Took me a month, but I finally finished Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana, the first entry in the Atelier Iris trilogy! Ever since I wrapped up Atelier Iris 2: The Azoth of Destiny, I’ve been determined to complete the entire PS2 Atelier trilogy which means paying a visit to Eternal Mana.
As expected, Eternal Mana feels noticeably less polished compared to Azoth of Destiny, though the gap itself is not particularly massive. Still, coming from Atelier Iris 2, the missing QoL improvements become quite apparent in several areas. Overall, Eternal Mana is a very traditional old-school JRPG experience: high encounter rates, more demanding use of main gameplay mechanics, and slightly harsher balancing compared to its sequel.
One of the biggest differences between the two games is how heavily Eternal Mana integrates alchemy into combat. Unlike Atelier Iris 2, where alchemy often feels optional, Eternal Mana constantly pushes the player to rely on crafted items and synthesis mechanics throughout battles and progression.
The story follows Klein, a wandering apprentice alchemist searching for the legacy of Iris, a legendary alchemist from the distant past. During his journey, he encounters a mysterious maiden, leading him into an adventure that gradually escalates into a journey to save the world itself.
Klein is also a rather unusual JRPG protagonist. Instead of functioning as the party’s primary damage dealer, he acts more as the team’s support core, using alchemy to sustain and empower the party. Interestingly, despite Eternal Mana being the first game and sharing continuity with Atelier Iris 2, Iris herself, the trilogy’s titular heroine never make any direct appearance, as the story takes place centuries after the Azoth of Destiny which served as the trilogy timeline prequel.
Unfortunately, much like Azoth of Destiny, Eternal Mana struggles to fully deliver as a complete JRPG package. The narrative often feels unfocused and lacks cohesion, with several major story threads seemingly resolved long before the actual finale. The presentation gap is especially noticeable when directly compared to Atelier Iris 2. The leap in illustration quality, visual direction, and overall presentation between the two games is honestly remarkable.
Even so, Eternal Mana still succeeds in one area where the Atelier Iris games consistently shine for me: thematic ideas. The most compelling aspect of the game is the concept surrounding its central heroine, an artificial creation receiving genuine love by her creator which enabled her to gradually develop her own humanity. It is a familiar trope, but still one I find genuinely fascinating when executed well.
With Eternal Mana completed, the only thing left now is Atelier Iris 3: Grand Phantasm to finally complete my journey through the PS2 Atelier trilogy. If Gust Corporation ever decides to remaster the trilogy, simply modernizing Eternal Mana with the QoL refinements introduced in Azoth of Destiny would already make it far more approachable for newer players
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