Atelier Marie Remake Announced

As someone who has played every Atelier release that has come to the west, I like to think I know a lot about the series. I have loved the franchise for most of my life now, and it is one of the few RPG franchises that are consistently unique in every iteration. The first game in the franchise, Atelier Marie, never actually came to the west after its initial release. However, Koei Tecmo plans to change that, with a remade version coming this July.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg will be released on July 17^th, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. It will release with new graphics, reimagined gameplay, and lots of new things for people to enjoy even if they played the original Japanese version. Here is what the press release has to say about the upcoming remake of the origin of the franchise.

“In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the beloved Atelier game series, KOEI TECMO, and developer GUST Studios revealed today a return to their magical roots with Atelier Marie Remake: Alchemist of Salburg. This re-imagined take on their classic title includes all-new graphics along with plenty of new elements to enhance the gaming experience. Atelier Marie Remake: Alchemist of Salburg is currently in development and will be available digitally on July 17th, 2023 for the Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®5 Computer Entertainment System, PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment System, and Windows PC via Steam®.

In Atelier Marie Remake: Alchemist of Salburg, players are reintroduced to Marie, a struggling student at the Royal Academy of Magic whose teacher gifts her an alchemy atelier for her upcoming graduation exam. Marie’s ultimate goal is to create an item within five years that will satisfy her teacher, but to do this, she’ll need to improve her alchemy skills, gather materials, and earn money for reference books and tools, as well as hire adventurers. Where to start is up to the player, as they’ll be able to navigate the game at their own pace in this carefree adventure, with the ultimate goal to graduate from the academy.

All new graphics brighten the screen using modern techniques to bring Marie and her friends to life. Character and event stills are newly illustrated, with 2D animations of character stills being freshly implemented. 3D models of characters and stages are also being added, along with cute chibi-style characters ready to explore.

In addition, this Atelier series origin story not only maintains the simple and highly flexible playability of the original game, the tutorial and guidance of moving around town and collecting items have been expanded and modified to help the remake become even more comfortable and easier to play. This also includes improved mini-game controls and gameplay along with balance adjustments and enhanced comfort and presentation of both syntheses and battles.

Many new elements have also been added for fans of the original version as well as those new to the Atelier series. In Unlimited Mode, players can now take their time without the deadline of needing to graduate in five years, benefitting those who want to enjoy a relaxing atelier life without being driven by deadlines. Additional social events have also been added, enabling players to interact with the main characters, uncovering new aspects and charms that were not included in the original game. Also added is the always helpful “Professor Ingrid’s Tasks”. These tasks help act as a guide, as the question “what should I do next” can be solved immediately, a unique feature for RPGs with this high degree of freedom.

KOEI TECMO America also announced today that a special Atelier Marie Remake: Alchemist of Salburg Digital Deluxe Edition will be available at launch. The Digital Deluxe includes all of the content and DLC of the base game along with original “Atelier Marie Plus” content, an extra BGM pack, and the “Another Look” costume set.”

I am incredibly excited about this upcoming release of Atelier Marie. I’m always happy to see older games come to the west, especially if they’re in franchises that are well-loved. Hopefully, this means we’ll see other entries that never made it westward get the localization treatment. Who knows, maybe a few years from now we’ll get remade versions of the Atelier Iris trilogy as well.