Gust's trilogy of "Arland" Atelier games finally comes to a close with Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland. Although the game retains much of what made the first two games so great and unique, it also manages to tidy up a lot of the previous two games' issues. It's far from perfect, but still a great game for JRPG fans with a taste for something completely different.

The first of Atelier Meruru's multiple tweaks are the environments. Many of the open field areas from previous games are now tighter, more compact environments packed with details. It's a noticeable, and welcome, improvement. Admittedly, the ultra bright pastels that make up most of the game's color palette are a bit of a turn-off, though I have to give credit where credit is due. There are a lot of anime-based games on the market attempting to recreate the art form's distinctive look, but the "Arland" games stand toe-to-toe with any of them. I still can't get over how much like a cartoon the game looks.

Sound design is typical of the series and filled with sounds as big and bright as the visuals. I did, however, like the inclusion of music from all three games. Better yet, you have the option to mix-and-match songs from all three games into Atelier Meruru's soundtrack. It's a very nice touch. And, as usual, both Japanese and English voice tracks are available.

Like any good finale, Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland takes the series full circle, introducing a big, brand new adventure while also offering fans a final chance to spend time with familiar characters.

Atelier Meruru takes place almost immediately after Atelier Totori, with Totori's adventure bringing her across the sea to the small, rural kingdom of Arls. You play as Meruru, the Princess of Arls and apprentice to Totori. Of course, the Royal Court isn't exactly thrilled with how the princess chooses to spend her time, but decides to get some use out of her hobby anyway. After a major meltdown at Court, the King and his advisor hand Meruru the task of using alchemy to help improve the kingdom.

The setup is similar to the first two games; you have three years to complete time-sensitive jobs for people around the kingdom. The bulk of Meruru's tasks will come from the Royal Court, though you'll also need to mingle with the people of Arls and see if they need anything, otherwise the princess will lose popularity points. To its credit, Atelier Meruru manages to find the right balance when it comes to time management. It isn't as stringent as Atelier Rorona, but not as open as Atelier Totori either. You still have plenty of time to explore and complete tasks, though you're constantly on the clock so you have to be mindful of what's happening.

Although the story has a nice flow and is enjoyable, it doesn't have quite the impact as Atelier Totori. Of the series' three main characters, Meruru is my least favorite. It's a completely personal opinion, but she comes off as a bit of a naïve brat at times, which didn't sit well with me. The story also lacks any sort of punch. Meruru's quest to improve the kingdom is noble, but nowhere near as interesting as Rorona fighting for save her business or Totori's quest to find her mom.

Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland is all about time management. Combat offers some difficulty, but everything is dependant on how well you can work the clock and get the most out of your time. Again - the system isn't nearly as strict as Atelier Rorona, but you can easily trip up and lose out on completing a few jobs if you aren't careful. Everything you do - from crafting to collecting ingredients to combat - will suck away time. There's still enough leeway to goof off a bit, but make sure you keep an eye on the clock and know exactly how long each job takes.

Thankfully, the system is incredibly flexible. Jobs handed out by the Royal Court are priority one, but you can pick and choose from guild jobs. You can skip some jobs without penalty. It's usually a good idea to take as many jobs in the same region as the royal job as you can, especially since you may find a bit of overlap with goals.

Combat isn't hard, but can quickly become a time sink if you take it for granted. The trick to the entire system is learning to play the "Time Card" system to make sure your characters get as many turns as they can per battle. You'll also want to spend some time creating good-to-great items for combat.

Nearly everything you do in Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland involves population points. Completing tasks rewards you with points, which you can spend towards developing the kingdom. Taking the time to find better ingredients to create high-quality items earns bonuses, though doing so also takes more time. And, as we've already established, time is your most valuable resource.

The biggest plus to Atelier Meruru over the previous two games is the alchemy system. Little has changed from game-to-game, though the system is much easier to use. Crafting simple items has always been easy, but I found it much easier to track item quality over multiple processes. It's neat to see how much of a difference a "Ripe" ingredient makes compared to an "Overripe" or "Rotten" ingredient. I never felt overwhelmed, nor did I ever find myself fumbling around with the menus.

I also enjoyed the new Development System This is the main "City Building" mechanic and lets you create Arls the way you want. Each building will grant different bonuses, either through improved alchemy results, experience or money. The system isn't particularly deep or complicated, but does add a couple of heavy decisions to the game. You're never punished for your choices, but - like everything else in the game - if you aren't careful, it can cause problems.

As Atelier games go, Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana and Azoth of Destiny are still my two favorites, but Atelier Meruru definitely ranks right up at the top. Of the "Arland" games, it is easily the best of the bunch. The experience may prove too "unique" for JRPG fans with a taste for action, but if you're the type of player that enjoys crafting systems, Atelier Meruru is a great choice.