Atelier Rorona ~The Alchemist of Arland~ DX

nothing will ever compare to the feeling of lying in bed with this game for nineteen hours straight and knowing i'll never feel that way again is honestly quite devastating

A relatively short jrpg that centers itself around a young girl thrust into the position of business owner due to her master's lack of care. I've finished this game about 5 times now across pretty much every platform it's available on, so I feel like I can confidently say that it is pretty good. future Atelier games are better for sure, but there is just something special about Rorona that makes me feel that you'd be doing a disservice to yourself if you don't experience it.

This is a very nice and chill Atelier entry! I didn't think I would like it so much before now. It includes my favorite workshop song, with some of the best character designs, and a time limit that isn't so stressful.
The assignments are really easy. Make a bunch of bombs and barrels? It's a pass! Make tons of food with alchemy, or simply buy it all from your childhood friend who is a chef? Pass! Hunt down eagles at the forest? Another pass!
Once you complete each assignment, you can take the rest of the remaining days to do whatever you want. It's possible to get full stars right away, and then do whatever else for nearly three whole months. That's a lot of time. And it's okay if you can't get it all done straight away! There is a new game plus feature that carries over all of your money and equipment, as long as you have it equipped. No problem with only doing one playthrough either. It's not necessary to get all of the endings unless you're trying to 100% the game. YouTube has everything available if you want to know what happened in every ending. They are all pretty short.
There are two festivals that occur at the end of the first two years out of three. We have the cabbage picking festival, and the martial contest where you may fight against one of your friends. These are mostly fun for the character interactions at the end.
We have a frying pan man (uses frying pan as a weapon) and a girl with a gun and tons of bodyguards that made me laugh the first time I saw them. I guess she needs all the protection she can get, because she's the rich kid! One that you really don't want to mess with.
Lots of pie, lots of friends, lots of bombs, lots of small areas with materials worth collecting for your synthesis obviously. And I must say, both the English and Japanese voice-overs for this game are really nice. I played on English most of the time, but tried the latter for a little bit on my third playthrough and liked it. I think I preferred the shopkeepers being silent whenever you went to pick up something, though. It's only like that in the dub because not absolutely everything is voiced.
It can end up not being as chill of an experience if you want to complete everything, which is what I did. I enjoyed most of it, though! It took a long time to figure out how to craft good weapons and equipment, and to transfer all of the desired traits. It was a good way of learning to understand the alchemy system better in the Atelier series. It also helps that you have such a nice song running in the workshop while you're crafting all of those sweet items.
Now I'd like to talk about the characters:
I have to say that I'm surprised I like more characters in this game than I thought I would. That's because I was mostly expecting everyone to be a horrible person who didn't treat the main character right, according to some of the discussions I was reading. And a lot of that does happen for sure, but there are definitely some kind people. My favorites are Sterk and Cordelia. Even though Cordelia still isn't the nicest at times, I can see that she cares about her best friend, who is the main character. She doesn't want Rorona to get taken advantage of, and I like how she looks out for her. And then we have Sterk, who is probably the nicest person to her overall. Very respectful knight for the most part.
There is one thing that I would probably warn anyone I might recommend this game to, and that would be the "humor" that they were easily able to get away with back when they released this game in 2009. We have this really weird alchemy teacher who is often making questionable comments about her teenage student. There are also other things that are wrong with this particular teacher that isn't just about the creepy stuff. You'll find out more about that if you play the game. It's also okay if you're not bothered by this. I don't think she was supposed to be taken seriously back when this released, but I completely understand why some people would feel uncomfortable. And that's why I want to give this warning to everybody, just in case.
That's problem number one with the writing. The worst part is that there's a scene where a drunk woman touches the main character inappropriately, while she's begging for her to get off of her and stop, while another person watches and doesn't do anything to help. Even though they were fully capable of stopping the situation from escalating. What a great friend! (NO)
I've never played a game series that had so many of these jokes, so it's not something that I'm used to right now. But I already was an Atelier fan before discovering this, and I really want to play through the whole series, so I quickly learned to deal with it. After every scene, you really aren't surprised anymore by the time the next one rolls around. It's helping me build a tolerance at least.
There are still some funny moments that made me laugh a little bit. So it's not all bad.
Other than that, the whole experience has been a fun one! I really like the music in some of the areas, and of course I already mentioned the workshop song. There is also the opening scene, which is something I love about the older Atelier titles. I stay to watch them almost every time.
I'm surprised by the amount of hours I ended up spending on Atelier Rorona alone. I'm just starting Totori after having played this one for 23 days straight. I'm excited to play through the whole trilogy, and the fourth game as well! That isn't really part of the trilogy, so I'll count it as a separate game. I would love for it continue, though. It may have not sold as well as the new generation Atelier, but I know that there are a lot of loyal fans who would love to see the continuance of Lulua. Okayy, I'm getting off topic there. This is a review about Rorona, not the later titles.
Speaking of later titles, there is an additional story where you get to play as the protagonists from the next two games! It's probably the hardest part that you'll spend the most time on if you want to challenge the secret bosses. It's pretty cool, though!
That's all I have to say about Rorona, I think. Another Atelier that was fully worth the time, and a gameplay loop that I thought was enjoyable.

Atelier Rorona ~The Alchemist of Arland~ DX is a charming and deceptively complex RPG that blends slice-of-life storytelling, turn-based combat, and a deep crafting system into a cohesive whole. Developed and published by KOEI TECMO GAMES, this enhanced edition of the original game breathes new life into the first installment of the Arland trilogy. It introduces quality-of-life improvements, additional content, updated visuals, and a more polished experience overall. At its core, the game tells the story of Rorona, a clumsy but good-hearted young alchemist whose workshop is in danger of being shut down by the kingdom unless she can prove the value of her craft within a limited time.
The narrative unfolds in a light and episodic manner, centered around Rorona's efforts to complete a series of alchemy assignments given to her by the royal court. These tasks are spread across three years, with each year divided into smaller deadlines that demand careful planning. What seems like a relaxed premise quickly becomes a game of strategic resource management, time efficiency, and prioritization. Every action—from traveling to gathering ingredients to synthesizing items—consumes in-game days. As such, the core gameplay loop becomes a constant balancing act between fulfilling the kingdom’s assignments, taking on side requests for townsfolk, exploring the surrounding areas, and deepening relationships with various characters.
Alchemy is the heart and soul of Atelier Rorona, and it’s where the game truly shines. The crafting system is impressively detailed, giving players a vast array of ingredients with unique traits and qualities that directly impact the outcome of synthesized items. Crafting isn't simply about fulfilling quotas—it's about optimizing results, experimenting with combinations, and gradually mastering a system that grows more rewarding the deeper you engage with it. Items can gain special effects, weapons and armor can be enhanced through synthesis, and consumables can be crafted to give you a significant edge in battle. Even seemingly minor choices during synthesis can have meaningful consequences, making each crafted item feel like a product of real consideration.
The game also places a significant emphasis on character interactions, with a cast of quirky and lovable personalities that bring warmth to the experience. Rorona’s journey isn’t just about alchemy—it’s also about growing up, earning the trust of those around her, and building friendships. Through optional events, side quests, and bonding moments, the game reveals its emotional depth and humor. The cast is diverse, from fellow alchemists to mercenaries and shopkeepers, each with their own stories and motivations. These relationships aren't just window dressing either—progressing them can unlock new items, areas, and even influence which of the multiple endings you receive.
Combat in Atelier Rorona is serviceable but not the centerpiece. The turn-based system is simple, with basic commands, elemental affinities, and support mechanics between characters. It provides just enough tactical engagement to support the exploration and synthesis aspects, but it rarely challenges the player in a meaningful way unless you're underprepared. Instead, the real preparation happens outside of combat, where the power of your crafted items and equipment often determines the outcome more than raw strategy. That being said, crafting powerful bombs or healing items and using them effectively in battle can be immensely satisfying, especially when you know how much thought went into their creation.
The DX version improves upon the original in several meaningful ways. Visuals are updated to better match modern standards, character models are cleaner, and the interface is more intuitive. Additional costumes, new synthesis items, and extra events from later versions of the game are included, making this the definitive way to experience Rorona’s story. Load times are improved, some mechanical tweaks make the gameplay loop smoother, and the addition of a fast-forward option for combat helps reduce downtime. These enhancements don’t overhaul the core systems, but they do refine them, especially for players revisiting the game or approaching the series for the first time.
Despite all its charm, Atelier Rorona DX isn’t without flaws. The time limit system, while core to the game’s structure, can feel restrictive for players who prefer to explore and experiment at their own pace. There's a constant sense of urgency that, while intended to create tension and drive, can sometimes turn into pressure that undermines the relaxing atmosphere the game otherwise works so hard to cultivate. Additionally, some players may find the structure repetitive, as the cycle of gathering, crafting, and fulfilling requests plays out with little variation over time.
Still, these shortcomings are minor when weighed against the game's strengths. Atelier Rorona ~The Alchemist of Arland~ DX is a thoughtfully crafted RPG that rewards patience, curiosity, and creativity. It offers a cozy, charming world filled with memorable characters, layered gameplay systems, and a genuine sense of progression. Whether you're drawn in by the alchemy, the character-driven storytelling, or the unique pacing that blends urgency with slice-of-life charm, there’s a lot to love here. For fans of the series, this DX version is a welcome upgrade; for newcomers, it’s an accessible entry point into a beloved trilogy that helped define a unique corner of the JRPG genre.
Rating: 9/10

Update: completed a single playthrough after 51 hours (including a couple of hours of AFK'ing because eating and all that so let's say mid 40s). This game is made with heart and skill. It feels like those who made it took their job seriously whilst taking themselves not too seriously. I had a great time and plan to 100% it.
Review after 4,5 hours:
I am a cute girl doing cute things. Come at me bro.
Atelier Ilyasviel is a good time so far.
Long live turn-based combat!

Honestly, this game is super underrated amongst the Atelier games. I think it has one of the better cast of characters and its basic gameplay loop is fun and weirdly addictive. I had no issues with this port at all, no bugs or crashes on my end. Also Rorona till this day is still one of the best protagonists in the franchise.

What a great game. Aged like juice and you can tell its age but its great playing it on the PC. Some changes i missed like the town map and some of the bosses especially the optional two at the very end are stupidly hard and rly not worth trying.
30 endings + alternativly scenes depending if you have a little brother or sister so if you wanna 100% it you need to play it atleast twice with a guide to help you trigger all character endings.
first playthrough clocks in at 30hours but in newgame+ you can keep all your gear and Room decorations that helps alot on saving time and days to craft them. I dont think its the best introduction into the series but its a damn good one.