Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout

Anime shows used as a marketing tool for games are a common occurrence, and when executed effectively, they can raise awareness of a video game and attract new players. Recently, I found myself strongly tempted to reinstall and play NieR: Automata - and guess why. Additionally, I've heard mostly positive reviews about Atelier Ryza, making me the ideal potential consumer; all you need to do is convince me! This series boasts beautiful animation and well-crafted music. Initially, I felt drawn into the world, expecting thrilling adventures. However, this impression quickly faded. Reluctantly, I must admit that almost two-thirds of the series felt rather dull. I learned little about the world's secrets, the monsters failed to evoke fear and resembled the cute creatures from Final Fantasy XIV. The adventures lacked interest and epicness, with most of them (except for the final storyline with the dragon) feeling like uninspired side quests. Even the presentation of alchemy failed to capture my interest. The main heroine didn't captivate me either; at times, she came across as silly or annoying (like when she wanted to use a bomb in a cave). The chemistry between the central quartet fell flat for me, except perhaps for Ryza and Klaudia. The most interesting characters that I would like to know more about and that I would follow rather than the entire central quartet were Empel and Lila. The final third attempted to salvage the series by introducing some semblance of danger and progress, but it wasn't enough to sway me towards playing the game. Overall, the series failed to sell me on anything. While I gained some insight into the gameplay and storyline of the game, I remained uninterested. The one aspect the series succeeded in showcasing was the main heroine's thighs, which were unnecessarily emphasized throughout the episodes. Someone in this creative team clearly has a strong fetish that found its way into the show. This excessive focus on fanservice left me questioning whether I should dream about being crushed by the main heroine's thighs instead of wanting to play the video game. While I might be seeing fanservice and fetishes where there are none, I can't give "Thigh Atelier" more than a 5/10 rating. (16/09/2023)