Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana Critic Reviews

One of the most enjoyable RPGs I’ve ever played. It’s got a leisurely feel and pace to it unlike anything else I’ve seen.

You may not like it as much as I did, but in the end, you will have enjoyed this game more than a lot of other PS2 games out there.

If you are looking for a good RPG to sink into for a while, buy this. For RPG and Anime fans, it's not to be missed.

One the best RPG experiences to grace the PS2 in a while, ranking up there with Final Fantasy X and Disgaea. Every aspect from story to gameplay to audiovisual appeal is well executed, making it a fresh, unique experience.

The biggest complaint is that some of the English voices are really lacking, especially comparing them to how the Japanese voice actors sound doing the same (or similar) lines, and the entire jumping mess. Outside of that, this is a very solid title, and quite possibly a contender for 2005 RPG of the year.

Atelier Iris isn’t without its faults, and it will not appeal to everyone – the humor is consistently tongue-in-cheek which will drive some people away. In all, though, this game is a rare treat for the traditional RPG enthusiast.

A wonderful game and recommend it for any RPG fan who needs a game to spend 40-80 hours on.

Characters may seem clichéd and the plot itself may feel repeated, but the game offers up a gameplay experience that is simply fantastic.

Like an old shoe: you know it so well, and it's made so sturdily, that every time you slip back into it, it feels like it belongs there. It's a comfortable, deeply satisfying game, the type of game that you'll find yourself taking more from than just a fun story, despite yourself.

The icing on this cake of RPG happiness is the clever and relatively gaffe-free localization.

For those who pine the 16-bit days, Atelier Iris is a wonderful bit of nostalgia that's good fun to play.

If you like RPGs and games that have a sense of humor you should get this now. You'll be happy that you did.

A more-than-solid RPG throwback that does much more right than it does wrong.

With over 400 items to be discovered or created in the game, Eternal Mana is a micro-manager's dream.

A decent localization, really likeable characters (despite the bland main quest), some rather funny dialogue, and the meaty synthesizing feature are simply too satisfying to pass up.

This is a quintessentially Japanese videogame reminiscent of classic 16-bit titles such as Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger, albeit married to a Nippon Ichi-style fanaticism for detail and Pokemon's kleptomaniacal Gotta Catch ‘Em All mechanic.

Atelier Iris Eternal Mana may not be as polished as other similar titles but does provide a fun and addictive RPG that should appease old school RPG gamers.

While this is very much a linear experience, the pacing is relaxed and gamers could enjoy the puzzles and the diversity of the crafting experience.

Stylistically, the game borrows heavily from many predecessors, including Lunar, Grandia and all entries of Squaresoft’s Secret of Mana franchise. But with just the right amount of borrowing and combining of different elements into something new, alchemy becomes wholeheartedly amusing, entertaining and rewarding.

A potent concoction that should appeal to any RPG fan.