"Mary's Alchemy Workshop Remake ~Salbrook's Alchemist~" developed by Glorious Tekumo's GUST will be released next month, and the official released some information about "Mary's Alchemy Workshop Remake" yesterday (15). The editor also interviewed the producer and asked him to talk about his thoughts on this remake.
In terms of new intelligence, this game will add communication events with the characters who appear, including a new plot that was not depicted in the original work. In addition, there is also a photo mode in this game, as well as 6 mini-games that are remastered with today's models. The game launches with free DLC, including the cosmetic "25 Glasses" and the Alchemy Workshop series of past BGM packs.
The following will be the content of this interview with producer Shunzo Hosoi.
Q: When did GUST start wanting to remake Marie's Alchemy Workshop? Why would you want a remake? How long did it take?
A: The idea began in 2021 and the development period was more than a year. Taking the "Secret" series and other works as an opportunity, many players have become interested in the "Alchemy Workshop" series in recent years. In order to let players who are not familiar with 'Mary's Alchemy Workshop' understand the origin of this series, as one of the important works in the 25th anniversary of the series, we chose 'Mary's Alchemy Workshop' to remake.
Q: After playing it, I feel that although there is still a gap between it and the current Alchemy Workshop, it is already a relatively modern game, what elements did the production team use as the main axis of the remake when thinking about the remake?
A: The most important thing for the development team in this game is that players who are new to 'Marie's Alchemy Workshop' can play freely, and players who have played the original work can also be satisfied. That's why we're committed to remaking it modern without compromising the atmosphere and gameplay of that year.
For example, we've adjusted the combat, blending, and collection systems that players will frequently encounter to improve the comfort of the game. At the same time, parts related to the worldview, such as character appearance, plot, and BGM, have been remade into a form that is easy for players to accept today, while maintaining the atmosphere of the past.
Q: You can see that the Q version of the character has built a freely movable town and map, how did the production team decide what elements to add to REMAKE? And what elements were once thought about but discarded?
A: We felt that it was necessary to add instructional instructions and playability when remastering products, so we investigated the "Alchemy Workshop" works, RPGs, and remastered works from other companies in recent years. There are also many elements that have not been used.
Q: Is it possible to add some features through updates after launch? For example, Goblin Crafting cannot be set to require a specific amount.
A: No additional updates are considered. We wanted the remake to be a complete work, and only minimal DLC was provided.
Q: Is there a number of additional endings this time or the content of the original endings?
A: There is no game ending added to this game. Originally, the game has multiple endings, so be sure to play it in multiple ways to get the endings complete.
Q: I believe that there are some players who have only been in contact with later works (such as the Incredible series and the secret series), what message would the production team want to convey to these new players for this remake?
A: "Marie" is a game from 26 years ago, which is different from the "Alchemy Workshop" works in recent years, but there are also some elements that have been passed down to this day. You can play "Marie" from a modern perspective and experience the changes and unchanged places of the "Alchemy Workshop" series.
Q: Can we expect other early Alchemy Workshop titles to be remastered as well? If anything, how would the production team want to remake it?
A: It's possible. One of our goals was to see the Alchemy Workshop from the beginning of Marie lined up in the shop. The "Alchemy Workshop" series is the work of the GUST brand from generation to generation, and it is also the crystallization of the efforts of GUST developers in those years.
Although it is impossible to say for sure at this time, the GUST brand will continue to build on what it has accumulated so far, and strive to provide people with modern gaming quality and supreme gaming experience.
The Chinese version of Mary's Alchemy Workshop Remake ~Salbrook's Alchemist~, is expected to be released on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam on July 13. In addition to the regular edition, the official will also release the physical bonus edition and the collector's edition.