The final chapter of the Arland trilogy extends its cozy alchemy with a more refined synthesis system. The side quests and familiar faces will delight regulars. With no strict time limit, you can take it slow, even if the pacing drags at times.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player7+
Description
Lulua follows a mysterious book that foretells her future while perfecting the craft of synthesis. Published by Koei Tecmo, released worldwide in 2019. Recipes and alchemy at the heart of play, zone exploration, turn-based battles, returning Arland faces and a relaxed pace.
Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
The fourth Arland chapter, the game returns to Mel Kishida's rounded character designs, pale complexions, wide eyes and colorful outfits that shaped the sub-series' identity. Lulua, daughter of Rorona, moves through pastel towns and workshops cluttered with flasks, but the new element is the Alchemyriddle, a mysterious book whose pages decode on screen and guide the heroine, imposing its glowing calligraphy on the interface.
The music reconnects with Arland's warmth but stirs with a fresh curiosity. The busy town themes, livelier and more sparkling than the gentleness of the early games, answer to riddle motifs tied to the Alchemyriddle: small questioning phrases, crystalline timbres that return each time the book yields a clue. The score follows Lulua's zest, a cheerful apprentice always ready to open the next page.
Following the trail of a missing alchemist mother, a young girl deciphers a tome whose script no one can read. The quest blends learning alchemy, reunions with familiar faces from the land of Arland and a moving search for lineage. The narrative, bathed in warm nostalgia, celebrates the bonds of the past while turning a page. This tenderness makes the adventure a gentle farewell to a whole cherished region.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Massive"
The closing chapter of the Arland saga marries meticulous alchemy with a quest structure guided by a mysterious book. Synthesising, gathering and optimising recipes to topple the toughest fights demands hours of careful tinkering. Reuniting with the whole cast, the post-game challenges and the hunt for the best items stretch the journey well past its main thread.
Technical info
💾6 GB📅21/05/2019
Published by Koei Tecmo
Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
Closing out the Arland trilogy, Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland weds alchemy to turn-based combat where crafted items make the difference. The toughest foes force you to prep bombs, healing and party synergies in advance, turning each big showdown into the direct payoff of the work done back at the atelier.
