Y'know, sometimes we doubt the existence of an audience in the UK for this brand of wilfully Japanese role-playing game. Perhaps it's a myth perpetrated to confuse kids - like Santa, the tooth fairy and the Hamburglar. If so, it's a depressing thought, because despite some flick book-grade animation and an obsessive adherence to predictable RPG conventions, Atelier Iris is a tidy little game.

So tick off the brash young travelling hero, Bwah-ha-ha-ing bad guy and strange European-looking world beset by disaster. They're a given. What distinguishes Atelier Iris though is twofold: first you get a pleasingly deep alchemy system that encourages you to harvest elements that are combined with sprites called Mana to create weapons and useful items. And secondly you have surprisingly likable characterisation, which means you actually care about your party and their adventures.

So let's hope there are some hardcore RPG gamers reading this. If not, in a couple of months this review could be the only evidence that Atelier Iris existed in Europe at all. And that'd be a pity.

Graphics 50%
The point at which cute becomes lo-fi.

Sound 70%
Nice voice acting and a Japanese option.

Gameplay 60%
Alchemy system lifts otherwise bland RPG.

Lifespan 70%
Enormous, but only for committed questors.

Overall 60%
A cookie-cutter RPG lifted by characterisation and sustained exploration vibe, but hurt by sub-PSone visuals.