Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream
By David Chapman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
This adventure sequel has good chemistry with series fans.
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Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream
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What’s It About?
ATELIER SOPHIE 2: THE ALCHEMIST OF THE MYSTERIOUS DREAM continues the adventures of the novice alchemist, Sophie Neuenmuller, and her friend Plachta, a living doll with the centuries old soul of a former alchemist. Searching for a way to return Plachta to her human form, the duo come across a massive and ancient tree, known cryptically as simply "The Dream Tree." When a rift opens at the base of the tree, the duo find themselves transported to the dream world of Erde Wiege. Trapped in a world not their own, Sophie and Plachta must explore Erde Wiege and uncover the secrets it holds. Along the way, they'll find ways to expand their alchemy skills and use these new recipes and abilities to help their new friends and allies, all the while searching for a way back home.
Is It Any Good?
With twenty-two main chapters and nearly as many spinoffs, fans just can't seem to get enough of the alchemical adventures of this series. Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dreams is the twenty third game in the main franchise, and a direct sequel to 2016's original introduction of the "Mysterious" saga of the series. Timing is everything too. Since the game takes place immediately following the events of the first game, Sophie, and by extension the player, isn't starting off as a blank slate. While players don't need to have played the previous game to understand what's going on here, this is still a character that's already seen some action as an alchemist. This means the adventure starts off by giving players immediate access to a range of special abilities and crafting skills. It might seem like a small thing, but considering most sequels try to come up with an excuse for the character to have conveniently forgotten everything they were capable of in their previous adventures, this feels like a nice change of pace, as well as a reward for returning fans.
Atelier Sophie 2 doesn't just rehash the mechanics of the first game and call it a day. Lots of changes have been made, with combat getting the biggest improvements. Now the party is split into two teams, front and rear, with the support team able to add extra shielding from enemy attacks. Also, characters can tag up for powerful "Dual Trigger" skills, unleashing a coordinated team attack. The "Synthesis" mode has been expanded as well. Since both Sophie and Plachta are skilled in alchemy, they can work together to craft more complex recipes and even choose between Standard or Restricted panels in a risk/reward system that can earn higher quality results. The changes to the Synthesis system are interesting, even if it can feel repetitive. On the whole, though, Atelier Sophie is a colorful, upbeat fantasy that should appeal to those looking for a break from darker, grittier role-playing games.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexuality in entertainment. What are some of the ways that games and anime highlight the sexuality of their characters? How much does this add or detract from the experience? Can too much "fan service" turn audiences away?
What are some of the qualities that fans look for in sequels? Do you prefer more of the same or something completely different?
Game Details
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid ($59.99)
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Koei Tecmo
- Release date: February 24, 2022
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: T for Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: March 4, 2022
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