zroid
This Space For Sale
Platform:
Nintendo Switch
Release Date:
JP: May 20, 2021
NA: March 22, 2022
EU: March 25, 2022
Publisher:
Marvelous (XSEED)
Developer:
Hakama
Genre:
Life Simulation; Action-RPG
Digital Version Download Size:
5.8 GB
Price:
JPY: 7678
USD: 59.99
EUR: 59.99
CAD: 74.99
GBP: 49.99
Languages:
Japanese, English, French, German
Features:
HD Rumble; touch-enabled menu controls
Welcome to the Rune Factory 5 ST! If you are new to the series, you have nothing to fear because this is a fully standalone entry. Rune Factory is essentially a spin-off of Story of Seasons (formerly known as Harvest Moon in the West) with a fantasy theme and action RPG gameplay in addition to the staples of Story of Seasons titles. The previous entry in the Rune Factory series -- Rune Factory 4 -- was released in 2012 in Japan, so it was an incredible 9 year wait for this new entry. Rune Factory 4 which was released first on 3DS and much later ported to other platforms was considered a success, but unfortunately its developer declared bankruptcy in 2013, which led many fans to wonder whether Rune Factory 5 would even be made. It was a long wait, but in the end it's finally here!
Rune Factory 5, as always for the series, drops your amnesiac protagonist into an unfamiliar place -- the seaside village Rigbarth -- to make a life for his or herself, and unravel the mysteries which you encounter as you progress. You will take the role of a newly recruited "SEED Ranger" whose job it is to protect and care for the people of Rigbarth.
Rune Factory 5's basic gameplay loop is similar to Story of Seasons, with the main difference being that to progress the story forward you must engage in a bit of action-RPG adventuring and combat through both open fields and dungeons. One of the fun elements of RF is that almost every activity you perform in the game has a level-up system. This includes proficiency with different weapons (as you'd expect), but you can also level up your skills at crafting, walking, and sleeping, among other things. Every level gained in each category improves your character's stats in different ways which will help you carry out your activities such as farming and battling monsters.
The game progresses on a 4 month calendar system where each month represents a different season. Each season will bring its own unique elements which affect your day-to-day routine a little bit. For example, different crops will be grown depending on the season, and different festivals occur throughout the year.
Over the course of the game your main goals will be to (1) improve the state of your farm by producing and harvesting more and better crops; (2) grow your relationships with the various characters in Rigbarth; (3) upgrade your home and the village's numerous outposts; (4) go out adventuring to progress the story and tame monsters to help you out on the farm and in battle (the capture system is not unlike Pokemon -- whittle down their HP and then throw out a "catch" spell to give you a better chance of taming them); and lastly (5) find your special someone among the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes and perhaps start a family!
In the original Japanese release of this title you could only marry bachelor/ettes of the opposite gender but the option to marry any of the eligible characters regardless of gender was eventually added, and is available immediately at launch for the Western release of the game. Yay!
N.B.: click on the portraits below to link to their respective pages on the official website for more information and their voice actors.
fun fact: if you aren't familiar with Japanese pronunciation, Ares and Alice sound basically the same in Japanese, which is why they chose these names
Town of Rigbarth, located at the border of the Norad Kingdom:
SEED Outpost in Rigbarth (also called "The Silo")
This is where you make your home and your base of operations:
Sweet Hearth
Rigbarth's bakery where you can stock up on "recipe bread" which teach you how to produce all the tools, culinary dishes, and medicines you will need
Lackadaisy
Dine-in restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat to replenish your health and stamina.
Clinic
Rigbarth's mayor Simone lives and works here as the town physician. If you pass our in battle you will wake up in this building under her care. You can also purchase various medicines.
The Blue Moon
The Inn! Take a bath to replenish your health and stamina.
The Crystalabra
The go-to shop for magical needs.
Studio Palmo
Craftsman Palmo and his apprentice Ryker will fashion for you all sorts of furniture as well as construct upgrades to the town's facilities.
Serendipity
General store where you can purchase seeds to plant among other goods.
True Strike
Purchase equipment in this smithy.
Flowerstruck
Ludmila's flower shop
Terry's Detective Agency
Local detective Terry and apprentice Cecil are the people you can turn to to solve problems and riddles that arise in and around town.
Phoros WoodlandsField located to the East of Rigbarth. Forested and grassy area. If you venture farther East you will come across a desert region.
Kelve Volcanic Region
Tropical area to the North West of Rigbarth.
Lake Yumina
Snowy field and frozen lake to the South West of Rigbarth.
Launch Trailer:
Animated Opening Movie:
Screenshots:
Official Website
Nintendo.com product listing
Metacritic (70 as of 2022/04/04)
Gift guide for all characters
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