For many a game in the Atelier series, it has not been so much the alchemy or item collecting that has been of interest to the characters…. but the all-mighty barrel. In most games the characters will willingly stop infront of any barrel they will see and shout “Barrel!” over and over again if the gamer behind the character desires it (Take this example of Atelier Iris 3 on the Playstation 2). This becomes the focus point of the Limited Edition of Atelier Meruru, due for release by Nippon Ichi Software America on the 22nd May 2012 exclusively on the Playstation 3.
This limited edition will be fully entitled “Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland Limited Edition: Grand Finale Set” and will be priced at $64.99. The contents are your usual NIS America fare of Softcover Artbook, Atelier Meruru OST (Not word on how extensive this tracklist is), the PS3 version of the game and a Limited Edition box. BUT I did mention this features barrels… and this inclusion is a unique addition to this set – an Exclusive black “Barrel” shirt with a picture of the barrel along with the well used phrase “Barrel!“. For those who are a bit smaller in stature, you may be disappointed to know that they are only including Large shirts in the mix…. but it is still a nice addition regardless.
The tiny kingdom of Arls, located on the northeastern border of the Arland Republic, is where spunky Princess Meruru calls home. Ever since she was exposed to alchemy by famed adventurer Totori Helmold, all she can think about was becoming an alchemist. With Totori’s guidance, Meruru sets out to develop her home kingdom of Arls using the power of alchemy. On her way, Meruru will encounter new adventures, obstacles, mysteries, and friends, and discover what life is like outside the castle walls. How you choose to guide her through the advancement of her land will determine the final outcome in the tale of Atelier Meruru. With new and updated game systems and returning characters from Atelier Rorona and Atelier Totori, Atelier Meruru will once again capture the hearts and minds of all the Atelier fans out there.
