Tecmo Koei acquired Atelier series developer Gust and announced Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk for Europe. They’re going to publish the title in PAL territories, which kind of makes sense since they distribute some of NIS America’s games in Europe. Atelier Ayesha will be available in Europe Q1 2013.
We haven’t heard much about a North American release other than NIS America confirming they were working on the game during Anime Expo. According to the ESRB, Tecmo Koei will be the publisher for the T-rated Atelier Ayesha, though. Here’s what the rating board says about Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk.
This is a role-playing game in which players assume the role of Ayesha, a young girl attempting to save her sister by learning alchemy. Players control and encounter characters, explore various landscapes, and battle numerous fantastical enemies (e.g., rock monsters, lizards). Players use swords, magic attacks, crossbows, and occasional firearms in turn-based battles (i.e., selecting attack moves from a menu screen). During the course of the game, a handful of cutscenes include suggestive material: two female characters accidentally groping each other in a dark cave; a female character discussing being touched by men (e.g., “Whenever something happened, some guys would always touch my butt in the midst of the confusion”); two female characters taking a bath together (deep cleavage is depicted). One scene briefly depicts the central character passing out after drinking alcohol; dialogue also refer to intoxication (e.g., “I guess I’ll start with the hard liquor! Give me one that’s got a high proof!” and “If anything, there’s so little alcohol, even a kid might not get drunk off of it.”). One character is occasionally smokes cigarettes in the game.
Atelier Ayesha might be available in North America in early March. Amazon and Gamefly’s product pages peg the RPG for March 5 and March 7, respectively.
Published: Jan 4, 2013 12:09 am