As fantastic and enjoyable as automation titles may be for some, this genre has never appealed to me. To my astonishment, after seeing “The Last Alchemist” for the first time on my X timeline (formerly Twitter), I encountered an experience brimming with care, special attention to narrative, and an engaging atmosphere in a magical world. After all, how else can one talk to creatures that look like mushrooms?
The first visual impact of this title feels like stepping into a fairy tale, with its serene colors and immersive environments. Yet, the weight of its narrative is immediately felt. The story follows the main character, an alchemist who has retired from his craft, afflicted by a disease that has already claimed his leg and threatens to worsen. With no solution in sight, his last hope lies in the hands of his former mentor. To seek guidance, he must return to a place where he was once very happy. However, his mentor has passed away, leaving his old laboratory at the mercy of whoever finds it. As the last alchemist, the player must roll up their sleeves and work to find a cure before it’s too late. But there’s no rush, as this title never pressures the player with time limits, except for the day and night cycle and the energy bar, which, if depleted, will simply cause our protagonist to wake up in his beautiful and grand bed.
Indeed, this point presents a contradiction. The story directly addresses the disease, making the player the sole hope for preventing a fatal outcome as the disease progresses. However, it provides ample time to explore the world and complete tasks at one’s own pace. Despite this, the story is interesting and well-structured, with characters that are charming both in their graphical style and in the traits revealed through their dialogue.
The world is modest in size but offers plenty of resources to collect and places to unlock as the story progresses. Even without fast travel and with a prosthetic leg, the character moves quickly, though there is no jumping ability. This omission doesn’t seem necessary, as there is no combat against enemies. While it can feel like a chore to travel to specific locations to collect ingredients, unlocking new map areas makes the journey more appealing.
In this world, all obstacles can be overcome with alchemy. From collecting stones in mining areas to unlocking previously inaccessible paths, everything relies on using specific tools and finding the perfect combination for each task. This is where the puzzle aspect of “The Last Alchemist” shines. You need to research the combinations of each collectible resource to get the correct form, which undoubtedly requires spending some time understanding the necessary connections. In the end, the process is gratifying, much like solving a math problem. Additionally, there are tools that make menu navigation easier, such as the ability to pin the needed resource and its connection to avoid losing track of your thought process. The same applies to the furniture-building aspect, allowing players to create a cozier environment.
Unfortunately, the “drag and drop” mechanics left much to be desired. When opening the menu to place a required resource on the mixing table, it often proved clunky and difficult to position the object correctly. More often than not, I ended up dropping it on the floor instead of the intended spot.
Collecting the necessary resources for mixtures in “The Last Alchemist” can be quite tedious. It’s easy to create an unintended combination, and there’s no way to recover the elements after mixing. This can be frustrating, as this mechanic is central to progression in the game, creating a repetitive and sometimes frustrating cycle.
Despite these minor hiccups in the story’s progression, my time spent as the last alchemist was thoroughly enjoyable. The puzzle solutions are intriguing enough to provide a refreshing break from the resource-gathering frenzy, delighting the most curious fans of both genres.
