Sophie Neunmুলller has been such a magical character to me since we first introduced her to Atelier’s Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book six years ago, and I know many fans of it feel the same way. When I was thinking about what we could do on the 25th anniversary of the Atelier series, I thought of a game that would feel like the Atelier of the series, but also an evolution of the series, and came up with the idea of Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream – Sophie returns as hero. This game takes Sophie into a mysterious, dreamy world as she embarks on a heart-warming adventure to find a lost friend and I think it’s a great story and adventure awaiting our passionate fans.
On her journey, Sophie meets a character who joins her quest in both storytelling and war. We’ve made some changes to the battle this time around – for the first time in the Atelier series, the battle begins smoothly without any load time or separate screen. In Atelier Sophie 2, the fight consists of up to six team members who are divided into two groups: an assault team consisting of three members at the front and a back-up team with three members at the back. Although characters can be transferred between groups during battle, each character has its own strengths and weaknesses to determine the place of battle.
Before the game hit the PlayStation 4 on February 25, I wanted to give everyone a quick look at the six main characters, showing how they complement each other in battle.
Sophie Neunmুলller
The leading woman in the title, Sophie, is an alchemist. His style of play is perfect for using items and assisting allies in battle. His passive skills increase his resistance to the status effect and allow him to recharge the energy of any item he uses – so it’s best to use crafted alchemy items. Most of his skills consist of magical attacks, some of which allow him to strengthen his allies. His health and defense statistics are rather low, but his MP and speed statistics are high for it.
Sail
Also an alchemist, skilled at using plachta items – especially with the debaf effect that can improve. His skill is mainly focused on the effect of the position on the enemies, making him great in defeating the enemies. His health and speed statistics are low, but he is a rather unique character because of his high MP and defense mix. You will want to make sure that you have the plug in hand to reduce the power of the toughest enemies.
Ramizel
The team’s ultimate alchemist, Ramizel is a versatile character with high attack and balanced statistics. Not only does he use skills that strengthen his physical attack, but he can restore the health of allies and counteract the effects of their condition. Like our other alchemists, he is apt to use items with a support specialization. He’s an invaluable character to have in your team to make sure the party is kept in perfect health.
Fins
Alette may have less attacking skills, but he fills it in at speed. His skill allows him to influence by taking several turns and allows him to play both attack and support roles. I advise him to try as both an attacker and a supporter so that he does the best for you.
Olias
Of all the members of the team, Olias has the highest number of attacks. As an attacker, his passive skills increase his attack statistics when he defeats the enemy. Like Plachta, he is adept at dealing with enemies, though less powerful. I suggest hiring Olias as a loser, the other characters heal him and chase him.
Diebold
Last, but not least, Diebold. Compared to other characters, this tank has higher health and defensive stats, but its MP and speed is lower. His high defense helps him withstand attacks that will crush other characters. He can even tempt enemies and reduce their attack power if they are close to him. Diebold acts as a great, damage-absorbing shield in battle, but don’t forget the other characters heal him.
To me, experimenting with different battle structures and character setups is one of the funniest new aspects of the game. When Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream launches next month, I want to hear from fans about their favorite setup. I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction to Sophie’s big comeback.
You can Pre-order Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream On PS4 from today!
