Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny Gamestyle PS2 Review
