Critic: Rebecca Rd
 Date of Review: Mar 8, 2014
 Version: PS3
 Digital Size(s): 6.2GB
 Region: PAL
 Game Page: Atelier Escha & Logy Page

Atelier Escha & Logy is the second game of the Dusk series. In this game you have to choose if you want to either play Escha or Logy. Escha uses the traditional alchemy while Logy uses modern alchemy. For beginners, which are insecure it would be better to start with Escha.

In this game both protagonists work together. The game system itself only has a few changes compared to Ayesha. The synthesize system is similar with some enhancements and the combat system got enhancements.

The known assignment system was greatly upgraded. As you has various assignment as single ones, you now have a big tree, or rather square, with 5 x 5 small squares being assignments you do. Also that time cap of 3 years is gone. You now get a assignment-square with 25 quests in total for 5 months. Every 5 months the quests in the square changes. The quest in the very middle of the square is the main quest of the story. You have to get this quest done to proceed in the story. The quest directly around the main quest are connected through lines and some are required to accomplish the main quest. This square gives a very good overview on how many quests there are and what you have to do for the quest. When you do one of the quests, like gathering something. The percent number shows how much you still need to accomplish the quest. When you accomplished your quests, you go report them to Marion. This helps you rank up and might open you other opportunities. Also if you don’t report a quest to Marion at the end of the 5 months it will be counted as incomplete even though you have 100%.

The map itself also changed. You have a point for your city (obviously) and then you have other points but when you enter those points in the main area, you’re not in an field area but you get to another map with points in it meaning the sub area.

Example: You start in the city Colseit. It’s rather in the center of the map. Then you go to the upper point which is the ‘Highway’, meaning the sub area is called Highway. And in this one you have points such as ‘Lost Road’ and when you enter that point you then get to the field where you fight monsters or gather items. But don’t worry as you move around on the sub area map the days won’t pass. They only pass when you travel on the main map, meaning from one sub area to another one. In the sub area itself the time only pass on the field as you fight monsters or gather items.

As for the money in the game. You get paid monthly by the branch you work in (called R&D). Everything is listed there and how much you get for it. For example it’s counted how many fights you had in the last month, how many crafts, bombs or whatsoever you used and some other stuff. You have to plan how you spent your money as you do need money for some needs but I won’t go into detail here as you might imagine or want to find out yourself.

Last point is the combat system. It changed slightly. Both alchemists are able to use items, when you equipped them before. You have a gauge on the down right corner of the screen, the assist gauge. When it’s filled you can use assist attacks or defense as known from previous games. New thing here is both alchemists are able to learn and use battle skills. Just like all the supportive characters. In this game you can have up to 6 characters in combat. 3 are at the front and 3 are support or back up if one on the front is K.O.’ed.

All in all the game got good enhancements, the story seems interesting and it has a very nice atmosphere. Through the new assignment system you don’t have this pressure of failing your time limit as much as you had with 3 year time limit without knowing how much you have to do. For Atelier veteranes and newcomer a good game as it really makes fun but that’s for everyone to decide for themself.