By: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

Disclaimer: MATURE CONTENT WARNING – This post contains content that we at The Anime View do not think is suitable for everyone. Subjects or possible triggers include bullying, sexual abuse, and grooming. By clicking “Read more,” you understand that you will encounter such content in the discussion here. Viewer/reader discretion is advised.

While I was on a search for cute and cozy games, there was a suggestion that popped up and piqued my interest: The Atelier series. Atelier is an expansive collection of roleplaying games that involve the same, relaxing mechanics of collecting and creating items. Each game in the series follows a different character, all of them being alchemists working towards their own individual goals. While this is a long standing series, it is one I have never played prior to purchasing Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland DX on the Nintendo Switch—a decision I have come to regret.

In Atelier Rorona, you play as—you may have guessed—Rorona, who is struggling to complete assignments in order to keep her alchemy shop open. This responsibility was pushed onto the 14-year old by her lazy teacher, Astrid, who is meant to be the best alchemist in the land.

Now, this doesn’t sound absolutely terrible so far—in fact, it seems to be rather standard, zany antics for the premise of a video game. However, I assure you, just your average game shenanigans wouldn’t garner a content warning. Instead, it is the teacher and her nefarious actions that prompted my warning above.

Astrid came into Rorona’s life when both of her parents fell ill. Nobody else could help them, only Astrid because of her alchemy skills. However, after saving the lives of Rorona’s parents, Astrid pressured her into working in an apprentice role because a massive debt is owed to the family’s savior. Sure, Rorona showed an interest in alchemy from that point forward, but that doesn’t excuse being guilted and forced into living with and working under Astrid for the years that follow.

It’s worse than that, however, as Astrid preys upon Rorona in more ways than just debt collecting. The teacher insists on them sleeping together in order for her to grope Rorona at night. You learn this during the expository conversation with Astrid, and it is played more as a joke at Rorona’s expense.

There is also another character, Hom, who is a child that Astrid created using alchemy in order to assist Rorona in the workshop. The gender depends on Rorona’s answer to Astrid on whether she wants a little brother or sister. Regardless of the gender Rorona chooses, Astrid specifies that she made it after her “type,” implying that she has an inappropriate interest in children. Not only that, but Astrid decides to bully Rorona’s best friend, Cordelia, by making it a little taller than her, purposely provoking her. As Astrid is aware of Cordelia’s insecurity with her short stature.

Aside from the creepy undertones and openly predatory behavior, a major point of contention I have is that this is only discussed in a couple forums by the fandom and is nowhere to be seen in Astrid’s wiki page. Essentially overlooking her egregious character flaw and triggering examples of grooming. 

From what I’ve read in these forums, Astrid becomes the villain of the Arland trilogy. This makes sense due to the fact that she is wholly disliked by everyone in the game, even without the creepiness, but that still doesn’t change the fact that this grooming behavior is being played for laughs and largely ignored by the fandom. I can only assume that it is because Astrid is a female character, causing these things to be overlooked and undermined.

These are disturbing topics that make it very uncomfortable to play the game. Not to mention, in the game, if you’re not extra careful, there is a chance you can stop yourself from continuing by running out of time to complete an assignment, thus having to start all over. I was on my second playthrough because of the soft lock, and even though I can go through the dialogue quickly, it still gives me the same feeling as the first time I played it: as though I am Rorona, stuck living with and working under a predator.

This caused me to simply abandon my second playthrough, giving up on the game altogether, and instead moving on to a different entry in the series. An entry that doesn’t involve Astrid in any capacity.

Overall, as disappointed as I am with the game, I feel even more so with the community. This game is recommended as being cozy and relaxing without any warning of the triggering subject matter within it. I simply wish there was more mention of it, otherwise I’m not so sure I would have purchased Atelier Rorona altogether.

So, would I recommend this game to anyone? I would, but with a proper warning of what I find to be triggering or upsetting.

Developmental edits by: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting