Following the success of Rune Factory 4, Rune Factory 5 was the series’ first mainline entry. In preparation for the new game, its predecessor received a remaster as well, and with the sequel offering numerous new gameplay features, it is an exciting moment to be a fan. If you enjoy farming simulators and RPGs, this is an excellent opportunity to combine both genres into a single game.
Rune Factory 5’s gameplay revolves around living in a town in addition to your farm, chatting with other people, and exploring dungeons for loot. It is a classic gameplay cycle with modern enhancements given as part of a new genre mash-up. Because of the abundance of content available, the game loses attention to perfecting each facet of the gameplay, but it still manages to provide an engaging experience.
The series has a gameplay cliche in which the main character has amnesia and wakes up with no recollection, and this continues in Rune Factory 5. The main character wakes up in the town of Rigbarth and is forced to work as a ranger to aid the locals. It’s a basic narrative with a hint of mystery surrounding the land. This all comes together nicely as the player searches for clues, uncovers mysteries of the land, and learns more about it. There’s much to do here, from dungeon exploring to generating income by maintaining your farm.
There is lots of character development, like in every RPG game, but the writing here makes the interaction between the characters entertaining. The cast is highly personable and has a vibrant attitude, making it enjoyable to participate in the game’s social features. It may not have the depth of games like Persona 5, but the goal here is to provide more content of reasonable quality. While the main plot provides lots of opportunities for adventure, the side stories are equally thrilling and are frequently provided by the townspeople.
The game allows you to form relationships with 12 eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. This may be accomplished by befriending them, dealing with their issues, and then gifting them. This normally takes some time, but the end product is usually a marriage ceremony, which may sound corny, but it works well. Each character in these partnerships has a unique personality that is tailored to them, so there is something for everyone. While these aren’t necessary for the story, the side content provided by these missions is generally entertaining enough that I never considered skipping them.
The other side stories aren’t as interesting, but they do allow you to explore and locate helpful things, as well as learn more about the world’s mythology. Most of the missions available here will serve as tutorials to educate you more about the gameplay at first. One of the issues with Rune Factory 5 is that it takes too long to properly open. The game’s pacing is an issue, but it goes away after every gameplay feature is unlocked.
This is a lengthy game with much content. It is not an activity that can be finished in 10-20 hours. At most, you’ll need more than 30 hours to complete the main story and part of the optional content. The plot continues to provide unexpected twists, but the farming sim and social components are the game’s major draws. However, combat is lacking. The action RPG components are clumsy, but they fulfill their function, so there isn’t much to criticize. Just don’t anticipate much complexity here because this is only a side addition rather than the main emphasis of the game.
The game also has an in-depth crafting and upgrading system, which aids in increasing gameplay flow. It can lead to improved combat gear, farming tools, and cooking recipe upgrades. This feature, though, might be difficult to understand at first. The more time you spend playing the game, the easier it is to understand the crafting system.
Rune Factory 5 is a charming little RPG that works well on a handheld device like the Nintendo Switch. It has certain quirks, such as the clumsy combat system and the plodding pace of the game, but nothing big sticks out.
Rune Factory 5 Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: XSEED
- Developer: Marvelous
- Platform: Switch (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
