Mana Khemia: Student Alliance - A Deep Dive into the Characters of Al-Revis Academy
Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis, the ninth installment in Gust Co.'s Atelier series, invites players into the vibrant world of Al-Revis Academy. Here, young alchemists hone their skills, uncover the mysteries of their past, and forge lasting bonds. At the heart of this enchanting game lies a colorful cast of characters, each with unique personalities, abilities, and backstories. This article delves into the main characters of Mana Khemia: Student Alliance, exploring their individual traits, relationships, and roles within the overarching narrative.
The Core Group: Flay's Workshop
The central group of characters in Mana Khemia revolves around Flay's workshop. Officially led by Flay Gunnar, the self-proclaimed "Defender of Justice," the workshop unofficially falls under the guidance of the protagonist, Vayne Aurelius. Despite their initially clashing personalities, the members of Flay's workshop form a close-knit group of true companions. They are a ragtag bunch of misfits, each with their own quirks and eccentricities. This diverse group includes a Mana, a talking cat, a Mad Scientist girl, a Cat Girl searching for a husband, a ghost girl, an eccentric mentor, a samurai girl, and an alien who wants to take over the world.
This group of eight (or nine, including Sulpher) become True Companions, ready to defend each other against any threat. They experience numerous Friendship Moments, solidifying their bond and highlighting their affection for one another.
With the exception of Vayne and Jessica, the party members sport Custom Uniforms that help them stand out.
Vayne Aurelius: The Reluctant Hero
Vayne Aurelius, voiced by Akira Ishida (JP) and Liam O'Brien (EN), is the 16-year-old protagonist of Mana Khemia. Born on September 28th under the Libra zodiac sign, Vayne is of unknown blood type, stands 5'6'' tall, and weighs 126 pounds. Before arriving at Al-Revis, Vayne lived a secluded life in the mountains with his cat/Mana, Sulpher, who raised him.
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A Fish Out of Water
Vayne's isolated upbringing has made him somewhat awkward around people. He is often given the "evil eye" by townsfolk due to his unexplained abilities. Upon arriving at the academy, Vayne worries about keeping up with his peers, as he is unfamiliar with alchemy. However, he soon discovers his innate talent for alchemy and learns that he is the son of a renowned alchemist.
The Ultimate Doormat
Vayne struggles to say "no," leading to him being taken advantage of by his workshop members. Despite this, he is a kind and compassionate individual who cares deeply for his friends. He is the one who reaches out to and integrates each member into the group, even those who initially dislike him.
Hidden Depths
Vayne wields a sword-katar-thing in battle and is pacted to Sulpher. His bio in the manual hints at his true nature, setting some of his stats as "????" as foreshadowing that he's an Artificial Human.
Powers and Abilities
Vayne possesses the power of a Mana within himself, making him an Artificial Human. He also possesses the power to grant any wish, making him a Reality Warper. In battle, he has the unique ability to use the "Analyze" skill to scan enemies.
Personal Struggles
Vayne experiences a period of depression towards the end of the game, believing that a Heroic Sacrifice is the best way to protect his friends. However, his friends rally around him and convince him to stay, unless the player fails to develop strong enough relationships with the other characters through character quests.
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Relationships
- Sulpher: Vayne's loyal companion and Mana, who raised him in the mountains.
- Jessica Philomele: Vayne's first human friend, who quickly becomes attached to him.
- Flay Gunnar: Vayne's mentor and the leader of Flay's workshop.
Jessica Philomele: The Energetic Alchemist
Jessica "Jess" Philomele, voiced by Sakura Nogawa (JP) and Kate Higgins (EN), is a 16-year-old Gemini (born June 12th) with blood type O. She is petite, standing at 4'11'' and weighing 88 pounds. Jess is the first person Vayne meets at Al-Revis, and they quickly form a bond.
A Clumsy Genius
Jess is known for her clumsiness, but she is also a bright and cheerful girl with a talent for alchemy. She is one of the more sane members of the workshop and helps the group through their early assignments. However, her experiments with bombs and medicines often lead to unpredictable and chaotic results.
A Shortened Lifespan
Early in her character quests, it is revealed that Jess has a shorter lifespan due to a mistake in the process used to cure her of a plague she had as a child. Despite this, she remains optimistic and is determined to live life to the fullest.
Improbable Weapon User
In battle, Jess wields her seemingly bottomless bag, which contains a variety of random objects, including bombs, test tubes, flowerpots, giant hammers, and even chariots.
Powers and Abilities
Jess is pacted to the Mana of Wind, granting her wind-based attacks. She is also a skilled alchemist with the ability to synthesize items on the spot.
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Personal Struggles
Jess struggles with her shortened lifespan and the impact it has on those around her. She also faces challenges in controlling her alchemic experiments.
Relationships
- Vayne Aurelius: Jess's first friend at Al-Revis, and someone she deeply cares for.
- The members of Flay's workshop: Jess is close to all of her workshop members, and enjoys their company.
Other Members of Flay's Workshop
Flay Gunnar
The leader of the workshop and self-proclaimed "Defender of Justice." He is an older student known for his eccentric personality and strong sense of justice.
Nikki
An impulsive Cat Girl searching for a husband.
Pamela
The school's resident ghost.
Anna
An 11-year-old master swordsman.
Roxis
The son of a famous family of alchemists who is forced to join the workshop by Flay.
Muppy
An alien the group discovers on an assignment.
Gameplay Elements and Mechanics
Alchemy System
Mana Khemia features a unique item synthesis system. Each synthesized item can be made in a variety of different ways with a variety of different materials to different effect. Using higher-quality materials will yield better results, but that depends on your goal. There is also an "item level" mechanic which can also change the outcome of your created items. A higher item level will produce a better item, but there are times when a deliberately low item level is required.
Combat System
Mana Khemia uses a turn-based combat system. The game gives you the same advantages that the computer has, specifically predicting order-of-action. When selecting an attack in battle, you can see immediately how that will affect when your character will be able to act next.
Grow Book
Unlike typical role-playing games, there are no experience points or characters levels. Instead, through combat, characters earn "action points" which are used in the character-specific "grow book" to unlock new skills, and character bonuses such as additional health or mana points. However, these bonuses are tied to completing the recipes for specific items in that book. The grow book is presented as a graph of synthesizable items.
Class System
The class system is set up with a mission system, and the game requires you to attain a set number of "units" by completing courses.
Music
The soundtrack was composed by Ken Nakagawa and Daisuke Achiwa and includes opening song "Run For Your Life"' by Haruka Shimotsuki and ending song "TOGGLE" by Yuuki Mizusawa.
Reception
Mana Khemia: Alchemists of Al-Revis received generally positive reviews upon its release. Critics praised the game's charming characters, engaging story, and unique alchemy system.
PSP Port
A port for the PSP system that was released in Japan on September 25, 2008 under the title Mana-Khemia Gakuen no Renkinjutsushi-tachi Portable Plus (ããã±ã㢠ãå¦åã®é¬éè¡å£«ãã¡ã ãã¼ã¿ãã«ãã©ã¹, Mana Kemia ~Gakuen no Renkinjutsushi-tachi~ PÅtaburu Purasu), and in North America on March 10, 2009, branded under the name Mana Khemia: Student Alliance. There are added features like multiplayer battles, Jump Start function to allow the game to load faster, and more items that can be synthesized.
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