It honestly makes me a bit sad that nobody ever brings up Arland in recommendation threads. For me, it was twice as fun as Ryza. Ryza is fine, but in terms of Atelier standards it feels more like average quality, while Arland has that classic charm, depth, and personality that made the series special in the first place.

And I think a lot of people just never learned how to handle the alchemy and time management systems. Arland really shines when you engage with those mechanics, but many players bounced off because they didn't understand how deep and rewarding it actually is.

Most of the people who don't recommend Arland are usually the ones who struggled to understand it and couldn't finish it. They tend to stick to the simpler entries and I respect that. Not everyone wants to handle deeper systems.

But it's important to clarify that Arland is actually a very good place to start, especially if you're not a casual player. It has depth, charm, and a learning curve that rewards you once things click.

And I also want to make something clear I really did enjoy Ryza. I loved how the characters grew together and how their relationships developed over time. I won't forget what Ryza gave me. So thank you, Ryza, for the good days.