Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon

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Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon

Developer(s) Neverland Co., Ltd.
Publisher(s) Marvelous Interactive
Natsume
Rising Star Games
Designer(s) Yoshifumi Hashimoto
Platform(s) Nintendo DS
Release date JP August 24, 2006
NA August 14, 2007
EU September, 2008
Genre(s) Simulation, RPG
Mode(s) Single-player, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Rating(s) ESRB: Everyone
CERO: All ages
Media Nintendo DS Game Card
Input methods D-Pad, buttons, touch screen

Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (ルーンファクトリー -新牧場物語- Rūn Fakutorī -Shin Bokujō Monogatari-?, literally "Rune Factory: A New Farm Story") is a simulation/role-playing video game developed by Neverland Co., Ltd. and published by Marvelous Interactive Inc. and Rising Star Games for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console.

Rune Factory is a fantasy farm simulation game and part of the Harvest Moon video game series, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the franchise. It is described by Yoshifumi Hashimoto (longtime producer of the Harvest Moon series) as "Harvest Moon where you wield a sword." The sequel, Rune Factory 2, has been released in Japan and a new game in the series, Rune Factory Frontier is planned for the Wii.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

The game mechanics-wise stays true to its original roots. In 10 seconds, ten in-game minutes pass, creating a second/minute ratio, like in most Harvest Moon games. The player can still grow crops, and swinging tools for the farm decreases stamina. However, the usual game part of purchasing animals has been replaced by defeating monsters in dungeons. You can befriend monsters, and in return, they help you in battle or provide you with food. It is similar to the SNES and GBA Legend of Zelda games in fighting mechanics. You also upgrade your farm equipment to make the game easier, and eventually you are going to have to.

[edit] Story

The game takes place exclusively in Kardia, a small city on the eastern tip of the Adonia continent which is surrounded by farmland. The game opens with the protagonist, Raguna, wandering into town. Starved and dehydrated, he collapses in front of the house of a landowner named Mist. With no idea who he is or where he came from, Raguna suffers from amnesia. Mist discovers him outside her home, fetches him food and water, and because he doesn't know his name, they both decide to name him "Raguna" (changeable). Afterwards, Mist offers Raguna a house on her land if he promises to work the farm. Raguna accepts, and this is where the game begins.

From then on, the game is very open ended. The player can work on the farm, fish, or explore the caves in the wilderness around Kardia. The player can propose to some of the eligible girls in town, capture monsters, and expand the player's house. The game's plot mostly revolves around the monster-infested caves and mountains around Kardia, which the goal is to fight through them and defeat the bosses at the end of each cave. As the story progresses, more and more caves open up, and the player gradually learns more about who is causing this influx of monsters.

[edit] Characters

Main article: List of characters in the Harvest Moon series #Kardia (HM:RF/HM:RF2)
  • Raguna is the main character of Rune Factory. After walking several days starved and dehydrated, he collapses in front of the house of a landowner named Mist. Raguna is suffering from amnesia, with no idea who he is or where he came from. Mist offers him a house on her farm if he promises to work on the land, and he accepts. But its not over then. A monster attacks Mist, and she gives you a Watering Can and a hoe so that you may fight the monster with either of them. After that you continue.

His default name is Raguna, but the player has the option to name the character as they choose.

Bacheloretes

Rune Factory offers 11 potential wives. Ten of them can be married throughout the game, but Commander Lynette will only appear after finishing the main storyline. Ten heart points, friend points, and sometimes a special item are required for successful proposal.

  • Mist

Her carefree pace makes her seem undependable, but she's a reliable girl at heart. She always looks after Raguna, and gives him tips. Some villagers think she is odd, because of her unique personality, but she is adored by Zavier, Lady Ann's son. Mist always goes into Raguna's House on rainy days. Raguna wandered onto her property, it seemed he had got amnesia. Mist gives him two tools at the beginning, and then gives him some water. Mist offered him a house on her farm.

  • Rosetta

The daughter of Jean. She is a tomboy and will often tell her father what to do. She is very annoyed by Lukas's fawning attentions. She comes to your farm to pick up the items you've placed in your Shipping Bin. She is the exact opposite of Mist, and the two of them seems to be rivals.

  • Felicity

Mayor Godwin's daughter, who is burdened with a silent sense of responsibility. She has a weak body and must often stay indoors, so she takes maid help at the Neumann's to change herself and hopefully seem useful to the town. She is sick for a long part in the game unless you cure her by asking a few choice people. When the clock strikes 6:00 pm she returns to the 2nd floor of her father's house.

  • Sharron

She has a mysterious atmosphere that keeps others from associating with this beauty. Everyone else is afraid and stays away, but only Raguna doesn't worry about it and is willing to approach her. She has a strange power to foresee future events. Some locals wonder if Sharron is a ghost who haunts the Kasimir Ruins. Sharron is close friends with Melody. At night she stays in the far right guest room at the Inn.

  • Bianca

A rich, but incredibly self-centered girl. In an especially outrageous display of selfishness, she wants her father to buy the village for her. She usually talks about how there is nothing to buy in the village. Despite outward appearances, she is actually very lonely and giving gifts to her will not win her heart. Raguna must talk to her to become her friend. Bianca is cared for by their maid, Tabatha. The only times she leaves the house is to visit the Plaza on the weekend, and Melody's Spa late on Friday nights.

  • Tori

A shy girl with totally different dreams than her elder brother Zavier. She loves adventure and romance books and always stays up at night reading. She is a romantic type of girl, and will fall in love more readily if Raguna reads books as well. She spends many days inside the Library among the bookcases. When you talk to her she'll struggle past her bashfulness but will always manage to wish for your safety. One day she would like to travel the world that she's only read about in books. She wants a prince riding a dolphin to whisk her away.

  • Tabatha

Having come from a foreign country in pursuit of knowledge, Tabatha currently works in Jasper's Mansion as Bianca's housemaid. She works quickly and flawlessly, and is quite sweet and sincere. She believes that Bianca would have more friends if people talked to her. Tabatha wears a hat at all times to hide her ears, as she is an elf and not a human as others think. She gives you the Friendship Glove to befriend monsters.

  • Melody

An optimistic girl and a magic lover. She runs the local Kardia bathhouse, and is similar to Raguna as she lost her memory and has no family. She's always energetic and happy, even knowing that her mother died a year ago. She composes and sings strange songs which can always be heard coming from her house. Camus has a crush on her. She wanted to be a witch that's why she dresses like that, but she doesn't know magic. She spends most of her time managing the Hot Springs and rarely leaves the building except for Fridays between 9am and 3pm. During that time you'll find her hanging out with her friend Sharron in front of Kasimir Ruins.

  • Mei

A mysterious woman who lives at the Inn, and tends to keep to herself while spending most of her time alone up in the mountains or out on the beach. Mei loves receiving and eating all types of fish. She lives at Lady Ann's Inn. Mei is much older than she looks.

  • Lara

A kind young nurse who simply cannot ignore an injured person. Lara is deeply concerned about everyones health, so she works at the hospital as Dr. Edward's assistant. She's the daughter of Wesley, the priest at the church. She admires his work. Lara will pretty much stay inside of the Clinic for the entire week, but on the holiday she will head outside the Clinic for a few hours. She is very dedicated to helping Edward take care of the villagers.

  • Lynette

Lynette was a commander from the Sechs Empire, she doesn't really understand the townsfolk. Ethelberd fires her in Kardia after she fails the project in Greed Cave. Instead of killing herself, Lynette decides to rebel against Ethelberd and the Sechs Army. Afterwards, Lynette decides to live in Kardia, as she finds the townsfolk quite nice. You cannot marry her until after you beat the game. She lives with Mist. During the day she'll be around the roadways of the village, but at night you can always find her at Mist's.

Others

  • Zavier - Tori's older brother, and somewhat of a blabbermouth. He loves adventuring, and usually hangs out around in Carmite Cave. Zavier considers Raguna as a rival, and doesn't want Mist falling in love with Raguna, as he has a crush on her. Zavier talks about Mist a lot, even on holidays.
  • Wesley - the local priest at the church and Lara's dad. He's popular and kind, and is a good adviser to people who have lost their way. Wesley's mission in life is to teach others spiritual enlightenment. His daughter is Lara.
  • [Doctor] Edward - runs the local clinic in town and offers medicine and check-ups for people. Edward moved to Kardia with his son, Camus, to teach him a moral, although Camus seems to want to move back to the city. His assistant is Lara.
  • Camus - Dr. Edward's son and an expert builder. Camus has doubts about his father's way of life, and dreams of leaving the rural area and move to the city to become more successful. He also has a small crush on Melody.
  • Sabrina - She loves to fish, has a commercial spirit, and does trade from her house on the beach. She is Nicholas' mother and loves to drink. Sabrina prefers cool sea breezes to those scary caves any day. Sabrina broke up with Neumann around one year ago, but they both enjoy a good drink together and can be remarried if certain criteria is complete.
  • Nicholas - A boy who lives at the beach house. He loves pulling practical jokes and is always making people worry. He is usually found playing with Cecilia and appears to want to marry her when they're older.
  • Emmett - The manager of the Pub Spring Rabbit. Emmett loves to drink alcohol.
  • Russell - The chief librarian, like a gentle older brother to everyone, especially Cecilia, of whom he adopted. He used to be a warrior, and left because it made him feel hollow inside.
  • Cecilia - A girl who is always boasting of things she's gathered in town. Rumor has it that her collection consists of things the main character has dropped around town. Russell took charge of her as a foster parent, after finding her abandoned in a battlefield. She gets lost in Clemens cave, and after being rescued vows to never wander off again. She is most likely an elf after pointing out to the player that her ears are a little different then everyone else, and are similar to Tabatha's (who is also an elf.). This fact is proved when she re-appears in the sequel Rune Factory 2, which she also become one of the bachelorettes this time.
  • Lady Ann - Manages the inn alone. She and her husband moved here, but they got too comfortable and settled down in Kardia. She loves her children Zavier and Tori dearly and is thus very strict. She can be exasperated at times.
  • Jean - Rosetta's father. Unlike Rosetta, he's very calm. He has a variety of goods for sale some are for battle. He hopes that Rosetta gets married to Raguna and has a great life with him.
  • Lukas - A wandering poet and a hopeless romantic who is in love with Rosetta. He tries hard to write good verses, but it always comes out wrong. And always wandering near Rosetta, hoping he can win her heart. He gives Raguna information about the bachelorettes in town.
  • Leo - The town blacksmith. He is an old man, trained by a legendary Dwarven smith and has adopted his master's way of speaking.
  • Godwin - The mayor of Kardia and Felicity's father. Godwin gives out the cave passes, and loves to reward hard work. He really concern the future husband for his daughter and the replacement for his position.
  • Ivan - A wandering merchant, he can usually be found selling his wares on the streets during Kardia's weekly one day holidays. He also sells cooking supplies, farming machines, and the Big Bed needed for marriage.
  • Jasper - Jasper de Sainte-Coquille. Everyone refers to him as the richest man in town. He is Bianca's father and the owner of the mansion. He is always in search of the perfect food, and eats seven meals a day. Jasper prefers his role as the local judge of culinary arts.
  • Neumann - An expert craftsman, Neumann knows every frame and roof in the village. He has unresolved feelings for Sabrina, as they broke up one year prior and is really Nicolas's father. If the player speaks with him while he is at church he will tell them that he regrets doing something bad to Sabrina. Later if the player befriends him and speaks with him while he and Sabrina are in the bar, Neumann will explain the legend of Sabrina's family chalice. Legend says that if two lovers drink from the cup they will live happily forever, but one night Neumann got very drunk and accidentally drunk out of Sabrina's chalice with another woman. Sabrina breaks up with him, and in her misery, buries the chalice between two round statues in the Ruins. If the player finds the chalice and gives it to Sabrina, the two will be happily married in the church.

[edit] Development

In June 2007, the sequel Rune Factory 2 has been announced, which was released in January, 2008.

And in June, 2008. Marvellous has announced the Wii installment of Rune Factory, named "Rune Factory Frontier", which is set to be released in the end of 2008.

[edit] Reception

 Reviews
Publication Score
Famitsu 33 of 40[citation needed]
IGN 8.4 of 10[1]
Compilations of multiple reviews
Compiler Score
Metacritic 79 of 100[2]
Game Rankings 81%[3]
Imagine Games Network: Editors Choice Award,[4] DS Game of the Month: August 2007,[5]

IGN rated the game at 8.4, or "impressive", saying that the art style was "amazing", saying it was the Harvest Moon "you've been waiting for".[6] 91/100 from Gamebrink, 7.0/10 from Nintendo Power, and 4/5 from X-Play.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bozon (August 17th, 2007). Rune Factory Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.
  2. ^ Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon DS. Metacritic (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-01.
  3. ^ Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon - DS. Game Rankings. Retrieved on 2008-05-06.
  4. ^ IGN Editors' Choice Games. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
  5. ^ DS Game of the Month: August 2007. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
  6. ^ Bozon (August 17th, 2007). Rune Factory Review. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-02-12.

[edit] External links

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Rune Factory video games
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