Games Happy

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Reminiscences & the Envisioned Land  is lastly right here worldwide on consoles and PC platforms. Forward of its launch, I have been taking part in the Steam, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Swap variations of the sport. Whereas I give attention to the PC model in a separate article, this one covers how the sport scales on consoles. Having performed all of the Atelier video games on each platform since Atelier Escha & Logy Plus: Alchemists of the Nightfall Sky which was my first style of the sequence, it has been fascinating to see how Gust handles every platform.

Since Atelier Yumia is one other Gust launch launching worldwide throughout a number of platforms (together with Xbox for the primary time within the sequence historical past), I am going that will help you resolve which model is finest for you overlaying the PS5 (base not Professional), Nintendo Swap (on Swap OLED), and PS4 (on PS4 Professional and PS5) variations of the sport. I’ll seemingly be updating this after launch once I get my Xbox pre-order.

Atelier Yumia — PS5 vs Swap vs PS4 content material and variations

Earlier than entering into the technical variations, Koei Tecmo can be doing a particular DLC that’s solely accessible for the PC, Xbox Sequence X|S, and PlayStation 5 variations of Atelier Yumia. That is the Atelier Yumia – Backpack Set. The bundle helps you to change the colour of Yumia’s backpack and Flammi’s smoke. You unlock it as soon as you have gotten to base constructing and have positioned a Dressing Room. It consists of the next:

• Flammi Backpack” Accent for Yumia
• Reminiscence Backpack” Accent for Yumia
• Twinkling Smoke” Accent for Flammi
• Crackling Smoke” Accent for Flammi

The opposite variations are in some platform-specific options. The PS5 model has nice DualSense controller help with haptic suggestions whereas gathering and even adaptive set off help whereas taking pictures. The Swap model has respectable rumble, however the principle draw of it comes from the hybrid nature of the system.

Atelier Yumia — PS5 vs Swap vs PS4 visuals

Visually, there are some notable variations between the PlayStation and Swap variations. Even the PS4 and PS5 variations have some variations in picture high quality. It’s price noting that the PS4, PS5, and Swap variations all have two visible modes: High quality and Efficiency. High quality goals to have improved video high quality whereas Efficiency prioritizes the body fee over video high quality. I did my testing within the Efficiency mode on all variations on my 1440p monitor, 1080p show, and likewise on the Swap OLED handheld display screen. 

Starting with PS5, Atelier Yumia is great. Whereas the open world has some teething points in its visible high quality affecting each platform and likewise in some shadows, it seems to be and feels wonderful on PS5 within the efficiency mode. Having put in almost two dozen hours into the PS5 model, I solely had possibly three cases the place I may discover any efficiency points, and people solely occurred for a second or two. Atelier Yumia’s PS5 model seems to be wonderful on my 1440p show. 

The PS4 Professional model is a step down from the PS5 model in picture high quality, however not by a lot with some shimmering on foliage whereas exploring. The key situation the PS4 model has on PS4 Professional is the load instances and efficiency which I’ll cowl beneath. I redownloaded Atelier Ryza 3 to check it on PS4 Professional as properly, and Atelier Yumia seems to be noticeably higher throughout the board. It additionally would not reduce on foliage as a lot because the Swap model. There are some LOD-related points, however even these do not feel as jarring as they did in Atelier Ryza 3 on PS4 Professional.

Transferring over to the Nintendo Swap, I used to be nervous about this model. I say that as a result of whereas Atelier Ryza and Ryza 2 have been wonderful on Swap, Ryza 3 was not. It was playable, however not even near a perfect expertise. Atelier Yumia on Swap is a step beneath Ryza 3 in visuals, and whereas the open world is noticeably emptier than different platforms with worse picture high quality, the cutbacks make sense. It is a extra demanding and impressive recreation in comparison with Ryza 3.

On Swap, foliage is dramatically reduce in comparison with different platforms. The truth is, even the PC’s lowest potential settings are properly above the Swap model. Past that, Ryza 3’s most noticeable situation returns with the extent of element pop-in taking place very near the digicam in some cases. Because the open world helps you to principally climb up and bounce off mountains and the like, it’s spectacular to see all of this maintain up with out further loading screens on Swap, however the downgrade may be very noticeable even indoors in comparison with different platforms. Early on when utilizing the Zipline, you may see the world round Yumia change as she’s transferring in the direction of it and it’s fairly jarring. The visible cutbacks can be high-quality in the event that they led to a steady efficiency, however sadly that is not near excellent on Swap.

Atelier Yumia — PS5 vs Swap vs PS4 efficiency variations

Along with evaluating the efficiency on the three consoles, I additionally need to give context for the way Atelier Yumia runs in comparison with prior video games from the sequence on the identical platform right here. Whereas it is probably not helpful for somebody who has entry to each system and needs the very best expertise, I do know there are people who prefer to play a complete sequence or a trilogy on the identical platform if potential. I do this as properly once I can. Along with discussing how Atelier Yumia runs in contrast to a couple prior video games on the identical platforms, I am additionally going to cowl what I believe may very well be added to enhance the expertise in updates.

Atelier Yumia on PS5 looks like an enormous step up over the missing PS5 improve for Atelier Ryza 2 just a few years in the past. I bear in mind having to play that in 1080p so the body fee did not give me movement illness. Atelier Yumia in its efficiency mode is sort of flawless efficiency smart. Like I stated above, I solely observed just a few cases the place I observed efficiency points in almost two dozen hours. 

Observe: Given how dynamic the sport is with time of day and different results, it was tough to get each screenshots with the very same in-game place and time. Each pictures are captured through the Swap docked and PS5 at as near the identical in-game time as potential. They have been then cropped and resized to indicate the variations in a single picture. For context, the Swap model right here runs at an unstable body fee within the 20s with lots of popin whereas the PS5 model is way greater decision at a locked 60fps with higher visible settings like draw distance, reflections, and extra.

The PS4 model on PS5 runs at 60fps with out points as anticipated, however the expertise on PS4 Professional is not splendid. The sport wants a 30fps cap as a result of each the standard and efficiency modes run with a variable body fee and it by no means feels good. I am unable to touch upon how that is on base PS4, however I am not pleased with the variable efficiency on PS4 Professional. Atelier Ryza 3 alternatively ran extra persistently on PS4 Professional. I get that the video games are extra formidable now and push for greater high quality visuals, however I hate uncapped body charges when the expertise is that this variable. It will probably hit 60fps, however often simply varies fairly a bit beneath. 

On Swap, efficiency hardly ever feels prefer it holds a steady body fee until you are indoors or trying on the bottom. Even trying up on the sky sees common efficiency points. Exploring can be accompanied by common body fee drops. Atelier Ryza 3 ran higher based mostly on my testing, and that wasn’t excellent both. In the event you take pleasure in utilizing picture modes in video games, Atelier Yumia on Swap feels much more sluggish right here. You’ll need to be pleased with a variable body fee dropping to the low 20s in components with Atelier Yumia on Swap. That is all when performed within the Efficiency visible mode as properly. Atelier Yumia’s efficiency did not hassle me as a lot as Trails By means of Dawn II since that has worse visuals with its efficiency points.

Atelier Yumia — PS5 vs Swap vs PS4 load time variations

With the visible and efficiency variations out of the way in which, the load time variations have been fascinating to see. Whereas the main variance is throughout the preliminary load and save file loading, I am happy with how the quick journey load instances are fast throughout the board. I hope the delay in opening the map might be addressed on Swap although. It’s annoying having to attend 3 seconds for the map to open typically when it may possibly take beneath a second on others. 

For measuring load time variations, I used three particular conditions: launching the sport to when the Koei Tecmo brand shows, loading a save file, and quick journey from the Atelier to the Ligneus Survey Base. I additionally examined all of those twice to ensure and rounded up the outcomes. I additionally added the PC handheld numbers right here as a body of reference with the Steam model operating off the inner SSD in each instances.

• PS5 model: 29 seconds to get to the emblem, 11 seconds to load a save, and beneath 1 second for quick journey.
• PS4 model on PS5 inner SSD: 17 seconds to get to the emblem, 9 seconds to load a save, beneath 1 second for quick journey.
• PS4 model on PS4 Professional: 71-76 seconds to get to the emblem, 26 seconds to load a save, 1.5-1.7 seconds for quick journey. 
• Nintendo Swap OLED: 61 seconds to get to the emblem, 24 seconds to load a save, 1.5-2 seconds for quick journey.
• ROG Ally: 30 seconds to get to the emblem, 8 seconds to load a save, 1.5 seconds for quick journey.
• Steam Deck OLED: 41 seconds to get to the emblem, 11 seconds to load a save, 1.5 seconds for quick journey.

I used to be stunned by how the PS4 model on PS5 hundreds the quickest of all variations in my testing for the preliminary load and for the save file. 

Atelier Yumia — PS5 vs Swap vs PS4

In the event you performed and loved Atelier Ryza 3 on Swap, Atelier Yumia is not an enormous step again from that, however it’s noticeably worse performing. It holds up higher than I anticipated given the open world. The PS4 model on PS4 Professional can be a simple advice if it had a body fee cap. In case you are pleased with variable efficiency, it’s okay. The visuals maintain up properly in that model in comparison with the PS5 launch which is well the very best of the lot. I additionally actually love the DualSense options within the PS5 model. Hopefully these get added to the PC model sooner or later.

In the event you worth portability above all and do not have a PC handheld, the Swap model delivers the complete Atelier Yumia expertise after lots of cutbacks. I hope the efficiency might be improved a bit as a result of regardless of all of the compromises to visuals and backbone, I am impressed that Gust managed getting the complete open world with quick journey engaged on Swap. I anticipated extra loading screens than there are. I stay up for testing the Xbox Sequence X model sooner or later once I can and updating this text. 

Since it is a worldwide simultaneous multiplatform launch on extra platforms than we have ever seen from Gust, I hope we see some patches to deal with a number of the points sooner or later because the workforce additionally brings DLC to the sport.