THE BUZZ: While the Japanese alchemy RPG Atelier Totori just hit our shores in September, fans won’t have to wait long for the next chapter of the series.

That’s because NIS America today announced that the follow-up to Totori—Atelier Meruru—will be coming to both North America and Europe in Spring 2012. In Atelier Meruru, the game’s titular character is an alchemy-loving princess who vows to become Totori’s apprentice. While working on her skills of creation, Meruru will also be able to make use of a new development system, where players can develop new areas and facilities that will unlock access to new lands and areas.

EGM’s TAKE: While the release may seem rather soon after Totori, I’m in full support of this plan. It took about 15 months for us to get Totori after its Japanese release, so shortening that wait time for eager English-speaking fans of the series can only be seen as a good thing. The sooner we get game translations, the better!