• Review: Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny

    by
    Emily "Darkcamllama" Hatcher
    Published on 10-26-2011 10:00 PM
    0 Comments Comments
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    Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny

    Developer: Neverland
    Publisher: Marvelous Entertainment, Natsume
    Platform: Playstation 3, Wii
    Genre: Life simulation, RPG
    Rating: Everyone 10+
    Release Date: October 11, 2011 (USA)


    Born from the farm simulator Harvest Moon, the Rune Factory series takes gamers in a different direction from its peaceful farming counterpart. Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny leaves the handhelds and joins its predecessor Rune Factory Frontier on the Wii, and for the very first time a Rune Factory game appears on the Playstation 3. My review will cover the PS3 version of the game.

    Presentation
    Aden and Sonja, close friends and residents of Fenith Island, a land guarded by many wondrous arch-dragons, are one day found in a very peculiar situation. The two young heroes, blinded by a mysterious light, are transported to a Fenith Island of another time, unfamiliar to them. To make matters worse, Sonja’s soul is stuck in Aden’s body. The two are not alone, however. The friendly villagers happily take them in, offering them a place to reside while they try to uncover the mystery of what happened. Shortly after their arrival to the new land, Aden/Sonja plant a seed, which grows to a colossal golem practically over night much to the shock of our heroes and the villagers. Named Ymir, this creature can wade through the ocean and uncover long sunken lands, some of which have been petrified and require the spirits of the land to revive. Can this have something to do with what happened to Aden and Sonja? And why does this new Fenith also lack the numerous dragons, only having one island guardian? With so many mysteries, Aden and Sonja must learn to work together if they ever want to have their own bodies again, and learn what became of their former homeland.

    Graphics
    Though crisp and colorful, the graphics seem more reminiscent of the PS2 era of games. That’s not saying there is a lack of detail. Environments are rich and flourishing. Bright and vivid, the anime cut scenes bring back a nostalgic feel, a call back from games like Lunar Silver Star, Granstream Saga, Ghost in the Shell, and Silhouette Mirage. Given the type of graphics, the water and plants do look lush and flow smoothly, creating an active environment for the world to take place in. Each building has its own unique style, and the island begin to show their distinct traits as you progress. Your character’s appearance changes slightly depending on what accessories you wish to equip them with. All of the important characters in the game (just about everyone save for the few random NPCs that show up as tourists), have their own unique style. From the slightly creepy, overly affectionate priest, the large headed, treasure digging mayor, to the three sisters that run the inn, each of the villagers you will interact with show off their own dynamic personalities and fashion.


    Sound/Music
    Rune Factory’s music is charming and light, but the tempo picks up during the more pressing moments of the game, such as during monster attacks. The voice acting gives little reason for complaint save for a few minor annoyances. On several occasions, various characters sing. Perhaps the singing would sound bettering Japanese, perhaps I am just not fond of the English singer’s voices, but the songs are often a bit irritating to listen to, despite the beautiful musical accompaniment. Aside from that minor drawback, the music composition is very whimsical and atmospheric, capturing the nature of the islands and the seaside village you call home.


    Gameplay
    Unlike the standard Harvest Moon games, the Rune Factory series takes on a more RPG style of game, offering more than just planting crops and tending to animals. Yes, the farming elements are still included, but for Tides of Destiny planting crops requires more effort than simply purchasing a sack of seeds from the general store (something that’s a bit different even in its own series). Before you can even attempt cultivating some crops, you must first use Ymir to raise an island from the ocean. Afterwards, you need to use a special wand and befriend monsters capable of nurturing the plants you wish to grow. Making friends with monsters requires the character to get up close and personal, brushing the monster and coaxing it into docile submission before you can make it your own. Naturally, the hostile monsters aren’t going to just sit back and enjoy a nice pet before they make nice, and will attack and scamper away from you. Earlier on, when your character’s level is low, this can be a might bit trickier on some of the higher level monsters (the first level goblins, sheep creatures, and cows aren’t too much of a pain).

    Your character’s well being is comprised of their health points and their rune points. When you use up all your rune points, you begin using your health to perform actions. Yes, anything from swinging your sword and casting a spell to fishing in the ocean or cooking a meal will require RP. In the heat of battle at lower levels, keeping an eye on HP and RP depletion is crucial to making it through the day. While you can never die, if your HP falls to zero, Aden and Sonja will pass out and wake up late the next day, possibly with a cold. The only real penalties to passing out, aside from the cold, are that health/rune points are halved upon awakening and some day time taken away from you character. Staying up until five in the morning will also cause your character to pass out from exhaustion, even if the health and rune points are completely full, making time management a rather important feature.

    Many companies have tried hard to add in motion controls to their games, and Rune Factory is no exception. Because I was playing the game on PS3 and do not have Move, I was unable to see just how the motion controls would work with the game play. For those that enjoy motion controls, the option is certainly there to try out, but I prefer to stick with a traditional controller. The battle system isn’t complicated, so I definitely wouldn’t want to spend hours waggling a wand in the air when all I need to do is tap a button from time to time. The battle system is simple, but there is room for growth as Aden and Sonja level up. On top of different attack combos, there are a variety of weapons to choose from as well, ranging from magic staves, duel short swords, katanas, and large battle axes. You select your starter weapon on your first exploration quest, but can purchase, salvage, or forge a new weapon type later, and you will not be limited to keep your first selection.

    One mild complaint would be the text scrolling. Skipping text may accidently occur when trying to continue discussions due to the quick scrolling; when a choice box pops up, you may inadvertently select something you may not wish to. I also made the mistake of giving a quest item (a shrine key) to the character that gave me the quest in the first place, thinking if I showed her it would solve the quest. Nothing in the game made me aware that since the day was a holiday I would was supposed to take the day off, and had to wait until the next morning to speak with her to change her dialogue so my quest could be completed. After reloading my save, it wasn’t until after I double checked the message board where quests are given did I discover that little bit of info. It certainly pays to look at everything you can.


    Lasting Appeal
    Anyone with prior experience of a Rune Factory game knows that playing one of the games can last you for a good amount of time. There is an abundance of tasks to do, skills to max out, people to befriend to their fullest level, and in Tides of Destiny, many islands to raise from the depths of the ocean to explore. Since the game is also on PS3, players have the chance to play for trophy collecting. Most trophies are achieved through your natural play through of the game, but some, like catch XX amount of colds, require a bit more direct focus.

    Conclusion
    Like many of the games in the Harvest Moon/Rune Factory series, there is a certain level of tolerance needed for the constant grinding in order to max out stats, gain access to powerful items, befriend all the townsfolk and monsters, etc. Having been a long time fan of the games, I am more than happy with the grinding (not something I usually enjoy in RPGs). The Harvest Moon and Rune Factory games have found a lovely home on the handheld Nintendo DS and 3DS systems, but I am overjoyed to finally have one back on the big screen, and for my PS3 no less. Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny is a nice break from the usual action fests we see around this time of year, and there is also the family friendly aspect as well.

    SCORE
    8.5/10

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.