Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is great on PS5, but what about Switch 2?

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This week sees the release of *Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian* on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam). I’ve played the first few hours of both the PS5 and Switch versions and written a preview, taking into account the day one patch. I even tested the Switch version on the new Nintendo Switch 2 console using backward compatibility to see if it improved performance. If you’re interested in how the PC version runs, especially on handheld devices, you can find a separate report about that here.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian Switch and Switch 2 impressions

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is available on Nintendo Switch, and can also be played on the newer Switch 2 console. The biggest problem with the game right now is frequent loading screens. While these aren’t too bothersome on more powerful systems like the PlayStation 5, PC, or Switch 2, they significantly slow down the experience on the original Switch, with loads taking between 3 and 6 seconds for rooms and cutscenes.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian looks decent on the Switch, even when played on a TV, but the resolution and blurry visuals are quite noticeable on larger, higher-definition screens. Ideally, this game should have been built for the Nintendo Switch 2 or received an update to run at 60 frames per second, as it would look fantastic on either system. While the Switch 2 offers a smoother experience with quicker loading times, the game’s graphics and performance are significantly reduced compared to the PS5 version. On the original Switch, the game isn’t terrible compared to past Atelier titles, but frequent loading screens and long load times create a less enjoyable experience overall compared to playing on other platforms.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian docked on Switch and Switch 2 gameplay






Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian PS5 impressions

Playing Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian on PS5 is a significant improvement over the Switch version. It features a much sharper picture, runs at twice the frame rate, and loads much faster. The loading screens are so quick that some of the shorter ones could even be removed entirely. While aiming for 60 frames per second, the game occasionally experiences slight dips in performance, especially when quickly moving the camera – it sometimes feels like the camera is simply readjusting itself. Some cutscenes still have performance issues, similar to the Switch version, but they happen less frequently on PS5. The PS5 version also takes advantage of the console’s features with Activity Cards and DualSense haptic feedback.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian PS5 gameplay





Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian load times across PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC

To check how quickly the game loads, I tested it on several platforms. I installed Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian on the PS5’s internal storage, on a microSD card in the Switch OLED, on the internal storage of a Switch 2, and on both the Steam Deck and ROG Ally’s internal storage via Steam. I measured load times in seconds for three scenarios: starting the game from the home screen, loading an early save file in a dungeon, and returning to town from that dungeon.

Platform Dashboard to title Loading dungeon Back to town
Switch 37 16 13-14
Switch on Switch 2 22-23 8 7
PS5 15-16 6-7 6
Steam Deck 21-22 6 7
ROG Ally 12 5 6

In terms of performance, Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian runs quickest on the ROG Ally or PC. The Switch 2 version is a significant upgrade over the original Switch, even when playing older games. While the PS5 isn’t much faster overall than the Switch 2, it loads areas and the game’s introduction much quicker. The original Switch is the slowest platform, and hopefully Koei Tecmo can address these load times with future updates.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian visual differences across PS5, Switch, and PC

The main differences between the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch versions of the game are how sharp the graphics are, how long it takes to load, how far you can see in the distance, and overall performance. While the distance you can see on the PS5 wasn’t as far as I’d hoped, it’s still a significant improvement over the Switch version. The PC version also had a surprisingly limited view distance on its standard settings, but it offers many graphics options to improve that. For the comparison images, I used a capture card for the Switch and PS5, and Steam’s built-in screenshot tool for the Steam Deck, PC, and ROG Ally.

Which is the best portable version Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian?

For the best portable experience with Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian, the ROG Ally (running in 25W mode) and the Steam Deck OLED are the top choices. The Switch version currently has performance problems, though playing it on the newer Switch 2 (which supports older games) can help. However, the graphics won’t be improved on the Switch 2. Hopefully, Koei Tecmo will release an update specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2 to optimize the game in the future.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is coming to PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam) on September 26th. A PlayStation 4 version will be available, but only in Japan.

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2025-09-25 14:57