Atelier Lulua's an interesting one from Gust. On the one hand it's certainly the most visually impressive and detailed effort we've seen from the series to date. Gust has always had limited budgets to work with, but the team has really pushed themselves here to make something that does look very "next gen". It also plays very cleanly. On the other hand, Atelier Lulua is a very traditional game, and is an effort to bring fans back to trilogy that has had two other full trilogies developed in-between. It's almost painfully delightful, warm, colourful, and completely charming in everything that it does, but its reliance on nostalgia and series tradition means that I'm just not sure that this will be one to win the series new fans.

Atelier Lulua is up there with the best that the series has to offer. Although it doesn't do anything exceptionally unique, it's an enjoyable and rewarding adventure set in such a memorable and charming world that you'll find it hard to put down.

Atelier Lulua is a solid, albeit safe final entry in the Arland quadrilogy that does an admirable job of bidding farewell to a lovable cast of characters.

Those who love "anime style" products will find a nicely modeled character design, but also a truly sparse concept and little environmental inspiration. For the rest, even The Scion of Arland, like its predecessors, has a sweet and carefree charm, characterized by an untraceable genuineness elsewhere.

I am hooked on Arland.

Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland is a more accessible installment to the long running franchise. Lulua and her companions are a fun new cast, and the more streamlined crafting system makes Atelier Lulua a great starting point for new players.

Quotation forthcoming.