PS2 Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana review:5 stars (An amazing adventure) - Atelier Iris is a truly incredible accomplishment that has everything you could ever want in an RPG: story, gameplay, variety, emotional attachment...and so much more. There's far more to this game than could ever be described in the space allowed, but I'll try my best.

First, the graphics. They may not be the epitome of high-tech, but the nice clean lines, bright colors, and overall smoothness make for an easy-on-the-eyes affair. Plus, the simplicity makes it hard to miss treasure chests and such hidden in the environments. It's my sincerest hope that this magical 2-D style is not lost in the forthcoming round of next-gen systems.

As for the sound, not much to say. Backround music fits the areas it's assigned to, and the tunes will never grate, but they won't move you to tears or stick in your head forever, like the music of Chrono Cross for example.

The story is perfectly tuned. The plot has its share of twists and turns, there's plenty of humorous dialogue (especially in the optional sub-quests), and the characters are compelling. Like the graphics, the story is elegant in its simplicity, avoiding the overblown, head-scratching plotlines of Square-developed RPGs.

The real draw of this game, however, is all the things there are to DO. It's incredibly deep. All the characters have several skills, which can be leveled up in any way you please. There are tons of different Mana (kind of like pet spirits) to collect, which give you new, outside-of-battle powers. Not to mention the ingenious item-creation system. By bringing ingredients to the shopkeepers, you'll be able to create tons of new, useful items, which will subsequently be added to the shop's menu. Better yet, each new item you create results in a short, funny dialogue scene. Also, collecting a few different items that fit into the same category will unlock special bonuses, such as concept art.

Speaking of those shopkeepers, kudos to Gust for its work with the game's NPCs. Instead of creating a huge, spread-out game world with hundreds of identical, boring NPCs, the developers instead chose to keep the world a bit smaller than most, with NPCs that have their own backstories. I found myself really caring about Norman the barkeep, Blaire the breadmaker, and all the rest.

All things considered, Atelier Iris is best described as a towering achievement. Despite adhering to a few tried-and-true conventions, such as a standard battle system, the game's depth, variety, and downright fun carry it to the pinnacle of the RPG peak. I can't tell you how happy I am that Nippon Ichi finally put out a real RPG instead of a "quirky" strategy title, and I also can't wait for more of this stellar series.4 stars (Best Imported Version of a Game to date) - I have to say that this game is very under rated. Its got everything from great sound, impressive storyline, a cross between Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger battle system. The Implemented Alchemy system is quite amazing and simple to understand. The Graphics I give 10/10 and for anyone who puts this game down because its not in 3D is a fool. The soundtrack and SFX are decent (The Japanese Voice Overs of the music and character voices go well with the story). The replay value is extremely well implemented into the story because beating this game once is not enough. I highly reccommend this game to any fan of the RPG or Strategy Genre. Plus the bigger the fanbase the more chance the sequels will be released in America too. Good Luck and Enjoy the adventure of Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana 1.5 stars (THE ABSOLUTE BEST 2-D FIGHTER ON PS2!!!) - I LOVE THIS GAME!!! The way u use alchemy is incredible and fun. The characters r great and so funny!!!! Every thing is great about this game!!! BUY IT AND U WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!
PS2 Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana Features:
Video Games
PS2 (PSX2)
Sony Playstation (Play station) 2
Playstation2 (Play station2)
Action
Adventure
Role Playing Games (rpg, rpgs)
Strategy (Strategic)

PS2 Atelier Iris- Eternal Mana is the CD-ROM version. The full version can be purchased by clicking on the "CLICK HERE TO ORDER" button below for around 49.99USD.