Atelier Ryza's producer explains why they went with a more realistic approach to visuals for this installment

While not photo-realistic, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout certainly takes a more realistic approach to the visuals for the long-running series. Why the change in direction after so long? Producer Junzo Hosoi explained in a NintendoEverything interview.

“We decided to take a realistic approach instead of continuing on with the way the game has looked from the Arland series – to really take a new approach to it – especially since it’s a new entry in the series. We wanted to really give it something new – a new look as well, so we really looked at the lighting and the shadows and the graphical elements. Also for the design of the characters, we decided to change the way that the characters are designed, and with a new look to the character. The way the field is represented in the game will change as well.”