14 DAY TRIAL // Gust recently teased its upcoming project, a mysterious title dubbed Project A16, with a preview trailer featuring its protagonist and not much else.
Many gamers were most likely thinking about another iteration in the popular alchemy role-playing game series, and it turns out they were right, as Dengeki PlayStation, the Japanese gaming magazine, has revealed the official title of Project A16 to be indeed another entry in the Atelier franchise, titled Atelier Shari: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea.
Like Atelier Escha & Logy before it, Atelier Shari: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea will actually feature two protagonists, 16-year-old Sharistella and 18-year-old Charlotte Eluminus, both of whose names can be shortened to Shari, hence the game's title.
Yoshito Okamura, the Gust director who was previously in charge of Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland and Atelier Totori: The Adventurere of Arland, is now leading the development process for Atelier Shari: Alchemistst of the Dusk Sea.
For now, there is no information on how much time has passed between Atelier Shari and Atelier Escha & Logy from the game's story's point of view, but the game's two protagonists will have their own storyline to explore.
The upcoming game will introduce a new system, called Life Task, which will be the main method of progression through the game. Once players see a Life Task objective, they will have three elements to solve, explore, compound and a fight. After completing all three, they will be able to advance through the story.
Gust has also revealed more information on the two protagonist's back stories. Sharistella comes from a family that has a long-standing tradition of protecting an ancient alchemical relic. When the head of her family falls ill, she takes on the leading role and departs on a journey to find a way to save her village from a grave crisis.
In order to do so, Shari heads to an oasis town called Stellad, where she will complete her journey to maturity. Her story revolves around the mystery of the world, the Dusk theme being at the core of everything.
The other Shari, Charlotte Eluminus, is a poor alchemist who lives in Stellad and has been managing Atelier since the loss of her father, but she doesn't have any experience and thus is a shoddy alchemist.
What she lacks in preparation she makes up for in ambition, having big dreams of being successful one day. Her story will revolve around her adventurous and comical ways, with more of a classic Atelier vibe to it, where players will experience the growth of a rather foolhardy girl.
Atelier Shari: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea is currently scheduled for release on June 26, for the PlayStation 3 home entertainment system from Sony, in Japan only. An official statement regarding the possibility of a western release is yet to be made.