The battle system is rather interesting, and has a nice level of depth, especially for a visual novel.

I personally wasn’t a fan–especially after playing through the other route first. Where route A is like classic shonen, route B is something else entirely. Regarding the other route, the route split does fundamentally change the type of story the game tells.

Let’s just say the writers added some cheddar, havarti, brie, and pepper jack in a real short amount of time. I would love to say more, but without getting into spoilers, for me, it was probably two notches too cheesy. That being said, when the writers went all-out, they really went all-out with the story. It really made me question what kind of story they wanted to tell–something serious, something funny? Not that things can’t be both, but the pacing at times, certainly did feel off. But it is jarring at times how the game oscillates from funny rom-com time with the party, to talking about the dire state of the world, then back to fun time. In the first route I played, there were some times I was holding a finger on my A key in shock. The story has some serious moments, especially post route-split. That’s not to say it’s all fun and games. And even though I cut my teeth reading the library out of Shonen manga, the format is still fun every time. A new friend, a new enemy, a new obstacle to surmount (or fall victim to). Each battle, each boss is a new opportunity for Shin and his party. The narrative of the common route really reminded me of the Shonen battle manga formula (but with some H). Granted to him by his companion, Enri, Shin has the ability to take in the Dust that destroys all else, and convert it to power. Shin, however, has a special tool to fight against the dust: the Philosopher’s Stone. The Dust corrodes and destroys all it touches, and encroaches ever closer to humanity day by day. In The Alchemist of Ars Magna, Shin Balt, a young alchemist, and his companions must find a way to combat an existential threat to their existence: the Dust, a supernatural phenomenon that threatens the world of Socie that they all live in. And in this game, Socie, a country of Alchemists, fights against the apocalyptic threat of “Dust” and “Oblivion.” Can this world be saved? Originally released in Japan in 2020 by developers ninetail, The Alchemist of Ars Magna (Soushin no Ars Magna) is receiving an English release through publisher PGN Games. “Dust.” The creeping clouds of calamity that destroys all life it touches. An item that can grant Alchemists power beyond their wildest imagination.

Instaling The Alchemist of Ars Magna