Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon

"Harvest Moon + Some swords and dungeons = Rune Factory"

Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon sounds like Harvest Moon in any way, but it's much more better than that. Yes, like Digimon Story: Sunburst / Moonlight >>> Digimon World DS, Natsume has an idea of making a successful sequel. In this particularly *short* review, we're going to dive into the fantastic world of the newly improved Harvest Moon, named Rune Factory.

Storyline: 9

This isn't your basic Harvest Moon game. If Harvest Moon games are like, 'till ground, sow seeds, water seeds, harvest crops, feed animals, get eggs / milk / wools from animals, sleep, rinse and return', Rune Factory is 'till ground, sow seeds, water seeds, harvest crops, feed monsters, tame monsters, fight monsters, go dungeon crawling, brandish a weapon, mine, camp in caves, rinse and repeat'. In fact, this game DO have a proper storyline now.

You start as a boy with amnesia. You can't remember where you are, even who you are. You wound up in front of a girl's house. You explain that you have been traveling for days and need water. She goes in and gets a hoe (?). You try it on the ground, but you say that you need some water. In she goes, out she comes with a watering can (???). You test it, and say you need some drinking water. Yes, that's some humor from the start, much like Harvest Moon DS, when you promptly try to attack the mayor, with him saying "The attack in More Friends of Mineral Town won't work here!" and I laughed when I say the character using a watering can to attack and the mayor says "You are out of ammunition.". Back to topic, the girl goes and and FINALLY comes out with water and some bread. You eat it greedily, and some more babbling, and out comes a monster! You hit it with a hoe. The girl gives you the land to make a farm, how nice. Next, you will find yourself wandering in dungeons and taming monsters... Indeed, the completion of each dungeon will lead you forward into the storyline, when you finally find your true self... (Though 'you' won't realize it)

Sound / Music: 9

Ah, music. The magical sound that when associated with a suitable time and place, it will become the most harmonic music we will ever hear. Playing a game with a funny-sounding music and fighting a zombie? Na-na.

The music in the game changes in every single opportunity. When you head to the town, you hear a calm music. When you step into your farm, the same harmonious music plays. If you step out of your farm, adventurous music will chime out of your NDS' speakers. There are even dialog speeches that you can hear from the characters! Although they're not the long speeches but just short ones like "Hi", "Thank you for always coming in" and whatnots, they still add to the effect.

Graphics: 9

Stupendous. The game's graphics are really beyond imaginations. They have (And did) tried to make the game look more realistic, and the effects are some JPEG images that's a bit hard to decipher if you're playing with your nose touching the screen. Though, there are nothing perfect discovered in the gaming world yet, no, not in graphics. Sure, they can make it look realistic, but the effects made the graphics blur. And, when you insert things into your backpack, your character will just put his hand over his shoulder, and the item will go right through his body. Since sweet potatoes are so gigantic, you can't miss it. I wonder, when you put your hand over your shoulder, things will go through your abdomen? No way.

Overall: 9

Should you rent or buy? If you are a hardcore Harvest Moon fan, ditch animals and welcome monsters. If you are still skeptical with my statement, try out Harvest Moon first; If you find it great but extremely dull with no fights (The most violent thing you can do in HM is *just* waving your sickle at unsuspecting villagers), try this.

Love monster-ranching madness? Get this.
Love sword-swinging RPGs? Get this.
Love both of these? Definitely get this.
Love Harvest Moon? This is a must.
Love all above? Get this. Get this. JUST GET THIS! >_>
Loathe any or all of above? Rent this. Then buy. Okay?

Conclusion: NO POINTS!

All in all, Rune Factory, is, once again, is how a sequel should be made. Ditching away normal animals and putting in monsters? Brilliant! (Though, the only thing not brilliant in this game is that every 10 minutes in-game = 10 seconds in reality. That's 24 minutes for a whole day, and I'm an impatient guy.) Now, did I tell you the recipe for making Rune Factory is mixing Harvest Moon and some swords and dungeons...?

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 09/06/07

Game Release: Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (US, 08/14/07)