runefactory
Latest
North America harvests Rune Factory 2 this fall
In the best DS news we'll hear all day (depending on which DS Fanboy staff member you ask), Natsume announced that they're bringing Rune Factory 2 to North America this fall. While we predicted localization would happen eventually, it was always a matter of when, so we're glad to see it being taken care of. Considering that the first game in the series took a year to find its way over here, a nine-month delay (Japan got the game last January) doesn't seem too bad at all.While we initially thought this sequel would be too similar to the original Rune Factory, the premise adds some freshness into the RPG-Harvest Moon formula. In Rune Factory 2, you not only play as the main character, Kyle, but later you take over as his child. The game therefore spans two generations, providing us with double the fun.If you share our excitement, make sure to check out the first English screens in our gallery below.%Gallery-25983%[Via press release]
DS releases for the week of August 13th
U.S. gamers have a lot to be thankful for this week when it comes to DS titles! Whether you're dying to try some paper football, or you prefer something a little more involved, there's something on the table this week for almost any taste. Now the only problem is scraping up the cash to catch 'em all. Heroes of Mana High School Musical: Makin' the Cut Luminous Arc Madden NFL 08 Operation: Vietnam Rune Factory: Fantasy Harvest Moon
Dungeon Maker: Rune Factory with a Magic Shovel?
We've held our celebrating arms up in the air for several days now since we heard about Dungeon Maker coming to the DS. Checking out Famitsu's latest preview of the game, however, has us slowly lowering them, glancing around the office in embarrassment.It's not the "kiddie-fied" art style that bothers us -- on the contrary, we much prefer the new look over the PSP version's generic feel -- nor is it Global A Entertainment's decision to tone down the ARPG's difficulty; the cause of our concern is that the game looks a little too much like Rune Factory. Only one of the game's screenshots seems to indicate any sort of farming activity, but that's enough to make us worry. Its title, Dungeon Maker: Mahou no Shovel to Chiisa na Yuusha (Dungeon Maker: Little Hero with a Magic Shovel), doesn't put our minds at ease either. Isn't its primary gimmick, making dungeons, enough? Do we really need another sword-and-ploughshare title?Dungeon Maker for the DS hits Japanese stores this October 25th. You can flip through those scanned pages of Famitsu after the post break.
Rune Factory - fight for your right to harvest [update 1]
Even though the sequel to Rune Factory: a Fantasy Harvest Moon is starting to get attention, don't forget that the original is due for its North American release over the next few weeks.IGN recently put up some screens, videos and an interview with the game's U.S. product manager. The video shows off the game's new direction: combat. It all looks pretty straightforward, but that energy you spend fighting is going to have to come from somewhere - the crops you produce. We're undecided as to whether this is really going to work, surely the peaceful gameplay is what gives Harvest Moon its unique feel?Aside from the combat, it looks like all the series' traditional elements are in place: tending crops, making friends and wooing the girl of your dreams by presenting her with vegetables. If only real life were so simple.Cooking and forging will be handled via the touch screen, along with inventory management. You'll also be able to trade items and screenshots over wi-fi, perhaps landing a husband or wife in the process. The accompanying video gives a July release date for Rune Factory.[Update: fixed grammatical error]
Rune Factory 2 screens burst into light
We don't even have the first Rune Factory yet, and already there are screenshots from the sequel. This is getting entirely too common with games we're interested in, like Professor Layton and his Many Mysterious Venues. Rune Factory 2, like its predecessor, is a spin-off from the Harvest Moon series. There's some debate as to whether or not we even need the first title, but we're willing to give it a spin when it finally comes out. In the meantime, we'll check out these shots from the sequel
Rune looks like a lady
With only a few weeks left before the North American release of Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon (5/1), developer Neverland Co. has announced a sequel to its farming sim and RPG hybrid. The latest issue of Famitsu has screenshots for the follow-up, and they show a remarkable amount of improvement to the original's graphics. It's still too early to call the redhead protagonist's gender, but our money's on the character being a guy. You can never tell these days, what with all the effeminate farmhands running around. Let us know what you think -- is he one of the dudes? Or is she the princess of Cootie Town? Check past the jump for the Rune Factory 2 magazine scans and a full profile shot of the androgynous hero.
Rune Factory scans
Take RPG elements, mix them with battles and farming and you have Rune Factory. You play as a young boy who, surprise, wakes up after being unconscious in a town and must regain his memory. How do you do that? You farm of course! This boy has the ability of Arscode. What that magic is exactly we aren't too sure. An aspect of the game that is rather interesting is the ability to capture monsters you fight, raise them on your farm and add them to your battle party. This "New Harvest Moon" is shaping up rather well. [Via Jeux France]
Final Fantasy III & Rune Factory go head-to-head in Japan
On August 24, Final Fantasy III and Rune Factory: Shin Bokujou Monogatari (Harvest Moon spinoff) will be released in Japan fo DS. While FFIII certainly has the brand edge, both titles look to boost the DS's credibility as a viable RPG platform. Famitsu recently published its reviews for the two games, suggesting that FFIII is slightly superior: Final Fantasy III (Square Enix): 9/8/9/8 - 34/40* Rune Factory (Marvelous Interactive): 8/9/7/9 - 33/40 Keep in mind that, back in March, Children of Mana scored even higher than FFIII, earning a 36/40, and will be released in the US on October 30. FFIII will land stateside in November (hopefully). Rune Factory: Shin Bokujou Monogatari has not been confirmed for release outside of Japan, but Harvest Moon DS is scheduled for September 12. *C3 News notes that Famitsu's score for the original FFIII (NES) was 35/40.
