An amnesiac protagonist, relationships, adventuring, and farming. If you’ve played Rune Factory before, then it probably sounds all too familiar. Details have emerged regarding the next entry in the action-RPG series, slated for release on the 3DS. And while it has a lot in common with its predecessors, much is new.
According to Famitsu, Rune Factory 4 will give players the option to choose between male and female protagonists. In the past, gamers were required to play as a male hero, seeking the adulation of one of many female characters, all while farming and adventuring. It looks like there will be a lot more choices now, especially with the addition of an alternate female lead, translates Andriasang.
Upon meeting a potential mate, you’ll see a quick cutscene introducing that character. I’m willing to bet this is something the developers threw in to take advantage of the 3DS hardware capabilities. One gameplay element worth noting is the ability to seek romance with multiple partners. It’s fairly kinky and should yield interesting results from the inevitably jealous mate.
The farming element of past Rune Factory games will return, and it will work largely the same. The main difference this time around will be the lack of grid-based farming. That’s right, you will now be able to plant your crops any way you want.
Though I’ve only played Rune Factory 3, I’m looking forward to the next entry in the Harvest Moon spin-off, which is currently 50 percent complete. It looks like this will be another title to watch out for if you own a 3DS. I better get ready to sink countless hours into farming, winning girls over, taming wild beasts, and battling evil monsters. You know, pretty much everything I can’t do in real life.
