Just as announced last week, Gust today officially announced its newest PlayStation 2 title Iris no Atelier: Eternal Mana 2, by opening the game's official website. The game's main theme will be the depth of a relationship between a boy and a girl. For the first time in the series' history, the sequel to last year's highly acclaimed Iris no Atlier will feature a sword-wielding boy (by the name of Feld) as protagonist. He will be joined by Wiese, the game's heroine. Other characters revealed so far are a younger incarnation of Iris, the previous game's protagonist and Neun, the first person Feld encounters upon arriving in Bergheide.

The game's key feature will be the so-called dual scenario system, under which each protagonist will play a particular role. The system will allow players to switch between the two protagonists at will. Depending on the current chapter however, players will only be able to proceed in the game, when controlling the right protagonist. One key pattern will be to let Feld collect recipes and raw materials in Bergheide and then switch to Wiese, who can use them to create new items in Eden. Due to a magic item called Share Drink, both characters will be able to jointly access all items, raw materials and mana.

Having grown up together in the town of Neuall, Wiese and Feld have become good friends. On the day Wiese is set to be officially confirmed as an alchemist, the two head to the Doll Tree, where Wiese wants her friend the Wood Mana to lend her its power. However on their way to the tree, a major earthquake strikes, forcing the Doll Tree to break down and vanish. Aiming to report this incident to the cardinal of Eden, the two head for his residence. In a forest, Feld hears a mysterious voice, asking whether he is ready to carry the responsibility to protect the Mana with his life. All of the sudden a red-glowing mysterious sword appears in front of him and Feld picks it up. The weapon he is now wielding is in fact a holy sword, forged in ancient times by using the very essence of alchemy. Upon arriving at the Cardinal's residence, they only see destruction and come to realize that half of Eden has been lost. Their adventure will lead them to the Gate of Bergheide. Sealed since ancient times, it leads to a paralell world called Bergheide, where Feld heads to fullfill his pledge to save the mana and his world.

The development team at Gust has also altered the game's battle system, replacing the Cost Turn Battle (CTB) with the Active Cost Turn Battle (ACTB) system. Thereby turns will disappear, paving the way for a more action-oriented gameplay.

Iris no Atelier: Eternal Mana 2 will be available in Japan this May for 6,800 yen ($65.96 US).

• Official Iris no Atelier: Eternal Mana 2 Website