Best PS3

Gust's Atelier games continue to impress us every year, and Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky might be the most complete package for anyone wanting to jump into the series now. A humorous script and simulation mechanics are a given, but Gust finally created a combat system for this series that is both engaging and strategic while still giving fans a loveable cast of characters to hang around with. Plus, there's that addictive alchemy system that keeps taking small steps forward, no steps backward. A meaningful list of goals for each three month period provides more tasks to accomplish and a clear idea of how well we're progressing.

If there's one aspect of the Atelier series that continues to impress us above all else, it's the positive messages it instills in players, Escha & Logy's being about following one's dreams to make them a reality. We need more optimistic RPGs in the world. Atelier Escha & Logy is the best PlayStation 3 exclusive RPG of the year because it gets so much right with such ease. It's not the perfect Atelier game, but it's pretty damn close.

by Sam Wachter