Recently, Final Weapon had the opportunity to chat with Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian developers Junzo Hosoi, General Producer, and Yasunori Sakuda, Development Producer, ahead of the game’s release. In our exclusive interview, we dive into the decision behind creating this game, the art style, and why newcomers can enjoy this entry.
We spoke with Junzo Hosoi, who serves as Managing Director, Head of Gust, KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. Previously, Hosoi served as Producer for Blue Reflection, and he is now involved in all areas of Atelier. Additionally, we also had the chance to speak with Yasunori Sakuda, who has been involved in the DEAD OR ALIVE series for around twenty years. Both previously worked on Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator, which was a joint collaboration between Gust and Team NINJA.
Please enjoy our exclusive interview, and a special thank you to the Koei Tecmo team for making this possible!
This new title is a unique case, as now there are two Atelier Resleriana games! What was the reasoning behind creating a more traditional sequel to a mobile game?
YS: After announcing Atelier Resleriana, we received a lot of feedback from many fans of the Atelier series saying they would like to enjoy the world of Resleriana on consoles as well. We were also thinking if we could offer a new experience while expanding the world of Resleriana, so when we heard these comments, we decided to start planning a console version.
Can new players jump into this adventure without any previous Atelier knowledge?
YS: The story for this title focuses on new protagonists Rias and Slade, so even those who have never played any Atelier series’ titles will be able to enjoy it. The game system’s tutorial has been carefully prepared, so even newcomers can gradually understand it as they progress through the game.
Recent Atelier titles have had some jaw-droppingly well-done character models and designs, and this game is no different! How do you guys settle on a style and implement it into the modeling and shading?
JH: We decided on it by discussing with the character designers and CG team, while incorporating current trends. On top of that, we always set an agenda for each title, to differentiate it from other titles and for technological development.
For example, the cel shading is stronger and brighter in the console version than for the mobile version, so the graphics have been improved in a different way from not only the mobile version but also compared to Atelier Yumia.
The protagonists of the upcoming Atelier Resleriana are completely different from the mobile original. These stories share the same setting, so will there be any crossover with that previous game outside of references, lore, or legacy characters?
YS: This title’s story is focused on the protagonists Rias and Slade, but since it takes place within the same world, the protagonists from the mobile version of Resleriana, Resna and Valeria, will appear as essential characters in hastening Rias and Slade’s development.
Additionally, the character comments featured in the guide from the Mysterious series will be used in this title, so players will be able to meet many characters and enjoy their dialogue separately from the main story.
I rather enjoy having a smaller-scale title that focuses on utilizing and evolving traditional series mechanics. Is this something you would like to continue alongside other entries that push the envelope?
JH: While we would love to keep challenging ourselves by producing cutting-edge RPGs that follow the latest trends, as was the case with Atelier Yumia, we are also thinking about continuing to create “traditional Atelier” titles.
For those titles, we would look back at the past traditional Atelier titles, take the best aspects and use them to create a more modern title in order to attract both those who are interested but never played an Atelier title and also those who have been playing the series.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is set to release on September 26 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.
